HMCo #406s Iris

"[1889-08-22] Thu 22: Taken order for 22 [ft] w.l. cat boat [#406s Iris] for Mr. Owen.
[1889-09-11] Wed 11: ... Began setting up Owen boat [#406s Iris].
[1889-09-16] Mon 16: Began planking Owen's boat [#406s Iris].
[1889-09-24] Tue 24: ... Cast keel for Owen's boat [#406s Iris] (about 5000 lbs).
[1889-09-28] Sat 28: ... Turned over Owen's boat [#406s Iris].
[1890-04-17] Thu 17: Launched cat Iris [#406s].
[1890-04-21] Mon 21: Began rigging Iris [#406s].
[1890-05-01] Thu 1: ... Delivered [George] Owen's catboat Iris [#406s].
[1892-05-28] Sat 28: Launched Iris [#406s], #423 Vanessa, also #417 [Drusilla] from wharf.
[1915-06-14] Mon 14: ... Guy Norman here in Iris [apparently #406s].
[1915-06-28] Mon 28: ... Yawl Iris [apparently #406s] is here for power outfit & windlass. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1889 to 1890. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection. Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1915. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"Deep Cat Boat for Mr. Owen
#406 1889.
Length overall 27'.
Length waterline 22'.
Draft 4' 10".
Beam 8' 6".
Scale of model 1" to the foot.
Frame spaces 12 1/2".
In making moulds deduct for planking 7/8".
... for timbers 2 1/4"." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Note (in ink) in Offset Booklet HH.4.066.] Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"[See also detailed list of materials and weights in NGH design booklet.]" (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. [Design booklet entry dated August 29, 1889.])

"... The catyawl Iris has lately been bought at Marblehead by Dr. H. M. Howe and will be brought here shortly. ..." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Notes and News of Local Interest." Bristol Phoenix, May 7, 1895, p. 2.)

"Iris (Sail, K) owned by Dr. Howe, Port: Bristol, R. I; LOA 27.3ft; LWL 22.6ft; Beam 8.6ft; Draft 5ft; designed by N. G. Herreshoff and built by Herreshoff Manufact'g Co. in 1890." (Source: Stebbins 1896 Yachtsmen's Album, p. 40.)

"No. 8598 --- For Sale --- Yawl Iris, built by Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; 22 ft. 6 in. w. l., 37 [sic, i.e. 27] ft. o. a., 8 ft. 6 in. beam, 5 ft. draught; keel type; 5 tons lead ballast on keel; self-bailing cockpit; cabin, 6 ft. headroom, sleeps four; galley, 6 ft. headroom; equipment complete. Iris is an exceptionally handsome, powerful, seagoing, little cruiser and is without doubt the safest boat ever built by the Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Price very reasonable, as owner wants a larger boat. Apply to Harry H. Cabot, Bristol, R. I." (Source: Rudder, March 1913, p. 150.)

"No. 8598 --- For Sale --- Yawl Iris, built by Herreshoff Mfg. Co.; 22 ft. 6 in. w. l., 37 ft. o. a., 8 ft. 6 in. beam. 5 ft. draught; keel type; 5 tons lead ballast on keel; self-bailing cockpit; cabin, 6 ft. headroom, sleeps four; galley, 6 ft. head-room ; equipment complete. Iris is an exceptionally handsome, powerful, seagoing, little cruiser and is without doubt the safest boat ever built by the Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Price very reasonable, as owner wants a larger boat. Apply to Harry H. Cabot, Bristol, R. I. [With photo]." (Source: Anon. "For Sale." Rudder March 1913, p. 150.)

"BRISTOL, R I. June 7 [1913] --- ... The yawl Iris, built 20 years ago and noted in the bay for speed, has been sold by H. H. Cabot to James R. MacColl of Providence." (Source: Anon. "Bristol Notes." Boston Globe, June 8, 1913, p. 47.)

