Tag Archives: Essex

The Shipbuilders of Essex

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Rick Spilman

Here is a wonderful 20 minute film made in 1947 about, as the tile suggests, shipbuilding in Essex, Massachusetts.  It has the slightly corny Hollywood production values of its time but does a good job at showing the construction of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Launching the Schooner Ardelle – Essex Side Launch

Posted on July 29, 2011 by Rick Spilman

The pinky schooner Ardelle was launched recently from the historic Burnham Boatbuilding yard in Essex, MA.  They used the traditional “Essex side-launch” technique, which, to my uninitiated eye, looks very odd.  Nevertheless, it obviously is effective. The Ardelle’s debut Thanks to Tom Russell … Continue reading →

Posted in Lore of the Sea | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The Two Brothers and the Two Captains – Who was Unlucky?

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Rick Spilman

The wreck of the whale ship Two Brothers, which sank 188 years ago on French Frigate Shoals, 600 miles northwest of Honolulu,  was recently located by divers.   The captain of the whale ship was George Pollard Jr., whose previous ship, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment