Just wanted to share with those that are interested in Pilot Boats. I discovered a book that maybe some of you already know about, called "Pilots:Pilot Schooners of North America and Great Britain". I just ordered it yesterday from Amazon and looking forward to getting it. It looks to be a wealth of information.

My interest stems probably from the fact that my first ship model years ago was the Pilot Boat Phantom. I later built Aresania Latina's Virginia Pilot Boat Swift 1805. Now, I'm working on my Private Armed Schooner Cora 1812, which is essentially a converted pilot boat. I also really like the lines of the pilot boat Mary Taylor (Bluejacket makes a kit) which was designed by George Steers, who designed many other pilot boats and who designed the famed yacht America, which was launched a year after the Mary Taylor.

Anyway, Google Books has a nice preview of this book and it looks to be a really great resource.

Pilots (http://books.google.com/books?id=VNsGi3nmuaQC&pg=PA79&lpg=PA79&dq=pilot+schooner+book&source=bl&ots=tqW0Jns6qx&sig=NQbVzD-bHlkYNIwv6q9xudjJCBc&hl=en&ei=BFyhSq3DMYfosQOlmo2NDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8#v=onepage&q=pilot%20schooner%20book&f=false)

Looking forward to it, but was interested in knowing if anyone else has seen or read this book.

Clare
:cheers:

I ran across that book too and was lusting after it after seeing many pages displayed on a site called Google Books. There is a second volume of European pilot boats that also looks great. Maybe one of these days I'll take the plunge and buy the one you mentioned. I searched for it in a library and found the only copy was in the Queensland Library in Brisbane, Australia! Not exactly an easy commute from the Hudson Valley.

Richard

Is there any possibility of inter-library loans?

Well, I got the book in the mail yesterday. It's a beauty published by WoodenBoat Publications, which puts out some books that usually filled with paintings and photos. This book is no exception.

I saw this first volume initially on Google Books too and immediately wanted it. Now that I have it, I'm entranced by it. There are tons of illustrations, paintings, photos. In fact, I was just writing the last sentence and stopped to look at something in the book and didn't start writing again for about 10 minutes.

Lots of information, lots of great reference photos, but I can see that it's giving me the seeds of research material and I'm going to have to follow up on some interesting leads.

The book lists for $69.95, but Amazon had it for under $50.

Clare
:cheers:

I have been successful in getting books through inter-library loans from many libraries but I doubt that my library would opt for one from Australia. I originally searched with that in mind but I guess I'll have to wait for Christmas to try get a copy.

Richard

Didn't catch that! 'Tis a bit of a trip...

One option that can help in some cases is to join the Nautical Research Guild. You can then borrow books for 3 months at a time from the guild's library for a small fee. Unfortunately, I had checked and they don't have either of the Pilots books. But, I recently borrowed Chapelle's Search for Speed Under Sail that way - A great service.

Anyway, Christmas isn't that far away now!

Clare