HMCo #268p Canvasback [Canvas Back]

P00268_Canvasback_Lessing_a.jpg

Particulars

Construction_Record_Title.jpgName: Canvasback [Canvas Back]
Later Name(s): Zara
Type: Power Launch
Designed by: NGH
Contract: 1908-11-13
Launch: 1909-3-22
LOA: 59' 11" (18.26m)
LWL: 53' 3" (16.23m)
Beam: 10' 8" (3.25m)
Draft: 3' 0" (0.91m)
Displ.: 36,000 lbs (16,329 kg)
Propulsion: Gasoline, Standard, 40 h.p.
Propeller: Diameter 28", Pitch 51", 4 blades #23 1/2
Built for: Bourne, Frederic G.
Note(s) in HMCo Construction Record: moulds as for #264 for F. G. Bourne
Current owner: Private Owner, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (last reported 2016 at age 107)

See also:
#190904es [Dinghy for #268p Canvasback] (1909)

Note: Particulars are primarily but not exclusively from the HMCo Construction Record. Supplementary information not from the Construction Record appears elsewhere in this record with a complete citation.


Model

Model #101Model number: 101
Model location: H.M.M. Model Room South Wall Left

Vessels from this model:
9 built, modeled by NGH
#189602ep [Unbuilt 65ft Torpedo Boat] (1896)
#148p Our Mary (1888)
#149p Jersey Lily (1888)
#188p Squib (1898)
#228p Express (1902)
#231p Adrienne (1903)
#232p Helvetia II (1903)
#248p Toddy Wax [Toddywax] (1906, Extant)
#264p Sarah Webb (1908)
#268p Canvasback [Canvas Back] (1909, Extant)

Original text on model:
"#148 OUR MARY 1888
#149 JERSEY LILY 1888
#188 SQUIB 1896 stern lengthened
#228 EXPRESS 1902 bow and stern changed
#231 ADRIENNE 1903 " "
#232 HELVETIA 2 1903 " " #248 " " [final name THANIA]
#264 SARAH WEBB " " [Note: Ditto marks indicate these vessels had "bow and stern changed"]
#268 CANVASBACK 1908" (Source: Original handwritten annotation on model. Undated.)

Model Description:
"65' loa Our Mary and Jersey Lily, steam passenger launches of 1888. Also, with stern lengthened, the 78' loa steam cabin launch Squib of 1896, and, with bow and stern changed, the 49'6" gasoline launches Express, Adrienne, Helvetia II, of 1902 & 1903, the 59'8" loa Toddy Wax of 1905, the 50' loa Sarah Webb of 1908, and the 59'11" Canvasback of 1908. Both Toddy Wax, renamed Thania, and Canvasback are in the Herreshoff Marine Museum's Hall of Boats." (Source: Bray, Maynard. 2004.)

Model Comment:
"Reference to model 101 was added by CvdL because she was built on the moulds of #264p8 Sharah Webb which in turn was built from model 101." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. 2008.)

Note: Vessels that appear in the records as not built, a cancelled contract, a study model, or as a model sailboat are listed but not counted in the list of vessels built from a model.


Offsets

Offset booklet number(s): HH.4.018

Offset booklet contents:
#148, #149, #188, #228, #231, #232, #248, #264, #268 [various launches & launch-type yachts].


Offset Booklet(s) in Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection. Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections, MIT Museum, Cambridge, Mass. (Restricted access --- see curator.)

Drawings

Main drawing Dwg 002-052 (HH.5.00053) Explore all drawings relating to this boat.

