Minnesota Small Craft Project

Drawing upon nautical archaeological and historical knowledge based on previous fieldwork and research conducted by Minnesota's only underwater/maritime archaeologists and maritime historians, MHM's documentation and 3D scanning of the 5 boats chosen for the Minnesota Small Craft Project (MSC) exceeded expectations. The 5 boats were chosen because they were Minnesota-built, rare, and relatively unknown in the maritime history of the state. The maritime historical research conducted by MHM in association with the MSC Project revealed the true rarity of the 5 watercraft documented. The great amount of historical documentation put together to provide context to these 5 Minnesota Watercraft, as a measurable long-term outcome, is invaluable for understanding Minnesota's maritime history. Further, all the research is available for future use during the documentation of underwater archaeological sites wrecks to assist in submerged cultural resources identification. Additionally, as more examples of the watercraft produced by these 5 companies come to light, the information provided in the MSC Report can assist boat owners and museum professionals concerning the history and care of the boats. When the project was began, MHM was aware of 2 Ramaley Boat Company's Fisherman's Friend Row Boats (FFRB) in existence on the bottom of Lake Minnetonka and that is still the case. Similarly, the Indian Trading Post Boat Works Outboard Motor Boat (IOMB) is a one of a kind survivor, but the smaller Wooden Outboard Utility Wreck (21-HE-491) on the bottom of Lake Minnetonka is comparable. The Joseph Dingle Boat Works Outboard Motor Boat (DOMB) represents one of the most respected late 19th and early 20th Century boat builders not only in Minnesota, but the United States. MHM was aware of a handful of Dingle-built watercraft that survive and that were known in the historical record. However, after conducting a rigorous documents search for more Dingle boats, MHM was astonished by the great number of boats produced by Dingle on special order as well as the great number of stock models sold to the City of St. Paul, for example. The diversity of watercraft styles and designs produced by Dingle over the decades attests to the versatility and talent of the firm's craftsmen. Today, most Minnesotans - much less wooden boat historians and enthusiasts - have no knowledge of the Joseph Dingle Boat Works, where it was located, or the types of boats designed and built on the Mississippi River in St. Paul for 69 years. Further, fast sailboats and fast auto boats designed by Joseph Dingle were well-known by racers from the 1880s into the 1920s, an incredible amount of time to produce competitive watercraft, particularly for such a small family-owned and operated boatyard. The Cokato Boat Works produced quality wooden boats, but as a family-owned and small boat company, sadly it was doomed to fail because of competition from large manufacturers of aluminum and fiberglass boats produced more quickly and much more cheaply. The survival of the Cokato Boat Works Outboard Motor Boat (COMB) and 2 other examples is because of the low number of boats produced by the company is significant for Minnesota maritime history and small craft studies. To contrast, the department store nature of Herter's, Inc. and the offerings of watercraft through catalog sales stands out from the other 4 companies in terms of business practice and notoriety. Herter's was known around the country as a sporting goods superstore and was widely known for their duck decoys and ammunition. Today, Herter's fiberglass runabouts with fins are sought after and collectible, much more than Herter's Model St. Lawrence (HSL) held in the MNHS collection. The plain utilitarian design of the HSL ensures that less of this type will survive on the water and as collectible watercraft. Therefore, while many Minnesotans recognize the Herter's brand, they are not aware of the watercraft produced by the company, the uniqueness of their marketing scheme, the chrome fiberglass construction material, and its natural translucence. Beyond the actual scanning and documentation of the 5 boats during the MSC Project, another of MHM's goal was to determine the usefulness of the inexpensive scanning technology chosen for the work, along with the quality of its output. MHM's maritime historians contend the MSC Project pushed the limits of the iSense scanning device. It can and will scan objects like small boats, scanning the entire watercraft at one time can cause a loss of resolution and the quality of the scans deceases. Therefore, scanning smaller areas and combining the files in software is doable but can cause differences the lightness or darkness of certain areas and shadowing becomes more of a problem. MHM tried to solve this problem with additional lighting, but again, shadows and irregularities were a problem. Also, scanners do not work well when recording shiny objects; the varnish on the COMB was a big problem causing glare and reflections. The iSense excelled in scanning details of individual attributes of the boats; this aspect of the technology makes the system suited for conservation and restoration even the 3D printing of attributes for aesthetic reasons. Regardless of the limitations of the inexpensive iSense scanner combined with a 4th Generation iPad, MHM will continue to use the technology during projects when appropriate. MHM's archaeologists are eager to use the system on wrecks in the Headwaters Mississippi River, sites that are exposed during low water conditions. When in shade, the Andy Gibson Wreck Site and the Red Mill Wreck Site are great candidates for spot-scanning of certain areas and will greatly assist the recording of archaeological features. MHM's short term goal of informing Minnesotans of the on-going MSC Project through social media has been successful, particularly through FaceBook posts that were shared to thousands of people not one negative comment has been received. MHM is eager to document more Minnesota-built small craft held in museums and historical societies, particularly those boats that represent our State's long and diverse boat-building history. It is hoped the Minnesotans will access the MSC Project Report and contact MHM with knowledge of other small craft that deserve scholarly attention. Also, MHM contends the report will be used as a guide through the scans, photographs, measurements, and descriptions of the boats - to identify boats now housed in old barns and backyards. There are more Ramaley, Dingle, and Herter's boats out there being ignored and with great optimism, MHM hopes there are more Trading Post and Cokato watercraft that survive as well.