Shrimp Boat Model
Modeled from the nostalgic early shrimping boats of Louisiana and traditional
Mediterranean fishing boats, this built to scale wooden model ship is an replica
of the boats that inspire the design and construction of the modern shrimping
boats of today.
These original shrimping ships were fitted with a centerboard, or hinged keel,
enabling them to operate in the shallowest of waters.
Today’s offshore shrimping boats are steel hulled vessels with deep drafts
and refrigeration normally built 50 to 65 feet long. Typically powered by large
diesel-fueled engines, these modern ships are commonly rigged to tow two nets.
The Lafitte skiff is a third type of shrimping boat used mainly along the Louisiana
coast. Specialists or individual fisherman, who are inspired by the World War
II P.T. boats built years ago in the same homeland of Louisiana, builds these
skiffs in small shipyards.
These ships were originally constructed of marine plywood or cypress planks.
They are now an adaptation of the original basic skiff built of fiberglass and
aluminum and range between 18 and 45 feet long.
Along the gulf coast and up the eastern seaboard, fishermen have for ages now
reaped the benefits of the bountiful marshes and coastlines. Seasonal shrimpers
will often form and live in settlements along the bayous of south Louisiana
and the lower Mississippi River.
Often a bond is built amongst these like spirited men and women. You can find
them anchored together in the morning light, separating their by-catch and going
thru their morning routines.
Click
on image above to view!
The Mayflower
was used as a Fishing
Ship on their way to the New World.
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