About the L’Boussole wooden scale Model Ship

This model ship of the L’Boussole was custom built from the following information:

• The original construction drawings.
• Information obtained from marine archaeological survey of the wreck.

 About the construction of the L’Boussole wooden scale Model Ship

• The hull is built using the Double Plank-on-Bulkhead construction method
• The bulkheads and keel are cut from marine grade pine plywood
• The first layer of planking is done plank by plank using Mahogany planks
• The second layer of planking is done using Mahogany Veneer strips
• The deck is made of Anagre, a light brown timber from the Amazon
• The gunwale and stringers are made of American Walnut
• The fife rails and pin racks are made of American Walnut
• The deckhouses and gangways are made of Teak
• The masts and yards are made of Mahogany dowels
• The sails and ropes are made of linen
• The model is painted with acrylic paint
• The ornaments are cold cast in bronze and painted         
  

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Member of The Nautical Research Guild

L’Boussole Model Ship

The L’Boussole was part of the Laperouse Expedition.

The L’Boussole was a French naval ship that was part of the ill-fated La Pérouse expedition in the late 18th century. Led by Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, the expedition set sail in 1785 with the aim of exploring and mapping uncharted areas of the Pacific Ocean. The L’Boussole, along with its sister ship, the L’Astrolabe, were specifically commissioned for the expedition.

The L’Boussole was a 500-ton ship with a length of approximately 36 meters and was equipped with 26 guns. It was considered an advanced vessel for its time, with modern navigational instruments and scientific equipment on board for conducting research during the expedition. The ship was named “Boussole,” which means “compass” in French, reflecting the importance of navigation in the expedition’s mission.

Unfortunately, the La Pérouse expedition encountered numerous challenges during its voyage, including difficult weather conditions, navigational difficulties, and encounters with indigenous peoples in various Pacific islands. The last known contact with the expedition was in 1788 when the L’Boussole and L’Astrolabe anchored at Botany Bay, Australia. After that, the expedition disappeared without a trace, and the fate of the L’Boussole and its crew remained a mystery for many years.

It wasn’t until 1827, almost four decades later, that some wreckage from the expedition, including the remains of the L’Boussole, were found on Vanikoro Island in the Solomon Islands. The exact circumstances of the ship’s fate are still unknown, but it is believed that the L’Boussole and L’Astrolabe may have encountered navigational challenges and ultimately sank in the treacherous waters of the Pacific, resulting in the loss of the entire expedition, including Lapérouse and his crew. Despite its tragic end, the La Pérouse expedition remains an important chapter in the history of exploration and maritime science.”

Learn more about L’Astrolabe:

http://www.solomonencyclopaedia.net/biogs/E000161b.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_ship_Boussole_(1781)