Scottish Maid" Prototype Half Model By James And William Hall

AssociatedAssociated with Scottish Maid (schooner, built 1839)

AssociatedAssociated with Alexander Hall and Company (Ship builders; 1811 - 1958)

Maker Hall, James And William

Date1839

Object NameHalf Model

Mediumwood and paint

ClassificationsShipbuilding

DimensionsOverall: Length: 89.8 cm, Width: 10 cm, Height: 11.1 cm

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationOn Display - Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Object numberABDMS018943

Keywords

About MeThe schooner Scottish Maid, built by the Hall shipyard in 1839, was the first vessel with the raked stem known as the 'Aberdeen bow'. Scottish Maid was intended for the Aberdeen-London trade, where speed was crucial to compete with steamships.

The Hall brothers tested various hulls in a water tank and found the clipper design most effective. The design was influenced by tonnage regulations. Tonnage measured a ship's cargo capacity and was used to calculate tax and harbour dues.

The new 1836 regulations measured depth and breadth with length measured at half midship depth. Extra length above this level was tax-free and became a feature of clippers. Scottish Maid proved swift and reliable and the design was widely copied.