HMCo #179p Neckan

"[1893-11-29] Wed 29: ... Began to set up st[eame]r #179 [Neckan] --- Baxters.
[1893-12-12] Tue 12: ... Began planking st[eame]r #179 [Neckan].
[1894-01-03] Wed 3: ... Mr. & Mrs. Baxter [owners of #179p Neckan] here.
[1894-01-09] Tue 9: ... Putting in deck beams on #179 [Neckan].
[1894-01-29] Mon 29: ... Deck frame all in & part of partitions in st[eame]r #179 [Neckan].
[1894-02-14] Wed 14: ... Deck all laid on #179 [Neckan].
[1894-02-20] Tue 20: ... Put boiler in #179 [Neckan].
[1894-03-17] Sat 17: ... Launched #179 Neckan. ...
[1894-03-20] Tue 20: ... Started engine in #179 [Neckan].
[1894-03-22] Thu 22: Very fine. Fresh NW to NE [wind]. Rain in evening. Made successful trial of #179 'Neckan'.
[1894-03-24] Sat 24: Fine & cool. Made trip to Newport and back in Neckan [#179p].
[1894-03-26] Mon 26: Snowing in morning. Clear & cold afterwards. Neckan [#179p] sailed for trip south.
[1894-04-30] Mon 30: Very fine & cool. Neckan [#179p] arrived from trip down the coast.
[1894-05-02] Wed 2: Very hot for [the] season. L[igh]t variable [wind]. Caddie on trip to Boston in Neckan [#179p]. ...
[1896-04-14] Tue 14: ... Neckan [#179p] arrived.
[1896-06-11] Thu 11: Strong W to NW [wind]. Clear & cool. John started for N.Y. in Neckan [#179p].
[1896-06-15] Mon 15: Overcast. Mod[erate] N [wind]. SW in evening. John returned from N.Y. in Neckan [#179p].
[1896-10-02] Fri 2: Mod[erate] N to NE [wind], some[?] misty[?]. Mr. Baxter [the owner of #179p Neckan] here with Sally[?]. ...
[1896-10-03] Sat 3: ... Swapped Katrina [#163p] for Neckan [#179p].
[1896-10-16] Fri 16: ... Mr. Baxter [the owner of #179p Neckan] here and took away Katrina [#163p]. ...
[1896-10-17] Sat 17: Fair. Light variable [wind]. John started for N.Y. in Neckan [#179p]. ...
[1896-10-21] Wed 21: Strong SSE to SSW [wind] shifting to NW in [the] evening. John returned from NY in Neckan [#179p].
[1896-10-25] Sun 25: Very fine & cool. Fresh WNW [wind]. Off in Neckan [#179p] with family to Warren, Providence, E. Greenwich, Dutch Is, Beavertail, & Newport.
[1896-11-01] Sun 1: Fair. Overcast, light N to NE [wind] & calm[?]. ... Off in Neckan [#179p] with family.
[1896-11-11] Wed 11: ... Neckan [#179p] hauled out for winter at Walker's Cove. ...
[1897-04-08] Thu 8: Fair & mild. L[igh]t NE [wind in] a.m., S [wind in] p.m. Launched Neckan [#179p] from ways at cove.
[1897-08-17] Tue 17: Very fine. Fresh W to NW [wind]. Start on cruise in Neckan [#179p] in p.m.
[1897-09-02] Thu 2: H[eav]y rain [in] a.m. [and] forenoon. L[igh]t SW to SE [wind]. Returned home from cruise in Neckan [#179p].
[1897-09-03] Fri 3: Very fine & cool. Fresh N to NE [wind]. Went to Newport in Neckan [#179p].
[1897-09-06] Mon 6: Very fine. Nearly calm all day. Clear. Went to Spring Green with family in Neckan [#179p].
[1897-09-08] Wed 8: ... Put Neckan [#179p] out of commission." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1893 to 1897. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.)

"About this time, perhaps 1898, Captain Nat chartered for a few months the one-hundred-and-nine-foot steam yacht 'Neckan' that he had designed for Mr. H. C. Baxter and took his whole family for a cruise down the Maine coast. While I remember going on this cruise, I do not remember the exact year. [The correct dates were apparently August 20, 1897 to September 3, 1897 as per the Bristol Phoenix of August 20, 1897, p. 2.]" (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. 119.)

"The Herreshoffs will start their shops next Monday [October 28, 1893] with a reduced force. They have an order for a 110 foot steam yacht [#179p Neckan], and they will also continue work on the 80 foot steam yacht [#178p Eugenia I] for the president of the company, Mr. John B. Herreshoff." (Source: Anon. "Local Affairs." Bristol Phoenix, October 28, 1893, p. 2.)

