MarylandThe NMAH Ship Plans List
Contacting the Ship Plans Office
The page linked above has a contact form. I used it to ask about a Chapelle plan and didn't here back until 90 days later. For a faster response, try these email addresses:
shipplans@si.edu
smailesJ@si.edu (James Smailes)
The Chapelle Plans
I scanned pages from an old 1999 edition of the Ship Plan List that is now out of print for plans from these Chapelle publications (with catalog codes):
- Chesapeake Bay Crabbing Skiffs (CBCS)
- American Small Sailing Craft (ASSC)
- Boatbuilding (BB)
- "Migrations of an American Boat Type" (T-77)
- "Notes on Chesapeake Bay Skipjacks" (BA)
The catalog listings for ASSC and BB also show the plate or figure and corresponding book page in each book for that plan.
For CBCS, the catalog numbers equate to the figures in the booklet. For example, CBCS-4 is Figure 4, Two-Sail Bateau.
The Chapelle catalog pages are here.
The prices shown in these scanned pages are out of date. For example, the plans which I purchased for CBSC-1 and CBSC-4 show $3 cost in the old catalog. The current price (2024) is $10 plus $5 for shipping and handling.
Archived Comments
These comments are preserved from the original WordPress site as read-only text.
I am looking for plans for the Chapelle 14 foot Sharpie Skiff.
HIC - 105
I found the Ship Plans List on Amazon.
Does this book contain the plans or is it just a list?
I tried using the Smithsonian Ship plans form but like you said no one replies so trying your email addresses instead. At least I received an auto reply.
I also found a Boats magazine from 1956 that apparently has the plans but hard to tell which month edition has this specific boat. Any direction there would be appreciated.
Thanks
Joe the catalog only offers plans for sale and briefly describes each one. The plan that Chapelle published in 1956 is mentioned in the first paragraph of my post here: https://sailingworkboats.es/18-ft-two-masted-sharpie-chapelle-plan/
You'll also find a link to plans you can download. Let me know if you don't find what you need.
That post also has a link to a very detailed blog about building this skiff. Hope this helps.
Thanks very much. The links to those plans for the two masted were exactly the detail and clarity I was looking only I am focused on the 14 footer. Basically I am trying to do the same thing the man from Florida did on that 2011 blogpost you provided and build a boat for my grandson. Smithsonian got back to me and it is exactly as you stated, $10 per sheet and $5 shipping. One might think the Smithsonian would have a hi-res scanner and charge for a pdf of the item but such is not the case. I could send you a picture of it if you want to ad it to your one drive. If that’s allowed.
Great to hear this has been useful. I'd like to follow your boatbulding progress. Email me at boatbuilding@sailingworkboats.es. Thanks.
I sent you a couple emails but they may have gone into your spam. I received the Ship Plan List and not sure if HIC-105, listed as 14’ Sharpie outboard motor racing skiff is the correct plan no. Chesapeake Bay Sharpie Skiff is more like the name I’ve been seeing. ASSC-115. It’s hard to determine as size is not always listed.
Don I received your email. I’m not sure you are receiving my replies. That Caroline - C you and your son made is a great looking boat! Thanks for sharing that. Wondering which is more difficult to build, the 14’ or your 17’ one and do they differ much in how they handle?
Joe, the 14' is flat bottom. The 17' is V-bottom. The V is somewhat more difficult to built, but I'd say, not much difference. My son and I used Rueul Parker's "Sharpie Book" to build ours. Very good resource.
I'm looking for the plans for Howard Chapelle's 18' Camp Skiff and i have been unable to locate these. Do you know if these are available?
Stephen, I don't believe I've come across this Chapelle design before. Tell me more, and maybe I can help you track it down. Where did you read about it?
I think the link below is what you are looking for.
https://www.duckworksmagazine.com/04/s/articles/chapelle/index.htm
I am going to order HIC-105 it is only one sheet