HMCo #481s Spalpeen

"[1896-11-10] Tue 10: Mr. Riddle [the owner of #174p Loon] here; has ordered new st[eam] ketch rigged yacht [#481s Spalpeen]..
[1897-01-02] Sat 2: ... Cast lead for #481 [Spalpeen]. ...
[1897-01-15] Fri 15: ... Mr. Riddle here. Began setting up his ketch [#481s Spalpeen].
[1897-01-18] Mon 18: Began planking #481 ketch [#481s Spalpeen].
[1897-02-08] Mon 8: ... Mr. Riddle [owner of Spalpeen #481s] here.
[1897-02-17] Wed 17: No 481 [#481s Spalpeen] planked & deck frame in. ...
[1897-03-10] Wed 10: Moved #481 [Spalpeen] aux. [ketch] to west end of shop ...
[1897-04-15] Thu 15: Mr. Riddle [owner of #481s Spalpeen] here. ...
[1897-04-17] Sat 17: Launched Agusta [sic, i.e. Augusta #155p] from ways and in evening Spalpeen (#481).
[1897-04-18] Sun 18: Went to Pt. Pleasant in Coquina [#404s] with boys, Alpheus [Packard] & Mr. Riddle [owner of #481s Spalpeen]. ...
[1897-05-28] Fri 28: ... Bent sails on Spalpeen [#481s].
[1897-05-30] Sun 30: ... Off in Spalpeen [#481s] under sail.
[1897-06-06] Sun 6: Went to Newport in Spalpeen [#481s] with family.
[1897-06-08] Tue 8: Mr. Riddle [owner of #481 Spalpeen] here. ...
[1897-06-13] Sun 13: Off in Spalpeen [#481s] with steam & sail.
[1897-06-16] Wed 16: Hauled Spalpeen [#481s] out on railway. ...
[1897-06-19] Sat 19: ... Spalpeen [#481s] delivered & sailed.
[1897-08-14] Sat 14: Tried Spalpeen [#481s] under steam [in] a.m.
[1899-10-18] Wed 18: ... Went to Erie basin at 6:30 to see the measuring of Shamrock after fitting in more ballast, w.l.[?] inclined 16deg. Visited [#481s] Spalpeen and went into town.
[1900-08-11] Sat 11: ... Spalpeen [#481s] sailed.
[1901-06-23] Sun 23: ... Mr. Riddle here & put Spalpeen [#481s] in commission.
[1901-10-17] Thu 17: ... Spalpeen [#481s] arrives. ...
[1928-11-09] Fri 9: Cool & strong NW [wind]. Take auto at nine and go to Coatesville & visit Bob Riddle [past owner of #481s Spalpeen and #247p Sea Urchin]. Have a very pleasant time with him & his wife and a fine dinner. Leave [at] 3-10 and [go] back to Narberth [at] 5-05." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1896 to 1928. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection [1896-1897]. Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff [1899-1928].)

"Oct[ober] 26, 1896.
No 481.
For no 481 the sheer line is to be raised 3" higher than sheer height given in this book.
Also the stern is carried farther aft and rake of stern post changed as underscored in red.
Frame spaces 18 1/3" inches.
Deduct in making moulds for planking 1 3/8"
Deduct in making moulds for timbers 2 1/8"
Total 3 1/2"
Timbers moulded 2 1/8" full length, sided 1 7/8" at top and increasing 1/10 per ft for full length.
Keel straight 5" deep. Bottom to be 4' 2 1/8" above base at # 14 and 2' 6 5/8" above base at # 30 frames.
Crown [of] deck 5 1/8" in 12". ..." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Penciled note in Offset Booklet HH.4.102.] October 26, 1896. Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"Coconut Grove. N. G. Herreshoff Bristol, R. I. April 29 1927 {1927/04/29} Dear Francis, ... I had not heard of "Spalpeen" either. She is but 30 years old and her hull should be in good condition, Lead bolts should be thoroughly examined after 15 years and outside straps sooner. Do you know if or not Spalpeen's lead was held by outside straps as well as bolts. Being not deep and rather wide on top they may have been left off. But experiance indicates they should be used every time if you [p2] want a tight boat. " (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 3: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"[We] also [built] the fine keel ketch rigged cruiser SPALPEEN for Robert M. Riddle." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Some of the Boats I Have Sailed In." Written 1934. In: Pinheiro, Carlton J. (ed.). Recollections and Other Writings by Nathanael G. Herreshoff. Bristol, 1998, p. 68.)

