Small Ship Models

Growing up near the shores of Lake Huron, I became accustomed to sailing from a young age. When I was just 7 years old, I was riding onboard my father’s catamaran when the wind shifted and the boom swung right into my midsection. I was sent sprawling into the water, and luckily my life preserver kept me afloat while my dad patiently circled back around to pick me up. I had learned a serious lesson that day, and it was the last time I was ever hit by a boom.

Now that I’m house shopping for a place of my own, it’s suddenly hit me that I’ll need to decorate the home with some nautical pieces. I found a model sailboat online that resembles my own yacht in terms of shape, design and even color scheme. It should look handsome sitting on the corner of the desk in my home office. When I look at it, I’ll undoubtedly think about all the fun to be had on sailboats in the summer.

It’s often said that everyone harbors some level of creative energy. Sometimes it just comes down to finding a suitable outlet to channel that impulse. Model shipmaking is one of the most rewarding hobbies out there because it affords a real sense of accomplishment when the task is completed. Most commonly, model ships are made of wood and they take a real commitment to craft with any real quality.

The best way to learn the art of model shipbuilding is to observe an old pro at work. Failing that, you can pick up a few existing model sailing ships and take note of the fine level of intricate detail. One of the hallmarks of a great model ship is its resemblance to the real thing, so you’ll want to focus on authenticity wherever possible. Don’t be afraid to make a few mistakes; after all, hobbies are all about deriving pleasure, not causing stress.

For anyone who loves to sail, it’s usually a love that extends beyond the act of sailing itself. Rather, sailing enthusiasts are enamored with sailing more as a lifestyle than strictly as a hobby. If you know someone who is this interested in sailing, get them a gift that will remind them of the life, even when they can’t be on the water. To that end, look into the various scale model ships that are available for purchase. These exact replicas of actual ships will be particularly interesting to a sailing fanatic, who can appreciate the accuracy of the ships.

And if they are looking for a new hobby, perhaps you could even set them on the path to building their own model ships. This will be a lot more time consuming than simply displaying a ready made model ship, but it will also provide hours of entertainment for any sailor who’s interested in the mechanics of a sailboat or other sailing vessel. No matter what type of ship they’re interested in, the finished product can be displayed at the person’s home or work.

When I was just a little boy, around seven or eight, I can remember building model boats with my dad in his garage workshop.  Dad had always fancied himself a bit of a mariner, though to my knowledge he never owned a boat larger than a canoe.  But on a lot of weekends he could be found fishing off the dock for a couple hours in the early morning before coming home.  I remember building model sailboats, yachts, and even ocean liners with my dad.  Whenever we finished a model, we would put it upstairs with the rest on a shelf he had cleared off in the dining room.

My mom was very much a traditionalist, and I don’t think she liked her rustic dining room being filled with model boats, but she tolerated it at least!  Now that I’m older I have fond memories of building models with dad, I hope when I have kids, he’s still around to share the same activity with them.