Roger,
The 'Research Area' never is 'open' as such. And asking one of the
docents probably won't get you anywhere, either. If you go to the
'office' {actually off the Seaport 'grounds'} and state you purpose . .
.. most likely they will be able to help you. Similarly, if you contact
the 'Research Department' {?} via the 'general' web-site link, they do
respond.{just found a direct address - }

A list of the plans they sell, complete with building 'codes' is also
available for free. On our last trip there {Sept of '03} I purchased a
book, '87 Boat Designs - A catalog of Small Boat Plans from Mystic
Seaport' . This book, as well as others with more 'Designs' are
available from Mystic and The WoodenBoat Store, as well as other
locations.

Their address is not 'iffy' and they have been doing this for years.

About, " . . .1959 better than 1996 . . .", things change but memory
inhances. Also, research sometimes corrects previous assumptions. And
the 'focus' of the Museum gets refined. When I first visited the
facility I was about 10 years old . . . I remember there was a Japaneese
Midiget Submarine on outdoor display . . . with a lower hatch open so
you could look inside. It wasn't there about 15 years later when I took
my new bride on our honeymoon. It simply didn't fit the purpose . . .
shipbuilding & techniques of a period in American history. In the same
way, although S-N-G is a viable building technique, if you want YOUR
boat to be depicted on Departments wall, it MUST be made in the
'traditional' manner {although 'glued-lapstrake' is acceptable}.

I'm happy you found what you were looking for, however about your last
comment . . . that's why research is called 'Research' and the reason
for the Department's existance.

Regards & Good Luck,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop


----- Original Message -----
From: "Roger Derby"
To: "Ron Magen"
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004 09:45
Subject: Pete Cullers plans


Ron,

I'm not surprised that they don't send the plans over the internet,
but I
sure would like a list of what's available, kind of like the ones I
bought
from the Smithsonian. Money isn't the issue, the logistics of using
snail
mail is what bothers me. (address iffy, write check but payable to
whom,
envelope, stamp, ... ) At least an e-mail address for questions would
be
nice.

I've been thru the public displays a couple of times, but the
"research"
section was never open when I was there. As I told one of the
docents, it
was better in 1959 than in 1996, mainly because so many of the little
boats
were lying around in the open on the grass where you could see them.
He's
right that it was terrible for their longevity, but the dark caves
they
reside in now don't allow easy viewing. Are they there to be used and
seen,
or are they just being saved for some future generation that won't be
able
to see them either? (The 1959 visit was a thrill. The 1996 visit
left me
frustrated.)

My immediate concern at the time was the rigging of the jib club on a
scow
schooner model I was working on. I've since gotten the answer
elsewhere,
but it sure would have been easier if I could have visited their
library or
asked someone what documents might be relevant.

Thanks.

Roger

http://derbyrm.mystarband.net