Back to Schooner Mahdee Stem Project

The Bow Design The lines from the original drawing for Mahdee's bow profile are shown at left.

With hollow waterlines and a plumb bow, Mahdee should cut through the waves rather than riding up over them.

This bow profile with basically no rake is in keeping with the original owner's desire to own a "shoal-draft Brixham trawler." The Brixham trawler is a mid-nineteenth century fishing vessel from Devon, typically about 65 feet long. The hull form is copied for its outstanding seaworthiness and handling characteristics.

Another View

The Clipper Bow Profile The Mahdee had a "clipper bow" applied by her second owner between 1937 and 1939.

John W. Griffiths designed the clipper bow in the 1840's. Griffiths' idea of a concave clipper bow was the most radical innovation in the evolution of shipbuilding. He reasoned that it would slice through the waves like a knife rather than riding up and over the waves like all other ships of the day did with their rounded bows.

The "Applied " Clipper Bow Profile From this photo (date unknown) of Mahdee on the hard, we can see her clipper bow was an extension "applied" onto the existing stem. Tom, the previous owner of Mahdee, told us he removed this extension in the 1980's to return her back to her original lines.