HMCo #231p Adrienne

"[1903-02-11] Wed 11: Fair [in] AM backing to SSE in PM with rain. Heavy SE rain storm in evening. Begin planking #231 gasoline launch [Adrienne].
[1903-02-24] Tue 24: Very fine and perfectly calm all day. Warmer and snow melting away. Turned over #231 gasoline launch [Adrienne].
[1903-03-25] Wed 25: Very fine. WNW [wind &] clear. Strong in PM. Launched st[eame]r #231 [Adrienne], gasoline launch for C. O'D. Iselin [sic, i.e. for his brother Adrian Iselin].
[1903-04-11] Sat 11: Very fine. Clear. Mod[erate] N [wind]. Launched Reliance #605 at 5:30 PM. Everything working successfully. Many visitors here. Tried #231 gasoline launch Adrienne." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1903. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"April 8, 1903
Adrienne. Gasoline launch with 20hp Standard motor (Launch same as Express [#228p].
Complete nearly ready for delivery. 7 on board. On 1/2 mile coursewith fresh breeze [from] SW (18 as[?] 25 nea[?]).
[Followed by tabulated trial run data with mean speed being 10.85mph]
(speed down wind - 11.16 miles)." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten note in Trials Booklet '1898 - 1909' under date of April 8, 1903. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum.)

"I have yours of 8 [November 1905], and take pleasure in giving you what information I can.
In spring of 1903 we built two gasoline launches [#231p ADRIENNE and #232p HELVETIA II] for the Iselin families at New Rochelle which are considered very satisfactory and model boats of their types. They were intended strictly for pleasure boats to use in L[ong] Is[land] Sound for short excursions. Are rather lightly built, but quite strong enough for the purpose intended, are double planked, a short deck forward with raised house having cabin room enough for shelter in case of rain and a toilet room. Aft of this there is a large open cockpit with the motor in the middle. The boats are 50ft o.a., 10 1/2ft extreme beam, about 3ft draft, high freeboard, and very easy lines below water. They are propelled by 20-25HP 'Standard' engines and have a speed of nearly 10 knots.
We are just building a similar boat [#248p TODDYWAX] except longer --- 60ft o.a. --- which will be used around Newport next summer. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Penciled draft reply note to Admiral W.L. Capps, Bureau of Construction and Repair, Navy Dept. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly (84). After November 8, 1905.)

"The first [NGH-designed powerboat] was the double-ended fifty foot launch 'Express' [#228p] built for Morton F. Plant in 1903. I think J. B. took the order for her when Captain Nat was away on a cruise; otherwise they may not have built a gasoline launch for some time to come. This launch was built on the molds originally made for the steam launches 'Our Mary' [#148p] and 'Jersey Lily' [#149p] built in 1888, also Captain Nat's own steamer 'Squib' [#188p] built in 1898, but whereas these earlier steamers had plumb bows and square sterns, the 'Express' was built with a slightly over-hanging bow and a canoe stern. 'Express' had a four-cylinder heavy duty Standard engine and was a great success in every way so that eventually there were four of these launches built:
[#228p] 'Express'; 1903; Morton F. Plant
[#231p] 'Helvetia II'; 1903; C. O. Iselin
[#232p] 'Adrienne'; 1903; Adrian Iselin
[#264p] 'Sarah Webb'; 1908; G. H. Webb
One or two of these launches, I believe, are still running. [#231p Helvetia II was still extant in 1953.]" (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. 248.)

"Adrienne, a new steam launch recently put overboard from Herrreshoffs was given a trial trip in the harbor Saturday [April 11, 1903] afternoon. Several spins were taken around Hog Island." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, April 14, 1903, p. 2.)

"No. 231 Adrienne, gasoline screw launch, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., 1903.
9 26/100 tons; 43.5 ft. x 10.9 ft. x 5.3 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
Plain head, peaked stern.
Surveyed and measured, April 15, 1903." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Adrienne.)

"Two boats that have attracted no little attention on Long Island Sound during the past season are the launches Helvetia II [#232p Helvetia II] and Adrienne [#231p Adrienne], built by Herreshoff for Messrs. C. O'D. Iselin and Adrien Iselin, of New Rochelle. As the photographs show, the boats are of the hunting cabin type, with high freeboard and a good sheer. It is most satisfactory to see that boats of this type are to a great extent, taking the place of the older type with low freeboard and high glass house, which the launch and engine builder have turned out by the score in past years. Under conditions where the older type is absolutely unsafe the hunting cabin type is both seaworthy and comfortable, and they mark a decided advance in launch designing. While designed primarily as day boats, the cabin has a fair amount of room, with ample lockers and a good toilet room. The power consists of a 20-horse-power Standard motor, which drives the boats at a speed of about 10 knots an hour.
The dimensions are:
Length over all 49 feet 6 inches
Length water line 43 feet 7 inches
Beam 10 feet 6 inches
Draught 2 feet 9 inches" (Source: Anon. "Helvetia II." Rudder, January 1904, p. 27.)