"Yachting Odds and Ends. ... Mr. H. C. Baxter of Brunswick, Me., has given Herreshoff an order for a 110-foot cruising steam yacht. This boat will be of the same type as the Kalolah [#173p] and Louise [#175p]. ..." (Source: Anon. "Meteor on the Clyde." New York Times, November 17, 1893, p. 3.)

"No. 179, Neckan, steam yacht, of [blank].
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.
56.40 gross tons, 28.20 net tons; 97.7 ft. x 13.7 ft. x 8.1 ft. One deck, two masts, plain head.
One deck, two masts, plain head, elliptic stern.
Surveyed and measured, February 24, 1894. [With note: Horse Power Est. 150.]" (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Neckan.)

"The new steam yacht Neckan was launched from the Herreshoff shops Saturday [March 17, 1894] afternoon in the presence of a large number of townspeople.
The yacht is built for H. C. Baxter of Bath, Me., and is the finest of its size ever christened in Bristol's waters. The launch was perfect, a slight elevation of the forward jacks causing her to slide gracefully into the water, scarcely rippling its plain surface. The dimensions are, length over all 110 feet, beam 14 feet, draught 6 feet. Her machinery comprises a triple expansion Herreshoff engine of about 450 horse power and an improved boiler of a like make.
The hull is painted white and the deckhouse and galley a red mahogany color. The frames, stem and stem post and keel are of selected white oak. Yellow pine is used for the planking and white pine for the deck.
The deck saloon, which is furnished in mahogany, together with the staterooms, nursery and toilet rooms are forward of the engines. Directly aft of the engine rooms are the owner's quarters, also finished in mahogany. The crew are quartered in the extreme aft which is finished in butternut.
It is expected that the yacht will develop a speed of about 16 miles an hour." (Source: Anon. "Launching of The Neckan." Bristol Phoenix, March 24, 1894, p. 2.)

"[Abstract of register or enrollment. Pos. 670:]
Neckan, steam yacht, of Bath, Maine.
Built at Bristol, 1894.
28.20 tons; 97.7 ft. x 13.7 ft. x 8.1 ft. One deck, two masts, plain head.
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] (temporary) [as] (yacht) Mar. 23, 1894. Owner: H. C. Baxter of Brunswick, Maine. Master: H. C. Baxter.
Surrendered [license] May 24, 1894 at Bath, Maine. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence])
Enr[olled] and Lic[ensed] [as] (yacht) Oct. 30, 1896 (change of hailing port -Bristol). Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: John B. Herreshoff, Bristol.
Surrendered [license] Apr. 19, 1898 at Portland, Maine. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence])." (Source: Survey of Federal Archives, Work Projects Administration. Ships Documents of Rhode Island. Bristol. Ship Registers and Enrollments of the Port of Bristol - Warren Rhode Island, 1941, s.v. Neckan.)

"Frank Farley of the PHOENIX made an excellent photograph of the launching of the Neckan last Saturday. In less than an hour from the time the exposure was made Frank had two photographs ready to send away. This was very quick work." (Source: Anon. "Home News." Bristol Phoenix, March 24, 1894, p. 2.)

"Neckan, steam yacht, lately launched at Bristol, is now in Florida with her owner, H. C. Baxter, of Brunswick, Me., and his family on board. She will start this week for Boston and Portland." (Source: Anon. "Narragansett Bay Y. R. A. Week of Racing-July 17-22." Forest and Stream, April 21, 1894, p. 345.)

"... Mayor H. C. Baxter and family of Portland, Maine, paid Bristol a brief visit last week. They came in the mayor's steam yacht Neckan. Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Herreshoff and Mr. and Mrs N.G. Herreshoff were guests aboard the Neckan for a short time and were given an enjoyable trip in the bay. ..." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Notes and News of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, May 7, 1895, p. 2.)

"[Neckan (Steamyacht) owned by H. C. Baxter, Port: Portland, Me; LOA 109ft; LWL 89.9ft; Beam 13.8ft; Draft 5.6ft; designed by N. G. Herreshoff and built by Herreshoff Mfg. Co in 1894.]" (Source: Stebbins 1896 Yachtsmen's Album, p. 10.)

"The steam yacht Neckan arrived here Tuesday [April 17, 1896] from a winter trip to the South. Her owner, H. O. Baxter, was in town Wednesday looking after his yacht. He intends to dispose of the Neckan, and may possibly order a larger yacht built." (Source: Anon. "Yachting Notes." Bristol Phoenix, April 17, 1896, p. 3.)

"FOR SALE --- 110 foot Cruising Steam Yacht Neckan, built by us in 1894; is in first class order; ready to go in commission; yacht has speed of 17 miles per hour, and has the best record of any cruising yacht of its size afloat. For further particulars address the HERRESHOFF MFG. CO., Bristol." (Source: Anon. [Classified Ad.] New York Herald, June 7, 1896, p. 12.)

