Devin asked about copper hull paint and whether Keokuk had boat cradles. I thought others might be interested in what I have found, so here is my response to him:
See page 217 of the link below on the history of anti-fouling. It says in the 1860's copper oxide or sulphate was added to tar or mixed into lacquer as an additional anti-fouling treatment and even mixed with soap. It is discussed in terms of an "over and above" contract change for Keokuk in the Whitney claim, and at $200 (including labor) to paint the entire bottom of the ship, it was clearly not a solid copper or metallic green color, but a tint to whatever was used to paint or tar the bottom originally. Likely all of the iron-hulled ships would have this treatment, especially since they would be sitting still a lot in saltwater while on blockade duty. The only question in my mind is whether the tint would have been copper, green, or both. I'm no chemist, but IIRC, copper oxide and sulphate are green. UPDATE: I found out that they are not both green - sulphate is a screaming blue. So having the choices of copper oxide (olive green) or sulphate (bright blue), I am going with green. For one it looks more military, and another it was more common, which I internalize as cheaper. I will use an Antique Copper tint to provide some metallic sheen.
https://darchive.mblwhoilibrary.org/bit ... equence=20As for whether the boats were stowed on deck, does this answer your question?
IF my measurements are correct and IF No. 1 Whaleboats were carried as per Roanoke in 1855, IF the boats were stored on cradles, the crew had to go below to pass from one end of the ship to the other, which is highly unlikely because the after hatchway was in the Officer's ward room! It appears that there is room for the davits to be turned in and the boats could have been lashed together for protection and stability. I will be able to test that when I install the davits. Also note that the Corbett drawing indicates 28' double ended whaleboats with sternposts were carried, unlike all of the commercial Keokuk models out there with square transoms. His drawing is not specific enough to determine if they were clinker style, so I may take the easy way out when I finish them and go with carvel hulls, since the Union Navy was using both. There might have been room for the crew to snake around the boats if they were on deck in cradles, but Corbett doesn't show any cradles so I'm not putting them on.
DOH!!!
I re-measured the Corbett drawing and it appears that Keokuk carried No. 2 whaleboats, which are slightly narrower and shallower. So now I get to redo the master plugs. On the bright side, I didn't photograph all the steps on the first one, so now I can.