List of drawings:
   Drawings believed to have been first drawn for, or being first referenced to
   HMCo #268p Canvasback [Canvas Back] are listed in bold.
   Click on Dwg number for preview, on HH number to see at M.I.T. Museum.
  1. Dwg 054-019 (HH.5.03952): Flanged Elbow for Condenser Pipe (1884-11-14)
  2. Dwg 011-029 (HH.5.00955): Shaft Bearing and Stuffing Box of Bronze (1902-08-20)
  3. Dwg 058-033 (HH.5.04104): Strut for Propeller Shaft (1902-08-28)
  4. Dwg 068-051 (HH.5.04858): Steering Gear and Details of Stand (1902-09-05)
  5. Dwg 114-058 (HH.5.09557): Davit for 11'-6" Boat (1903-03-26)
  6. Dwg 082-055 (HH.5.06328): Awning with Stanchions and Sockets for # 625 (1905-05-11)
  7. Dwg 111-066 (HH.5.09257): Bulkheads etc. (1905-10-09)
  8. Dwg 093-053 (HH.5.07658): Mahogany Settee on After Deck (1905-10-17)
  9. Dwg 085-062 (HH.5.06647): Stanchions for Hand Rail and Sockets for Awning Tubes (1905-10-21 ?)
  10. Dwg 062-068 (HH.5.04433): Rudder and Steering Gear for # 264 (1908-02-05)
  11. Dwg 002-052 (HH.5.00053); Construction Dwg > Launch - IC, 59'-11" O.A., 10'-8" [B], 3' [D], Gasoline (1908-12-08)
  12. Dwg 022-000 (HH.5.01652): Connecting Rods for Air and Feed Pump (ca. 1908-12-08)
  13. Dwg 025-064 A (HH.5.01816): Construction List # 268 (1908-12-08)
  14. Dwg 111-070 (HH.5.09261): Partition on # 24 for Gasoline Launch # 268 (1909-02-11)
  15. Dwg 134-052 (HH.5.10890): Gasoline Tank for Buffalo 30 H.P. Engine # 277 (1911-05-22)
  16. Dwg 006-075 (HH.5.00575): Self Weed Freeing Propeller for Canvasback # 268 (1913-06-27)
  17. Dwg 002-052 A (HH.5.00054); Canvasback As Is Sept 1944 [Launch - IC, 59'-11" O.A.] (1944-09 ?)
  18. Dwg 002-052 B (HH.5.00055); General Arrangement > Canvasback Altered [Launch - IC, 59'-11" O.A.] (ca. 1944-09)
Source: Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections, MIT Museum, Cambridge, Mass. Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection. Together with: Hasselbalch, Kurt with Frances Overcash and Angela Reddin. Guide to The Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection. Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections, MIT Museum, Cambridge, Mass., 1997. Together with: Numerous additions and corrections by Claas van der Linde.
Note: The Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection is copyrighted by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass. Permission to incorporate information from it in the Herreshoff Catalogue Raisonné is gratefully acknowledged. The use of this information is permitted solely for research purposes. No part of it is to be published in any form whatsoever.

Documents

Nathanael G. Herreshoff

"[1908-12-15] Tue 15: Set up moulds for #268 [Canvasback], 60' gasoline launch for F. G. Bourne.
[1908-12-31] Thu 31: #267 st[eame]r [Enaj] planked except topsides, and deck beams in #268 [Canvasback]. Single planking up to turn of bilge & beginning on double planking of topsides. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1908. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"March 23, 1909
Trial of Gasoline launch #268 Canvasback, built for Com[modore] F.G. Bourne & Fitted with canvas top.
Length o.a. 60[ft], beam 10ft 9in on moulds of Sarah Webb [#264p] & others. Has 40hp 6 cyl[inder] Standard motor.
Engine on trial in charge of builders.
On mile course in harbor, nearly high tide. Wind NW 28 miles, no equipment [on board] & 4 men.
[Followed by tabulated trial run data with best speed being 12.63mph = 10.95kn]
Rev. quite uniform at 448 per min.
Screw 4 bl[ade] 28in x 51in (mean pitch about 49in). Slip 39%.
No vibration of engine or boat. Water not deep enough for the speed, would have done better in deep water." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten note in Trials Booklet '1898 - 1909' under date of March 23, 1909. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum.)

Other Contemporary Text Source(s)

"Yesterday morning at high-tide double launching took place at the Herreshoff boat shops. One of the craft [#267p Enaj] is a steam yacht of the dimensions and type of the Roamer [#215p], owned by N. G. Herreshoff. The new boat is 89 feet over all, with a light draught and a single screw. Her name is Enaj, and she was built for E. O. Bennett of New Haven. Her captain will be William N. Torrey, a well-known steam yacht skipper. As soon as she is fitted out her owner will go on a cruise in southern waters.
The other boat [#268p Canvasback], a smaller one is a power craft with a deck house. She has a speed of about 10 knots, and is 42 feet long. The name of this boat is the Canvas Back and was built for a Boston yachtsman." (Source: Anon. "Double Launching Yesterday." Bristol Phoenix, March 23, 1909, p. 2.)