"No. 19408 --- For Sale --- Cat rig yawl Iris, 27 ft. 8 in by 23 ft. 4 in. by 8 ft. 9 in. by 5 ft. 4 in. Designed by N. G. Herreshoff; built by Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Spars, rigging, sails, blocks and equipment; outside lead ballast. Price $450. For further particulars address F. S. Nock, East Greenwich, R. I." (Source: Anon. "For Sale." Rudder, March 1920, p. 59.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Casting Book # 2 [B (there is another Casting Book # 2)] showing hull castings as per title only for steamers #148p Our Mary and #149p Jersey Lily. Contents, however, also include castings for other boats including #188903es Yawl Boat for #157p Aquila, #405s Alice, #406s Iris, #54p Dolphin, #65p Gleam, #104p Magnolia, #104p Magnolia, #133p Henrietta, #151p Ballymena, #152p Cushing, #155p Augusta [III], #156p Antoinette, #157p Aquila, #158p Launch for Seal Fishing, and #162p Judy. Also listed are many parts for a quadruple engine (probably for #152p Cushing or for #150p Say When or #151p Ballymena). While other casting lists record both castings made at home and at outside foundries, this book appears to list only castings made at outside foundries and none at home. A first part of the booklet from front to about the middle shows casting numbers, descriptions, numbers of castings and foundry where made with dates ranging from Sept 10, [1887] to Dec 14 [1889]. A second, upside down, part of the booklet begins at the end and then goes back to the middle showing for the same date range 'Patterns sent away' with pattern numbers and names of foundries these were sent to. A further section then shows castings required for #152p Cushing and as well as castings required for Lagging, Pumping Engines, Feed Pump and Air Pump, all these possibly also for #152p Cusing. A final section shows 'Patterns ordered home' with pattern numbers, foundry names these were received from and dates ranging from Sept 12 [1887] to Dec 16 [1889]." (Source: MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.120-03. Castings Book 2B. Box HAFH.6.4B, Folder Casting Record Books Hull Castings Order Book 2. 1888-09-10 to 1889-12-14.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled sailplan of an unidentified catyawl (with sails with a lot of roach) with vertical stem, deep keel and a continuously sloping curve from stem to rudder.With calculations showing a total sail area of 375 1/2sqft. (The hull bears a certain similarity to #406s IRIS which, however, had almost twice as much sail area.)" (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0476. WRDT08, Folder 39. No date (late 1880s ??).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled sailplan sketch of a catyawl with plumb stem and continuously sloping keel. Sloop sail configuration erased out but faintly visible. With calculations arriving at a total sail area of 376sqft. Comparison with Model 1003 for #406s IRIS shows a perfect match with sheer, bow and keel line but a different stern with this sketch showing a more pronounced rudderpost rake. But note that IRIS had a sail area of 640sqft, much more than shown on this plan. On verso deckview, outboard profile and sections of the same design with a few notes and calculations." (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE05_00970. Penciled Sketch. Folder [no #]. No date (1889 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled general arrangement plan with half-breadth plan, inboard profile and midship section titled 'Design for 24 1/2 lwl cruising yawl. Aug[ust] 1889'. (Even though the section shows much more flaring topsides, the profile bears a certain similarity with #406s IRIS which was contracted for on August 22, 1889. Is this a preliminary plan that was made during negotiations which eventually led to the somewhat smaller IRIS?)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled General Arrangement Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT04_00690. Folder [no #]. 1889-08.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled general arrangement plan with half-breadth plan, midship section, half-section, and inboard profile titled '22[ft] l.w.l. Cat boat [#406s IRIS]. Design for Mr. Owen. Aug. 1889'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Penciled General Arrangement Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0492. WRDT08, Folder 39, formerly MRDE10. 1889-08.)
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"[Item Description:] Blueprint with construction sections at Frame 17, 13, and 9 titled 'Cross Sections. 22ft LWL Keel Cat Boat [#406s IRIS]." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0170. WRDT08, Folder 16, formerly MRDE06. No date (1889-09).)
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"[Item Description:] Three groups of penciled midship sections on brown paper. Untitled. Some of the sections in the first group are marked '40ft', '23ft catyawl #424 [WRAITH]', '21[?] 1/2ft 18.6sqft Disp[lacement] 17200', 'CONSUELO [#400s] 21.5[sqft] Disp[lacement] 21400[lbs]', '29[?] 1/2[ft] [#409s GANNET ???] 24.8sqft Disp[lacement] 25000[lbs]. None of the sections in the second group is identified. Some of the sections in the third group are marked '46 foot', 'Owen's IRIS [#406s]', '22 1/2[ft] w.l', '18.6sqft 26 1/2ft w.l.', '19.0sqft CLARA [#402s]'. With note 'CLARA L / cube-root(Disp[lacement]) = 4.32'. With small sketch of block and tackle with hook. Undated (the latest boat mentioned is from 1891)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Midship Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_09720. Folder [no #]. No date (1891 or later ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled table comparing 'Length', '[symbol]', 'Disp[lacement] 2000' [i.e. short tons], 'Estimate of Cost' and 'Per D' [i.e. Cost per Displacement in Short Tons] for seven different designs: '69 1/2ft [probably #188603es Unbuilt America's Cup Defender for William Ziegler]', '26 1/2[ft] PELICAN [#408s]', '29 1/2[ft #409s GANNET]', '29 1/2[ft] CLARA [#402s]', '23[ft] IRIS [#406s]', '45[ft #411s GLORIANA ???]', and '45[ft #414s WASP ?]'. (Note that cost estimates differ from those in the Construction Record.)" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Cost Estimate. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE05_01730. Folder [no #]. No date (1891 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Photograph of a catyawl (probably #406s IRIS) underway." (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE14_01170. Photograph. Folder [no #]. No date (1890 or later).)
