HMCo #369p Sunflower

"No. 369. Jan. 22, 1919. (Composite Construction.) 72ft. o.a. Twin screw power cruiser to be made from model of #289 [#289p Dianthus], but with 45 frame spaces of 19in each. This is equal to 17 1/4in. frame spaces + 2 3/4in. on the model of #289 which represents 64ft. 11in. overall. The sheer height to under side of deck is to be 2in. higher than figures gives, which will increase the half breadths where there is a flare to topsides. The cabin floor is to be raised the same amount as the deck. Generally the scantlings are to be the same as #289 with deck increased to 1-5/8in.
Frame spaces 19in. (13.22). Use a scale 13 1/4in. long for one foot in fore and aft measurements of stem and transom, and use [unreadable word] taken off for #289 stem. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael Greene. Handwritten note in Offset Booklet HH.4.42. Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections, MIT Museum, Cambridge, Mass. January 22, 1919.)

"A new boat constructed by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company will be launched at high tide on the afternoon of July 4." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, July 1, 1919, p. 2.)

"A new 70-foot twin screw power yacht, built for John P. Crozer of New York, was launched at the boat shops of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company on July 4 at high tide about 2 pm. The craft, which resembles the 'Helianthus' [#299p] owned by Capt. Nathaniel G Herreshoff was christened 'Sunflower' " (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, July 8, 1919, p. 2.)

"... A 70-foot cruising power boat Sunflower, built for John P. Crozier of the New York Yacht Club, was launched at Herreshoff's July 4 [1919]. The new craft is of the same size and type as Nat Herreshoff's Helianthus [#299p], which was recently put into commission. ..." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Globe, July 13, 1919, p. 51.)

"Since 1902, NGH had lived for weeks at a time aboard his own power cruisers, Roamer [#215p] and Helianthus I [#288p] and II [#299p], on extended coastal trips, and by 1919 he had made one or two runs to Florida and back aboard his second Helianthus. So there could be no doubt about his ability, through firsthand experience, to design a thoroughly practical houseboat. Sunflower is such a craft --- practical, yet elegant (notice the curved glass in the forward corners of her rounded deckhouse), in true Herreshoff tradition. Power is provided by two six-cylinder Standard gasoline engines. ..." (Source: Bray, Maynard and Carlton Pinheiro. Herreshoff of Bristol. Brooklin, Maine, 1989, p. 152.)

