The Captain's Log

Alutiiq Art

2010-10-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

Captain Ron's latest pursuits have led him deep into his Alaskan Native heritage to recreate some of the things that are precious and significant to the people of the Koniag region.

This ceremonial mask is the captain's original design. Called "The Hunter", it depicts what the hunter has in mind as he works to provide food for his family.

He has replicated some of the masks which are at the heart of the
Giinaquq : Like A Face
collection of archaelogical artifacts dating back into past centuries.
(See the Alutiiq Museum for more info.)

Carved by hand of oak, the "Mouthless One" is made according to the specifications of the original mask as shown in the book, Two Journeys.

"The Spirit Taker" is another ceremonial mask shown in The Two Journeys.

This replica is also carved entirely by hand in the exact specifications of the original.

Beginning a series of Alaskan animals, a family of orcas is completed. Again, carved completely by hand and painted with acrylics, this group consists of a male, female and infant orca.

More photos are available upon request. These should all enlarge when clicked on.

Latest (and probably final) Photos

2009-08-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

This ship is listed for sale, now and we just took some final photos for the advertising.

Here are a few of the final photos.

There have been many tiny details added, like cleats and things.

The hull has been polished and lacquered sooo many times. It just glows.

Some of the chain was replaced with rope.

I love those beautiful compound curves.

The bowsprit has been tapered more than it was originally.

I think I want to live aboard!

Looks pretty cozy to me.

I'm gonna miss her.

Nancy

Here are the latest photos

2009-07-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

Taken on July 13, 2009. Notice all the tiny details that have been added since the last photo op.

Latest Photos Show Rigging

2009-04-21T11:11:00.001-07:00

These photos taken today show the rigging coming together -- nearly finished. Note the tiny hand-fashioned brass fittings.

2009-04-07T16:48:00.000-07:00

She's nearly done. This sailing ship is hand-fashioned after the North American Merchant Schooner of the late 1800's. These ships were used for carrying goods along the East Coast of the United States. and South America.

I recommend you click on the photos to enlarge the detail.

Showing the masts and yardarms.

It looks so real!

The bowsprit is inlaid with ivory diamond shapes and a star on the very front.

Lowering the skiff.

A view of the midships, looking forward. This shows off some of the curves in the boat design. The hatch coamings are raised to support the hatch covers which give access to the interior holds. Note the oak planking of the deck.

Aerial view of the stern shows the lifeboat, suspended from its davits. The davits are fashioned of brass with miniature pulleys that raise and lower the boat. Notice the life ring and fire axe atop the house.

All the rope work is hand-tied. The ivory rope blocks in the foreground are used to tighten the mast stays. They are authentic miniatures and absolutely work.

In the foreground, at the rail you can see cleats and rope chocks, carved by hand and painted black. There are a total of 12 cleats on the boat and 8 chocks.

This shows a portion of the living quarters below the removable house. See the barrel on the deck? The cooper is not finished with it yet.

Below decks you can see the step of the mast and the inside framing. Note the anchor winch (it really weighs the anchor and is turned by hand.)

See how the mast and bowsprit line up with the keel. She's true, and straight as an arrow.

Elegant shape.

New photos, and these will be some of the last ones before it's finished. The boat will go up for sale in the near future. It represents some 6 months of steady work. Remember, all the parts and pieces are made by hand and, with the exception of things like, say, the bell, all is hand-fashioned. Look closely at the blocks and tiny fittings. Some are made of ivory, but all are handmade and really work. Ropes and pulleys, rudder and steering wheel, doors, etc. are all functional.

Captain Ron is listed with the Department of the Interior - Indian Arts and Crafts Board. A member of the Alutiq Tribe of the Koniag Island Group (Kodiak) of Alaska.

Please direct any inquiries to:

rtorsen@wowway.com

Sea Trials!! In the fish pond.

2009-03-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

These shots were taken in February, about a month ago.

It's very lightweight (no ballast... yet!)

It floats right where it should and will have proper trim when it's ready to sail.

