The Hull Remains of Helen C.: A Comparative Analysis of Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle-Pamlico Skipjack Shipbuilding Traditions

Abstract

Little is known about how skipjack oyster trawlers were designed, constructed, and utilized within North Carolina territorial waters. A similar dearth of information exists with regard to the wider cultural dynamic that these vessels exemplify. This study therefore conducted a comparative vessel construction analysis between the archaeological remains of Helen C. found near Cradle Point, North Carolina and the iconic Chesapeake Bay skipjack Carrie Price by evaluating historical documents and field excavation data collected by East Carolina University and ascertained what can be inferred about early-20th-century communities in the vicinity of the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound. The results suggest that the two vessels have very much in common and were constructed using similar design features. However, there are notable differences between the two vessel's components, namely, the keels, centerboard trunks, centerboard pivots, stringers, sleepers, strongbacks, bottom planking, ceiling planking, side planking, chine logs, and rudders, indicating that there was a regional difference in the manner in which skipjacks were built in North Carolina. Therefore, while the results of this study are limited to the comparison of just two vessels, key differences indicate that there are particular construction features that should perhaps be considered as indicators of an Albemarle-Pamlico skipjack shipbuilding tradition.