"Nathaniel G. Herreshoff, with his family, left here Wednesday [August 20, 1897] on a two weeks' cruise on the steam yacht Neckan." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, August 20, 1897, p. 2.)

"Mr and Mrs. N G. Herreshoff and children and Miss Flossie DeWolf, Master Hyde Cabot and Miss Isabel Cabot returned last evening from a pleasant trip to Bar Harbor, Me., on the steam yacht Neckan." (Source: Anon. "News and Notes of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, September 3, 1897, p. 2.)

"The steam yacht Neckan, lately chartered to Clarkson Cowl of the New York Yacht Club, is rapidly being prepared for commission at Tebo's Basin, South Brooklyn under the direction of Capt. William Holley. Mr. Cowl will use the Neckan this Summer between New York and his residence at Great Neck, L. I." (Source: Anon. "Notes for Yachtsmen." New York Times, June 9, 1900, p. 5.)

"The steam yacht Neckan, owned by Hartley C. Baxter, was partially destroyed by fire while in her winter quarters at New Meadows River, Me. The loss was covered by insurance." (Source: Anon. "Yachts News Notes." Forest and Stream, December 8, 1900, p. 455.)

"H. C. Baxter of Portland, Me., visited Bristol last week and made arrangements with the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company to have a set of oak frames made for his yacht Neckan, which was burned at Brunswick, Me, a few weeks ago." (Source: Anon. "News and Notes of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, December 11, 1900, p. 2.)

"A few weeks ago Mr. H. C. Baxter's steam yacht Neckan, while hauled out at Rockland, Maine, for the winter, took fire and before the flames could be extinguished the forward part of the boat was destroyed. Then the after part fell from the ways into the water. That portion of the boat was raised and her boiler and machinery were found to be in fair condition. Mr. Baxter has decided to rebuild, and will do so at once, hoping to have the yacht ready to go into commission about April 15." (Source: Anon. "Yachts News Notes." Forest and Stream, January 12, 1901, p. 36.)

"The steam yacht Neckan which was burned last fall while in winter quarters at Rockland, Maine, has been rebuilt and now measures about 125ft. over all; her original length was 109 feet. She is owned by Mr. H. C. Baxter, of Brunswick, Maine." (Source: Anon. "Yachts News Notes." Forest and Stream, April 20, 1901, p. 314.)

"[For Sale] No. 7413 --- Steam yacht, 125 feet over all, 105 feet load water line, 15 feet beam, 6 feet 3 inches draught; built by Herreshoff Manufacturing Company in 1894, and entirely rebuilt, lengthened and otherwise improved last spring; triple expansion engines, 7 1/4 inch and 11 inch and 19 inch by 10-inch stroke; new Roberts water-tube boiler; interior finish is all in mahogany. The yacht has unusually good accommodations for this length vessel, and is particulary well arranged. The deck house is 21 feet long, and is divided into dining-room and smoking-room; has electric windlass, searchlight of 5,000 candle power, 26-cell storage battery and dynamo, electric fans, etc., all new; new sails, masts, rigging and furnishings. Speed is 15 miles per hour. The coal consumption is low --- 1 ton for 10 hours; coal capacity 9tons in bunkers and large water capacity. The owner's quarters accommodate 13 people. Yacht will be offered for charter if not sold, as the owner is so situated that he cannot use her. Frank Bowne Jones, Yacht Agent, 29 Broadway, New York." (Source: Rudder, March 1902, p. 168.) [While not identified by name, this for sale advertisement together with the accompanying photo refers quite certainly to Neckan which was the only yacht built in 1894 with a steam engine to the described dimensions. Note also, that the Construction Record mentions Neckan as having been lenghtened in "about 1899" which apparently is a reference to her rebuild in 1901.]

"Messrs. Macconell & Cook have chartered the steam yacht Neckan to Mr. Constant A. Andrews, ..." (Source: Anon. "Recent Sales and Charters." Forest and Stream, September 3, 1904, p. 204.)

"The steam yacht Neckan, owned by Mr. Joseph S. Whiteside, has been chartered by Messrs. Macconell & Cook to Mr. R. S. Marvin, of the Columbia Y. C." (Source: Anon. "Yachting News Notes." Forest and Stream, July 1, 1905, p. 13.)