"N. G. HERRESHOFF 6 WALLEY STREET BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND May 12, 1936. Dear Francis, ... I had not thought of it before, - but Olin Stephens' designs do resemble the old Spalpeen very much. In the only trial I had of Spalpeen, - in beating up from Newport in a n.e. breeze, and your Uncle Charles in cat-yawl "Alice" tackled me. (I had only your mother and Frank Chase, in a Sunday afternoon sail) I thought Spalpeen did very well. ..." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 12: Letter from N. G. Herreshoff to L. F. Herreshoff.)

"20 LEE STREET MARBLEHEAD MASS Dear Father: April 12, 1927. {1927/04/12} ... About four years ago the SPALPEEN leaked quite badly around her keel bolts and garboard when driven hard. Her owner became afraid of her. He had another boat built to replace her (named SARACEN). About this time lead was quite expensive so the SPALPEEN'S ballast was removed to use in the new boat. Much to the owners surprise, when the lead was removed the SPALPEEN was found to be absolutely sound all along the keel and up and down her fore and after body. She was sold very cheap, less than $2000. I believe. She was filled up on the inside, below the floor, with iron, rocks and cement. She now, of course, has very little stability and a very shortened down rig but hardly a seam can be seen in her planking. On the SPALPEEN the only thing that gave out was the securing of lead to the hull." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Box 17, Folder 3: Letter from L. F. Herreshoff to N. G. Herreshoff.)

"An interesting medium-sized yacht, designed by Captain Nat in 1897, was the ocean cruiser 'Spalpeen,' seventy-three feet O.A., fifty-six feet W.L., twelve feet beam, eight feet draft. She was a ketch and when she came out had a small auxiliary steam engine which was taken out after a few years. From then on she cruised under sail only. Her construction plan shows that she was very similar in model to the yawl 'Dorade' that was to make a great sensation some thirty-four years later. 'Spalpeen' was built for Mr. R. M. Riddle of Philadelphia, who was a very remarkable and likable man and a particular friend of Captain Nat and his whole family. In his youth Mr. Riddle had had a severe sickness which left him entirely deaf so that, not being able to hear his own voice, he had lost the power of speech; and to add to this, one time when he was working on the 'Spalpeen' 's steam engine a monkey wrench slipped out of his hand and hit him in the eye, so that the rest of his life he was deaf and mute and blind in one eye. Mr. Riddle took several long cruises in the 'Spalpeen' and consequently did much night sailing. Unfortunately one night 'Spalpeen' was run into by a steamer which struck her a very hard glancing blow with such a loud noise that the crew and guest of 'Spalpeen' thought she would sink at once. As the steamer came alongside again the crew and the guest, Mr. Riddle's nephew, attempted to board the steamer but the nephew fell overboard and was drowned. It was found 'Spalpeen' was not leaking at all so the steamer put the crew aboard again and she sailed to Bristol. I am only telling of this collision because of its interesting structural effect for the 'Spalpeen' was literally bent sideways, or her center line had become curved. After she was hauled out in the shop and some of her deck removed and the fastenings in other parts of the deck loosened, she sprang back into perfect alignment. The collision had actually bent the whole panel of the deck sideways which must have required a great force as 'Spalpeen' was a flush decked yacht. The rest of her hull was intact except, of course, where the steamer had made contact." (P. 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. 204-205.)

"Spalpeen, auxiliary yawl-rigged steamer, of [blank].
Built at [blank] [sic, i.e. Bristol at HMCo].
19.87 tons; 66 ft. x 12.5 ft. x 8.1 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, one mast, overhanging head, overhanging stern.
Surveyed and measured, March 30, 1897." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Spalpeen.)

"... The auxiliary yawl Spalpeen, built for Robert M. Riddle of Philadelphia, was launched Saturday [April 17, 1897] evening at 7:30 o'clock, from the Herreshoff works, Mr. Riddle being present." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, April 20, 1897, p. 2.)

