half model sailboats

 Half Hull Models

You’ve all seen them, hanging in a museum, on the wall of your favorite nautical antiques place or in a nautical accessories catalog. Half of a ship’s hull fastened to a piece of wood. Ever wonder what they were all about? Well, in the next series of articles, I will tell you about them and give you some hints on how to make one of your own boat or of your favorite design.

Half hull models were an important design and sales tool at a time when shipbuilders didn’t have CAD/CAM computers or drawing boards. A time when boats were built without detailed drawings or even any drawings at all. They served as a shipbuilder’s sales tool and then the basis for building the ship itself. Designs were refined and passed on from shipbuilder to shipbuilder through the use of these models.

First, the half thing. Ships are symmetrical (at least most were or should have been) along their centerline. So if you knew what one half the ship looked like, the other would be the same but a mirror image. No need to repeat yourself by carving both sides.

Over the years several types of half hull models were developed. The first was the block model, where the entire model was carved from a single block of wood. The second was the lift model, carved from a stack of wood layers of specific thickness temporarily fastened together. A less often used type is the hawks-nest model where cross-section formers were used to support fore and aft strips of wood or stringers that defined the shape of the hull.

The shipbuilder would sit down with the prospective ship owner and the proposed half hull model. The model was a result of that shipbuilder’s cumulative experience, from his own shipbuilding efforts as well as the others he was familiar with. Together he and the owner-to-be would agree on the final details of the proposed ship. In many cases a new half hull model was carved, reflecting the final design that had been agreed upon.

The model itself represented only the hull, from the sheer line to the keel. The model was also carved to the inside of planking. In other words, the dimensions of the model represented the size of the ship less the thickness of planking. This was done so that measurements taken from the model represented the outside dimensions of the ribs (actually called frames on a ship). This was important in times when the hull planking could be as much a three to six inches thick or even more.

With the half hull model on hand and the deal sealed with a handshake, it was time to begin construction. Vertical marks were made on the model, from sheer line to keel. These represented the locations of key frames or ribs. On a block model, strips of lead were bent to conform to the shape of the hull at one of the frame marks. Alternately, the model was sawed in pieces along the vertical lines. These outlines were then transferred to a flat surface, usually a wood shingle or such and then taken to the mold loft floor. There the outline of the frame was expanded to full size and drawn on thin wood as templates.

Once the templates were made, the master shipwright would then prowl the wood yard looking for just the right log with just the right curve. The selected piece would then be sided – to the right thickness, and molded – to the right profile. Most frames were assembled in two layers, with the joints staggered and the whole thing fastened together with treenails or trunnels. Trunnels were wooden pegs driven into holes bored in the frames. From there the frame was erected on the keel and construction moved forward to the next frame.

With a lift model, the various pieces of wood, the “lifts”, could be separated. These were then traced around to form the basis of a “lines plan”. These lifts were scaled to a particular dimension, i.e. a 1/2” lift might equal a foot on the full size vessel. Frame locations were then drawn on the lines plan and the resulting drawing used to fabricate the frames.

Once the ship was finished, the half hull model was often fastened to a piece of planking and hung on the office wall or presented to the ship owner. Today, a half hull model with a verifiable pedigree is worth some real money. Models of clipper ship hulls are pretty rare, as the designing and building of these ships was a very competitive process. Often the best designers burned their models in their office stoves so they couldn’t be copied.

As the practice of naval architecture developed and became more widespread, the need for half hull models as a design tool diminished. However, you will occasionally see a very large half hull model of a freighter or tanker. If you look closely you will see the outlines of the hull plating and rivet lines. These large models, called “plating models”, were used in the era of iron and steel ships to develop the shape and sizes of the plates used in the hulls. With the plates marked off on the hull, the patterns were traced off on to paper and used to develop the full size plates.

Now a days, half hull models are primarily made for decoration. Numerous individuals or small businesses carve them or mold them from resins. Stock designs are available, especially of historic ships, America’s Cup contenders and popular makes of sailboats. You can have a custom model made of your boat if you like. They can be simple models of the hull only or have the full cabin, fittings and rigging if you desire. These will be expensive, especially so if the lines plan for your boat isn’t readily available. Current designers, especially those who design the most popular powerboats, are extremely reluctant to release those plans to anybody who asks.

