HMCo #434s Kite

"[1893-05-12] Fri 12: … Shipped #434 [Kite] to Lake Minnetonka." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1893. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.)

"With one large cutter [#429s Navahoe] on the stocks, another keel [#435s Colonia] ready to lay and a probable order for a third [#437s Vigilant], to say nothing of more than the usual number of small racers and steam yachts, the Herreshoff shop is a busy place just now. ...
The general work of the Herreshoffs includes several steamers, the largest [#175p Louise] for Chas. B. Hayden, of Columbus, O., is 102ft. over all, 14ft. beam, and intended for lake and inland work. ...
The next steam yacht [#173p Kalolah] will be of similar model but 92ft. over all and 76ft. l.w.l. ... A third steam yacht for Mr. R. M. Riddle [#174p Loon] will be 62ft. over all, 10ft. beam. Beside these is a 28ft. navy launch for the Enterprise [#176p Launch for Massachusetts school ship Enterprise].
Little was heard last season of a 30ft. centerboard racer sent in July to Great South Bay for John W. Masury [#426s Edith M.], but the boat proved so successful that the firm are now building another for John Gibb [#430s Bonnie Doon], for racing in the same waters. ... There is also a 25ft. shoal draft cat [#428s Merry Thought] for an unknown owner [John P. Crozer], a racing boat; and two 21-footers [#433s Mojave and #434s Kite] of the Alpha [#416s Alpha ] type [sic, Alpha was a sloop, Mojave and Kite catboats]. Miss Sutton, owner of Wee Win, has ordered a 1-rater [#431s Mirwena (Morwena)], a fin-keel, and another [#436s Bubble] has been ordered by an Austrian yachtsman. There is also a 17ft. l.w.l. centerboard racer [#432s Viola] for an unknown owner [Howard Marston]." (Source: Anon. "Building." Forest and Stream, January 19, 1893, p. 61.)

"... In comparing the Kite with boats built in the same year and raced on Lake Minnetonka, it will be seen that Mr. Herreshoff met his first out and out defeats. His improved Alpha [#416s], the Kite, was time and again easily beaten by the Arthur Dyer boat, the Onawa, and the season's record went to the Onawa. ..." (Source: McVey, A. G. "Are World Famous. The Herreshoffs and Their Speedy Boats. Review of the Work of the Noted Builders." Boston Herald, ca. July 1895, no page (undated newspaper article from a yachting scrapbook compiled by A. S. Thayer, Claas van der Linde collection).