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"[Item Description:] Photograph, mounted, of a catyawl (probably #406s IRIS) underway." (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE14_01180. Photograph. Folder [no #]. No date (1890 or later).)
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"[Item Description:] Photograph, negative, of a catyawl (probably #406s IRIS) underway." (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE14_01190. Photograph. Folder [no #]. No date (1890 or later).)
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"[Item Description:] Typewritten and penciled table with data for 'Date of Order', '[Hull] No.', 'Name', 'Length on W.L.', 'Beam', 'Draft', 'Rig', 'Keel or Centerboard Keel', 'Ballast' for #400s CONSUELO, #401s ROMP, #402s CLARA, #403s CALYPSO, #404s COQUINA, #405s ALICE, #406s IRIS, #407s BIRD, #408s PELLICAN[sic], #409s GANNET, #410s MAB, #411s GLORIANA, #412s DILEMMA, #413s SAYONARA, #414s WASP, #415s WENONAH, #416s ALPHA, #417s DRUSILLA, #418s EL CHICO, #419s COQUINA 2ND, #420s REAPER and #421s BEE. Undated (data until 1891 is typewritten, thereafter penciled, suggesting that the table was prepared in January 1892 before EL CHICO, the first boat with a penciled year, was contracted for)." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Construction Record Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_04530. Folder [no #]. No date (1892-01 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Ink on linen sail cutting plan titled 'Sails for IRIS. #406. Herreshoff Mfg.Co. April 24, [18]92. Bristol, R.I.'. With directions to sailmaker 'Sails 8oz duck, to be made in the best manner. Sailslides on gaffs and booms. 9 hoops on mainsail, 6 on mizzen. Nettles on each reef. Stretched sizes given. Small slides on mizzen. Large slides on main." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Sail Cutting Plan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0636 or 0645. WRDT08, Folder 47. 1892-04-24.)
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"[Item Description:] Table titled 'Examples of the Application of Proposed Measurement Rule for the the New York Yacht Club' providing data for Rig, Type under Water, Load waterline, Draft, Displacement, Sail area, Racing length and others for #435s COLONIA, #437s VIGILANT, #452s DEFENDER, JUBILEE, QUEEN MAB, HURON, #414s WASP, #451s NIAGARA, UVIRA, #422s HANDSEL, #449s ANOATOK, #409s GANNET, #408s PELICAN, #446s ALERION, #416s ALPHA, #406s IRIS, and #461s COCK ROBIN. With note 'Blueprint 2. Sept 20, 1895.'" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_70900. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F06, formerly MRDE15. 1895-09-20.)
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"[Item Description:] Untitled table providing data for Rig, Kind of c.b. or keel, Waterline, Draft, Displacement, Sail area, Racing length and others for #435s COLONIA, #437s VIGILANT, #452s DEFENDER, JUBILEE, QUEEN MAB, HURON, #414s WASP, #451s NIAGARA, UVIRA, #422s HANDSEL, #449s ANOATOK, #409s GANNET, #408s PELICAN, #446s ALERION, #416s ALPHA, and #406s IRIS. Much appears to be the same data as that provided in the table titled 'Examples of the Application of Proposed Measurement Rule for the the New York Yacht Club' and dated September 20, 1895, suggesting this to be the draft also dated similar. With envelope labeled in pencil 'Original N.G.H.'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_70920. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F06, formerly MRDE15. No date (ca1895-09-20).)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #406s Iris even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Iris (HMCo-made index card)
• Iris and #406p Aloha Sb launch (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: Iris
Type: Cat
Length: 22'6"
Owner: Owen, George, Jr.

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

• Iris
• 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: Iris
Type: 22' 6" catyawl
Owner: George Owen
Row No.: 302

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.

Month: Aug
Year: 1889
E/P/S: S
No.: 0406
Name: Iris
LW: 22' 6"
B: 8' 6"
D: 5' 0"
Rig: Cat
CB: y
Ballast: Lead
Built for: Geo. Oliver, Jr.
Amount: $1900.00
Notes Constr. Record: Changed 1892. Cat Yawl
Last Name: Oliver [sic, i.e. Owen]
First Name: Geo.

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.

"Built in 238 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $8/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"Sail area 640sqft from table by NGH titled 'Examples of the Application of Proposed Measurement Rule for the the New York Yacht Club' providing data for Rig, Type under Water, Load waterline, Draft, Displacement, Sail area, Racing length and other measurements dated September 20, 1895 in the Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. February 22, 2019.)

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