Watercraft
“Ada”
North America
To make Ada, Frank Fuegeman restored an 1889 hull and added the boiler and small engine.
To make Ada, Frank Fuegeman restored an 1889 hull and added the boiler and small engine.
Hugo Vihlen sailed from Casablanca to Florida in 1968, aboard this 6-foot sailboat.
“Dilemma” won every race she entered, and yacht designers quickly began emulating Nathaneal G. Herreshoff’s design.
Vincent Serio and Harry Bulifant built hull #1 on speculation and it became an instant success after members saw its sailing capabilities.
A 37′ sloop, La Nube (‘The Cloud’ in Spanish), ca 1972, sits outside the ISCC.
“Miss Belle Isle”, 1925, is one of the oldest known Chris-Craft boats in existence.
The world’s first sailing hydrofoil.
Wisconsin native Tom Blake patented the hollow surf/paddle board in 1930, using ribs to create hollow chambers and covering the craft with a thin wood veneer.
The 12 1/2 class is still a sought-after sailboat—not only because of its famous designer, but because it is easy to sail and seaworthy in even the worst conditions.
Salish racing canoes are derived from traditional Northwest coast canoes, but their proportions are based on Euro-American rowing shells.
Racing small, lightweight boats with powerful outboard engines became a popular sport in the United States after the Second World War.
Aristocraft produced several inexpensive yet spirited powerboats for a growing middle class eager to enjoy
the inland lakes and waterways.
The inexpensive but exciting Moth debuted in Australia in 1929 and in the United States one year later, and the class has since grown into one of the largest in the world.
At 38 feet long, Simokon is large for a “small craft.”
Those fortunate enough to own a Chris-Craft runabout never seem to lack for friends to take a spin along the shore or out to sea.
Catboats are generally wide with a single large sail, where there is ample interior space for cooking, eating, and sleeping on extended voyages.
The spherical pressure hull for the bathysphere “Turtle”, one of three used in the ALVIN submersible program, the first program to use manned underwater exploration vessels.
Two-person kayaks like this one were probably developed during the period when Russians recruited native Alaskans to hunt sea otters and carry passengers.
This whaleboat was built expressly for The Mariners’ Museum’s small craft collection.
The Round bull boat is so named because the hide that covers the frame comes from the bison bull.
The bark of the birch tree is the perfect material for building canoes; it is strong and flexible, and it does not stretch or shrink.
Sailboat racing is not just for sunny summer days, as iceboats compete at great speeds on “hard water” during the winter.
Pirogues made of cypress last a long time under normal usage because the wood repels water and resists decay.
One of the most recognizable American fishing craft, the dory was lightweight, inexpensive, and extremely seaworthy.
In the late 19th century, the Adirondack guideboat evolved from a hunting and
trapping boat into a graceful craft enjoyed by vacationers and sportsmen alike.
He set world records by crossing the Atlantic Ocean in two tiny sailboats in 1968 and 1993; the “April Fool” is on display.
Two men used this large flat bottom boat to gather kelp and seaweed from Aveiro lagoon.
In 1845, Joseph Francis patented the galvanized iron lifecar for rescuing shipwreck victims.
The fast, turbulent McKenzie River requires a light, maneuverable boat.
“Captain Nat” Herreshoff is considered one of America’s most famous yacht designers, having designed the “Dilemma” on display.
In the 19th century, New Bedford was one of the most important whaling ports in the world, earning it the nickname “The Whaling City”.
They were used in both deep and shallow waters to gather crabs, oysters, and fish, and they also made fine recreational sailboats.
Since the end of the Second World War, fiberglass has been the most widely used material for building boats.
Umiaks are highly versatile watercraft; used for transportation, hunting big game, and for battle.
Local Hampton builder, Vincent Serio designed the “Hampton One Design” sloop; the first hull and prototype is on display.
The capabilities of a simple surfboard are greatly increased when the basic components of a sailboat—sail, hull, daggerboard, and fin—are added.
The Yankee skiff was transplanted from around New York to the Chesapeake Bay and the James and York Rivers because it was a good boat for tonging oysters.