"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten letter on 'Lawrence Gas Company, R.W. Emmons, 2D, Treasurer, 79 Milk Street, Boston, Massachusetts' stationery:] Your letter of January 1st [1920] I received more than a week ago. I have delayed answering it until after the New York Yacht Club meeting, which was held night before last, as George Cormack telegraphed and wrote you.
The Committee replied to Lipton they would agree to his terms, namely, to race, beginning July 15th off Sandy Hook, but declined to make any alteration in rig in the way of Marconi topmast. This being settled, George [Cormack] and I have got underway with the schedule for captain, mates and crew for Resolute. [Chris] Christiansen with John Christiansen, whom we had the first year will be our Captain and first mate [on #725s RESOLUTE]. We have already obtained some of our old men.
The question of tender still troubling us. Steamers like CAPE COD will cost to run this year nearly $45,0000 a piece for each boat, which seems a sinful waste of Syndicate money. Charlie [Adams] and I are both in favor or rechartering the QUEEN [#657s], and in order to obtain if necessary more room, building a house over her from the main deck forward in the line of a receiving ship. This will enable us to mess all the men at the same time and give us ample accommodations for sails, supplies and for ourselves. Such a lay-out together with Harold Vanderbilt's tender [#301p MAGISTRATE] would be adequate for our purpose. Nothing definite has been settled, but this is what Charlie and I lean towards. George [Cormack], however, is still in favor of steamers.
The Cup Committee have decided to begin the racing on May 2lst --- a series of 5 races to he held off New Haven; an interval then for alterations, refit, etc., and then a series to begin off Newport about June 4th and continue until the first of July. Newport races only to actually count for selection.
This being the schedule it is out opinion that RESOLUTE should be launched about May 1st, as with her crew on the spot it will not take long to rig her, and from experience of previous years, weather at that time is none too favorable anyway. I do not know how this will suit your plan, but I think if you plan to arrive about that time we can get on all right.
The new wooden mast for RESOLUTE has not been started and there is some discussion as to where to built it. Your ideas were that it should be built in the south shop, if I remember correctly, and unless I hear from you to the contrary I will have it constructed there. Chase has the rigging for same practically all completed. There is not much else to report regarding RESOLUTE.
George Nichols is to arrive in Boston for our Directors meeting next week, and at that time he and I will take up with Sidney the subject of making winches for him, as per an understanding you had with him just before you sailed.
Jim Swan has no doubt written you regarding all the other work in the shop; especially work on the schooner [#827s OHONKARA] seems to have gone on very satisfactorily.
The first little S boat is practically completed, and some of the proposed owners of same have made inspection.
All seem to be pleased with the boats with the exception of one point, and opinion has been so strongly expressed that I have taken it upon myself to alter the specifications as originally planned by you, and I trust you will understand and forgive me in case you have any feeling in the matter. The case is this. The present oak ribbon which you have designed and placed on the first boat with the hollow under side, in place of the usual pear-shaped shear streak, they all desire changed for the older method.
While I recognize your idea, which is a good one both as to cover board for the canvas deck and also the hollowed out underside for shedding water, it gives the boats a very heavy effect looked at from broadside or stern view, and I thought it best to meet their desires in the matter, and the other boats will be built as I stated above on the old method. The only other alteration was the slight tipping of the seats in the deep cockpit boats; the first boats seats are flat, and while comfortable enough in the forward part of the cockpit, are not as comfortable as if dipped in the after part.
Chase is going at the rigging for these boats and the first mast is all done. I will follow out your suggestion and have the boat launched and weighted according to your instructions, but if the weather holds mild, although it has been very cold recently, Charlie Adams and I propose to rig up, launch and try out the first boat under sail before the other sails are made, and I think between us we will discover anything that may not be just right. Arthur Adams, Charlie's brother has just ordered four more 12 1/2 footers, and as we were already building one, we have taken the order for the other four at $750 a piece.
We are in hopes of getting an order for a good-sized house boat to carry us through the spring and summer work. Swazey is on his way South to see two or three gentleman regarding same. We shall need this new work soon.
The expert accountants have been making the annual audit, but at the time of the stockholders meeting held last Thursday, complete figures were not in. I am sorry to have to tell you that their figures so far bring us out with a loss instead of a profit for the year. As soon as I get the final correct figures I will forward you a copy, but although Mr. Garfield, Charlie Adams and myself, as well as Young and Swan are convinced that the profit we should have showed is tied up somewhere in the inventory and we have not yet been able to dig it out. We have already dug out $6,000, and I am in hopes we may find other misrepresentations.
I am convinced our methods are all right, and our book-keeping system all right, and further that any Company which could have paid off $100,000 indebtedness as we did the past year is a good-going concern, and even if this year's statement shows us behind instead of ahead, I am confident we will only come out with all the better balance this coming year. The officers and directors of the previous year were all elected at the meeting, and we are to hold as i stated a Directors meeting Wednesday next.
You must be having splendid weather and a fine time, It seems hard to think of you sailing in summer clothes, while we are experiencing 5 below zero day before yesterday, and now a snow storm with a foot and a half on the ground.
The Alumni of Harvard have chosen me to be their chief Marshal on my Twenty-fifth anniversary this coming June.
This same honor was given to Charlie Adams on his Twenty-fifth, and on that day I am afraid the RESOLUTE will have to stop work --- otherwise my attention from now on will be largely given to her.
