Herreshoff #193404es [Unbuilt Oyster Bay Class Proposal]

"[1934-11-17] Sat 17: ... Finish specifcations for a class of Oyster Bay boats. ..
[1934-11-19] Mon 19: ... Have been studying a proposed class of 20' w[ater]l[ine boats] for Oyster Bay which Nystrom is to send to Com[modore] of Seawanaka Y[acht] Club].
[1934-11-24] Sat 24: ... I am working on model for suggested Oyster Bay class of 20' w[ater]l[ine sloops].
[1934-11-20] Tue 20: ... At [HMCo] shop drafting room in a.m. [Three plans at MIT are dated Nov 20, 1934 and we may assume that NGH saw or reviewed all of them: HH.5.10537 (130): Sail Plans: [Sail Plan for #193405es Unbuilt Little NY30 Replacement Proposal] (1934-11-20), HH.5.12226 (148): Construction Plans for Small Sail Boats: Sail Plan and Profile of Hull [#193404es Oyster Bay Class Proposal] (1934-11-20) and HH.5.12228 (148): Construction Plans for Small Sail Boats: [Construction Plan] (1934-11-20).]" (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1934. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"[Item Transcription:] Dear Mr. Herreshoff:
I had a conversation with Charles Nystrom yesterday, during which I told him that some of us at the Seawanhaka Yacht Club were considering the possibility of developing a new rating class which would be cheap to build and reasonably economical to run, and which would, by the latitude given to the designers, produce some building after the initial boats were built. [This led to NGH designing #193404es Unbuilt Oyster Bay Class Proposal.] We have asked various designers for the benefit of their views on the subject, and he told me that he thought you might be interested in giving us the benefit of your wise advice. Philip Roosevelt has supplied him with what specifications we have to date, and I hope very much that, if you care to, you will look it over and let us know what you think. We should all be so very appreciative of any pointers you could give us.
I also told Charles that I had had in mind the possibility of getting a design made for a sailing dinghy for myself [#1318s Sailing Dinghy for Henry S. Morgan built 1.5 years later?]. It hasn't seemed to me that the sailing dinghies that we have here on the Sound are very satisfactory as sailing boats, though they fill the requirements of a rowing dinghy as well as a boat to sail. He said he would mention the matter to you, and I encouraged him to do so. I haven't made up my mind that I want to build one, but I told him I was interested in the idea of seeing what you [p. 2] would suggest as the most desirable type.
I am sorry I didn't have a chance to go to Bristol this summer to see you, but shall hope to do so before long.
Yours faithfully, ... [Incl penciled draft reply by NGH on verso of two pages which differes only slightly from the discarded typewritten version of his letter to Henry S. Morgan dated November 11, 17.] [Incl envelope to NGH in Bristol, postmarked Nov. 14, 1934 and marked in pencil by NGH 'Replied. Dinghy Nov. 16. Oyster Bay Class Nov. 17'.]" (Source: Morgan, Harry S. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_07190. Folder [no #]. 1934-11-14.)
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"[Item Description:] Typewritten (carbon copy) rating rule for a sail-restricted class titled 'Proposed Rating Rule for Oyster Bay Open Class' and beginning with 'The weight of all boats shall not be less than 3,000lbs and not more than 3,600lbs. Boats shall be weighed having on board all spars and movable ballast but sails, anchors, cable, crew and movable fittings such as removable winch handles shall not be on board. Sail area (S) shall be the product of ...' with further restrictions for length [with penciled note by NGH 'This will lead to cutting off all overhang which would be wrong'], freeboard, Height of foretriangle, Hollows, Draft, Beam, Mainsail, Mast weight and height and decks [with penciled addition by NGH 'LOA. Length overall shall not exceed A plus 4 feet']. Undated, this is probably Philip Roosevelt's rule for a new class on Oyster Bay (which resulted in NGH designing #193404es Unbuilt Oyster Bay Class Proposal) that enclosed by Henry S. Morgan letter to NGH dated November 14, 1934." (Source: Roosevelt, Philip (?) (creator). Rating Rule. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_07180. Folder [no #]. No date (before 1934-11-14 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten draft letter on 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, Rhode Island, R.F. Haffenreffer, President, C.W. Haffenreffer, General Manager' stationery (incomplete and marked in pencil 'Letter changed and re-written'):]
Dear Mr. Morgan:
In reply to your interesting letter of the fourteenth, Mr. Charles Nystrom has handed me the sheet on which Mr. Philip Roosevelt outlines a new class for Oyster Bay [#193404es].
