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RARE BUTTOCK TYPE HALF HULL OF CLIPPER SHIP
ROMANCE OF THE SEAS 1853
Presented is a magnificent presentation half hull model of the famous
Donald McKay built Clipper Ship Romance of the Seas. The ship was launched on 15 November
1853 at the ship yard of Donald McKay, East Boston, MA. She was built for George B. Upton of Boston. Employed in the California
Trade who wanted a vessel that would be the fastest ship at sea.
This much smaller extreme clipper ship was built in 1853 by Donald McKay, East Boston.
She was rigged with Capt. Forbes' double topsail rig. Her dimensions were 140' length overall, 39'6" Beam, and 19'6" Draft.
Her tonnage was 1782 tons
She disappeared on a voyage from Hong Kong to San Francisco in 1863 almost ten years from her date
of launching.
The model is constructed using the unusual buttock method in which planks are stood
on end vertically rather than being laid one on top of the other horizontally which is the traditional method. This
is very unusual, and is described further below.
The half hull has three white painted rubbing strakes along the length of her black painted hull
to the water line and then dark red below. At the bow is a carved figurehead of a women in white paint above a trailboard.
Her deck is varnished as are the stubs of three masts and a bowsprit.
BUTTOCK METHOD: In this method, the lift's are placed together on a vertical
plane, and instead of describing the shape of waterlines, they show the shape of the vessels buttock's or cheeks. When
translated into an elevation drawing, the buttocks appear as curved lines and the stations and waterlines appear as straight
vertical lines. This is in contrast to a plan view of the vessel's shape where the waterlines are shown as curved lines
and the buttocks and stations as straight lines.
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PROVENANCE: The half hull comes from its Manchester, NJ original owner who
had displayed it for the last 32 years in his den. A simple brass plate identified the ship and its builder
and the wrong year of construction -1855. It was replaced with one having more details with a date of 1853.
DIMENSIONS:
The ship model is 35" LOD x 3" W x 3 1/2"
Depth
The backboard is 44" L x 8" W x 1 1/4" D
Weight 10 1/2 pounds.
CONSTRUCTION & CONDITION: The hull is made from four vertical lifts using
the buttock method of construction, and then mounted on a varnished Pine backboard. The half hull is in magnificent original
condition, but there are some hairline age cracks in the hull's black paint which are hardly noticeabe. There are no other
imperfections to mention.
Since the opening of the California trade, Mr. McKay has built six large clippers -- Stag
Hound, Flying Cloud, Staffordshire, Flying Fish, Sovereign of the Seas, and now Romance of the Seas,
but no two of them are alike in hull form.
The Romance of the Seas was the last extreme clipper that Donald McKay built
for the California trade and was certainly very different in design from the other clippers that Donald McKay was building
around that time for the Australia trade, the Great Republic and the Lightning. For the "Romance of the Seas"
was a narrower, shallower vessel of smaller tonnage with concave lines and very long, very sharp ends.
Richard C. McKay described her thus:
In model she was a beautiful vessel. Although concave below, she was convex in the lines of her
upper works, and her outline on deck was true as the sweep on a circle. She had 15 inches dead rise at half floor, about 6
inches rounding of sides, and between 4 and 5 feet sheer, which was graduated her whole length, and nearly alike at both ends.
For a figurehead she had a small female figure, intended to represent Romance, with the name of Scott on one side, and Cooper
on the other-the greatest romancers of the century. The stern was nearly semi-elliptical in form, and rose from the line of
the planksheer, the molding of which formed its base. It was very light and graceful and tastefully ornamented with gilded
carved work.
The Romance of the Seas was a heavily-sparred "out-and-out" clipper and great
care was taken in balancing her spars. She carried Forbes' rig topsails like the Great Republic did. Donald McKay was
much intrigued with improved rigging appliances and every clipper he built from that point on would carry them.
The passenger accommodations were most elegant and the officers and crew had comfortable quarters.
The "Romance" had a jaunty air about her that immediately became apparent upon her launching as she bobbed in the water
for the first time almost as if she were a racehorse champing at the bit just waiting to take off. The Romance
of the Seas was a thoroughbred clipper racing machine that under ideal sailing conditions would prove to be Donald
McKay's fastest clipper as well as his masterpiece.
OUR UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may
be returned, if without damage, within three days of receipt in its original condition and packaging. Returns must be insured
for their full value. All that is required is a prior email authorization by us for the return. Unfortunately, no refund can
be made for the cost of shipping, packaging and handling unless we are at fault.
Buy this historic
half hull model now! It reeks of history of the Clipper Ship Era. It will make a great addition to your office,
den or family room. |
INTERNATIONAL BUYERS WELCOME, but contact us first. We have customers in Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany,
Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Martinique, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Nova Scotia, Saudi
Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean.
SHIPPING
& PACKING: The cost of shipping, packing, handling, and insurance to your destination, is an additional charge.
You may email us to get these costs. We price our very special packing and shipping honestly, but we expect to be reimbursed
for the nominal cost of packaging materials and handling.
Buy this very special relic of maritime history Now! What a great find for that special person who
can appreciate and afford something unusual.
Copyright 2007 by Land And Sea Collection™, All
Rights Reserved | | |
This Fine Model Has Been Sold. Thank you!
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