"BOSTON, May 1 [1897]. --- ... The Herreshoffs have also built during the Winter an auxiliary yawl for R. M. Riddle of Lansdowne, Penn., and she is now moored off the works preparatory to being rigged. She is 55 feet water line, and 70 feet over all. Spalpeen is her name. ..." (Source: Anon. "Trial of the Cockatoo. Herreshoff's Knockabout Built for C.S. Eaton Sails Well." New York Times, May 2, 1897, p. 4.)

"The auxiliary yacht Spalpeen, built at Herreshoffs for R. M. Riddle of Philadelphia, was given her first trial trip Sunday [May 30, 1897], and proved satisfactory." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, June 1, 1897, p. 2.)

"[License issued to vessel under 20 tons. Pos. 250:]
Spalpeen, auxiliary steamer, of Philadelphia, Pa.
Built at Bristol, 1897.
19.87 tons; 66 ft. x 12.5 ft. x 8.1 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
No specifications shown.
Lic[ensed] (temporary) [as] (yacht) June 17, 1897. Owner: Robert M. Riddle of Lansdowne, Delaware County, Pa. Master: Lewis F. Smith.
License surrendered July 7, 1897 at Philadelphia, Pa. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence])
Lic[ensed] (temporary) [as] (yacht) Oct. 19, 1905 (issued on Philadelphia, Pa. enrollment of May 9, 1898; admeasurement correction - 29 tons; rig altered to yawl yacht). Owner: same. Master: Robert M. Riddle.
License surrendered July 14. 1906 at New Bedford. ([Record at:] C[ustom] H[ouse, Providence])." (Source: Survey of Federal Archives, Work Projects Administration. Ships Documents of Rhode Island. Bristol. Ship Registers and Enrollments of the Port of Bristol - Warren Rhode Island, 1941, s.v. Spalpeen.)

"The large yawl Spalpeen, owned by Robert M. Riddell [sic] of Philadelphia, which was in collision off the New Jersey coast a short time ago, is hauled out on the marine railway at Herreshoffs Walker's Cove yards for repairs." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, July 26, 1901, p. 2.)

"The large yawl Spalpeen owned by Robert M. Riddell of Philadelphia, left here yesterday afternoon, with her owner on board, for a cruise. The Spalpeen has been overhauled and repaired at the Herreshoff shops." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, July 25, 1902, p. 2.)

"The large yawl Spalpeen, owned by Robert M. Riddell of Philadelphia, which left here a week ago, returned Saturday [August 2, 1902] to get a new launch, built at Herreshoffs." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, August 5, 1902, p. 2.)

"The large yawl Spalpeen, owned by Robert M. Riddell of Philadelphia, was hauled out for the winter at Herreshoffs Walker's cove yards yesterday." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, November 10, 1903, p. 2.)

"The yawl Spalpeen is soon to be fitted out for the season for her owner, Mr. Robert M. Riddell, of Philadelphia. ... " (Source: Young, F. H. "Rhode Island Letter." Forest and Stream, June 4, 1904, p. 468.)

"Mr. Robert M. Riddle, Philadelphia, has sold his sea-going Herreshoff ketch Spalpeen to Mr. Oliver G. Ricketson, Pittsburg, Pa., through the office of Stanley M. Seaman, 220 Broadway. Spalpeen is a particularly seaworthy craft, 73ft. over all, 56ft. waterline, 12ft. 6 in. beam and 8ft. 4in. draft, and has cruised extensively along the coast. Present owner is using her off his summer home on Buzzard's Bay." (Source: Anon. "Yacht Sales and Charters." Forest and Stream, August 25, 1906, p. 305.)

"Bristol, R. I., Nov. 23. --- ... Spalpeen, the cruising yawl that was sold a year ago to a New York man by the Herreshoffs, arrived here a few days ago from a long cruise in the South, to be laid up for the winter." (Source: Anon. "Little Activity At Herreshoff's." Boston Herald, November 24, 1907, p. 6.)

