Shipbuilder's Half Hull, Quarter Block Lift Model of the Steam Ferry, "City of Norfolk"

 For more than three centuries, the ferry across the Elizabeth River joined Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia — a crossing recognized as the oldest continuously operating pedestrian ferry in North America. It ran until 1955, when the historic service ceased after more than 300 years.

The steamship ferry "City of Norfolk" crossing the Elizabeth River
from Norfolk to Portsmouth, Virginia.

By the 1920s and 1930s, the crossing had outgrown its passenger boats. Massive, multi-decked vehicle ferries took over the run, carrying pedestrians and early automobiles alike. The City of Portsmouth, at 140 feet, was followed by the City of Norfolk, deliberately elongated to an operational length of 175–176 feet with an expanded hull width, built later in the 1920s to significantly increase capacity over her predecessor.

Unlike a standard ocean-going steamship, these ferries were entirely symmetrical. Bow and stern were identical, with rudders and propellers at both ends — a vessel that never needed to turn around, only to run the same short crossing in either direction.

Front view of the steamship ferry half hull, quarter block model with lifts.

That symmetry is what makes this piece possible. In traditional ship design — especially for a completely symmetrical double-ended ferry — a half hull builder's model (technically a quarter-block model) represents exactly one half of the ship's length, from midships to one end, and one half of its total width, from the centerline keel out to the outer deck guard. Because the bow matches the stern and the left matches the right, shipwrights could carve one quarter of the geometry and still hold the whole design in their hands.

Closeup view of the stern of the shipbuilder's half hull, quarter block lift model of the steam ferry "City of Norfolk"

This exceptional American shipbuilder's hull of the steam ferry "City of Norfolk," circa 1930, is constructed in seven layers of pine — seven lifts — at a shipyard scale of 3/8 inch to the foot (1:32). It measures 33 inches in length, 5 1/4 inches tall, and 8 inches deep at its widest point, and weighs 17.20 pounds. It was displayed in the Portsmouth, Norfolk Ferry Terminal, at 102 High Street in Portsmouth, Virginia, originally without a backboard, attached to a wall using the added narrow top board with 5 screws. The backboard now measures 13 1/2 by 40 inches.

This is a physical representation of the largest class of vehicle ferry ever built for that service — a remarkable, museum-grade piece of Virginia maritime history, from a crossing that served two cities for over three centuries. Here is the link to the half hull model on Skipjack's website.

Skipjack Nautical Wares

 1172 State Route 32, Round Pond, ME 04564.  (207) 219-0897.