I have looked it over casually and it appears to me that the limitations were rather indirect and didn't define clearly the size of sailboat those interested had in mind.
Also, the sail area limit was so large for the specified displacement (weight) that it might as well have been omitted, except for a racing machine with large crew or shifting ballast, a condition I certainly would not approve.
Presuming what is intended by a 'rating class' is one to sail without time allowance. I fully approve of an open and not a one-design class, as it gives so much better opportunity to improve and makes competition between designers.
For pleasant day sailing or class racing boats of inexpensive type, I would suggest the following features and directions:
To be Jib and Mainsail rig of not over two hundred--fifty [corrected in red pencil to thee hundred] square feet actual area, measured when dry and stretched taut. Luff or vertical height of mainsail not to exceed twice length of foot [crossed out and replaced with 31ft 0in] and area not to exceed two hundred [added in red pencil: and forty] square feet Luff of jib not to exceed four times the diagonal from luff to clew.
Any type of Mainsail may be used, - Bermudian, Gunteryard, Gaff, Sprit or Lug, but all sails arranged to quickly bend or unbend from spars and to store away below deck. Roaches in sides of sails not measured unless held [p. 2] out by battens. The tack of mainsail should be between one and three feet above deck. [Added in red pencil: Marks to be painted on mast and taken to be with marks.]
A spinnaker may be carried whose area does not exceed twice the area of Jib and length of spinnaker boom does not exceed the square root of area of jib. Note: The area of this spinnaker is the area computed from corner to corner of the sail, not counting the roach.
The hull: Limit over all between twenty-two and twenty-three [changed to: not over 24ft 0in] feet. Waterline nineteen and one-half to twenty; beam six and one-half to seven and one-half; draft, if a keel boat three and one-half to four [changed to: not to exceed 3ft 8in] and if centerboard one and one-half to two feet. If centerboard is used, it should be of wood and weighted only enough to sink readily.
Planking to be of white cedar, single, caulked seams and not under 9/l6in thick. White Oak steamed and bent timbers, spaced not over ten and one-half inches on center. Deck same as planking and canvas covered.
Deck to cover forward end of boat up to two feet [changed to: 1ft 6in] aft of mast and two feet [inserted: 6in] at stem. Also, at least one foot [changed to: one third of beam of boat less 2in] inside of gunwales at sides and the opening surrounded by a coaming at least five inches high.
Forward of mast, vessel to be made into an airtight tank of sufficient size to float all ballast carried. Thus, the weight of lead ballast in pounds is to be divided by 5.7, iron ballast by 8.5, concrete or stone ballast by 22, and sum would be the minimum capacity of air tank in cubic feet.
For preservation of yacht, compartment is to be fitted with two ventilating holes of not less than two square inches each and fitted with covers that close airtight, one to be placed in the deck and the other near the bottom of bulkhead. These ventilators are to be kept closed during period of sailing and open all other times. Air tanks are to be tested by blowing smoke-charged air into them to reveal leaks and leaks stopped and the tank made airtight. This to be repeated at beginning of each season. As an alternative, boats may be completely decked excepting an opening amidship with deck each side not less than twenty-four inches wide, opening to be not over eight feet long. With this amount of side decking, the danger of capsizing is rather remote and the air [The remainder of this draft letter is missing and the previous two paragraphs are crossed out in pencil.]