"The present yachting season has proven very active and there is still a great demand for yachts, both straight power and auxiliaries as shown by the following list of sales and charters recently made through the office of R. M. Haddock. Naval Architect & Yacht Broker of New York City.
... 50-ft. Herreshoff day cruiser Adrienne sold for Miss Georgine Iselin to Samuel D. Cushing of Stamford. Conn., renamed Jasama. " (Source: Anon. "Yacht Transfers." Rudder, July 1922, p. 44.)

"[Item Description:] Penciled sketch on tracing paper of a motor outline marked 'Standard 20-24'. Marked 'Sc[ale] 1/2] in lower margin. (A table in MotorBoat Magazine of March 1914 shows the Standard 20-24 to have been a four cycle gasoline engine with 20 to 24hp, a weight of 1600lbs, 5in bore and 6 1/2in stroke and a normal RPM of 400-500. HMCo is believed to have used the motor for #228p EXPRESS, #231p ADRIENNE and #232p HELVETIA II, built in 1902 and 1903.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_07000. Folder [no #]. No date (1902 / 1903 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] I am sending you a copy of Cox's paper in this years proceedings of the Naval Architects. This was unsolicited.
We are asked to bid on a boat using two 110 horse power engines like those of the STANDARD though of an improved type. We think we can get one hundred and fifty brake horse power out of them. If this comes to a head I shall ask you for a price on the hull.
Your HELVETIAs [#231p ADRIENNE and #232p HELVETIA II] are in my opinion the ablest launches ever built in this country. I shall be very glad to see Mr. John [B. Herreshoff] when he is in town and if he will let me know I shall be glad to call on him.
With kind regards. ..." (Source: Nixon, Lewis. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_00360. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly (84). 1904-01-30.)
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"[Item Transcription:] The Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Truman H. Newberry, has brought to my attention a launch [#232p HELVETIA II] recently built by you for Mr. C. O. Iselin, which seems to have given very great satisfaction. Will you kindly give me so much of the particulars of this launch as you might feel disposed to furnish, especially the general dimensions of the launch, speed, displacement, horsepower of engine and make of engine. Will you also give me, so far as your experience goes, the highest speed developed by launches fitted with electrically-propelled machinery, with dimensions of the launch so propelled.
Trusting that I am not imposing too much upon your good nature, and that you can furnish me the above-requested information at an early date, believe me,
Very sincerely yours, ...
[Incl. penciled NGH draft reply note on verso:] I have yours of 8 [November 1905], and take pleasure in giving you what information I can.
In spring of 1903 we built two gasoline launches [#231p ADRIENNE and #232p HELVETIA II] for the Iselin families at New Rochelle which are considered very satisfactory and model boats of their types. They were intended strictly for pleasure boats to use in L[ong] Is[land] Sound for short excursions. Are rather lightly built, but quite strong enough for the purpose intended, are double planked, a short deck forward with raised house having cabin room enough for shelter in case of rain and a toilet room. Aft of this there is a large open cockpit with the motor in the middle. The boats are 50ft o.a., 10 1/2ft extreme beam, about 3ft draft, high freeboard, and very easy lines below water. They are propelled by 20-25HP 'Standard' engines and have a speed of nearly 10 knots.
We are just building a similar boat [#248p TODDYWAX] except longer --- 60ft o.a. --- which will be used around Newport next summer.
We have built a number of electric driven launches to go in our yachts. They are in lengths from 20ft [#218p CARMEN, #217p MAISIE and #221p] to 14ft [#190101ep, #190201ep, #190202ep, #190302ep, #190304ep, #190305ep] and 1 1/2 to 1/2 horse power motors. We fit them with light batteries so that they can be easily hoisted at the davits and can run from 1 to 1 1/2 hours on a charge. The 20ft boats have a speed of 6 statute miles and weight at the davits about 1000lbs. The 14ft boats with 1/2hp will speed 4 1/2 miles and weigh about 500lbs. They are very useful little craft to the yachtsmen. When attached to st[eam] yachts which have electric generating plants on board for charging their thums[?]. I do not know what speed has been attained with electric power launches. We have only fitted light powers and batteries for short runs believing the boats usefulness would be destroyed if loaded with the batteries & motors of light[?] power. With the experience we have had with gasoline we still think steam power most reliable and satisfactory.
" (Source: Capps, Admiral W.L., Bureau of Construction and Repair, Navy Dept. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_00520. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly (84). 1905-11-08.)
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"[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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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (mostly in pencil but also in ink) trials booklet titled '1898 - 1909'. Relevant contents:
§27: #231p ADRIENNE Trial Run mean speed 10.85mph (1903-04-18)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE09_00060. Folder [no #]. 1898-09 to 1911-04.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #231p Adrienne even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Adrienne (HMCo-made index card)
• Adrienne (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.

• Adrienne
• Jacqueline ex-Adrienne
• Jasama ex-Adrienne
• 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: Adrienne
Type: 49' 5" gas launch
Owner: A. Iselin
Year: 1903
Row No.: 8

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.

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Gross Register Tons (13) from the 1905 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (Net Register Tons were reported as 9) 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.