Lynx Design

Plans & Drawings
Lynx Specifications

DESIGNING THE PRIVATEER CLIPPER SCHOONER LYNX
By Melbourne Smith - Designer

Woodson K. Woods is a remarkable student of the maritime history of the American War of 1812. He is an astute collector of ship models, armament and writings of this historic period when the United States finally secured her independence from Great Britain.

And when Mr. Woods asked me to submit a few preliminary design plans of Lynx, an 1812 Baltimore Clipper schooner, I knew I would be working with someone knowledgeable on the subject. He explained he was not looking for an exact replica, but rather an intelligent interpretation that could be adapted under the U.S. Coast Guard regulations as being suitable for youth training and illustrating the history of this special era in maritime history.

The only restriction as to the size of the vessel was to keep her draft at eight and one-half feet. From this, I was able to give Lynx a 72-foot waterline with a maximum beam of 23-feet to accomplish the required stability to carry the traditional rig of a square fore topsail schooner and setting a jackyard topsail on the main mast. Most clipper schooners had a pronounced drag to their keels, the draft being much greater at the stern end.

To maintain balance with the required reduced draft, the keel was laid parallel with the waterline. And by designing a near perpendicular rudder post and making up the lateral area by filling in the space (except for a propeller aperture) between the stern post and a prick post, it allowed the underwater center of lateral plane to remain in the same vicinity of the original schooners - and for her to carry a similar sail plan with less drag and draft.

A preliminary lines drawing was prepared and a half model carved for approval. Final hull lines were completed with a hydrostatic characteristic study to assure that the vessel would be capable of her intended purpose. With her project stability, it was found that a lofty rig could be set to show the sail to hull relationship for schooners of 1812. To ease sail handling, especially for novice training crews, the traditionally overlapping foresail was fitted with a boom and the staysail was designed loose-footed on a boom as well. This simplified tacking and sail handling.

To facilitate maintenance considerations, the keel, keelson, stem and frames were each laminated in single pieces from treated yellow pine. This method first tried on the frames of the topsail schooner, Californian has proved indestructible and impervious to deterioration. To increase further the life of the vessel, the stern post, bitts and planking were fashioned from durable hardwoods.

Early in the design stage, Mr. Woods explained he wanted to carry ball-firing carronades and swivel guns. These were designed and cast in iron, all in working order. To this, Mr. Woods has added his own collection of muskets and swords. These, with the crew intended to be in period dress, will give a most impressive demonstration of a well-found privateer of 1812.

Most of the original Baltimore Clippers were simply built, but Lynx has been given great attention with well-appointed saloon, great cabin and staterooms. The galley is at waist-height to the main deck to assure good ventilation and practical access. The engine room is independently fitted between watertight bulkheads with a separate deck companionway. Unique among most working vessels, the drive shaft is fitted with a Hundested variable pitch propeller unit that allows the speed to be governed by varying the pitch rather than engine revolutions.

While many modern amenities and appointments have been fitted, the ambiance aboard is still very much that of an historic 1812 Baltimore Clipper schooner that originated on Chesapeake Bay. Woodson K. Woods has insisted at every design and building stage that the best materials, the finest workmanship and the spirit of only dedicated people be a part of this vessel. Hence, his motto raised in the shipbuilding shed when the keel was laid: "Be excellent to each other and to your ship."

The designer, builders and riggers all have the same pride in Lynx as does her owner. Good luck to Lynx.