In times past, I carved half hull models for a nautical gallery in Ohio. I made several custom models and each time I had to actually measure the boat and develop the plans. Simply measuring the boat usually took a full day before I could even start drawing the plans.

However, all is not lost. In this age of sophisticated copy machines and computers, you can make a fairly accurate lines plans for your boat. It won’t be a museum or architectural quality scale model but it will fairly accurately replicate your boat, especially if you match your boat's color scheme. We’ll start that next month.

continue to part 2...

Shop by Brand

Let your love for the sea be known with our huge collection of handcrafted  Nautical Sailboat Models ! Ideal for any collector and perfect for use as decor, our model ships are designed to add a nautical atmosphere anywhere they are placed. They also make thoughtful gifts for friends who love the sea. Arriving fully assembled and ready for display, we also offer tabletop and stand-alone display cases for the avid collector.

This collection features many Sailboats such as models of the Bluenose II, Classic 1930s Yacht, Drakkar Viking, and many more. All items are available for purchase at our  guaranteed low price.  We also offer  free shipping  for orders above $99.

When you shop with  Everything Nautical,  you are receiving the same quality treatment that all of our customers have been receiving online since 1998. Let us help you shop with confidence and complete your home nautical decor with our quality Model Ships and maritime collectibles. Call us now at  888-211-4490 !

William Fife Model Sailboat 35"

Enterprise Model Sailboat - 35"

Intrepid Limited Model Sailboat - 35"

Chris Craft Rectangular Tray

Rustic Intrepid Limited Model Sailboat - 60"

Enterprise Limited Model Sailboat 60"

Intrepid Limited Model Sailboat - 60"

Endeavour Lux Model Sailboat - 36"

Columbia Sailboat - America's Cup - 56"

Columbia Sailboat - America's Cup - 46.5"

Columbia - America's Cup Sailboat - 65""

Columbia - America's Cup Sailboat - 35.5"

Let's create

A lasting memory, custom sail boat, half hull & half model.

Building Exact Scale Custom Models

Since 1989,  Seacraft Classics provides museum quality custom made boat models in any size and any scale.

Seacraft Classics

Boat manufacturers, satisfied customers.

Discover Howard Learned, Seacraft Classics founder

Discover our latest custom models by visiting our Gallery

Provide an unique feeling

Offer the perfect gift.

Are you looking for a gift for the Boat Owner who has everything ? We have the answer.

What you receive

Perfect colors, boat and port name, perfect scale, dedicated delivery case, display case.

Testimonials

What our clients say.

It is interesting

Recent blog posts.

• September 10, 2023
• Boats and ships

Seacraftclassics: Educating Maritime Enthusiasts with Fine Boat Replicas

Sail away with our stunning schooner replicas, preserving nautical heritage: boat replicas by seacraftclassics, perfecting your model’s sails: the art of rigging | seacraftclassics, most viewed posts.

• Talk about a venue with a view! This Quebec couple had the absolute wedding of …
• Everything You Need to Know About Trading in Your Boat
• Wishing all the IMOCA Globe Series teams and skippers competing in the Vendée-Ar…
• Happy 4th of July! Wishing you all a happy holiday weekend on the water with you…
• The training continues for Alex and the crew. In case you missed it, we won’t b…

Our latest custom models

• model 1329 1329 products
• Custom Sail boats 218 218 products
• Custom Power Boats 399 399 products
• Custom Half Models 532 532 products
• Custom Desk Models 92 92 products

No products

Product successfully added to your shopping cart

There are 0 items in your cart. there is 1 item in your cart..

