HMCo #261p Wave

"Dec[ember] 11 [19]07
Wave. Double ended screw Ferry boat for U.S.N.
82 1/2 x 24. 2 screws 36in x 44in. Engine 7 & 14 x 9.
Boiler 25sqft grate, 590sqft surface.
Launched in forenoon and made preliminary run in p.m. 1 statute mile in 5m 45s.
Dec. 14
Trial of Fire pump ...
Largest stream went longest dist[ance]. Estimated 250 feet. This is about what boiler w[ou]ld supply with bituminous coal and ex. in stack with 2in tip.
Everything working well.
Dec. 15, 1907
Preliminary run using dirth anthracite coal. With natural draft. Pair of runs over 3k[not] course with natural draft.
Wind N, 15 miles, last of ebb.
[Followed by tabulated trial run data with mean speed being 8.42kn] ...
Dec. 18 1907. Wave.
Official Trial under Capt. Cleaves[?], Capt. Gew[?] & Constructor Gilmer[?].
Fine day with moderate westerly wind (8 to 14 miles). Ebb tide, about 15 persons on board, part tank of water and 1/3 bunker of coal, bituminous.
Made three pairs of runs between bristol Ferry and Sandy Pt., 3 n[autical] miles. First two with natural draft, helped a little by jet and the last using jet in stack strongly.
[Followed by tabulated trial run data with mean speed being 9.27kn]." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Handwritten note in Trials Booklet '1898 - 1909' under date of December 11 to December 18, 1907. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum.)

"Work on the new government ferry boat, which is being built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, is being pushed rapidly and the craft will be launched in about two weeks. The pumps arrived last week and after these are installed the engine and boiler will be put in. The contract calls for the completion of the boat by January 1st. She is to ply between Newport and the Torpedo Station." (Source: Anon. "Notes and News of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, November 5, 1907, p. 2.)

"Bristol, R. I., Nov. 23. --- ... A new combined ferryboat, and fire-boat is under construction at Herreshoff's for the United States government to be used at Newport. The craft is to ply between Newport and the naval torpedo station daily, and to fight fires, if need be, in the section of Newport harbor. She is about ready for launching. ..." (Source: Anon. "Little Activity At Herreshoff's." Boston Herald, November 24, 1907, p. 6.)

"The new Government ferry boat, which has just been built at the Herreshoff Manufacturing company's boat shop in this town, will be launched tomorrow at high tide. Yesterday several government officials came up from Newport in a fcovemment tug-boat and inspected the new boat, which will ply between Newport and the Torpedo station, and also be used as a fire patrol boat along the water front. Last week the boiler and engines were tested, and the trial spins and the testing of the engine and fire fighting apparatus, which are of the latest type, will be made soon after the launching.
The craft is of the double-ended style, and is 82 feet, 8 inches long, over guards, has a beam of 25 feet and draught of six feet. She has a compound engine, driving propeller screws at either end, and is to have a speed of 8 1/2 knots, which is quite sufficient for the needs of use in the harbor. There are two cabins, with a driveway between.
In addition to her use as a ferry-boat, she is fitted out with a powerful duplex fire pump and a universal stand pipe, for throwing a fire stream, and there are also fire plugs for the connection of hose to lead the water to distances.
As a fire boat the craft will he expected to be available for protection of the naval stations in case of fire and following out the custom of the Navy in case of need by shipping for the city she would be available. Slips for the boat have been constructed at the station and at the Government landing.
The launching will take place from the South shops." (Source: Anon. "New Government Boat. Built by the Herreshoffs Will Be Launched at High Tide Tomorrow. Will Ply Between Newport and Torpedo Station." Bristol Phoenix, December 10, 1907, p. 2.)

"Newport, R. I., Dec. 19 [1907]. --- Capt. John B. Herreshoff, the blind boat designer, was painfully injured by falling down a hatchway on the ferryboat Wave, during her trials yesterday. The Wave was built for the government, for use at the torpedo station here." (Source: Anon. "Herreshoff Injured." Duluth Evening Herald, December 20, 1907, p. 15.)

"Bureau of Construction and Repair.
Miscellaneous Lighters, Derricks, Barges, Etc. --- Continued.
...
Wave [Number of name]
Ferry boat [Kind]
80 0 [Length]
24 0 [Breadth]
Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, R. I. [Present location]
Herreshoff Manufacturing Co., 1907 [Where and when built or purchased]
Steel [Remarks] ..." (Source: U.S. Navy Dept. Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy, 61st Congress, 2d Session, 1909-1910. House Documents. Vol. 37. Washington, D. C., 1909, p. 665.)

"FERRYBOATS AND LAUNCHES (YFB)
YFB5 [Official No.], Faithful, ex-Ripple [Name], 80 0 [Length Ft. in.], 24 0 [Breadth Ft. in.], Steel steamer [Material and Type], 1st district [Allocation], Herreshoff Mfg. Co., Bristol, R.I. [Where and when built or purchased]
[Note: The Ferryboat YFB5 Faithful ex-Ripple is apparently the steam ferry Wave which had almost the same dimensions. The same list contained an entry for steel steamer YFB10 Wave, LOA 105 0ft, Beam 30 0ft, that had been built in 1916 by the Charleston Navy Yard in Boston. This would suggest that the Herreshoff-built Wave was renamed to Ripple in 1916 to eliminate ambiguity.]" (Source: U.S. Navy Department. Ships Data, U.S. Naval Vessels. Washington, 1920, p. 331.)

