The plans for the Maine 70 foot sardine carrier, circa 1940, were purchased from an Internet plans service. This boat appealed to me because of the lines and smoothness of the design. It is the nicest running boat of my 'fleet' and such a joy to operate.
The model is built at 1/16 scale (3/4"=1'-0") and powered by a six volt commercial battery. It is geared down with an eight to one ratio to run at scale speed and is fully operational. A remote radio controls the rudder, forward and reverse gears, lights, and the recording of a Kahlenberg horn. The engine has a diesel sound produced by using a flapper and a diaphragm from an old Victor talking machine, also controlled with the radio.
The little green engine on the deck is modeled after a Fair-Banks Morse 3hp type Z hoisting engine. Although the model engine is made of wood and brass, the wheels do turn and the gears engage.
The actual weight of the model is 29 lbs. It was completed in August of 1995.
History on the boat
The original boat was built and launched by Simms Bros. Yard, Dorchester, Massachusetts, on April 12, 1941. Called the 'William Underwood,' it was christened by Miss Helen Underwood, great, great granddaughter of the founder of the William Underwood Company, the owner of the boat. The captain was Ernest Wolfe, Jonesport, Maine.
The William Underwood has an overall length of 70'-7-1/2," load waterline length of 63'-3," beam of 15'-6-1/2" and draft of 5'-11." Displacement is 46.87 long tons. She has a 'double-ender' type hull framed with oak and planked with yellow pine.
The two-tank fish hold has a capacity of 1,000 bushels or 80,000 lbs. The finished model's scaled weight would indicate a real load of 25,000 lbs of fish.
The year this vessel was launched, 1941, the William Underwood Company celebrated its 120th anniversary. It was a pioneer in the packing of seafood products, having started canning lobsters in 1844, oysters in 1850, and sardines in the late 1880s.
Hull frames ready for planking
Forward deck beams
Stern deck beams
Deck Beams
The cabin is small but still has bunks for five, four below and one in the pilot house. The cabin may be taken apart for access to wiring.
Cabin parts
Cabin back closed
Cabin back with doors open
Cabin top
Operations or Things That Work
Lead ballast to insure model will run at scale speed
Hull Interior showing operational mechanisms
Controls for operating the boat with a remote radio
The William Underwood