[On recto of first page with penciled calculations arriving at displacement of 3600lbs. On verso of first page with penciled sailplan of a gunter-rigged centerboard dinghy with wishboom. On verso of second page with penciled sketch of deck and rubrail construction details with numerous dimensions and notes.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Morgan, Henry S. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_02860. Folder [no #]. 1934-11-17.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten (carbon copy) letter:]
Dear Mr. Morgan:
Replying to your interesting letter of the fourteenth, Mr. Charles Nystrom has handed me the sheet on which Mr. Philip Roosevelt outlines a new class for Oyster Bay [which will result in NGH designing #193404es Unbuilt Oyster Bay Class Proposal].
I have looked it over casually and it appears to me that the limitations were rather indirect and didn't define clearly the size of sailboat those interested had in mind.
Also, the sail area limit was so large for the specified displacement (weight) that it might as well have been omitted, except for a racing machine with large crew or shifting ballast, a condition I certainly would not approve.
Presuming what is intended if a 'rating class' is one to sail without time allowance. I fully approve of an open and not a one-design class, as it gives so much better opportunity to improve and makes competition between designers.
For pleasant day sailing or class racing boats of inexpensive type, I would suggest the following features and directions:
To be Jib and Mainsail rig of not over three hundred square feet actual area, measured when dry and stretched taut. Luff or vertical height of mainsail not to exceed thirty-one feet and area net to exceed two hundred and forty square feet. Luff of jib not to exceed four times the diagonal from luff to clew.
Any type of Mainsail may be used, - Bermudian, Gunteryard, Gaff, Sprit or Lug, but all sails arranged to quickly bend or unbend from spars and to store away below deck. Roaches in sides of sails not measured unless held [p. 2] out by battens. The tack of mainsail should be between one end three feet above deck; marks to be painted on mast and task to be within marks.
A spinnaker may be carried whose area does not exceed twice the area of jib end length of spinnaker boom does not exceed the square root of area of jib. Note: The area of this spinnaker is the area computed from corner to corner of the sail, not counting the roach.
The hull: Limit over all not over twenty-four feet. Waterline nineteen to twenty. Beam six and one-half to seven and one-half. Draft, if a keel boat, not to exceed three feet, eight [corrected to nine] inches; and if centerboard, one and one-half to two foot. If centerboard is used, it should [corrected to shall] be of wood and weighted only enough to sink readily.
Planking to be of white cedar, single, caulked seams and not under 9/16in thick. White oak steamed and bent timbers, spaced not ever ten and one-half inches on center. Deck same as planking and canvas covered.
Deck to cover forward end of boat up to one foot [corrected to 'at least'] six inches aft of mast and two feet, six inches, at stern. Also, at least one-third of beam of boat less two [corrected to four] inches, inside of gunwales at sides, and the opening, surrounded by a coaming at least five [corrected to two] inches high, placed one foot outside of opening.
Freeboard of the hull should not be less than twenty-five inches at the bow, sixteen at lowest point of sheer [corrected to mid sections] and sixteen and one-half at stern.
When completely equipped, without crew, boats of this class must be at least thirty-two hundred pounds in weight.
Yours very truly, ...
Nathanael G Herreshoff.
NGH/CGN/ML
Copies to: Mr. Philip J. Roosevelt, 30 Pine Street, N.Y.C. Mr. Nat. Mr. Nystrom. File. [With penciled notes 'Boat 3200lbs. Crew (2) 300. [Sum] 3500[lbs]' and 'Note. Opening w[ou]ld be 1.3 beam + 4 amidship and abut 20in (more or less) at ends.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Morgan, Henry S. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_07250. Folder [no #]. 1934-11-20.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Dear Mr. Herreshoff:
I have to thank you for your two letters, one of November 16th and the other of the 20th. I should be most interested to see the design of the dinghy that you describe. [This will become #1318s Sailing Dinghy for Henry S. Morgan.] It sounds most interesting. Myself, I should lean to your suggestion of an open boat twenty-one inches deep, as in a boat that size decking reduces the cockpit space tremendously. I am also interested in your suggestion of two rigs, rather than having to put in a clumsy reef.
