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History of Half Hulls |
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Before the days of advanced naval architectural drawings, the half hulls served a very important function in the designing and understanding of a ship's structure. It provided the shipbuilding industry with a method to examine designs and eventually to lay out the final dimensions upon the shipwright's floor. Small lead bars would be molded to the sides of the half hull at designated points and then scaled to actual size on the floor. These early naval architectural models provided the vital construction information for the ship's line, placement of ballast, framing and much more.
Today, with the use of computers and advances in robotic drafting and milling, the need for half hulls is no longer necessary. Yet no true sailor can resist touching a finely carved half hull in appreciation of its graceful line and overall beauty. Half Hulls from Hope Framing
Custom mounting and framing of half hulls in combination or individually is also available. Dimensions provided are of the finished plaque with mounted half hull. All models include stainless steel wire for hanging, unless otherwise requested, dustcover backing and brass name plate describing the boat design and the period of service. The Friendship Sloop
Today the Friendship Sloop has captured the eyes of the yachting sailor and continues to sail the waters off the Maine coast. Because of the beautiful line and history of this boat, I chose the Friendship Sloop as my first half hull to replicate.
Friendship Sloop by Hope FramingPrice: $329.00 Demensions: 28"w X 9"h
Hope Framing Traditional Maine Lobster Boat
These well-designed wooden boats with lines recognized by all sailors became the standard for lobster fishing. Eventually, these wooden craft gave way to the modern fiberglass construction commonly seen today in the coastal harbors of Maine. At Hope Framing, I have replicated in my half hulls the classic lines of the traditional Maine lobster boat. Though most of today's lobster boats are made of fiberglass, many still display the lines of the early wooden boats, continuing the dreams of the shipwrights' half hulls.
Traditional Maine Lobster Boat
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From the beginning of seafaring days in coastal New England towns, a common sight was a young shipwright carving a half hull. With long, smooth strokes using a drawknife or small plane, he would dream of creating the perfect ship design. As he carved his half hull, a three dimensional model was taking form and one day, hopefully, this scaled model would be used in building his dream.
Shipwrights took great pride in these models. When finished with the actual boat construction, they would often hang their half hulls on the main office wall. Sometimes the half hull was presented to the owner of the newly built ship who would proudly have it mounted for hanging.
At Hope Framing, my hope is to carry on this traditional carving craft by replicating half hulls of the boats and ships seen working off the Maine Coast. Having sailed out of Camden Harbor for over twenty years on my Cape Dory, Sisu, I have developed a deep appreciation for the designs of the working boats in Maine. I have experienced firsthand the functionality, stability and grace of these vessels.
My half hull designs are taken from existing boats or ships and are replicated to exacting scale. Only the finest native Maine White Pine and Cherry are used for the hand carving of these half hulls. The deck, waterline, cutwater and keel are made of cherry and the hull is carved from clear white pine. Each half hull is finished by hand and mounted to a pine plaque. The clear varnish is applied by hand and polished to a satin finish.
My first sail on Penobscot Bay was in a Friendship Sloop. Friends and I sailed from Rockport Harbor around Mark Island and back on a southwest breeze. To this day, the wonderful impression of that first sail has never faded. The high bow of the sloop sliced through the waves leaving little sensation on board of the four to six foot seas. Her stability was remarkable. I asked the captain what type of ballast she held, and he replied with a grin, "Rocks." Later, he removed a cabin flooring plank, which allowed me to examine the keel and its smooth, strategically placed stones.
The captain explained that during the latter part of the 1800s, the Friendship Sloop was gradually designed for single-handed lobstering and fishing off the Maine coast. The Friendship Sloop was constructed by many boatyards, but Wilbur Morse's boatyard in Friendship, Maine, was most recognized for its production of fine sloops, thus the name. 
With the advent of gasoline engines, the sight of a fisherman lobstering from a Friendship Sloop or dory became less common. The nineteenth century dories and sloops designed for rowing and sailing, were not easily converted to gasoline engines, thus creating a need for a more suitable design, the traditional lobster boat.
The early lobster boats with their imperfect gas engines were often rigged with sails as a more reliable source of backup power. Slowly, as the reliability of the gas engines improved, lobstermen were able to fish further from home and became less restricted by the unpredictable winds and seas of the northeast. To match the increasing reliability of the engines, faster, larger and more seaworthy designs were created.
