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Hemingway's Pilar kit

Nice photos, it is much better seeing the real thing rather than just the instruction renderings. I appreciate seeing your progress, I was apprehensive with the design and how I would do with the multiple ribs as I have only build plank on bulkhead, but your photos and comments have made me feel at more ease when I begin this project. I have been mentally debating my next project, do I start on an older Mamoli Constitution or the Pilar once I finish the Harriet Lane? I'll watch your progress to help take that next step.
 
Pilar Builders: WoodenBoat Magazine featured Pilar in a past issue and if my memory is correct it featured color photos of the actual boat on display in Cuba. Past issues are available usually priced at $7.50. They have a very good searchable index on their website. Google WoodenBoat store.

Roger
 
Hi Grex, you have a great build to look forward to. We went down to the Keys and when the Admiral saw the Pilar model in Hemingway House she asked me about it and bought me the same kit for my birthday as a surprise. I checked out, the parts and all seem to be in order.
When I’m done with my current build I’m gonna tackle my Pilar (I had better so my honey isn’t offended lol). It’ll be a nice break from rigging etc lol. Keep us posted and if you’re inclined a build log would be nice. Btw, Roger Pellet and the other guys are correct in their explanations of how the outriggers worked. They are still in use today. They’re not that complicated, don’t worry and do your best.

Btw, I built the Model Shipways Doctor’s buggy and I made a neat horsewhip at scale, came out pretty good IMHO. So go ahead and plow away and I’m sure you’ll have a great time and you’ll be very happy with your build.
 
BigBad said:
We went down to the Keys and when the Admiral saw the Pilar model in Hemingway House she asked me about it and bought me the same kit for my birthday as a surprise.
Click to expand...

Hey BB! Nice to see another "Future Pilar" builder checking in! Not sure when I am going to get to mine... I am currently in the fairly early stages of the Constitution and it will take... awhile. I like your thinking about taking a break from the rigging, though! I'm likely to pull my Pilar off the shelf and start working on it in conjunction with the Constitution build, just to have a break. Looks like we may have several Pilar builders, though, which will be nice. And Grex is leading us in the journey and showing us the way! Thumbsup
 
Thanks for the info guys, and thanks for the confidence in me, I’ll keep sharing my progress and showing you the good ,bad and the ugly.

Question, the leads on the outriggers that control there position are they ropes or cables?
 
Grex110 said:
Question, the leads on the outriggers that control there position are they ropes or cables?
Click to expand...

Grex, great question. On modern outriggers, I'm sure the outrigger position is controlled by cables and pulleys. On Hemingway's Pilar, it appears the outrigger poles were dropped into position and held using a rod with a hook end that was placed in one of three holders. In the instruction manual, those are best depicted on pages 21 and 25. Unless I am swayed otherwise, I will probably build and fix my outriggers using brass rod. Thoughts?
 
Thanks Roger for the info re: the Pilar in Wooden Boat magazine. Nice work Grex, looks great so far. Interesting thoughts about making the outriggers using brass rod. Can’t wait to see more of your work as time goes on.
 
Yes sir, Mr Gibson I see the rods for raising and lowering and the kit has brass rods for that purpose. What I think I see on pictures of the real ship are cables near the top of the outrigger that fasten to the deck fore and aft of the outrigger mount. Like stays on a mast. ?
 
Grex110 said:
What I think I see on pictures of the real ship are cables near the top of the outrigger that fasten to the deck fore and aft of the outrigger mount. Like stays on a mast. ?
Click to expand...

A couple of pictures from Patrick Matthews build log from his Pilar build...

I have no sailing experience, but I just assumed in looking at the pictures that those higher lines were fishing lines coming off the outrigger. Lots to learn about all of this!

Pilar_Outrigger1.jpg Pilar_Outrigger2.jpg​
 
Gibson, thanks for the info, I found Patrick’s web page from his build and wow lots of pictures and info. I’ll be studying what he has there and looking closely at his build. He did a great job.
 
I haven’t fished with outriggers in years but we had our rods in rod holders next to the outrigger with the line attached to the top of the outrigger with a rubber band on a halliard (so you could raise and lower your line from the tip of the outrigger). The line (with bait or lure) was trolled behind the boat. The top of the outrigger merely held the line away from the side of the boat. There were cables attached to a “reel” that controlled the angle of the outrigger. When a fish took the bait the pull on the line snapped the rubber band and the line separated from the tip of the outrigger and you heard a “pop” giving you the head’s up that you had a fish on.

When not in use trolling the outriggers were hauled up to a vertical position. Otherwise if left outboard in a horizontal position while running at speed the ends of the outriggers might snap when they dipped into the water as the boat rocked. They were only used in the “horizontal” position while trolling.

I fished them about 30-50 years ago so I’m not sure how they were set up in Hemingway’s time or nowadays.
 
A related tidbit:

Hemingway fished where the water is warm and fish were near the surface. These outriggers allowed bait to be trolled where the fish were.

Up here on Lake Superior we fish for fish that live in cold water. During the summer fishing season these fish are down deep in water, about 50F. We use the same principle as Hemingway except in reverse. We use “downriggers.” These are lead balls weighing about 20lbs suspended over the boat’s stern on a thin steel cable to a depth of 50-100ft. A separate rod and light fishing line with the lure is clipped to the ball; the lure trails the ball by about 10ft. Like Hemmingway’s outriggers the fish hits the lure which is freed from the ball and the fisherman lands the fish.

Roger
 
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