HMCo #24p [Cutter for NY Bureau of Ordnance]

"Some of these early launches were built for the U.S. Navy, some for the Ordnance Department, the U.S. Coast Survey, and the U.S. Fish Commission. One of these early models was twenty-two feet long, five feet three inches beam. This model, which was built between 1876 and 1878, is very interesting as it represents, I believe, the first attempt at the modern powerboat model. The greatest draft was a little aft of the forefoot, and greatest beam near the stern which was flat, the underwater shape being a gradual twist from bow to stern. These launches were said to be quite satisfactory and drove very easily into a moderate head sea. But as Captain Nat abandoned the model after 1878, it is probable that the sharp-bowed launches with the wide flat sterns were not good sea boats under all conditions, a bit of knowledge most designers at the present time have not yet learned." (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. The Wizard of Bristol. The Life and Achievements of Nathanael Greene Herreshoff, together with An Account of Some of the Yachts he Designed. New York, 1953, p. 88.)

"Some three month's ago we mentioned the launch of the torpedo boat [#20p Lightning] from the shop of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., in Bristol, and gave an account of her trial trip, and a description of her build, engines, boiler, etc. ... A second and smaller boat [#24p] by the same builders, and destined for use at the same station, is already completed and ready to receive her machinery, and the Herreshoff Company have also in process of building one 25-ton yacht [#25p Viola?], two forty feet boats [#21p and #21p?] and five or six sets of boilers and machinery." (Source: Anon. "The Wonderful Boat. First Visit to Providence of the Herreshoff Torpedo Boat Lightning." Providence Evening Press, May 20, 1876, p. 2.)

" 'G', a writer in the Providence Evening Press, says he spent a very pleasant afternoon lately among the boats and boatmen of this town. In speaking of the work at the Messrs. Herreshoff's yard he writes: ... In the same shop is a 25-feet steam tender [#33p] for the yacht 'Palmer' of New York. This little vessel is a life-boat, and is similar to the one built last year for the torpedo station at Newport [#24p], only it is more elegantly finished, the seats and rail being solid mahogany. The boiler is about the size of a flour barrel and the engine is of brass, scarcely two feet high. The whole concern, boat, boiler and engine complete, weighs less than 1,100 pounds. ...'
'G' concludes his interesting article as follows: 'Altogether, there is more yachting and building carried on in this old town than the casual observer would be inclined to suppose, and it seems to be on the increase. A more convenient or more pleasant location for the sport could hardly be found, than Bristol harbor, with the broad bay beyond it, and it is small wonder that summer visitors should be coming to the conclusion that yachting is not the least of the pleasures of a season in this quiet watering place.' " (Source: Anon. "Locals." Bristol Phoenix, June 2, 1877, p. 2.)

"Torpedo Station, Newport, R. I., September 16, 1876.
Description of steam dingy.
Steam dingy, built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol, for the Bureau of Ordnance, in conformity with the specifications submitted to the bureau on the 19th of January, 1876.
Trial of the boat.
By the terms of the specifications the dingy was to have been submitted for trial on the 1st June [1876]. Owing to delay in procuring the shaft the boat was not presented for trial until some time after.
Dimensions.
By specifications. By measurement
Length over all 22 feet. 23 feet.
Greatest beam 4.75 feet. 5.4 feet.
Depth 2.25 feet. 2.8 feet amid., 3.5 feet forward.
Floating capacity.
By the specifications the boat was to have a floating capacity of 1,000 pounds when filled with water. When filled to the rail the boat sustained eight persons whose aggregate weight amounted to 1,130 pounds.
Speed.
Course from buoy south of Goat Island to Goat Island light and return. Distance between buoy and light 27/28 of a statute mile. Tide, strong ebb; wind, light from northward.
Course. Distance. Tide. Wind. Steam. Time. Average speed.
Buoy to light [Course], 27.28 mile [Distance], Against [Tide], With [Wind], 80 to 140, average 120 [Steam], 7 40 [Time m. s.], 7.55 miles [Average speed]
Light to buoy [Course], 27.28 mile [Distance], With [Tide], Against [Wind], 130 to 180, average 140 [Steam], 6 10 [Time m. s.], 9.38 miles [Average speed]
Mean pressure, 130 lbs.; mean speed, 8.46 miles.
Propeller.
Propeller of bronze, 2 blades; diameter, 20".5. Mean pitch, 30".
Fuel.
Lackawanna coal, chestnut size, gives very satisfactory results. Mr. Herreshoff states that on the trip from Bristol to Newport, 12 5/8 miles, the consumption was about 48 pounds.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. A. CONVERSE, Lieutenant, U. S. N., and Assistant Inspector of Ordnance." (Source: Report of the Secretary of the United States Nayy. Washington, 1876, p. 143.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Photocopy of a photograph of four photographs tacked to a wall as part of NGH's collection in 1931, showing 10. Torpedo boat #61p, 1879 and 1880, 11. Torpedo boat #64p, 1880 for Russian Navy, 12. IBIS JR. #45p and GYMNOTUS #47p, 1878, 13. Launch, steamer #24p, 1876-1878." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.163. Photograph (photocopy). Box HAFH.6.7B, Folder Photographs. No date (1931 ?).)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #24p [Cutter for NY Bureau of Ordnance] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Cutter (HMCo-made index card)
• 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.

Year: 1876
E/P/S: P
No.: 024
OA: 22'

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.

"... boat, boiler and engine complete, weighs less than 1,100 pounds. ..." (Source: Anon. "Locals." Bristol Phoenix, June 2, 1877, p. 2.)

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