• Historic Ship Models
• America's Cup J Class Boat Ranger
• Large Tall Ships
• RC Sailboats
• Display Cases
• Famous Ships
• Coast Guard
• Historic Sailboats
• Cruise Ships
• Fishing Boats
• Exclusive Ship Models
• Pirate Ships
• Half Hull Boat Models
• Real Kayaks and Canoes
• Ships in the Bottles
• Speed Boats
• HMS Victory
• HMS Surprise
• Sovereign of the Seas
• Flying Cloud
• Star of India
• USS Constitution
• Baltimore Clipper
• America's Cup Sailboat Models
• 1895 America's Cup Defender
• 1899 America's Cup Shamrock
• Sailing Yacht Volunteer
• Decor Yachts
• Yacht Enterprise
• America's Cup Intrepid
• Sloop Sailboats
• Custom Built Models
• Exclusive Art
• Nautical Gifts And Decor
• Collections of Automobiles and Tether Cars
• Decorative Lighthouses
• Corporate Gifts
• Nautical Throw Pillows
• Nautical Jewelry
• Nautical Theme Framed Art
• Beach Decor Shop
• Nautical & Coastal Furniture
• Porthole Mirrors
• Porthole Windows
• Porthole Clocks
• Aviation Art Posters
• Airplane Propellers Decoration
• Airplane Models
• Hot Air Balloon Models
• Nautical Clocks
• Japanese Glass Floats
• Nautical Balance Toys
• Lanterns and Lamps
• Decorative Sailboats
• Spot Lights
• Nautical Flags
• Nautical Watches
• Decorative Wooden Oars & Paddles
• Ships in a Bottle
• Decorative Anchors
• Ship Wheels
• Ships Bells
• Spy Glasses
• J Class Yacht Decor
• Diving Helmets
• Nautical Charts Decor
• Seaside Treasures
• Nautical Wall Decor
• Room Curtains
• Nautical Shower Curtains
• Kitchen Curtain Panels
• Pool and Garden Decor
• Nautical/Coastal Rugs
• Personalized Plaques
• Armor Helmets
• Fish Replica
• Weathervanes
• Wind Drection and Speed Indicators
• Tide Clocks
• Chandeliers
• Ceiling Fans
• Wall Lights
• Table Lamps
• Outdoor Lighting
• Architectural Models
• Old Barrel Design
• Teak Furniture and Accesories

Sailboats 

• Nautical Art Posters
• Nautical & Coastal Furniture
• Aviation Decor and Gifts
• Floats and Buoys
• Decorative Wooden Oars & Paddles
• Curtains Tapestry
• Fish Replica Taxidermy
• J Class Sailboats
• America's Cup Sailboat Models

Apollo Beach Sunrise Curtain Panel

"Ranger" Wooden Model Sailboat Decoration "Ranger" Wooden Model Sailboat Decoration

Dimensions: 24" L x 4" W x 35" H Dimensions: 24" L x 4" W x 35" H

1900's Large America's Cup Defender... 1900's Large America's Cup Defender...

Dimensions: 68.1 L x 9.1 W x 65.5'' H Inches  Dimensions: 68.1 L x 9.1 W x 65.5'' H...

1901 America's Cup J Class Yacht Model... 1901 America's Cup J Class Yacht Model...

1914 Herreshoff 12 1/2 Boat Model 1914 Herreshoff 12 1/2 Boat Model

Dimension: 18"L X 21.2 High Dimension: 18"L X 21.2 High

1921 Schooner Bluenose Wooden Model 1921 Schooner Bluenose Wooden Model

Dimensions: L: 29.5 W: 5 H: 24 Inches Dimensions: L: 29.5 W: 5 H: 24 Inches

1930 Americas Cup J Class Shamrock... 1930 Americas Cup J Class Shamrock...

Dimensions: L: 32 W: 6 H: 38 Inches Dimensions: L: 32 W: 6 H: 38 Inches

1930's Classic Design Yacht Model 1930's Classic Design Yacht Model

1930'S Classic Yacht Model  Measures:  35.4"L x 5.9"D x 35.4''H 1930'S Classic Yacht Model...

1930's Shamrock V America's Cup J Class... 1930's Shamrock V America's Cup J Class...

 Dimension: L: 38 W: 7 H: 46 Inches  Dimension: L: 38 W: 7 H: 46 Inches

1930'S Classic Dragon Keelboat Olympic... 1930'S Classic Dragon Keelboat Olympic...