I am also much interested in your suggestions regarding the rating class for Oyster Bay [#193404es Unbuilt Oyster Bay Class Proposal]. They are most helpful, and I know that all those who are considering the matter will be anxious to study them. When we get along a little further, I shall take the liberty of bothering you again to get your further comments.
With renewed thanks for all your trouble, I am Yours faithfully, ..." (Source: Morgan, Harry S. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_07270. Folder [no #]. 1934-11-21.)
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"[Item Description:] Two sets of penciled pantograph hull sections, one titled 'Oyster Bay Class [#193404es Unbuilt Oyster Bay Class Proposal]. Keel. Finished Model Dec[ember] 1, 1934' with calculations arrving at a displacement of 54.28cuft = 3473lbs, the other titled 'Oyster Bay Class. Cb [Centerboard]. Finished model Dec[ember] 2, 1934' with calculations arrving at a displacement of 55.66cuft = 3562lbs. On verso (with 'Office of Voluntary Meteorological Observer, U.S. Weather Bureau' letterhead) another three sets of penciled pantograph hull sections, one titled 'Cb [Centerboard] for Oyster Bay Class, scale 1/12 before sandpapering, 20in w.l.' with calculations arrving at a displacement of 3387lbs (with crew), another titled 'Keel Oyster Bay Class 1/12. 20ft w.l. 2nd trial' with calculations arrving at a displacement of 3820lbs, and the third titled 'C.b. [Centerboard] 2nd trial' with calculations arrving at a displacement of 3593lbs." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_02740. Folder [no #]. 1934-12-01.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled construction profile of a sailboat with two different underwater configurations (keel, centerboard). Untitled, but clearly the same boat as in the sailplan 'A Sail plan & Profile of Hull to Conform to Rules suggested by N.G. Herreshoff and presented to Com. Morgan Nov[ember] 20, 1934 for an Oyster Bay Class [#193404es Unbuilt Oyster Bay Class Proposal]. Scale 1/2 inch per ft. Dec[ember] 20, 1934'. With detailed calculations arriving at a displacement of 3790lbs for the keel version and 3712lbs for the centerboard version." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Construction Profile. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT04_05170. Folder [no #], formerly MRDW00. No date (ca 1934-12-20 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled construction profile of a sailboat with two different underwater configurations (keel, centerboard). With note 'A Sail plan & Profile of Hull to Conform to Rules suggested by N.G. Herreshoff and presented to Com. Morgan Nov[ember] 20, 1934 for an Oyster Bay Class [#193404es Unbuilt Oyster Bay Class Proposal]. Scale 1/2 inch per ft. Dec[ember] 20, 1934'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0323. WRDT04, Folder 29, formerly MRDE09. 1934-12-20.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Charles Nystrom has shown me the three models. The model of the dinghy [#1318s] is a beauty, and I have asked Charles to give me a few figures on it. The other two models are most interesting, and Charles is going to show them to some of the other members of Seawanhaka.
I am immensely grateful to you for all the trouble you have taken. It is impossible to tell at present whether it will be possible this year or next year to get a new Class started at Oyster Bay, but it is something that we are all thinking about and your suggestions and these models are a great help to us all in considering the matter. [The dinghy model referred may be either Model 1306 or Model 1315, two models for trailer truck dinghies which NGH carved on November 11, 1934 and December 27, 1934, respectively. The model for Seawanhaka may be a reference to #193404es Unbuilt Oyster Bay Class Proposal. But note that no model for this proposal is known.]" (Source: Morgan, Henry S. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_18290. Correspondence, Folder 50, formerly 181. 1935-01-17.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #193404es [Unbuilt Oyster Bay Class Proposal] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.