"[License issued to vessel under 20 tons. Pos. 43:]
Canvas Back, gas screw yacht, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1909.
15 tons; 52.6 ft. x 10.5 ft. x 4 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
No specifications shown.
Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) Mar. 22, 1909. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: John B. Herreshoff, Bristol.
Surrendered [license] May 8, 1909 at Patchogue. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence])." (Source: Survey of Federal Archives, Work Projects Administration. Ships Documents of Rhode Island. Bristol. Ship Registers and Enrollments of the Port of Bristol - Warren Rhode Island, 1941, s.v. Canvas Back.)

"BRISTOL, R. I., March 27 [1909] --- ... The two yachts launched at Herreshoff's the first of the week [March 22, 1909], the steam yacht Enaj [#267p], the name of a woman spelled backward, for T. G. Bennett of New Haven, and the power yacht Canvasback [#268p] for Ex-Commodore F. G. Bourne of the New York Y. C., have had their official trials in the harbor under the supervision of designer Nat Herreshoff and have been accepted. The Enaj made a speed of 12 knots and the Canvasback 10." (Source: Anon. "Bristol Notes." Boston Globe, March 28, 1909, p. 44.)

"A double launching took place last week from the Herreshoff shops at Bristol. R. I. One was Enja [sic, i.e. Enaj #267p], a steam yacht built on the same lines as Captain Nat Herreshoff's Roamer, is owned by T. G. Bennett, of New Haven. Her length over all is about 111 feet and 100 feet on the water line.
The other boat is a 60-foot gasolene power launch, which was ordered by ex-Commodore F. G. Bourne, of the New York Y. C. She is expected to develop a speed of 16 miles an hour. The name of this yacht is Canvas Back [#268p]." (Source: Anon. "Launching at Herreshoff's." Forest and Stream, April 3, 1909, p. 544.)

"NO. 4417 --- SALE. --- One of the most attractive 60-ft. day cruisers available. Average speed 12 miles. 6-cylinder Standard motor, arranged for one man control. Unusually large cockpit, with glass windshield, and side curtains. Very comfortable cabin and toilet forward. Designed and built by Herreshoff Company, Bristol, R. I. A.1 condition throughout. [Though not explicitly identified, the dimensions and the accompanying photo identify her as Canvasback.]" (Source: Anon. "For Sale." Yachting, January 1914, p. 3.)

"An unusual demand for pleasure boats of every size and type is evidenced by the number of transfers recently recently effected through the office of Stanley M Seaman, 220 Broadway, New York City. ... Canvasback, 60ft power boat, from Commodore Frederick G. Bourne to Earl H. Potter, Jamestown, R.I. ..." (Source: Anon. [Title?] Power Boating, 1915, vol 13-14, [p. 101?].)

Other Modern Text Source(s)

"Erik's Boat Works in Stamford, Connecticut, has been working on an interesting restoration project. She's a 59ft 11in double-ended gasoline 'launch' designed by Nathanael G. Herreshoff, built at the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in 1910, and launched as CANVASBACK. She was built for Frederick G. Bourne, then commodore of the New York Yacht Club, and it's his grandson, Frederick Hard, who owns the boat now and is having the restoration work done. Her planking is sound; she's double-planked above the waterline with longleaf yellow pine over cedar, and single-planked below the waterline. Many of the longleaf yellow pine planks run full length! A number of frames, deck beams, the cabin sole, and the cabin are being replaced, and the accommodations are being enlarged to provide living quarters for four. Though that necessitates some changes, her mahogany and butternut paneling will be replaced, and she should look better than ever." (Source: Burke, John. "Around the Boatyards." Wooden Boat #40, May/June 1981, p. 25.)

