Maritime Tradition - NavigationMaritime Traditions: Model Boatbuilding
Model Boatbuilders of the Gulf Coast
The people of the Gulf Coast take pride in their boat building tradition. Boats like the Biloxi Schooners were locally built and were known for their speed and solid construction. While the seafood industry has declined in recent years, the memory of the area's commercial fishing boats is being helped kept alive by local model boat builders. Most of the model builders have worked or been around boats all of their lives. They build their models from scratch without using a kit or plans, relying on their extensive knowledge of the full size boats.They examine the actual boats to get measurements for a model or will build one from memory if the boat no longer exists. Their models are displayed at a number of businesses around Biloxi as well as at the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum.
Photo

"Azalea," a model of a Biloxi schooner that was converted to motor power.

Click on a photo to enlarge it.
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