"BRISTOL, May 12 [1910] --- ... Yachts fitted out and ready for the season at Walker's Cove are the steam yacht Augusta [#146p], owned by the Herreshoffs; the Arline, owned by Lewis Herreshoff; the Spalpeen [#481s], a sloop, and the sloop Irolita [#???s Irolita II]." (Source: Anon. "Busy Days at Bristol." Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 12, 1910, p. 8.)

"... The following sales are reported by John G. Alden: ... the 56-foot waterline auxiliary ketch Spalpeen for Oliver T. Richetson of Pittsburg, Penn, to a member of the Eastern Yacht Club; ..." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Globe, June 9, 1918, p. 55.)

"June 30th, 1919,
My dear Mr. Nat:
Your two yawls the SPALPEEN [#481s] and the PETREL [#510s], the latter my brother-in-law's [James Jackson's] boat, are both going on the Eastern [Yacht Club's] cruise, and we propose to race against each other.
The owners have asked me to get you to give us an approximate rating under the present rules that we can fairly race by. If you can send me this figure some time before the Fourth of July at my address at Monument Beach, I will be greatly obliged to you.
I hope to get to Bristol before the Fourth, but as it is doubtful, I am writing you.
Yours very truly [R.W. Emmons Jr.]
[Incl. NGH pencilled notes:]
SPALPEEN #481 - 1896 [year]
71ft 9in deck. 73ft 3in O.A. 56ft 0in w.l. 8ft 0in draft. 1217.5 disp[lacement in cubic feet] 10.70^3
2405 sail area. 49.1^2
Approx Rating .90 * .18 * ((wl*sq-rt(S)/cubic-rt(D)) = .162 * ((56*49.1)/10.7) = 41.7
PETREL #510 - 1899 [year]
76ft 6in O.A. 56ft 0in w.l. 14ft 4in beam. 9ft 2in draft. 1386 disp[lacement in cubic feet] 11.18^3
3120 sail area. 55.8^2
Approx Rating .93 * .18 * ((56*55.8)/11.18) = 46.8
[Incl. NGH pencilled draft reply:]
Dear Bob. I have no record of either of these old boats being measured by the Universal Rule, as they both antidate[sic] it. By figuring from the original designs the ketch SPALPEEN w[ou]ld rate 41.7 and yawl PETREL 46.8.
I really think there should bemore difference as SPALPEEN is underrigged, being originally designed as an auxiliary with steam engine, is different in beam for a sailing craft and has more wetted surface in proportion than PETREL. However, if [next word underlined] you would go in SPALPEEN perhaps there might be interesting racing, otherwise I am afraid not.
Sincerely yours, Nat." (Source: Emmons, R.W. [Letter to N. G. Herreshoff (incl. draft reply by NGH.] Herreshoff Marine Museum Correspondence, Folder 79 (new), 71 (old). Access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff. June 30, 1919.)

"NO. 637 --- FOR SALE at reasonable price --- Comfortable Herreshoff auxiliary ketch. 72' x 56' x 12' x 8' 9". Two double and captain's staterooms. Main saloon, very large galley and forecastle. Flush deck; outside lead ballast. New Scripps engine and Delco lighting plant. Sail plan very moderate on account of narrow beam. Easily maintained with two or three paid hands. Apply John G. Alden. 148 State St., Boston. [Though not identified by name, her dimensions and accompanying photo clearly identify her as #481s Spalpeen.]" (Source: Anon. "For Sale." Yachting, March 1924, p. ?.)

