Herreshoff #186201es [Model Yacht built by N.G. Herreshoff]

"[1936-02-27] Thu 27: [Thermometer] 44 - 37 - 37 [degrees]. Cloudy & fog with l[igh]t variable wind. I stay in bed to try to get sleep that I am short of. Had a call from [son] Francis in p.m. and he presented me with a little boat [#186201esl Model Yacht built by N.G. Herreshoff] I made in 1861 or '62, passing it to [brother] Julian - Bershe[?] C and from him to Francis." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1936. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"[Typewritten memorandum:] Model Boat [#186201es] made by N. G. Herreshoff in 1861-62.
This rather queer shaped model was made by Nat Herreshoff when a boy of about thirteen years old, and perhaps her hard bilge, or resemblance to a V-bottom boat, can be traced to Nat's first racing experience in J. B.'s METEOR [#185601es], a V-bottom boat which was built by J. B. and his father between 1855 and 1857. Also Nat's father, Charles Frederick H., was at the time interested in models which gained stability or sail carrying ability by the action of the low bow wave. (In other words, the leeward bilge was supposed to rise up, or plane, on the lee bow wave).
J. B. once described these early bows to me by saying 'they were like the mold board of a plow which cuts into the sod, turns it over and throws it down.'
It is also interesting that C.F.H.'s later JULIAs [#185602es Julia III and #187004es Julia IV] had bows of this type, particularly those which used shifting ballast cars, so at the time that Nat made this model boat there may have been much talk about gaining sail carrying ability through hull shape. It is interesting, too, that Captain Nat did not use tumble-home sides after 1875, but earlier models like SADIE [#186704es (designed by JBH)], and SHADOW [#187106es] had tumble home. Apparently after stability was gained by deeper ballast he decided the slack bilges made an easier driven model.
A± any rate, it is interesting that this toy boat, or model boat, was owned by five boys without being seriously damaged. She was rigged at various times as both cat and sloop. The model probably has had several coats of paint, but is all original but the stem which L. F. H. made before the last painting. The stem is about 1/2in too high and was intended to be cut down after the flat bowsprit was fitted. The rudder is original and shows the stopper which went against the transom and prevented the rudder from swinging far enough to jam the rudder hangings.
This model is now presented to Norman F. Herreshoff by L. Francis Herreshoff who thinks it should be in the back part of the old Herreshoff house in Hope Street where it undoubtedly was made nearly a century ago.
The writing on the after deck is in Captain Nat's hand done after I returned the model to him in 1936." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis (creator). Memorandum. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. MRDW02, Folder [no #]. 1956-12-27.)

"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten memorandum:] Model Boat [#186201es] made by N. G. Herreshoff in 1861-62.
This rather queer shaped model was made by Nat Herreshoff when a boy of about thirteen years old, and perhaps her hard bilge, or resemblance to a V-bottom boat, can be traced to Nat's first racing experience in J. B.'s METEOR [#185601es], a V-bottom boat which was built by J. B. and his father between 1855 and 1857. Also Nat's father, Charles Frederick H., was at the time interested in models which gained stability or sail carrying ability by the action of the low bow wave. (In other words, the leeward bilge was supposed to rise up, or plane, on the lee bow wave).
J. B. once described these early bows to me by saying 'they were like the mold board of a plow which cuts into the sod, turns it over and throws it down.'
It is also interesting that C.F.H.'s later JULIAs [#185602es Julia III and #187004es Julia IV] had bows of this type, particularly those which used shifting ballast cars, so at the time that Nat made this model boat there may have been much talk about gaining sail carrying ability through hull shape. It is interesting, too, that Captain Nat did not use tumble-home sides after 1875, but earlier models like SADIE [#186704es (designed by JBH)], and SHADOW [#187106es] had tumble home. Apparently after stability was gained by deeper ballast he decided the slack bilges made an easier driven model.
A± any rate, it is interesting that this toy boat, or model boat, was owned by five boys without being seriously damaged. She was rigged at various times as both cat and sloop. The model probably has had several coats of paint, but is all original but the stem which L. F. H. made before the last painting. The stem is about 1/2in too high and was intended to be cut down after the flat bowsprit was fitted. The rudder is original and shows the stopper which went against the transom and prevented the rudder from swinging far enough to jam the rudder hangings.
This model is now presented to Norman F. Herreshoff by L. Francis Herreshoff who thinks it should be in the back part of the old Herreshoff house in Hope Street where it undoubtedly was made nearly a century ago.
The writing on the after deck is in Captain Nat's hand done after I returned the model to him in 1936." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis (creator). Memorandum. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_00590. Folder [no #]. 1956-12-27.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten copy of a memorandum, laminated in plastic:] Model Boat [#186201es] made by N. G. Herreshoff in 1861-62.
This rather queer shaped model was made by Nat Herreshoff when a boy of about thirteen years old, and perhaps her hard bilge, or resemblance to a V-bottom boat, can be traced to Nat's first racing experience in J. B.'s METEOR [#185601es], a V-bottom boat which was built by J. B. and his father between 1855 and 1857. Also Nat's father, Charles Frederick H., was at the time interested in models which gained stability or sail carrying ability by the action of the low bow wave. (In other words, the leeward bilge was supposed to rise up, or plane, on the lee bow wave).
J. B. once described these early bows to me by saying 'they were like the mold board of a plow which cuts into the sod, turns it over and throws it down.'
It is also interesting that C.F.H.'s later JULIAs [#185602es Julia III and #187004es Julia IV] had bows of this type, particularly those which used shifting ballast cars, so at the time that Nat made this model boat there may have been much talk about gaining sail carrying ability through hull shape. It is interesting, too, that Captain Nat did not use tumble-home sides after 1875, but earlier models like SADIE [#186704es (designed by JBH)], and SHADOW [#187106es] had tumble home. Apparently after stability was gained by deeper ballast he decided the slack bilges made an easier driven model.
A± any rate, it is interesting that this toy boat, or model boat, was owned by five boys without being seriously damaged. She was rigged at various times as both cat and sloop. The model probably has had several coats of paint, but is all original but the stem which L. F. H. made before the last painting. The stem is about 1/2in too high and was intended to be cut down after the flat bowsprit was fitted. The rudder is original and shows the stopper which went against the transom and prevented the rudder from swinging far enough to jam the rudder hangings.
This model is now presented to Norman F. Herreshoff by L. Francis Herreshoff who thinks it should be in the back part of the old Herreshoff house in Hope Street where it undoubtedly was made nearly a century ago.
The writing on the after deck is in Captain Nat's hand done after I returned the model to him in 1936. [Incl. envelope marked in red pencil 'Description of Model Boat Built By N.G. Herreshoff']." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis (creator). Memorandum. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_02970. Folder [no #]. 1956-12-27.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #186201es [Model Yacht built by N.G. Herreshoff] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.