"The striking black hull of the 60 foot Herreshoff motor yacht ZARA gained the approval of all who witnessed her homecoming journey from Rockport, Maine to Bristol, Rhode Island this October. The yacht, donated to the Independence Seaport Museum by Frederick Hard, found its way to the Herreshoff Museum four years ago, but had remained in the town of Camden until preparations could be made to deliver her to Bristol.
ZARA was christened CANVASBACK in 1909. She was built on the extended molds of SARAH WEBB, a 50 foot power yacht designed by Captain Nat. The 60 foot THANIA, part of the Museum's collection, bears notable similarity to ZARA's hull, and was thought to be a sistership. THANIA, however, was a reduction of the mold for MARY AND JERSEY LILY, a sixty five foot power yacht. [Note: This is incorrect. All the above mentioned yachts were built from the same model no. 101.] CANVASBACK was ordered by F. G. Bourne, grandfather of Frederick Hard. Drawing 3 feet, she carried a 40 horsepower engine that powered her 59' 11" foot long 10' 8" wide body through the water at approximately 7 knots. That she could attain such speed with this sort of power is a tribute to the efficient design of her hull. Rockport Marine prepared ZARA for her homecoming after four years in dry storage. Her gleaming brightwork and black hull held court over the picture postcard harbor on the perfect autumn day Halsey Herreshoff, Andy Tyska and I chose to begin our trip. ZARA is well set up with ample cabin space, four berths, two heads, a well equipped galley, and a roomy center cockpit. A smaller cockpit behind the aft cabin has a frame for a canvas awning. Her steering wheel turns horizontally and features the throttle and a manual spark advance on the steering column.
ZARA's 200hp gasoline engine easily powers her at a cruising speed of 10.3 knots. Zara's hull shape is such that she parts the water like a blade. The well-known naval architect Phil Bolger noticed this as we slid through the Annisquam Canal. He came aboard with eyes wide and, after a thorough inspection, announced his approval. Mr. Bolger followed us to the end of the canal, where we opened her up. He stood with his arms in the air as we left his craft in our wake. Buzzard's Bay had a 3 to 4 foot chop in store for us, but ZARA handled it quite well. Her long narrow shape and low center of gravity made for a ride without pounding or lurching. Soon we rounded Sakonnet Point and powered her up the Sakonnet River, home to the Herreshoff pier at Bristol for what might be the first time since she was built here in 1909. On her homecoming, ZARA made admirers of all who saw her. She received countless compliments along with not a few cheers and standing ovations. She will, no doubt, be a proper ambassador for the Herreshoff Marine Museum in all her journeys. Her unanimous appeal is a testimony to the enduring design and craftsmanship of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company." (Source: By Pacheco, Jonathon. "Zara (Ex-Canvasback) Returns to Bristol." Herreshoff Marine Museum Chronicle, No. 25, 1996, p. 4.)

"The launch boat or tender, which has become our logo, was built for Commodore Borne [sic, i.e. Bourne] in 1904 by Nathan [sic] Herreshoff. Mr. Borne, Commodore of the New York Yacht Club, named the 60 footer 'Canvasback'. He used it to ferry friends from his estate, which is now St. Johns University Oakdale Campus, to his yacht, anchored offshore outside the Fire Island Inlet. ... 'Canvasback' cruised the waters of the Great South Bay until it was sold to Charles Gulden, the famous mustard king. It was eventually purchased by Lawrence Lessing Jr. Today 'Canvasback' has been totally restored and can still be seen cruising the waters of the Great South Bay or the Long Island Sound." (Source: http://www.lessings.com/UNI_venues.asp?ui=RIV&ven=r, retrieved January 21, 2009.)

Archival Documents

"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (mostly in pencil but also in ink) trials booklet titled '1898 - 1909'. Relevant contents:
§50: #268p CANVASBACK Trial Run mean speed 12.62mph = 10.95kn (1909-03-23)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE09_00060. Folder [no #]. 1898-09 to 1911-04.)



Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #268p Canvasback [Canvas Back] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.


Images

Registers

1912 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#458)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Frederick G. Bourne; Port: Oakdale; Port of Registry: Patchogue, L.I.
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], ScwStm [Screw Steamer]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-11; LWL 53-3; Extr. Beam 10-9; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Eng. 4 St. 6 Cyl. 6 x 8; Maker Standard

1914 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#460)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Frederick G. Bourne; Port: Oakdale; Port of Registry: Patchogue, L.I.
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], ScwStm [Screw Steamer]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-8; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-7; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Eng. 4 St. 6 Cyl. 6 x 8; Maker Standard

1917 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#484)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: J. Breckenridge Bayne, M.D.; Port: Newport, R.I.
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], ScwStm [Screw Steamer]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-7; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-6; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Eng. 4 Cyc. 6 Cyl. 6 x 8; Maker Standard

1920 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#471)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: J. Breckenridge Bayne, M.D.; Port: Washington, D.C.
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], ScwStm [Screw Steamer]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-8; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-7; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Eng. 4 St. 6 Cyl. 6 x 8; Maker Standard

1923 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#451)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Charles G. Meyer; Port: Bayside, L.I.; Port of Registry: New York
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], Pwr [Power]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-7; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-6; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Eng. 4 Cyc. 6 Cyl. 6 x 8; Maker Standard