We'll be back now, with more photos and updates. The ship is acquiring detail work I never dreamed of. The captain is doing the most fantastic work. --Nancy

New Year - New Photos

2009-01-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

There are so many new little details on the boat that it takes some looking to see it all. Here are a few photos taken today to try and show the progress.

Here is how she looks today.

See how the little rope ladders are coming along. With needle and thread!

These little blocks are hand carved from Walrus ivory and really work. The life rings are carved out of oak, painted and the line added.

Gotta have a fire axe. It will be mounted.

In answer to Diane's previous question, yes. Everything will be watertight. Just like a real one.

Let me take this opportunity to apologize to those of you without blogging accounts who were unable to comment. There was one little setting I missed. Everyone should be able to comment now. And we hope you do!

2008-12-15T16:02:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much to those of you who have chosen to follow this blog. We're having so much fun, it's nice to be able to share it with you. Thanks for your kind comments. If you have questions, the captain will be glad to answer them. I'm trying to get him to talk about what he's doing so I can put in as many quotes as possible! --Nancy

From Here...

To Here...

Was a long way.

You can still see the planks that formed the shell under the coating of sanding primer. These photos were taken as the hull really began to take shape, all the complex curves beginning to show up.

"The planks are only 1/16" thick and vary from 1/4" to 1/2" in width. I had to be extremely careful that they were fitted as closely as possible, because I couldn't sand them down very much - they're so thin. These planks are basswood. No balsa was used anywhere." RT

The boat is 40" long and 12" wide based on a scale of 3/8" = 1 foot. At this stage, it was sanded to 'true it up' . Since this photo, 9 coats of primer (with light sanding after each coat) have been applied.

Here it is after the waterline was cut in.
(The boat plans on the wall in the background here, are for another boat - a REAL boat, if you will, which the captain has designed.)

You can see how smooth the finish came out in this photo of the bow.

2008-12-14T18:41:00.000-08:00

In these photo, taken December 2, from the stern, you can see some of the detail work.

Every piece on this ship is hand-fashioned, carved from wood and ivory, with the exception of a few metal pieces which are worked by hand as well. The facing for the rails is steam-bent oak, as are ribs of the boat. The decking is made of oak planking 3/32 x 1/4".

The steering station: The wheel is all done by hand, of red oak , with the spokes painstakingly carved and fitted. In the center, the hub is made of walrus ivory.

Looking from the above, into the rudder control room, you can see rudder tiller (quadrant)and small rope going thtough hand carved pulleys, also of red oak. The steering system really works. Turn the helm on top and the rudder really turns.

"A shot looking forward, as the work in progress continues...

A busy shipyard!" RT

In the Beginning...

2008-12-14T08:18:00.000-08:00

With just a few pieces of wood and a picture in his mind, the captain began working to develop the correct shape for the schooner.

And it began to take shape.

The photo below, shows the schooner 'Belle which is a vintage example of the design.

"The hull of the Belle is similar and a good representation of the type of vessel. The sail arrangement, however, is different. Because of the nice shape and design, many replicas of these ships are still in use on the East Coast of the U.S. as passenger and pleasure vessels." R.T.

The Schooner "Belle"

These ships often had women's names. Many had the full name, such as the 'Bessie Boalt' and the 'Emily Cooper'. Others were named after certain attributes, like the 'Active' and the 'Pathfinder'. One was called the 'Home' and one, the 'Experiment'!

"These boats were beautiful, working very hard, they played a vital role in establishing and supporting communities along the coast. They carried cargo like oyster shells, gravel, timber, and seafood, up and down the East coast of the U.S. There were many casualties, mostly because they were at the mercy of the weather, powered by sail only.

Heavy fog, no electronics, just a simple compass and a line with a weight (called a lead line) for checking the depth of the water. The weight was equipped with a hollow on the end, filled with grease, or tallow, to check the consistency of the sea-bottom - whether it was sandy, muddy, gravel, etc. The tallow would pick up a sample of the bottom and this would give the captain important information.

This line would be thrown ahead of the boat by a man in the bow, then pulled back in. The man would shout to the captain the marks on the line. All this was done while underway. Try that in a howling gale!"RT

2008-12-13T20:58:00.001-08:00

.....the very first photos - bare bones -