Herreshoff #190101ep [Electric Launch for #205p Eugenia III]

"Oct[ober] 12, 1901
Electric Launch belonging to Eugenia [#224p]
14ft x 4ft 10in on 'Columbia life boat' moulds, raised [sheer]. Propeller, 2 blades, 12in projected[?] area, 8in dia[meter], 6in mean pitch, reduced to 4 1/2in at backing edge & hub.
Motor Hotlzer Cabot special 1/6hp at 1500 rev.
On 3/4 mile base, 2 on board, calm
[Followed by tabulated trial run data with mean speed being 4.8mph].
Oct. 20 [1901]
Run over same cours. Propeller shaft has been eased, and battery run down a little. Wind, about 8 miles, new tide flood. Dist[ance] 4000 ft.
[Followed by tabulated trial run data with mean speed being 4.42mph]. [Followed by several more pages of tests and observations until November 8, 1901]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten note in Trials Booklet '1898 - 1909' under date of October 12, 1901 to November 8, 1901. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum.)

"I have yours of 8 [November 1905], and take pleasure in giving you what information I can. ...
We have built a number of electric driven launches to go in our yachts. They are in lengths from 20ft [#218p CARMEN, #217p MAISIE and #221p] to 14ft [#190101ep, #190201ep, #190202ep, #190302ep, #190304ep, #190305ep] and 1 1/2 to 1/2 horse power motors. We fit them with light batteries so that they can be easily hoisted at the davits and can run from 1 to 1 1/2 hours on a charge. The 20ft boats have a speed of 6 statute miles and weight at the davits about 1000lbs. The 14ft boats with 1/2hp will speed 4 1/2 miles and weigh about 500lbs. They are very useful little craft to the yachtsmen. When attached to st[eam] yachts which have electric generating plants on board for charging their thums[?]. I do not know what speed has been attained with electric power launches. We have only fitted light powers and batteries for short runs believing the boats usefulness would be destroyed if loaded with the batteries & motors of light[?] power. With the experience we have had with gasoline we still think steam power most reliable and satisfactory." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Penciled draft reply note to Admiral W.L. Capps, Bureau of Construction and Repair, Navy Dept. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly (84). After November 8, 1905.)

"[Item Transcription:] The Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Truman H. Newberry, has brought to my attention a launch [#232p HELVETIA II] recently built by you for Mr. C. O. Iselin, which seems to have given very great satisfaction. Will you kindly give me so much of the particulars of this launch as you might feel disposed to furnish, especially the general dimensions of the launch, speed, displacement, horsepower of engine and make of engine. Will you also give me, so far as your experience goes, the highest speed developed by launches fitted with electrically-propelled machinery, with dimensions of the launch so propelled.
Trusting that I am not imposing too much upon your good nature, and that you can furnish me the above-requested information at an early date, believe me,
Very sincerely yours, ...
[Incl. penciled NGH draft reply note on verso:] I have yours of 8 [November 1905], and take pleasure in giving you what information I can.
In spring of 1903 we built two gasoline launches [#231p ADRIENNE and #232p HELVETIA II] for the Iselin families at New Rochelle which are considered very satisfactory and model boats of their types. They were intended strictly for pleasure boats to use in L[ong] Is[land] Sound for short excursions. Are rather lightly built, but quite strong enough for the purpose intended, are double planked, a short deck forward with raised house having cabin room enough for shelter in case of rain and a toilet room. Aft of this there is a large open cockpit with the motor in the middle. The boats are 50ft o.a., 10 1/2ft extreme beam, about 3ft draft, high freeboard, and very easy lines below water. They are propelled by 20-25HP 'Standard' engines and have a speed of nearly 10 knots.
We are just building a similar boat [#248p TODDYWAX] except longer --- 60ft o.a. --- which will be used around Newport next summer.
We have built a number of electric driven launches to go in our yachts. They are in lengths from 20ft [#218p CARMEN, #217p MAISIE and #221p] to 14ft [#190101ep, #190201ep, #190202ep, #190302ep, #190304ep, #190305ep] and 1 1/2 to 1/2 horse power motors. We fit them with light batteries so that they can be easily hoisted at the davits and can run from 1 to 1 1/2 hours on a charge. The 20ft boats have a speed of 6 statute miles and weight at the davits about 1000lbs. The 14ft boats with 1/2hp will speed 4 1/2 miles and weigh about 500lbs. They are very useful little craft to the yachtsmen. When attached to st[eam] yachts which have electric generating plants on board for charging their thums[?]. I do not know what speed has been attained with electric power launches. We have only fitted light powers and batteries for short runs believing the boats usefulness would be destroyed if loaded with the batteries & motors of light[?] power. With the experience we have had with gasoline we still think steam power most reliable and satisfactory.
" (Source: Capps, Admiral W.L., Bureau of Construction and Repair, Navy Dept. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_00520. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly (84). 1905-11-08.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (mostly in pencil but also in ink) trials booklet titled '1898 - 1909'. Relevant contents:
§13: #190101ep [ELECTRIC LAUNCH FOR #224p EUGENIA IV] Trial Run several pages of tests and observations (1901-10-12 to 1901-11-08)." (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.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #190101ep [Electric Launch for #205p Eugenia III] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

"Sheer raised 4". Keel - white oak. Apron - white oak. Timbers - white oak. Stem - hackmatack. Stern - butternut. Planking - cedar, 1/4" thick, lapped in narrow strakes. Gunwale - white oak. Sheer strake - white oak. Frame spacing 7 1/2" [as per notes on plan 2-16]." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. October 26, 2009.)

"Note, that this electric launch was able to carry a sailing rig as per notes on spar plan HH.5.06101 (081-013): Spars for 17ft-3in & 18ft Electric & 14ft Dinghie dated 1902-06-09." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. October 20, 2019.)

"This vessel's contract date was taken from a note regarding the order date on plan 2-16." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. October 20, 2019.)

"Displacement 500lbs from penciled draft reply note written shortly after November 8, 1905 by N. G. Herreshoff to Admiral W.L. Capps of the Navy Departments Bureau of Construction and Repair (in Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly (84).)" (Source: van der Linde, Claas. October 20, 2019.)

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