1925 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#479)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Charles G. Meyer; Port: Bayside, L.I.; Port of Registry: New York
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], Pwr [Power]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-8; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-7; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Eng. 4 Cyc. 6 Cyl. 6 x 8; Maker Standard

1930 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#719)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Charles G. Meyer; Port: Bayside, N.Y.; Port of Registry: New York
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], Pwr [Power]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-7; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-6; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Eng. 4 Cyc. 6 Cyl. 5 3/4 x 7. 1928; Maker Speedway

1935 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#812)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Charles G. Meyer; Port: Bayside, N.Y.; Port of Registry: New York
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], Pwr [Power]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-7; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-6; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Eng. 4 Cyc. 6 Cyl. 5 3/4 x 7. 1928; Maker Speedway

1940 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#989)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Charles G. Meyer; Port: Bayside, N.Y.; Port of Registry: New York
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], Pwr [Power]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-8; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-7; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Eng. 4 Cyc. 6 Cyl. 5 3/4 x 7. 1928; Maker Speedway

1947 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#905)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Charles Gulden; Port: Islip, N.Y.; Port of Registry: New York
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], Pwr [Power]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-8; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-7; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Eng. 4 Cyc. 6 Cyl. 5 3/4 x 7; Maker Speedway

1950 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#1007)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Mrs. Lawrence Lessing; Port: Islip, N.Y.; Port of Registry: New York
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], Pwr [Power]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-8; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-7; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Eng. 4 Cyc. 6 Cyl. 5 x 5 3/4. 1938. Inst[alled] 1948; Maker Kermath

1955 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#1118)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Mrs. Lawrence Lessing; Port: Islip, N.Y.; Port of Registry: New York
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], Pwr [Power]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-8; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-7; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Eng. 4 Cyc. 6 Cyl. 5 x 5 3/4. 1938; Maker Kermath

1960 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#1211)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Mrs. Lawrence Lessing; Port: Islip, N.Y.; Port of Registry: New York
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], Pwr [Power]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-8; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-7; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Eng. 4 Cyc. 6 Cyl. 5 x 5 3/4. 1938; Maker Kermath

1967 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#1398)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Mrs. Lawrence Lessing; Port: Islip, N.Y.; Port of Registry: New York
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], Pwr [Power]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-8; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-7; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Eng. 4 Cyc. 8 Cyl. 4 1/2 x 5 1/16. 1962. 300 HP; Maker Palmer

1970 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#1118)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Mrs. Lawrence Lessing; Port: Islip, N.Y.; Port of Registry: New York
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], Pwr [Power]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-8; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-7; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Eng. 4 Cyc. 8 Cyl. 4 1/2 x 5 1/16. 1962. 300 HP; Maker Palmer

1975 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#1197)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Mrs. Lawrence Lessing; Port: Islip, N.Y.; Port of Registry: New York
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig Sc [Screw]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-8; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-7; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Engine 8 Cy. [19]62. 300hp; Maker Palmer

1977 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (#1043)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Mrs. Lawrence Lessing; Port: Islip, N.Y.; Port of Registry: New York
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig K[eel], TC [Trunk Cabin], Pwr [Power]
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; LOA 59-8; LWL 56-2; Extr. Beam 10-7; Depth 4-0; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N. G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Gas Engine 4 Cyc. 8 Cyl. 4 1/2 x 5 1/16. 1962. 300 HP; Maker Palmer

1984 Yacht Owners Register (#108.4)
Name: Canvasback
Owner: Hard, Frederick B. c/o Wellington and Co.; Port: New York, NY
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood; Type & Rig Power
LOA 59.7; Extr. Beam 10.6; Draught 4.0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer Nathanael G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol, R.I.; Built when 1909
Engine Sc. [Screw]. Gas. 300hp

1998 Stars Register of Yachts (#362.3)
Name; Former Name(s): Canvasback; Zara
Owner: Herreshoff Marine Museum; Port: Bristol, RI
Building Material Wood; Type & Rig Power
LOA 60-0; Extr. Beam 10-8; Draught 3-6
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N.G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol RI; Built when 1909
Engine 1 x Gasoline, 200hp
Note: Hull Color: Black

2007 WoodenBoat Register
Name; Former Name(s): Canvasback; Zara, Canvasback
Owner: Herreshoff Marine Museum; Port: Bristol, RI ; Port of Registry: Bristol, RI
Official no. 206083; Type & Rig Cabin launch
LOA 59-11; LWL 53-3; Extr. Beam 10-9; Draught 3-0
Builder Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; Designer N.G. Herreshoff; Built where Bristol RI; Built when 1909

2010 USCG
Name: Zara
Owner: [Previous Owner: Philadelphia Maritime Museum.]; Port: Philadelphia, Pa
Official no. 206083; Building Material Wood
Tons Gross 18; Tons Net 15; Reg. Length 52.6; Extr. Beam 10.5; Depth 4
Note: Hull Number: Unknown. Documentation Issuance Date: December 11,1990. Documentation Expiration Date: December 31,1993. Service: Recreational. Attention: These results are from the PSIX Archive Database and are for data before 12/15/2001. No Longer In Documentation..