"It was in the summer of 1893 that the first of the new-style models appeared, and they were well represented. In that year Edmund J. Phelps bought the famous Herreshoff sloop Alpha [#416s], a boat that had beaten everything in her class the year before on the Eastern coast, and Messrs. Peet and Dunwoody had ordered the Kite [#434s] from the same designer. When these boats were launched at Minnetonka few dared to doubt that one or the other would win the season’s championship, but here a local builder jumped into the breach as Peterson has done in the present season. Arthur Dyer, of the Deephaven yard, turned out for Mr. Ward C. Burton, the famous Onawa, better known as 'The Wraith of Deephaven.' The history of this boat for the season was one continuous line of victories. She won five straight races, defeating Kite and Alpha in hollow style, the two latter fighting it out for second place. Onawa won her races by anywhere from seven to sixteen minutes, though it should be stated here that the boat was built to take every advantage of the rules for that year, and she received nearly ten minutes’ time allowance over Kite and Alpha.
In the following year the rules were so modified as to greatly reduce time allowance in all classes, as a result of which most new boats were built up to the limit, and the change proved thoroughly satisfactory all around. At this the Onawa withdrew from racing, and in 1894 the Alpha and Kite contested for first honors. Kite won the championship with four races to her credit, while Alpha captured the cup by winning three. ..." (Source: Pegler, Arthur James. "Western Yachts and Designers." Outing Magazine, April 1897, p. 10-11.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Printed club circular titled 'Sailing Regulations of the Minnetonka Yacht Club for 1893'. Section how to measure waterline is underlined in pencil and marked 'Note', likewise section how to count crew is highlighted with pencil. (Quite certainly related to #434s KITE which was shipped in 1893 to Lake Minnetonka)." (Source: Minnetonka Yacht Club (creator). Printed Yacht Club Circular. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE15_03150. Folder [no #]. 1893.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.08009 (096-055). Blueprint sail cutting plan titled 'No 434 [#434 KITE]'. With instructions 'Large jib and mainsail of Eqyptian Cotton. Working jib and mainsail and small jib of best qual[ity] 6oz cotton duck. All to be made in very best manner. no nettles. Boom on each jib. Stretched sizes given'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0189. WRDT08, Folder 18, formerly MRDE06. 1893-03-24.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Penciled list of sailing boats built by HMCo in the winter of 1892/1893:]
428 [#428s] MERRY THOUGHT. 25ft w.l. Cat. Crozer
429 [#429s] NAVAHOE. 84ft w.l. Sloop. Carroll
430 [#430s] BONNIE DOON. 30ft w.l. Sloop.
431 [#431s] MORWENA. 1 Rater. England
432 [#432s] VIOLA. 176t w.l. Cat. Boston
433 [#433s] MOJAVE. 20ft w.l. Cat. Murray
434 [#434s] KITE. 20ft w.l. J[ib] & M[ainsail]. Peet
435 [#435s] COLONIA. 85ft w.l. Sydicate
436 [#436s] BUBBLE. 1 Rater. One-Rater. Sail New Draft. Austria
437 [#437s] VIGILANT. 85ft w.l. Sydicate
438 [#438s] MENEEN. 2 1/2 Rater. Jackson." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Penciled List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_04410. Folder [no #]. No date (1893-07 or later).)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typewritten letter (with some inked-in corrections and additons) on 'William Peet, Jr. Attorney at Law, P.O. Box 97. 207 and 208 Boston Block' stationery:] Yours of the 8th instant is received. Please make for the KITE [#434s] a new suit of sails as described in your letter. I wish the total area reduced to 700 feet. I enclose the blue print of her sails which you sent me. I call your attention to the fact that according to your certificate, the area of the enclosed sail plan would be 800 feet but the area as measured here was 744 feet; I mention this for your guidance.
As I do not know but different clubs have different methods I enclose diagram from our book showing our method of measurement.
I also wish you to make new shrouds and turn buckles, preventer back stays and head stay, if used, also gooseneck to for[?] the boom & mast. Please also instruct me to what extent I shall reduce the length of the mast and circumference; also of the booms and gaff. Please note in calculating the length of the shrouds that I have lowered the freeboard of the KITE to the width of the top plank immediately below the oak gunwale streak.
Yours very truly, ... [On verso penciled note:] Wm. Peet Jr. New sails & rigging for KITE. Write him how much to reduce spars." (Source: Peet, William, Jr. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00540. Folder [no #]. 1895-02-13.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Mimeograph or carbon copy. Labeled in pencil 'From L. P. Ordway. St. Paul, M'. Believed to have been prepared by Ordway to provide intelligence for the upcoming design and construction of #473s ALFRIDA to be sent to White Bear Lake in Minnesota:] Memorandum of Rules covering Races of Minnesota Sloops.