Dimensions: 30" L x 7" W x 40" H  Dimensions: 30" L x 7" W x 40" H 

1934 J Class Endeavour Americas Cup Sailboat 1934 J Class Endeavour Americas Cup Sailboat

Dimensions: L: 24 W: 5 H: 31 Inches Dimensions: L: 24 W: 5 H: 31 Inches

1934 J-Class Yacht Rainbow Model 1934 J-Class Yacht Rainbow Model

1937 America's Cup J Yacht Ranger 1937 America's Cup J Yacht Ranger

Length: 25.6. Height: 34. Width: 5.7 Length: 25.6. Height: 34. Width: 5.7

35" Xebec Wooden Model Ship 35" Xebec Wooden Model Ship

Dimension: L: 35 W: 7 H: 27 Inches Dimension: L: 35 W: 7 H: 27 Inches

46" Sailboat Weathervane 46" Sailboat Weathervane

Dimensions: 19.25" x 33" x 43.75" Dimensions: 19.25" x 33" x 43.75"

6 Feet Very Large America's Cup Yacht... 6 Feet Very Large America's Cup Yacht...

Dimensions: L: 60 W: 10.8 H: 72 Inches Dimensions: L: 60 W: 10.8 H: 72 Inches

8 Feet XXL Bluenose ll Schooner Hand Made... 8 Feet XXL Bluenose ll Schooner Hand Made...

Dimensions: L: 100 W: 15 H: 84 Inches Dimensions: L: 100 W: 15 H: 84 Inches

Alerion Express 28 Alerion Express 28

desktop of 8"Alerion Express in length, presented in acrylic display case for desktop of 8"Alerion Express in...

America Wooden Schooner Model Sailboat... America Wooden Schooner Model Sailboat...

Dimensions: 35" L x 6" W x 28" H (1:38 scale)   Dimensions: 35" L x 6" W x 28" H...

America's Cup 1933 Endeavour J Class Sailboat America's Cup 1933 Endeavour J Class Sailboat

Dimensions:  24" long, 4 1/2" wide and 31 1/2" tall. Dimensions:  24" long, 4 1/2" wide...

Model Sailboats

Bring endless summer into your home or place of work with our large model sailboats . We provide unique and upscale   wooden sailboat models and America's cup yacht model. We have it all, handcrafted wooden famous sailing boats and historic tall ship models . All model boats that we sell are fully assembled meticulously and professionally.

Gonautical shop is a family owned business who employs only the best artisans in the model ships and sailboats building industry . Our uniquely designed products are sold at the best prices, with an emphasis on personal service and on time delivery for pre-assembled ship models . Our reputation is built on pleasing our customers.

Login to my account

Enter your e-mail and password:

New customer? Create your account

Lost password? Recover password

Recover password

Enter your email:

Remembered your password? Back to login

Your cart is empty

Half-Hull Model Plans

17 products

Showing 1 - 17 of 17 products

If you'd like an overview of the process for building a half model, William Baycroft of BC Canada does a nice job of it in this 9 minute video, featuring our MINVERVA plan. 

And, if you are wondering what tools you might need, here's the quick rundown:

Scissors, pencil, band or coping saw, combo square, hammer, spokeshave, block plane, wood or shinto rasp, chisels (1/2" to 1-1/2"), gouge, screwdriver, and about a dozen c-clamps. and for materials (there's a list that comes with your plans) you'll want carpenter's wood glue, sandpaper from 40 to 220 grit, and finish, like varnish, shellac, tung oil, lacquer, or paints. .

Recently viewed

Our Store is in Brooklin, Maine

at 84 Great Cove Drive. We're open Mon-Fri 8am to 4:30 pm Call 1.800.273.7447. WE'RE RIGHT HERE .

Timely Shipping

We are 99-3/4% sure... that we will ship your order within 24 hours Granted, that does not include weekends and holidays.

Secure payments

Rest assured... not only is our site secure, we do not hold your credit card/payment info.

• Opens in a new window.

Half Model of Sailing Boat

Introduction: Half Model of Sailing Boat

As a boat owner you want to have a half model of your boat at home. I wanted to buildt one in an easy way without 3D software or 3D printer, just with my equipment i have in my little wood workshop. Mainly i used a band saw and a belt sander. But anyway the model should show my boat.

If you don't own a boat you might buildt a half model of a boat you dream from.

