23 Facts About Colin Archer

Colin Archer was a Norwegian naval architect and shipbuilder known for his seaworthy pilot and rescue boats and the larger sailing and polar ships.

Colin Archer was born at Tollerodden in Larvik, Norway, where he had his own house built and his boatyard.

Colin Archer was born in Larvik in southern Norway as the 12th of 13 children to parents who immigrated to Norway from Scotland in 1825.

In 1861, Archer returned to Larvik and undertook the study of practical and theoretical shipbuilding.

Colin Archer married Karen Sophie Wiborg in 1869 with whom he had five children.

Colin Archer designed his vessels in the workroom of his residence at Tollerodden.

Colin Archer's designs were built at other yards, totaling about 50 during his lifetime.

Colin Archer built about 120 double-enders, but thousands have since been built worldwide.

Colin Archer became famous for his ships, especially the polar ship Fram.

In 1872 Colin Archer wanted to share his knowledge of ship and boat design.

Colin Archer published a 29-page design lecture that included Fredrik Henrik af Chapman's and John Scott Russell's theories.

Colin Archer's shipyard performed repair work and especially conversion and outfitting for polar expeditions.

Colin Archer travelled to Norway and consulted the famous polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen.

Colin Archer made his boats deeper with more ballast, built strongly with oak and they soon became known for seaworthiness and speed.

Colin Archer built about 60 yachts, each to a unique drawing, half being double-enders and the other half with counter sterns.

Colin Archer spent much time calculating how an efficient hull should be designed.

Colin Archer started with Chapman's displacement parabola curve, but with Scott Russell's positioning of the midship section well aft of amidships and thus with sharp bow waterlines.

Colin Archer's theory gave fuller bow lines than Scott Russell's, but unless the forefoot was well undercut, Colin Archer's bow lines became too sharp with a tendency to make the boats "pitchy" and wet.

Colin Archer sold several boats to Sweden during the early 1880s and Swedish designers soon adapted the Archer type for pilot-boats and yachts.

In 1908 the 47 feet OEGER was designed by Colin Archer but built in Porsgrunn.

Colin Archer wanted a yacht based on Colin Archer's rescue boats.

Colin Archer thereafter managed to swim to the mainland so a boat could rescue the others.

Colin Archer had a tall rig and was catching up on Suhaili, but instead of passing the finishing line, Moitessier continued around the world to Tahiti, thus sailing 1.5 times around the globe, non-stop, single-handed.