At the time the above rules were made no boat on either Lake was supposed to measure above the limit of boats then on the water, to be allowed to sail.
When it came to accurate measurements at the time of the races last year, the MARIE, the boat entered by lake Minnetonka, was found to be 23ft 6in; she was obliged to pay for this, however, in time allowance in the regular way. The MARIE has proven to be the fastest boat at Lake Minnetonka during the past season, having beaten the KITE [#434s] and others in the majority of races. She is a boat somewhat similar in general outline to the ALPHA [#434s] and KITE, and appears to have her greatest depth about 2ft further aft; is lighter in construction, and is undoubtedly superior in speed especially in heavy winds. She carries 640 square feet of sailing area, which is about 75ft less than carried by the KITE; she carries no fixed ballast excepting a heavy center board weighing about 350#; she carries her sails fully as easy as the KITE and ALPHA without the fixed ballast they carry; she seems to be very buoyant and very hard to capsize, never having tipped over, while the KITE has been to the bottom of the Lake two or three times. She has considerable free board, and measures 30ft 6in over all and 8ft wide. With her 360# center board and 1120# live weight, measures 23ft 6in, with 2in above the water line. At Mast step she is 6ft 2in aft, width at Stern 4ft 4in, no seats, narrow Cock Pipe, high Free Board, about 16in, low bow. Center Board raised by tackle on the floor in bow; wire rope running from wheel at Center Board Box. Seems to have rather deep Transom; that is the bottom seems pretty well carried out aft; she has easy lines everywhere, and is rigged rather low; one set of Side Stays, Back Stays, no fore Stay. Undated (ca early 1896)." (Source: Ordway, Lucius P. Correspondence (memorandum) to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_72460. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 2), Folder B2F02, formerly MRDE15. No date (1896 ?).)
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"[Item Transcription:] As the prospective Captain of the new boat you are building for the [Lucius] Ordway syndicate [#473s ALFRIDA], I take the liberty of writing you a line.
I have been over in Minneapolis this week & find the boys there are much excited over our getting a new Herreshoff.
Mr. Park[?] has stirred them up with the observation that if you are thoroughly posted on the conditions of of our lake sailing and take the time to model & construct a boat special for those conditions, rules etc, the chances are much in favor of our getting a winner.
When Ordway left to see you I have him all the points I could in the matter and I presume he has given you all the ideas he could get together.
The other boats are built particularly on the theory that 'winning' ability counts for most than splferiouly[?] --- in other respects --- on our triangular courses --- its boats are low-found'[?] and a top of the water & race without lifting their bows excessively. They do not stand on[?] end when a heavy puff hits them, but keep accelerating their speed. Their sail spread is not large, so that boats of greater power & larger sail area sometimes beat them in light winds.
The[?] does[?] not build on strictly scientific principles.
He gets a fine wuliance[?] easy lines and flat bottoms well carried out astern & chops her off.
It is my opinion that [#434s] KITE and [#416s] ALPHA can beat any boat he eche[?] turned out on a reach[?] though to windward & straight return course or the triangular the odds are the other way --- and the more it blows the easier his boat can beat them.
I suppose you have perhaps started our craft but I couldn't resist putting in my[?] oar[?] a little & letting you know that there is great interest n the coming boat.
We want a good alround boat and will do our best to sail her worthily --- light construction is a great thing.
They are building 5 first class sloops at Minnetonka this winter & we are building 2 here at White Bear.
In hope yours will be queen of them all, yours ..." (Source: Griggs, C. Milton. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_71350. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F06, formerly MRDE15. 1896-03-20.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #434s Kite even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Kite (HMCo-made index card)
• Kite (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: Kite
Type: Cat
Length: 21'
Owner: Peet, William, Jr.

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

• Kite
• 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.

Month: Dec
Day: 13
Year: 1892
E/P/S: S
No.: 0434
Name: Kite
LW: 21'
B: 8' 1"
D: 2' 0"
Rig: Cat
CB: y
Ballast: Lead
Amount: $1500.00
Notes Constr. Record: part ballast inside D.416
Last Name: Peet Jr. ?
First Name: Wm.

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.

"#434s Kite was shipped to Lake Minnetonka on 1893-05-12" (Source: Bray, Maynard. January 31, 2008.)

"From contract to shipping she was built in 150 days (1.7 inch/day; 10 $/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 2, 2008.)

"Built in 150 days (contract to delivered; equivalent to $10/day)." (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.