Source: Various Yacht Lists and Registers. For complete biographical information see the Herreshoff Catalogue Raisonné under Data Sources. Note that this section shows only snapshots in time and should not be considered a provenance, although it can help creating one.

Supplement

From the 1920 and earlier HMCo Index Cards at the MIT Museum
  • Note: The vessel index cards comprise two sets of a total of some 3200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and information regarding drawings, later or former vessel names, and owners. They were compiled from HMCo's early days until 1920 and added to in later decades, apparently by Hart Nautical curator William A. Baker and his successors. While HMCo seems to have used only one set of index cards, all sorted by name and, where no name was available, by number, later users at MIT apparently divided them into two sets of cards, one sorted by vessel name, the other by vessel number and greatly expanded the number of cards. Original HMCo cards are usually lined and almost always punched with a hole at bottom center while later cards usually have no hole, are unlined, and often carry substantially less information. All cards are held by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass.
From the 1931 HMCo-published Owner's List

Name: Canvasback
Type: Gasoline
Length: 59'11"
Owner: Bourne, Com. F. G.

Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. "A Partial List of Herreshoff Clients." In: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Herreshoff Yachts. Bristol, Rhode Island, ca. 1931.

From the 1930s L. Francis Herreshoff Index Cards at the Herreshoff Marine Museum
  • Note: The L. Francis Herreshoff index cards comprise a set of some 1200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and / or ownership information. Apparently compiled in the early 1930s, for later HMCo-built boats like the Fishers Island 23s or the Northeast Harbor 30s are not included. Added to in later decades, apparently by L. F. Herreshoff as well as his long-time secretary Muriel Vaughn and others. Also 46 cards of L. F. Herreshoff-designed vessels. The original set of index cards is held by the Herreshoff Marine Museum and permission to display is gratefully acknowledged.
From the 1953 HMCo Owner's List by L. Francis Herreshoff

Name: Canvasback
Type: 59' 11" gasoline launch
Owner: Frederic G. Bourne
Year: 1909
Row No.: 100

Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. "Partial List of Herreshoff-Built Boats." In: Herreshoff, L. Francis. Capt. Nat Herreshoff. The Wizard of Bristol. New York, 1953, p. 325-343.

From the 2000 (ca.) Transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Vermilya/Bray

Year: 1908
E/P/S: P
No.: 268
Name: Canvasback
OA: 59' 11"

Source: Vermilya, Peter and Maynard Bray. "Transcription of the HMCo. Construction Record." Unpublished database, ca. 2000.

Note: The transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Peter Vermilya and Maynard Bray was performed independently (and earlier) than that by Claas van der Linde. A comparison of the two transcriptions can be particularly useful in those many cases where the handwriting in the Construction Record is difficult to decipher.

Research Note(s)

"Built in 129 days (contract to launch; equivalent to 279 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Gross Register Tons (18) from the 1912 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (Net Register Tons were reported as 15) and converting to lbs by dividing through 2000 (short tons). Note that this figure can only be a rough estimate because register tons as reported in Yacht Registers correlate only loosely with actual displacement figures." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

Note: Research notes contain information about a vessel that is often random and unedited but has been deemed useful for future research.

Note

We are always interested in learning more about this vessel. If you want to discuss it or can share any additional information or images or to discuss a copyright concern, please do not hesitate to send an Email to the link below!


Herreshoff Catalogue Raisonné.
All rights reserved. No reproduction, adaptation, or distribution of any part of this document or any information contained herein by any means whatsoever is permitted without prior written permission. For the full terms of copyright for this document please click here. Last revision 2024-01-16.
© 2024,

Citation: HMCo #268p Canvasback [Canvas Back]. Herreshoff Catalogue Raisonné. https://herreshoff.info/Docs/P00268_Canvasback.htm.