Spray - Boston

**Gil** · #1 08-06-2011, 12:50 PM

This has been a long term work in progress. It's slowly evolved over the last 8 or so years and was brought back to the design bench last week for another round.

Joshua Slocum was the first to circumnavigate the World on a solo voyage returning in 1898 to Newport, Rhode Island in his gaff rigged oyster boat the "Spray". Slocum had rigged Spray so that she'd stay on course without his intervention allowing Slocum to remain well rested on his around the World journey.

Below is a render of a portion of the work completed thus far...,

Best, +Gil

**rmks2000** · #2 08-06-2011, 01:14 PM

I never heard of this craft. It would be interesting to learn how it stayed on course.

**cgutzmer** · #3 08-06-2011, 01:20 PM

Love the decking

I could see living on that an sailing to various ports around the Mediterranean

**richkat** · #4 08-06-2011, 02:27 PM

Gil, get her done...that looks fantastic.....I want one........Rich

**Inky** · #5 08-06-2011, 02:37 PM

Looks good so far, can't wait to see her done.

Here is the Wiki about the Spray....
Spray (sailing vessel) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Zathros · #6 08-06-2011, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmks2000

I never heard of this craft. It would be interesting to learn how it stayed on course.

Slocum's boat was extremely well balanced. The boat was set up so all forces ended up in her midsection. She did not have a great weather helm and it is the balance of the boat, and the way that Slocum rigged and shipped her supplies, plus his incredible seamanship, those details, which like all great people, what he put into it, that made it work out. His self steering rigging would not work on most boats, unless they were tended to quite often.

Nice render Gil. All of you renders are nice, I don't think you are capable of anything less.

**Leif Ohlsson** · #7 08-07-2011, 01:56 AM

Oh, I remember this. Very good to see it evolve! What a difference in technology 8 years does bring... - L.

**jimkrauzlis** · #8 08-07-2011, 09:25 AM

Cool subject!

Looking forward to seeing this come to shape; the deck planking looks fantastic!

Cheers!
Jim

**bailey** · #9 08-07-2011, 12:23 PM

Very interested in this; in the 1970s I made a sailing model of Spray from free plans in Model Boat magazine (published in the UK). She sailed pretty well! Slocums book "Sailing alone around the world" is a classic of long distance voyages, and full of good humour as well of good seamanship tips. As far as I remember Spray was first rigged as a yawl, but Slocum got rid of the mizzen mast at some stage of his journey. As far as I know there are no extant plans of Spray, even if there were any at all. Good luck with your unusual project! Bailey

**birder** · #10 08-07-2011, 01:37 PM

Thank you Gil for informing us (me) of this wonderful little ship and it's professional captain. The book is free on Google
Sailing alone around the world - Google Books