Movement of watercraft is often limited by depth of water. This is particularly so in shallow areas such as found in many harbors.  Hence, a type of service vessel – a dredger – is needed to allow ships access. Scoop dredgers are known to have been built since the early 1600’s. This type of vessel dredged ports in France in 1750 and may have remained in service into the 19th century.

My model has been built based on plans found in the French ANCRE monograph Machine a curer les ports (A Port Dredger) by Gerald Delacroix. The 1:32 scale, 57 cm long, and 23 cm wide model is completely scratch built. Cherry wood was specifically milled to precise specifications to construct this piece of art. Thousands of copper fasteners represent bolts that would have been visible on the vessel.

The dredge scoops on this model are handmade from brass. In reality, three men would stand in the big wheel and two younger individuals would be in the small wheel. The scoop would be adjusted to the proper length and then the men in the big wheel would provide the power to scoop material from the harbor bed. The scoop was then lifted to the rear of the vessel, a barge would be positioned below, and the dredge material released into the barge to be transported. Those in the small wheel would move the scoop back to the starting position to begin the process again. 

Regions of the hull and deck of my model have been left unplanked so that interior detail can be viewed. My high quality model has been presented in competition where it has received the Best of Show award. This unique handcrafted model, offering incredible detail, can be yours for $5000.