Matereial you need:

• a block of wood, one side (back side) should be flat or you glue some layers together like i describe below
• a piece of ply wood as base plate
• some pieces of aluminium for mast and boom
• Color spray
• carbon paper

Tools you need:

• belt sander

Step 1: Create Views of the Boat in Correct Scale

Take a brochure of your boat and check the drawings in there. Minimum you should have a top and a side view. Choose a scale for your model and copy the views to the size your half model should be.

My model has a lenght of the hull of 27cm, the real boat, a ETAP 23iL 7,36m.

Step 2: Choose a Piece of Wood

I glued 3 pieces of beech together wich gave thickness and lenght a little bigger than the model.

With carbon paper (i hope you know what this is) it's easy to draw the contour through the paper to the wood. This you do with the top view and the side view. If you don't have carbon paper you can glue the views to the wood.

Both views must be aligned.

Step 3: Cut the Wood Block From 2 Sides

With the band saw you cut now the side view and afterwards the top view. Now you have a very rough model of the hull in hand. I decided to have the superstructure as separate part, buildt in the same way as the hull.

With the belt sander remove carefully the edges to come closer and closer to the hull shape. If you have front view or rear view of your boat you can check the shape.

Step 4: Buildt the Cockpit

You should have a nice piece of wood now with a good shape in hand now. Next step will be hard, because we have to cut the hull in 3 pieces to buildt the cockpit. See in the foto the pieces 1,2,3. In piece 2 with the band saw you create the cockpit seat and bottom level.

Afterwards glue it together again and sand the connection by hand to have smooth hull again.

Also glue the superstructure to the deck. Now the model should represent your boat already.

Step 5: Add Details

The details you should limit to a minimum. I only added keel and rudder in wood, part of the mast, boom and bowsprit in aluminium. It is a litte bit tricky to cut an aluminium tube in the middle.

Step 6: Painting

First spray with clear paint. You might see some imperfections in shape and correct by sanding again like i did. Afterwars i put 2 layers of white color on it. For the grey and red stripes i found self adhesive foil. This is much easier than painting them. The underwater part i painted with real underwater color, a rest from my boat.

A piece of plywood with clear paint gives a nice maritime look as base plate for the model. Just glue all pieces to the base plate. At the rear you should add 2 hangers to fix it to the wall.

After finisdhed this steps i decided to add details like wood in the cokpit and the entry and just black foil as windows.

Step 7: Finish

Not perfect, but self made and family and friends really like it.

Try your own, you will be proud of the result!

Recommendations

Microcontrollers Contest

Art and Sculpture Contest

Outdoor Life Contest

Abordage - Custom Ship Models - Handcrafted Boat Models - Half Hulls

No products

Product successfully added to your shopping cart

There are 0 items in your cart. there is 1 item in your cart..

Please login or create account

• Log in/Create account
• Custom Models
• Custom Desk Models

Custom Half Models

• ---------------------
• La Boutique
• America's Cup Boats
• Classic Yachts
• Historic Ships
• Motor Boats
• Desk Models
• Other Models and prototypes
• Half Models
• Half models with wooden frame

Pearson Ensign 22.5 custom half model with cabin and cockpit only

Reference Pearson Ensign 22.5

Condition: New product

Display all pictures

Discover this handsome custom model with cabin and cockpit only of the Pearson Ensign 22.5, built upon request at scale 1/18 or 15 inches LOA.

More details

This product is no longer in stock

Availability date:

Add to cart

Be the first to write your review !

Customer ratings and reviews

• Custom Sail Boats
• Custom Power Boats
• Other Models & Prototypes
• America's Cup Boats
• Trophies And Awards
• Display Cases

Manufacturers

• Alerion Express
• Atlantic Boat Company

Viewed products

Pearson Ensign 22.5 custom half model with cabin and...

Half Hull Model

Building a half hull model is one of the best approaches to scratch building model boats. they are relatively easy to construct, inexpensive, and look beautiful hanging on the wall.

Half hull models were originally made as a tool by ship yards. There were several purposes, both technical and for marketing and communication. Often several models were made. At the completion of the full-size ship, the yard often kept one and the customer got one as well.

Many yacht clubs the world over established cultures where the members got to hang the half hull model of their priced yacht on the wall in the club house. This became a popular opportunity to boast and gain notoriety and status at the club. Over time these models were often willed or donated to the club. One of the world's most famous collection is that of the "Model Room" at the New York Yacht Club in NYC.

