Herreshoff #192204es [Sailing Cutter for #215p Roamer]

"[Item Transcription:] Refering to your interesting visit here yesterday in which you left an order with our Company to build you a sailing dinghy [#192602es Garryowen] from my design and what I thought would give you best pleasure in sailing at Essex.
I would like some information from you.
I think you mentioned the length not to exceed 16 feet, is that a positive limitation?
I find [#404s] Coquina is 16ft 7in extreme length and 15ft 9in in waterline - a little longer than I had in mind. She is 5ft 1in beam with 22in depth and 14in free board at mid section and as you probably noticed has rather a lean builge and very easy lines both fore & aft. When new she weighed 275lbs and as I used to sail her had the following weight: Centerboard, rudder, oars, rowlocks & c 58lbs, sails & rigging 43 lbs, sandbags 140lbs, self with winter suit 170lbs, total 686 lbs.
We have moulds for another boat designed 12 or 14 years after Coquina which I think would make a better boat for you and probably as fast under ordinary conditions. I am enclosing profile and half breadth of deck of each for comparison which will show better by holding paper up to light. This later design has an over hang forward which gives very graceful lines
Is 17ft 2in extreme length, 14ft 8in waterline, 5ft 5in beam, 24in deep and 16 1/2in freeboard at midsection. The plan[?] is a little flatter than Coquina, giving a much fuller builge[sic] and of course much more natural stability and capable of carrying larger sails. Boats built from this model have usually been rigged with mainsail & jib and the last two [apparently #192204es Sailing Cutter for #215p Roamer and #192501es Sailing Cutter for Katoura II] had jib headed mainsails set on short masts with yard having jaws in sails. If the extreme length of 17ft 2in is used the two masted rig could be used, but if the boat is made much shorter probably the jib & mainsail rig would be desirable to get sufficient sail area.
The hull of this model 17ft 2in long would probably weigh 300lbs and will all gear on board except ballast nearly 400lbs.
Is this too much for hauling out as you propose or would a smaller size boat of less weight be preferable? Do you want all spars & rig to store in board or would you prefer tall mast, or masts that you would stow away elsewhere?
Kindly advise me on these various points." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Goodwin, Charles A. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRRT_270. Unidentif. / Non-Cataloged, Folder MRRT. 1926-06-24.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #192204es [Sailing Cutter for #215p Roamer] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

"11-1-[19]22 [When built]. #12659 [Job Number]. Move centerboard box 6" fwd. 16'-10" x 5 1/2" Sailing Cutter. Frame spacing 7 1/4". Planking, white cedar, 5/16" full lapped. Thwarts mahogany 7/8", double kneed. Floor boards, cypress. Deck cedar 5/16" thick canvas covered. W.T. bulkheads 5/32" cedar 5/32" mahogany. All trimmings of mahogany. 2 color pole sockets. Wash boards mahogany. Centerboard 5/8" oak. Length of centerboard 3' 6". Bronze wire rope traveller over tiller. For [rigging] details see [drawing] 79-85 [as per notes on drawing 28-43].
While not listed by name this is apparently #192302es [Sailing Cutter for Roamer] which is mentioned on model 18 as having been built in 1923 and whose sailplan 28-60 dated 1922-11 is the only plan listing a sailing cutter between 1922 and 1923." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. October 26, 2009.)

"This vessel's contract date was determined from notes on the original plan. Plan 28-43 (formerly 76-109) from which this boat was built was drawn 1913-03. The vessel's job number 12659 was assigned ca. 1922-11-01. #215p Roamer (for which this vessel was built) was contracted for 1901-09. This boat's contract or building date is about 21.2 years after #215p Roamer was contracted for." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. October 26, 2009.)

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