"No. 637 --- For Sale --- At very reasonable price; Herreshoff auxiliary ketch, 72 ft. by 56 ft. by 12 ft. by 8 ft. 9 in. Two double staterooms, main saloon, large galley, forecastle and captain's room; flush deck, new power plant, lighting set. Moderate sail plan. Can be easily maintained with three paid hands. Apply to John G. Alden, 148 State St., Boston, Mass. [Though not identified by name, her dimensions and accompanying photo clearly identify her as #481s Spalpeen.]" (Source: Anon. "For Sale." Rudder, April 1924, p. 72.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections titled 'Lead for Aux[iliary] Ketch Design. Oct[ober] 24 1896. Scale 1/8th. #481 [SPALPEEN]'. With calculations arriving at (corrected) lead of 34850lbs with c.g. at 23.08 frame spaces." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_09520. Folder [no #]. 1896-10-24.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled preliminary sketch of an auxiliary (steam) yawl with sailplan, inboard profile and interior arrangement plan. Untitled. With list of particulars '73ft [over] deck. 56[ft] w.l. 12 1/2[ft] beam. 8ft draft' suggesting this to be a first sketch of #481s SPALPEEN, possibly prepared by both SPALPEEN's owner Robert M. Riddle and NGH. Undated (SPALPEEN was contracted for on November 11, 1896)." (Source: Riddle, Robert M. (?) (creator) and Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Penciled Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_03020. Folder [no #]. No date (ca 1896-11-10).)
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"[Item Transcription:] I was very glad to get your letter today after an absence from home. I have been keenly interested in the newspaper reports of the trials & am delighted that you got so much[?] speed, I re[ceive]d[?] fr[om] [photographer Frank H.] Childs today two photos of # 6 [#184p PORTER] under way, she seems to be making the greater[?] weer[?] at the lesser[?] speed. It seems from a distance to have[?] been[?] a great success to have added another feather to the already many in y[ou]r cap. I imagine though[?] you have had a lot of worries & much anxiety to say nothing of the February ozone[?] when you have hathered[?] into your eyslum[?]. Boston has done herself proud & certainly has surprised me, but common sense has brought them to see things as they are rather than as they would prefer to have them.
I should not be surprised if Charlie Adams sailing in those 30ft races last had not a good effect. We have had a very quiet winter her with, for Long Island, a lot of sleighing. I have been obliged to be in town a great deal on business & I long for Spring & Summer. Ive done nothing about a boat for next summer & am still as undefined in my plans. But I hope something will turn up to define them before long.
Mrs Morgan & the children have kept well & all wish to be kindly remembered to your family. I may have to run up to Newport latter part of next month & if I do I will try to make a flying visit to Bristol. I am quite interested to see the ketch [#481s SPALPEEN], I could not understand until y[ou]r letter why you changed trial course into shoaler water. I suppose you want it moderately shallow or very dup[?] the Yacht Racing Union of the Sound at first legislated the 30's [Newport 30] out but have since agreed to have them on [Ralph] Ellis's appearing before them ---
With kindest regards ... [Part of group of letters in envelope marked 'Letters from E.D. Morgan'.]" (Source: Morgan, E.D. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37480. Correspondence, Folder 73, formerly 77. 1897-02-15.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled list of sails titled 'Estimate of cost of sails for SPALPEEN [#481s]. Dec 17 [97]'. Providing detailed cost estimates taking into account (apparently) cost of cloth, labor, overhead, and profit." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Cost Estimate. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_02630. Folder [no #]. 1897-12-17.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Handwritten (in ink and pencil) trials booklet 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Experiments & Trial Trips. 1890. N.G. Herreshoff'. Relevant contents:
§45: #481s SPALPEEN Trial Run (1897-08-14)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Trials Booklet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_02260. Folder [no #]. 1890-01 to 1898-08.)
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"[Item Description:] stove next to guest stateroom [on #510s PETREL plan] a mistake, ice box to be put on starboard, prefer oil to coal stove, can you find out where #481s SPALPEEN is laid up and whether Mr. Riddle would let me look her out?" (Source: Kennedy, H.V.R. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19920. Correspondence, Folder 54. (1898)-12-08.)
