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Scratch building workshop

conducted by Bruce Thomas every third Saturday at the Clubhouse

US Coast Guard Picket Boat circa 1925

Plan page 1				See results here
Plan page 2

A 38-foot picket boat. About 540 were built by several different companies in Michigan, Washington, Maine, Massachusetts, and Florida.  The wooden hulled 38 foot Picket boat was built in large numbers during the 1920s to counter the rum running trade. Depending on the type of power plant installed, Picket boats could attain speeds of between 20 and 35 knots. The Picket boat was a forerunner of our 40 and 41 foot utility boats.  

They were first powered by a Kermath gas engine and later by GM 6-71 diesels. They were fast (about 20 mph) with a speed hull not designed for heavy seas. They were later stationed at most all Life Boat Stations and became the boat of choice (even in rough seas) due to its speed over the slow 36' MLB. However it didn't perform well for this purpose.   It was a patrol not rescue boat. By the early 1950s, the 38 was replaced by the 40-foot all steel twin GM 6-71 diesel-powered boat that was even faster, but still could not replace the old 36-footer in heavy seas.

I found this plan, courtesy of our Scottish shipmates of the Clydebank Model Boat Club.  The plan was drafted by David Fritzke and is public domain. 

The first workshop meeting will be at the clubhouse on October 18, 2003 10 AM at the Clubhouse.  You will need a wood plank, something sturdy and flat, about 35" long and 16" wide to use as a  frame jig.  For those who sign up, I will have the cost of materials that we can split evenly.  I will supply all the wood, fiberglass, and resin that we will need.  We will be cutting, laying, and gluing the frames and keel.  Time permitting, we'll also be planking the hull (sheet balsa).

During the second meeting on November 21, we'll complete sheeting the hull and fiberglass.  We'll use any additional time to cut superstructure and wheelhouse parts and assemble those. 

Third meeting, possibly in December, but more likely in January, we will sand/prep the hulls and install running hardware.  We will jointly design the hardware layout and construct the mountings for speed control, receiver, and motor. 

I will add more information as we progress.  We'll be employing other club members who have expertise in areas that we need.  Don Kibbe on the scroll saw.  Tom Spettel and Ted Schulte for resins and fiberglass.  Hugh Letterly on resin molding.  You get the idea.  I'm going to try and get an authority on building props and we'll do that too!  This is going to be a fun project.  Aside from electronics, I expect that the total cost will be under $50. 

Bruce
 

Last modified: 09/19/08.