EMMA C. BERRY, Sloop-Rigged Well Smack c. 1971

Class B, Modified Scratch Built Model Scale: 1:32 Case Dimensions: 37” long, 16” wide and 29” tall

Solid Pine hull built up in waterline lifts, spars - Maple and Birch

Deck Details and Fittings: Poplar, Basswood, Maple, Boxwood, Birch, Cherry

The case is made from pattern grade mahogany with molded details on the base, with 1/8” glass.

Antique Whalebone, Scrimshawed name plaque

$9,000

EMMA C. BERRY was built in 1866 at Noank, Connecticut, and is the last surviving example of a sloop- rigged well smack. Between 1820 and 1870 there were, at any one time, from 600-900 vessels of this type plying the waters of Connecticut and Massachusetts. During her long life, she nearly met her end twice that we know of, but it seems fate had other plans for the tough little ship.

In the 1880’s she was re-rigged as a schooner which gave her more sails that were smaller and easier to handle. Shortly after the Berry’s re-rig, she was taken by a new owner to Maine, where she was employed as a lobster smack and a bait carrier. In 1931, when it looked as if her life was over, she was sold to F. Slade Dale. Mr. Dale spent a considerable amount of money fixing and maintaining the Berry. He kept her sailing both as a yacht and a cargo carrier between New Jersey and the Carolinas until 1969, when he gave her to the Marine Historical Association. at Mystic Seaport, just a few miles from where she was built, the Berry underwent a restoration and was returned to what was thought to be her original appearance. This model shows the Berry as she looked after that restoration was complete. My most important source of information for the model was Restoration of the

Smack Emma C. Berry by Willits D. Ansel (Mystic, 1973). The model’s hull is waterline lift style of construction to the sheerstrake. From there to the bottom of the rail it is plank on timberhead. The spars are maple and deck furniture and details are poplar, basswood and maple. The deck is poplar and the hatch grate is boxwood. The sails are silkspan. The rigging line is predominantly linen. All of the standing rigging on the model is served, as it is on the actual boat. The case is mahogany molding capturing and MDF infield painted matte black. The dust cover is glass, bound in ¼” brass angle stock.