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"[Item Description:] how is my boat [#510s PETREL] getting on?, went to Philadelphia and looked over #481s SPALPEEN and got some useful hints" (Source: Kennedy, H.V.R. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_19940. Correspondence, Folder 54. 1899-01-13.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Order book with carbon copy duplicates of instructions given by NGH. Relevant contents:
§6: Work Order '[For] SPALPEEN [#481s]. [When wanted] Soon as possible. One copper boiler for 8lbs pressure …' (1898-03-08)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Order Book. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE07_01320. Folder [no #]. 1897-01 to 1905.)
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"[Item Description:] Handwritten notebook. This booklet had two lives: In 1907-1908, 1908-1909 and 1909-1910 it was used for winter storage records, listing name of boat, owner, storage location, billed amount, and dates of storage. Listed were for the winter of 1907/1908: #235p MIST, ORIANA, #571s LARIKIN, EAGLET, #453s VAQUERO II, #580s TRIVIA, #663s ISTALENA, COSSACK, #666s AVENGER, #220p ATALA (for sale), #207p MIRAGE, #224p EUGENIA, #146p AUGUSTA, #247p SEA URCHIN, #105p COSETTE, ARLINE, #213p FLORENCE, #208p FLORETTE, #249p SISILINA, #591s IROLITA, #481s SPALPEEN, DUCHESS, #669s ELEANOR, #460s KILDEE, #647s CAPRICE, #408s PELICAN, #243p SWIFTSURE, #617s COCK ROBIN, #177p VANISH, #446s ALERION, and #591s IROLITA I, for the winter of 1908/1909: #666s AVENGER, #663s ISTALENA, #481s SPALPEEN, #580s TRIVIA, #617s COCK ROBIN, COSSACK, #177p VANISH, #242p #242, #243p SWIFTSURE, SKIP, #446s ALERION, CHEWINK II, DUCHESS, #571s LARIKIN, #460s KILDEE, #679s PEPITA, EAGLET, #408s PELICAN, #453s VAQUERO, #146p AUGUSTA, #224p EUGENIA, COYOTE, #264p SARAH WEBB, #207p MIRAGE, ARLINE, #213p FLORENCE, #208p FLORETTE, #249p SISILINA, #591s IROLITA I, CASSANDRA 27ft Launch, and #263p CASSANDRA 34ft Launch, and for the winter of 1909/1910: #252p WANECHE (no further boats were listed). At some later time, the same book was turned upside down and inscribed with a new title in ink '200Ft Submarine Destroyer [#191802ep Unbuilt 200ft Submarine Chaser]. Data + Calculation Book. Herreshoff Mfg Co.' on its now-new front cover (formerly its back cover), followed by weight data estimates and calculations for this submarine destroyer." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Notebook. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.087. Box HAFH.6.2B, Folder Submarine Destroyer 200-Footer. 1907-1908, 1908-1909, 1909-1910, 1918-06.)
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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:] Enclosed please find the Proposed Amendments to the Racing Rules adopted by the Conference last Thursday, also Mr. Poor's letter as Secretary of the Committee. If you will send me what you think is a good definition of a 'yawl', I will present it to the other members of the Committee. I felt all along, that if they had left the entire matter of changing the rules in your hands, the universal rule in this country would have been much better off. While I did not make the above statement in the exact words at the conference, I expressed my feelings to that effect.
I think you will see Mr. Rumrill [whose contract for #685s ADVENTURESS will be signed December 19, 1908 ]in person either Monday or Tuesday, if not before. Incl NGH draft reply: I didn't get your[?] letter until this a.m[?].
Have looked over draft of amendments and have penciled lightly a few notes in places that may need some attention.
About definition of yawl. I will suggest a group of definitions:
Schooner: A fore & aft rigged vessel with two or more masts and generally with bowsprit, carrying the largest sail on aftermost mast.
Ketch: A fore & aft rigged vessel with two or more masts and generally with bowsprit having the aftermost mast stepped forward of rudder and its sail smaller than the mainsail.
Yawl: A fore & aft rigged vessel with two or more masts and generally with bowsprit having the aftermost mast stepped aft the rudder and carrying a small sail.
Sloop: A fore & aft rigged vessel with one mast and bowsprit.
Knockabout: A small sloop rigged vessel without bowsprit and generally without topmast.
Catboat: A small vessel having one mast stepped near the bow, carrying a mainsail only.
I thank you for your kind consideration of me, but I don't aspire to any such position. My feeling is to see the most perfect rules in force, but I am afraid the present changes are not all what they should have been.