They are already at work on the SHAMROCK pearing off some of her fore-foot, and I believe further they are expecting to relay the deck. George [Nichols] will have a hard time to get his work [on VANITIE] done in the same yard, but I do not think we can possibly do anything more for him than we have agreed to. His present plans are, namely; shorten bowsprit and main boom while increasing the height of his rig a little, thereby reducing his sail area enough to reduce his time allowance 30 seconds. Charlie and I think he is working in the wrong way. We would both have left the base line as it is and increased the rig at least 500 sq. ft if not more, giving us more allowance, trying to come nearer to to SHAMROCK's rig. There it would give us a better line on how we will go with the latter. However, I do not think it makes much difference what he does, or what SHAMROCK does, for as Charlie says, if we cannot beat them both we had better quit racing for good.
With my very best wishes for a Happy New Year to you and Mrs. Herreshoff, and hoping to hear from you soon, and further trusting my delay in answering your letter is offset by what I have written, I am
Yours faithfully, ...
P.S.: Since writing I have been in communication with Mr. Kittredge the expert accountant and his statement is as follows; namely that if we fail to find any further discrepancy in the inventory to offset what loss the Company now shows as per figures sent you, there are two items to account for a large loss, namely: The Richards contract [#329p CAROLA] on which we allowed $3,000 for completion and delivery this year, has probably cost us, as figures will show, nearer $8,000. Then since you left, as probably Jim Swan has written the government has assessed their war tax against us on all contracts completed since that law was out into effect, excepting the Richards boat. These taxes amount to some $9,900, and we cannot include them in this years assets, for the reason that in the case of Harry Lippett [#368p MARY ANN], he has refused to pay his tax. In the case of the Sabine launch and the Codman launch [#342p, #343p, #344p or #345p?], as no account of this was made to them, it is the feeling of the Directors that we must pay the tax, although we may get Mr. Codman's. In the case of of Herrick [#311p APACHE and #371p GYPSY] and Crozier [#369p SUNFLOWER], Pinchon [#372p VASANTA] and the others, the matter has been brought to their attention I understand, and we should expect their taxes. Since, however, this question has arisen, we have had a legal clause drawn, and all contracts now go out from the Company's office including this clause and precluding any liability on the part of the Company being stuck for the taxes, as it states this must be paid before delivery is made.
Please do not worry yourself any over these financial details, however, as I think everything will come out all right in the end.
[Penciled PPS:] Enclosed is copy of Butler Duncan's letter just rec[eive]d regarding dates for trial races." (Source: Emmons, Robert W. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_26390. Subject Files, Folder 6, formerly 90-95. 1920-01-17.)
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"[Item Description:] have chartered a tender [for #725s RESOLUTE], the steamer MONTAUK, I do not blame you for thinking there are getting to be too many ideas and cooks in our broth, can easily saw 3ft off mast, topsail yard, won't cut new mainsail until April 10, will make it identical with last one made in 1915, will give up all thought about the lead until you return, have not have a good chance to the sails for the little S boats, ice only just breaking up now, boat will not be able to be launched and tested for her trim until latter part of next week, there are now 15 [S boats] in all, George Nichols canvas [for VANITY] has arrived in Bristol, am afraid Dr. Reynolds and his brother have got a good deal of advice from you gratis, as I doubt very much whether they would be prepared to build boats such as you suggest, as I gather they are talking with some ship builder down east for a pretty rough sort of craft, however, I will talk with him the first time I see him and write you again, at the time he told me something about his boat, I told him if he rally wanted a good type of boat I suggested he had better write you at Bristol and get you to tell him what the proper style of craft should be, are all beginning to get more anxious and there are many little things in connection with getting RESOLUTE ready to go over board which I am getting sceptical as to their being done to your satisfaction without you are personally in attendance, suggests NGH come home 10 days earlier, as you suggested have ordered an especially made main manila sheet from Plymouth Cordage Co, tapered at ends in similar proportion to #605s RELIANCE's, HMCo to receive first check for war tax on from Mr. Herrick [for #371p GYPSY] tomorrow, noting so far has been heard from Lippett [#368p MARY ANN], Crozier [#369p SUNFLOWER] or Pierce [#370p TYARA], work at the shop seems to be going on very well, I hope you succeeded in getting Morgan's boat [#236p MERMAID ex-EXPRESS] as a yacht for yourself for the season, but I assure you if not there will be plenty of room for you on our tender the MONTAUK" (Source: Emmons, Robert W. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_27110. Subject Files, Folder 7, formerly 90-95. 1920-03-20.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #369p Sunflower even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Sunflower (HMCo-made index card)
• Sunflower (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: Sunflower
Type: Gasoline
Length: 72'
Owner: Crozer, John P.

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

• Sunflower
• Kinkead ex-Sunflower
• 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: Sunflower
Type: 72' gasoline
Owner: John P. Crozer
Year: 1919
Row No.: 663

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: 1919
E/P/S: P
No.: 369
Name: Sunflower
OA: 72' 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.

"Sunflower's contract date has been estimated to be the same as the date under which her offsets were recorded in offset booklet HH.4.42 by N. G. H." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. July 15, 2014.)

"Built in 163 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $273/day, 761 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"In the absence of better available data displacement was estimated by using the figure for Gross Register Tons (62) from the 1920 Lloyd's Register of American Yachts (Net Register Tons were reported as 42) 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.