Hemingway's Pilar kit

[Grex110]

Help please, I'm starting my next build the Pilar and would like some info regarding the operation of this boat.

I'm not sure what the outriggers are for and how they are rigged. I can see on pictures and videos of the real ship that there are cables or ropes
connected to them but the instructions and prints that came with the ship kit (Model Shipways) have no information about that. Could I get some feedback
as to why are they there and how are they used. Thanks

 

[Pepite 1/60]

Oh, they were mostly meant to impress or scare away other yachties and to reel in the big guys, like tuna, dorade and sharks.

 

[Roger Pellett]

The outriggers are used when trolling for fish to move the lines away from the wake of the boat. They would be rigged with some sort of carrier line that could be pulled inboard and outboard. The fishing line with its lure would be clipped to this carrier line. A fish striking the lure would pull the fishing line free of the carrier enabling the fishermen to fight the fish from a chair in the boat’s cockpit.

Roger

 

[Kruser1953]

I recently purchased this kit as I thought it would be something different to build. I appreciate your post on the outriggers and what the rigging is all about, I would assume that those would be for moving the outriggers to different positions. At this scale fishing lines would be almost invisible to see, and since there isn't a fishing rod to the build you would have to create your own. Earnest Hemmingway was an avid Marlin or Bill Fish fisherman. When I construct mine I am thinking of creating a fishing rod to scale with something like 3/4 pound or less monofilament line to meet the scale needed. I will be following your build to see how it goes, please keep posting.

 

[GGibson]

It is nice to see some activity regarding Hemingway's Pilar! I, too, purchased Model Shipways Pilar kit and, whenever I get to it, my intent is to kit-bash build it like Wheeler Yacht Company first built the boat for Hemingway, which included a forward cockpit and other accoutrements. I am currently working (slowly) on my kit-bashed USS Constitution and haven't decided whether to put the Pilar up on the shelf until the Constitution is finished (no idea how long that will take at this point!), or work on both simultaneously, or even putting the Constitution on hold for a period.

Regardless, I am excited to see others beginning their builds on Hemingway's fishing boat. There is a lot of research out there on the Pilar. I wish you gentlemen the best in your builds and will definitely be following your build logs. Enjoy the journey!

And Grex, I hope you got a satisfactory answer on the purpose of the outriggers. Both Roger Pellett and Kruser explained it pretty well. So, yes, building some fishing rods for the Pilar would be a good addition. Heck, I'm even planning on having resin prints of Ernest himself made and, of course, Mary, too!

Look forward to following what you gentlemen do!

 

[owen20]

Pilar was an early sport-fishing boat fitted with outriggers, and they were used to spread the fishing lines away from the boat while trolling.

In operation, the long poles were swung outward from the sides of the boat. Lines were attached to the outrigger rigging and held outboard, allowing several baits or lures to be presented at different positions behind the boat. This reduced the chance of the lines tangling with one another and kept the bait away from the boat's wake.

 

[Senorbob]

i'm also building pilar. after some problems with the first kit model expo sent me another complete kit gratis. good for them!. disappointed that the metal parts advertised with the kit were replaced with plastic parts.

 

[Grex110]

Thank all of you folks for the info and I will keep posting my progress and probably ask more questions.

 

[Grex110]

Well, lm diving in, started getting ready for stage one. To me the parts identification from the laser cut is very confusing. 6, 8, 9’s all look the same and the part itself is not numbered. However taking my time and I think I have figured out which is which. I just need the courage to apply glue.

 

[Herbs Ships]

Well, lm diving in, started getting ready for stage one. To me the parts identification from the laser cut is very confusing. 6, 8, 9’s all look the same and the part itself is not numbered. However taking my time and I think I have figured out which is which. I just need the courage to apply glue.

View attachment 628986

View attachment 628987

I like what everyone is doing. I too have the Pilar. I have it, but I think I buried it in my inventory of ships to build…I am a bit behind.

 

[GGibson]

Well, lm diving in, started getting ready for stage one.

I like what everyone is doing. I too have the Pilar. I have it, but I think I buried it in my inventory of ships to build…I am a bit behind.

Grex - Nice to see you diving in! Interesting comment regarding the frames. Sounds like what you are saying is that we should write down each of the frame numbers directly on the frames themselves before removing them from the laser-cut sheets, in order to avoid confusion when placing them on the build board. Great help and suggestion! Thanks! Looks like you are off to a great start, sir!

Herb, we may have to convince you to create some Ernest and Mary models!

 

[Grex110]

Herb. I agree with GGibson about Ernest and Mary figures we’ll have to talk about this.

 

[GGibson]

Grex, I'm also wondering if taking some spare wood and placing some support blocks between each of the frames would help stabilize the hull. I've done this with both my Bluenose and Constitution (pictured below) and it really helped solidify the hull. Not sure if Model Shipways has that in their plans, but a good add-on.

​

 

[Herbs Ships]

Grex - Nice to see you diving in! Interesting comment regarding the frames. Sounds like what you are saying is that we should write down each of the frame numbers directly on the frames themselves before removing them from the laser-cut sheets, in order to avoid confusion when placing them on the build board. Great help and suggestion! Thanks! Looks like you are off to a great start, sir!

Herb, we may have to convince you to create some Ernest and Mary models!

Stay tuned!

 

[Grex110]

Gibson
I think the four stripe they want installed in small grooves should keep it solid

 

[18Lyman]

Come visit Pilar's sister in Florida, Worldwide Sportsman store (a Bass Pro Shops location) in Islamorada, Florida Keys. About 25 years ago, my cousin and I were allowed to sit on it, but that's been changed. We and our parents all went to the same high school as Hemingway, so we were all beat to death with the Hemingway story. Be sure to visit Key West and Hemingway's home as well as the famous Sloppy Joe's. Model Shipways is located in nearby Miami. Welcome.

 

[Grex110]

Lyman thanks for the info, I’ve been to the Key’s and Hemingway’s house but didn’t know about Pro Bass store will check that out on our next trip.

 

[Grex110]

First major step taken, frames and keel glued
Everything seems to be going smoothly. I almost missed the shaping of the side strips. At first I thought something was wrong with the ribs, (out of alignment) but then I found the note to bend the strip to fit. I need to read more

 

[manning16]

what ggibson said.. I have ordered MS Pilar as well as a break from my other ship projects, although I seem to work on three at a time! I plan to increase the MS plan to a larger scale, present her as in Hemmingway years and build with better wood.. Herb will hopefully make me Ernie when I decide scale... stand to be corrected, but the real Sloppy Joe's is Captain Tony's just around the corner near Duval...When in Madrid, I had the pleasure of sitting the cafe booth where he wrote some of "The Sun Also Rises".. Plaza Mejor I think...1974

 

[GGibson]

First major step taken, frames and keel glued
Everything seems to be going smoothly. I almost missed the shaping of the side strips. At first I thought something was wrong with the ribs, (out of alignment) but then I found the note to bend the strip to fit.

...stand to be corrected, but the real Sloppy Joe's is Captain Tony's just around the corner near Duval.

Looks like you are off to a great start, Grex! Nice work! At some point, you may want to sand that char from the frames and fair the edges, especially towards the bow where your planks will bend more. That'll give the hull planks a better adhesion to the frames.

And you are correct, Manning. Joe Russell started the bar around the corner under a different name. https://sloppyjoes.com/history/ And that building is now where Captain Tony's is located.