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Boat Bow

U

nlike the relatively rectangular mid-section, the curvature of the bow demanded a lot of attention to model correctly.

Accuracy of the F/V Scully's bow was paramount, as the front of the boat defines the vessel’s silhouette but also its ability to cleave through the sea. I was determined to get this to feel right and improve upon my first attempt from back in 2019.

To achieve this, I scoured hundreds of images of crab boats, just to find at least one with a clear angle in dry dock below the water line for reference. I then stumbled upon a couple of images of a boat undergoing repairs with its hull plating partially removed. This was a massive breakthrough, offering a much better understanding of the reinforced internal structure. What’s more, the reference image just so happened to be of the fishing vessel seen in the TV show Deadliest Catch I originally based the F/V Scully on…the F/V Kodiak!

Following the reference image, I actually laid out some framing from the bottom of the hull, along the keel, and up the rake of the bow (mimicking actual boat building practices) to build upon!

Underneath are screenshots showcasing the core stages of construction, a before and after comparison, as well as a shot of the current progress of the exterior hull. Enjoy!



Jason Bartlett ©

Jason Bartlett ©

Jason Bartlett ©


Join me next time when I take it up a level to the forecastle (no medieval fortified structures I'm afraid)!


Thanks for reading :)


P.S. Happy Halloween!

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