The half hull model becomes the "master" from which plans often were drawn up. Herreshoff, the famous American yacht designer, apparently designed all his boats this way.

Other times experienced designers make the half model first, as a reassurance that the lines "feel" right in three dimensions, before material and labor is committed for the full size ship.

When the building of large ship hulls were transitioning from being made mostly of wood to iron, and later steel, a half model was often made to lay out the plate development and rivet pattern.

Later, half hull models gained a role mainly as a promotional tool for ship builders, and a source for self indulgence among yacht owners. A good example of the latter, is the hall of half models at the New York Yacht Club mentioned earler.

To make a half hull model, I can think of at least three different approaches as outlined below.

• Solid block : This method is essentially the same as described for building a model boat hull from a solid block of wood.
• Hawk's nest : is akin to half of a plank-on-bulkhead hull. Usually most of the planking is left out with the exception of the wales, cap rails etc. To high-light the lines of the ship, a few planks are laid along the hull. Typically less is more here.
• Bread-and-Butter : The method for making a half-hull is not that different from making an entire hull. Making only one side obviously is easier - no symmetry issues to contend with.

Most of the work is described on this Bread-and-Butter hull construction page. As described on that page, the hull is built on the buttocks (boards laminated vertically). Building on the waterlines is more common, and looks better for half-hull models. The method is largely the same though.

Bread-and-Butter on the Waterline

B&B on the waterline is the most common, so that's what I'll focus on.

Transferring the lines from the plans to the wood may not be all that intuitive, and I'm sure there is more than one way to do it. Here is how I'd do it:

Copy and enlarge the hull sections and stem and stern profile (showing at least one station), of the plan to the scale you are building the model to. The sections need to be to the outside of planking to be true. Otherwise you'll need to compensate for plank thickness. I won't go into that further.

Use the Design Waterline (DWL) as the horizontal datum.

Draw horizontal lines parallel to the DWL at a distance equal to your lumber thickness. Draw lines until there are no more sections to intersect. The space between the lines now represent each of your boards.

Turn your attention to the lumber. At least one long edge needs to be straight. This will be the center-line of the hull. Mark the station locations with pencil. Extend the marks into lines on one flat surface and down the straight side. Mark or number the stations as per the drawing.

Number the boards so you can keep track of which one corresponds to what location on your sections drawing.

Use a pair of Machinist's Dividers (see picture), to transfer the width of each station to the corresponding location on the correct board. Continue until all stations on all boards are covered. Also mark the ends of each particular board. This dimension is taken from the enlarged/copied hull profiles.

Using a set of French curves, a batten or other useful device, connect the points on subsequent stations for each board until you have recreated the desired waterline on each particular board. Gross irregularities are a sure sign you missed and set a measurement on the wrong station. As long as you redo before you cut you'll be OK.

Cut out waterline outlines with a jigsaw or on a band saw. I typically leave 1-2mm of wood outside the line I created.

Glue up the stack making sure you maintain alignment between the boards. Sometimes it is necessary to drill and dowel - your call.

Let dry and carve. See the Bread-and-Butter pages (links above) for more information.

Displaying Your Half Hull Model

I can imagine half hull models remain so popular because they are great for display hanging on a wall. Unlike any other form of model boats, most homes could easily harbor dozens of these.

The two most common ways to display them are:

Mounted on a board

The board is often a nice slab of hardwood with an intricately routed edge. If you don't have a router, some fancy molding from your local woodworking store will work well.

Hanging with simple eye-bolts

A much more casual appearance for sure, but just as effective. The eye-bolts are typically mounted from the top (or deck, as it were), close to the center line.

Return to Building Model Boats Intro

Return from Half Hull Model to Homepage

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

• Click on the HTML link code below.
• Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.
• Plans Store
• Model Boat Books
• Model Boats Intro
• Building Materials
• Make a Hull
• Plastic Kits

Radio Control

• US Battleships
• Torpedo Boats
• Model Boats Q&A
• Model Ship Gallery
• What's New?
• Privacy Policy

By  Petter Blix 

Copyright 2009-2018 Building-Model-Boats.com

Trademarks belong to their respective owners

All Rights Reserved