[Jan Hendrik]

Here you find a series of watercolours of famous pilot boats of a bygone era.

Hope you enjoy the pictures which all originate from a 1995 calendar .

The artist is Johannes E Moeller (Danish) and the paintings are
copyright to Hempel A/S, Copenhagen.

First photo is the Danish pilot boat Helsingor in 1894 , she was built in 1866 in Elsinore and oak was mainly used, 10 metres in length and 3.6 m in breadth.
She could take up to 4 pilots.
Later she was fitted with an engine and performed services until 1941.
Today she is still around as a Dutch yacht .
The tall ship is the Swedish "Sigyn" which is now a museum ship as the only wooden bark left in the world today, in Abo, Finland.

 

[Jan Hendrik]

Pilot Boat GAA PAA

Inspired by Scottish Boat builder Colin Archer, then Thor Jorgensen, in Porsgrunn-Norway built this boat in 1898, all 42 ft in length and besides her strong rig she was also fitted with a 20 hp auxiliary engine.
Piloting services were undertaken in the Oslo fjord entrance. She could take up to 4 pilots .
On Jan 30th, 1913 she came to a tragic end as in a fierce storm she went under and nobody ever saw the wreckage and nothing was heard of the 3 pilots and 2 crewmembers who left behind.
One lucky pilot boarded the Danish steamer "Baldur" earlier that day.

The watercolour showsthe Faerder lighthouse in Norway 1913.

 

[Jan Hendrik]

pilot schooner for Chesapeaka Bay

Norfolk, Virginia's Pilot Associatiuon ordered this schooner in 1915.
This 118 footer was designed by Cox and Stevens of New York and could take up to 12 pilots and 8 crewmembers.
She was built of wood by A.C.Brown and Son at Tottenville, Staten Island, New York.
Waterline 80 ft, beam 22 ft, draught 13 ft. Some 4800 sq ft of canvas covered the lower 4 sail area.
Provision was made for a later to be fitted 150 bhp auxiliary engine.
After WW 1 she probably was stripped of some sail and continued as a powered boat.

 

[Jan Hendrik]

pilot cutter FERRET in Southern England 1870

Built by Charles Gent whose yard was at Sutton Pool in Plymouth.
In 1868 he launched the 82 ft FERRET. She had a main sail of 1100 sq. ft.
With a boom of over 43 ft.
She could carry 4 or more pilots and the vessel was also equipped
With a boarding boat on midships so the crew could row the pilots up and
down to the waiting vessel.
The work of the pilot cutters declined rapidly before 1914 and died out
Soon after.

 

[Jan Hendrik]

Indian pilot brig FAME in Bay of Bengal 1896

The Royal Indian Marine Dockyard built this Hoogly pilot brig in 1894 .
Principal dimensions were: 137 ft in length overall, 116 ft waterline,
25 ft beam, 12.6 draught.
Composite built wih steel frames and keel plates, stringers and ties
And teak planking.
A 20 ft rowing boat was also placed on board.
These pilot boats were manned by British officers and Indian crews.
Eventually the FAME was converted to a light vessel and survived
Into the 1940’s.

 

[Jan Hendrik]

Pilot gig from Bermuda 1924

The Bermuda pilot gigs were often rigged as sloops and manned by local inhabitants.
Many were only 18-27 ft in length. They could be rowed by 6 to 8 oarsmen.
One of the last pilot gigs to be built was launched in1924.
This 33 ft by 5 ft beam boat was designed for Edgar Gibson, asst keeper of the
lighthouse in Bermuda by American designer Chester A. Nedwidek.


Now who knows the name of this inward bound steamship from New York???
Please note I have not got the information. It may have been painted as an example only.

 

[Jan Hendrik]

The Sydney pilot and Cutty Sark 1887

For some years the pilots for Sydney harbour used seaworthy rowing and sailing whaleboats.
They could be rowed by 5 to 8 oarsmen, some boats carried a set of standing lug mainsail and
a foresail.
A typical whaleboat was about 30 ft in length and just over 6 ft in beam.
You find one such boat approaching the famous “Cutty Sark”


This concludes a series of 7 pilot boats of bygone era and I hope you like the stories too.
Jan

 

[MrPlywood]

CA Nedwidek Sr was my grandfather. Thanks for posting that!

 

[Hugh Ferguson]

Thankyou, Jan, an interesting collection-thanks for posting them.

The attachment is an impression of the famed French pilot cutter, Jolie Brise, made by my clever wife who seems to be able to turn her hand to anything!

 

[Jan Hendrik]

Nice to note the reactions to a posting of more than 5 years ago.
Jan

 

[Drakeson]

Hempel calendar 1995

Jan Hendrick - I remember that 1995 calendar from Hempel paints very well. I had some of the pages framed and used them in a flat. Do you happen to know if Johannes Moeller ever had proper art prints made from the original paintings, and if they are available to buy? Best regards to everyone!