Retirement Anchored in Model Boat Building for Waterford’s Doug Unsold
WATERFORD — When Doug Unsold sees his ship come in, it’s usually one he’s crafted with his own hands.
The 67-year-old retiree from Waterford spends his time building scaled replicas of historic boats, often using blueprints from Civil War-era vessels and early 20th-century ships.
“I’ve been building boats since I was 14,” said Unsold.
His passion began with his father, working together on their first project: a 3-foot model of the Cutty Sark, a famous clipper ship launched in 1869. It took a year to complete and was followed by two other sizable ships—one of which was the CSS Alabama, a Confederate warship.
However, Unsold quickly learned that large-scale models demand just as much display space as effort. “My sister used to call them ‘dust collectors’ because they were nearly impossible to clean,” he joked.
Unsold has always had a deep interest in naval history, especially warships from the Civil War era. A reenactor for three decades, he finds the evolution from wooden to metal ships during the Industrial Revolution particularly compelling.
“I’ve always been intrigued by how the Industrial Age transformed naval power,” he said.
Over the years, Unsold has given presentations blending maritime history with Civil War narratives. One of his more unusual projects was modeling a tugboat retrofitted with cannons for river patrols, such as the USS Bombshell, which he discovered in Civil War Naval History magazine.
“I saw it in the magazine and thought, ‘I have to build this,’” he said.
Currently, he’s working on scaling down blueprints for the Calcite, an early 1900s ore carrier that once operated on the Great Lakes. One of his completed projects is a 1931 Chris-Craft, crafted from mahogany and teak and displayed on a base made of Great Lakes driftwood.
Inspiration for his boat models often comes from historical references and occasionally from browsing collections such as those found at Premier Ship Models, which offer an impressive range of wooden model kits, showcasing similar craftsmanship and historical attention to detail.
For Unsold, the mental challenge of calculating scales keeps his mind active.
“It sharpens my brain—there’s a lot of math involved,” he said.
It’s also a creative outlet. His Chris-Craft, for example, is artfully presented on driftwood, combining history with artistry.
Model shipbuilding requires immense patience and attention to detail. Unsold, who also contributed to the Mountwood Park Museum diorama and built a replica of Dr. Stiles’ house, compares it to assembling a miniature home.
“It’s not all that different from putting together a dollhouse,” he said.
His craftsmanship has drawn attention beyond local circles. He’s been commissioned to build a model of the Fish Hawk, a research vessel from the late 1800s and early 1900s, for a biology professor at Grove City College in Pennsylvania. The Fish Hawk was among the first ships used for fisheries research and hatchery work.
Working with the college’s departments of history, biology, and library science, Unsold’s model will be displayed at a 2027 convention in Pittsburgh.
“I’m planning to build a 20-inch replica,” he said. “Just waiting for the final plans.”
After 21 years in economic development with the government, Unsold worked as an assistant librarian at Washington State College of Ohio, retiring in May 2024.
A native of Steubenville, Ohio, Unsold has made Waterford his home for 31 years. His creations are available for purchase.
“Some are for sale—and I’m open to building others upon request,” he said.
And as for when he might stop building?
“The only time I’ll stop is when I’m not around to do it anymore,” he said.