"1941. ... This was strictly sub rosa. A mysterious Mr McDonald bought the old Government ferry boat Wave to take to Sidney, N. S., to make into a floating machine shop, and Arnold Peterson sold his 90-foot twin screw cruiser Areve to the Margrave Steamship Company of Sidney, and the two started out of Newport, Areve towing the Wave. ... [This may have been a reference to the steam ferry Wave built in 1916 by the Charleston Navy Yard in Boston rather than the Herreshoff-built ferry Wave of 1907.]" (Source: Davis, Jeff. Yachting in Narragansett Bay. Providence, 1946, p. 103.)

"[Item Description:] Results of tensile material tests relating to steam boilers for #178p MARJORIE ex-EUGENIA I, #267p ENAJ, 2 unknown yachts, #193p IRENE ex-NINA, HMCo stock, #161p REPOSO, #261 WAVE, HMCo stock." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.110. Boiler Tests. Box HAFH.6.3B, Folder Boilers - Tensile Tests and Affidavits. 1904-09 to 1911-01.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled general arrangement plan and outboard profile of a passenger steamer titled 'Proposed --- For Torpedo Station. M[ar]ch 4 1905. Scale 1/8in'. With notes '75ft 2in o.a. 71[ft] w.l. 14ft beam. 5ft draft' and 'Deckhouse 56 1/2ft long. Deckhouse 12 1/2ft wide. Deckhouse 6 1/2ft high in cham[?]. Machinery inclosure 12ft x 5 1/2ft'. [Probably an early preliminary plan for what ultimately became #261p WAVE]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled General Arrangement Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0471. WRDT08, Folder 38, formerly MRDE10. 1905-03-04.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled general arrangement plan and outboard profile of a passenger ferry titled 'Proposed For Torpedo Station. M[ar]ch 5 1905. Scale 1/8in'. With notes '80ft o.a. 69[ft] w.l. 16ft beam. 4ft 9indraft' and 'Deckhouse 50ft long. Deckhouse 15ft 3in wide. Deckhouse 6ft 6in high in cham[?]. Machinery inclosure 12ft x 6ft'. [Probably an early preliminary plan for what ultimately became #261p WAVE]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled General Arrangement Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0470. WRDT08, Folder 38, formerly MRDE10. 1905-03-05.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.00298 (005-067). Blueprint general arrangement plan with plan view, midship section and outboard profile of a ferry boat [for the Newport Torpedo Station] titled '80ft-0in o.a. 69ft-0in w.l. 16ft-0in beam. 4ft-9in draft. Deckhouse 50ft-0in. 15ft-3in. 6ft-6in high clear'. Scale 1/8in = 1ft. Mar[ch] 7 1905'. [Probably an early preliminary plan for what ultimately became #261p WAVE]." (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0050. Blueprint. WRDT08, Folder 5, formerly MRDE10. 1905-11-07.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.00309.1 (005-078). Blueprint general arrangement plan with midship section and inboard profile titled 'Design of Ferry-Boat [#261p WAVE] for Harbor Use' and list of particulars 'Length of Hull 80ft. Length over fender strake 82ft 8in. Beam 24ft. Beam outside fender strake 25ft. Depth [corrected in pencil to Draft] 6ft 0in'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0149. WRDT08, Folder 13, formerly MRDE02. 1907-05-21.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan 142-25 (not at M.I.T.). Blueprint construction midship section titled 'Midship section of Ferryboat [#261 WAVE] ([see plan] 5-78). May 22-07'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0156. WRDT08, Folder 14, formerly MRDE02. 1907-05-22.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.00309.2 (005-079). Blueprint general arrangement plan with midship section and inboard profile titled 'Design of Ferry Boat [#261 WAVE] for Harbor Use' and list of particulars 'Length of Hull 80ft. Length over fender strake 82ft 8in. Beam 24ft 0in. Beam outside fender strake 25ft 0in. Draft 6ft 3in'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0151. WRDT04, Folder O.S. 2, formerly MRDE02. 1907-06-27.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled sketch with plan view and profile of a ferry [#191004ep Unbuilt Ferry]. Untitled, marked '112[ft] o.a.' and '108 [ft LWL ?]'. On verso data comparing 'Deck area, approx' and 'Salon floor' for this design and for WAVE [#261p] on printed card dated June 3, 1909, by the Automobile Legal Association warning its members of speed traps." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_00450. Folder [no #]. No date (1910 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (mostly in pencil but also in ink) trials booklet titled '1898 - 1909'. Relevant contents:
§47: #261p WAVE Trial Runs firepump (ca 250ft) and mean speed (9.27kn) (1907-12-11 to 1907-12-18)." (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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"[Item Description:] Typewritten (carbon copy) specifications titled 'Specifications For One Steam Ferry Boat [#261p WAVE]'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.. (creator). Specifications. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_02750. Folder [no #]. No date (1911-06 ?).)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #261p Wave even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. "Specifications For One Steam Ferry Boat [Wave]." No place [Bristol], no date [June? 1911]. (1,046 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes, used with permission. Copyright holder: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. Detailed vessel specifications for #261p Wave.

• Wave (HMCo-made index card)
• Wave (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: Wave
Type: Steam Ferryboat
Length: 83'
Owner: U.S. Navy

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

• Wave
• 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: Wave
Type: 83' steam ferry boat
Owner: U.S. Navy
Row No.: 747

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: 1907
E/P/S: P
No.: 261
Name: Wave
OA: 83' 0"

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.

"Wave was a ferryboat for use at the U.S. Torpedo Station in Newport Harbor." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. February 6, 2009.)

"Marine Engine of Inclosed Type. 7 & 14 x 9." (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.)

"Built in 125 days (contract to launch)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

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