"[Sale ad for Neckan." (Source: Rudder, March 1907, p. 221.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.03486 (044-030). Blueprint with steam engine detail titled 'Detail [manifolds] of 5ft 6in Boiler for St[eame]r 92 [#92p PERMELIA]'. (The original plan in Hart Nautical Collections carries a penciled note '& 179 [#179p NECKAN]')." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0079. WRDT08, Folder 8, formerly MRDE11. 1892-02-04.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink) trials booklet. Untitled. Relevant contents:
§4: #179p NECKAN Trial Run (1894-03-22)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_04190. Folder [no #]. 1892-08 to 1895-05.)
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"[Item Description:] Printed compass rose titled 'Memorandum of Deviations of Steering Compass of St[ea]m Yacht NECKAN [#179p] at Portland on the 31st Day of July, 1895' with inked in compass deviations." (Source: Baker, David H. (creator). Printed Compass Rose. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE05_01180. Folder [no #]. 1895-07-31.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink and pencil) trials booklet 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Experiments & Trial Trips. 1890. N.G. Herreshoff'. Relevant contents:
§30: #179p NECKAN Trial Run (1894-03-22)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_02260. Folder [no #]. 1890-01 to 1898-08.)
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"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Four handwritten (in ink) pages with tabulated data listing 'Shop No', 'Name', '[Tons] Gross' and '[Tons] Net' for a total of 100 HMCo-built boats and classes. Tonnage data is usually precise to two digits behind the decimal. Random comparisons suggest source of tonnage data to be official Custom House data. Boats mentioned are: #664s, #663s, #625s, #665s, #634s, #658s, #657s, #646s, #641s, #617s, #626s Class, #624s, #621s, #616s, #619s, #590s, #591s, #586s, #592 Class, #618s, #605s, #578s, #560s Class, #580s, #553s, #551s, #552s, #546s, #541s, #545s, #538s, #534s, #533s, #532s, #529s, #534s, #530s, #531s, #435s, #437s, #452s, #499s, #429s, #426s, #424s, #481s, #422s, #417s, #414s, #451s, #215p, #213p, #222p, #235p, #230p, #229p, #236p, #224p, #244p, #247p, #249p, #231p, #232p, #228p, #252p, #250p, #251p, #248p, #168p, #164p, #118p, #142p, #174p, #173p, #194p, #189p, #193p, #183p, #178p, #179p, #181p, #182p, #175p, #163p, #148p, #149p, #172p, #155p, #170p, #186p, #188p, #206p, #207p, #205p, #208p, #209p, #210p, #211p, #212p, #216p. Undated (the latest boat listed, WINSOME, was launched in 1907)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Handwritten List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00220. Folder [no #]. No date (1907 or later).)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #179p Neckan even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Neckan (HMCo-made index card)
• Neckan (MIT Museum-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.

Name: Neckan
Type: Steam
Length: 108'9"
Owner: Baxter, H. C.

Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. "A Partial List of Herreshoff Clients." In: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Herreshoff Yachts. Bristol, Rhode Island, ca. 1931.

• Neckan
• Note: The L. Francis Herreshoff index cards comprise a set of some 1200 cards about vessels built by HMCo, with dimensions and / or ownership information. Apparently compiled in the early 1930s, for later HMCo-built boats like the Fishers Island 23s or the Northeast Harbor 30s are not included. Added to in later decades, apparently by L. F. Herreshoff as well as his long-time secretary Muriel Vaughn and others. Also 46 cards of L. F. Herreshoff-designed vessels. The original set of index cards is held by the Herreshoff Marine Museum and permission to display is gratefully acknowledged.

Name: Neckan
Type: 109' steamer
Owner: H. C. Baxter
Year: 1894
Row No.: 467

Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. "Partial List of Herreshoff-Built Boats." In: Herreshoff, L. Francis. Capt. Nat Herreshoff. The Wizard of Bristol. New York, 1953, p. 325-343.

Year: 1893
E/P/S: P
No.: 179
Name: Neckan
OA: 108' 9"
LW: 89' 6"

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.

"1894 or 1896 NGH family made 2 wk Maine cruise to Bar Harbor. [The correct dates were apparently August 20, 1897 to September 3, 1897 as per the Bristol Phoenix of August 20, 1897, p. 2.]" (Source: Anon (A. Sidney deW. Herreshoff as per handwriting). [Note on verso of photo of Neckan given in 1971 to A. S. deW. Herreshoff by John L. Baxter, the son of Neckan's original owner.] No place, ca. 1971.)

"Steam engine rating 365hp from undated (1903 or later) diagram by N. G. Herreshoff titled 'Marine Engine. Weights and Prices' in the Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 24, 2019.)

"Marine Engine of Open Type. 7 & 11 1/4 & 18 x 10, 560[rpm], 365[hp]." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten List of HMCo-Made Steam Engines. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum, MRDED1_00220. Undated, between 1903 and 1918.)

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Gross Register Tons (56.4) from the 1896 Manning's American Yacht List (Net Register Tons were reported as 28.2) and converting to lbs by dividing through 2000 (short tons). Note that this figure can only be a rough estimate because register tons as reported in Yacht Registers correlate only loosely with actual displacement figures." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

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