Dec 15 [19]08. I find QUEEN's [#657s] mast is 54% of w.l. IROLITA [#658s] sch[ooner] rig is also 54% and INGOMAR [#590s] 56%. In her case the mast had to be placed aft of proper position to get the saloon forward of it that Mr Plant wanted, rig being a secondary consideration. The only ketch we have built (SPALPEEN [#481s]) the main boom[?] is 60% of w.l. The mizzen mast is stepped forward of cockpit in which the tiller reaches a little way into. I consider the rig a normal one and well suited for a cruising boat. The last yawl we have built (PETREL [#510s]) has mainsail 40% of S and mizzen over 10% of S. The rig is good proportion[?] for cruising yacht, with mizzen larger enough to be of use with mainsail off.
I can see no sense in ruling against such a rig as QUEEN or IROLITA, or any rig that proves censenwi[?] and fast, and the masts stepped inbound enough that they can be held and not strain the vessel. The practical difficulty with most yawls is in straining the stern of the vessel. To overcome that they might rule that the section of the hull where mizzen is stepped must not be less than say 1/2 B in width or 1/6 B in depth, with area of mizzen not more than 1/10 S. I would suggest that instead of the limitation proposed that the Measurer report any abnormal rig to a committee who should decide on its merits and also on handicap to be revised[?] from a standard[?] sloop.
[With table:]
Allowance for rig
Sloops & knockabouts 100% of rating
Yawls 2 masts 93% of rating
Schooners 2 masts 90% of rating
Ketch 2 masts 86% of rating
Yawls 3 masts 81% of rating
Schooner 3 masts 81% of rating
Ketch 3 masts 77% of rating" (Source: Emmons, Robert W. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_69450. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 1), Folder B1F02, formerly MRDE15. 1908-12-05.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Your two yawls the SPALPEEN [#481s] and the PETREL [#510s], the latter my brother-in-law's [James Jackson] boat, are both going on the Eastern cruise, and we propose to race against each other.
The owners have asked me to get you to give us an approximate rating under the present rules that we can fairly race by. If you can send me this figure some time before the Fourth of July at my address at Monument Beach, I will be greatly obliged to you.
I hope to get to Bristol before the Fourth, but as it is doubtful, I am writing you.
[Incl. NGH penciled notes:]
SPALPEEN #481 - 1896 [year]
71ft 9in deck. 73ft 3in O.A. 56ft 0in w.l. 8ft 0in draft. 1217.5 disp[lacement in cubic feet] 10.70^3
2405 sail area. 49.1^2
Approx Rating .90 * .18 * ((wl*sq-rt(S)/cube-rt(D)) = .162 * ((56*49.1)/10.7) = 41.7
PETREL #510 - 1899 [year]
76ft 6in O.A. 56ft 0in w.l. 14ft 4in beam. 9ft 2in draft. 1386 disp[lacement in cubic feet] 11.18^3
3120 sail area. 55.8^2
Approx Rating .93 * .18 * ((56*55.8)/11.18) = 46.8
[Incl. NGH penciled draft reply:]
Dear Bob. I have no record of either of these old boats being measured by the Universal Rule, as they both antidate[sic] it. By figuring from the original designs the ketch SPALPEEN w[ou]ld rate 41.7 and yawl PETREL 46.8.
I really think there should be more difference as SPALPEEN is underrigged, being originally designed as an auxiliary with steam engine, is different in beam for a sailing craft and has more wetted surface in proportion than PETREL. However, if [next word underlined] you would go in SPALPEEN perhaps there might be interesting racing, otherwise I am afraid not.
Sincerely yours, Nat" (Source: Emmons, Robert W. (incl NGH reply). Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_39230. Correspondence, Folder 79, formerly 71. 1919-06-30.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #481s Spalpeen even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Spalpeen (HMCo-made index card)
• Spalpeen (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: Spalpeen
Type: Ketch
Length: 56'
Owner: Riddle, Robt. M.

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

• Spalpeen
• 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: Spalpeen
Type: 56' ketch
Owner: R. M. Riddle
Year: 1897
Row No.: 642

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: Nov
Day: 10
Year: 1896
E/P/S: S
No.: 0481
Name: Spalpeen
LW: 56'
B: 17' 6"
D: 8' 1"
Rig: Ketch
K: y
Ballast: Lead
Amount: 10000
Notes Constr. Record: Auxiliary & Lo... [?]
Last Name: Riddle
First Name: R. M.

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.

"The Construction Record entry for #481s Spalpeen lists as amount contracted for $10,000 with a note '+ Loon', suggesting that R. M. Riddle's steam yacht #174p Loon was taken as part payment for Spalpeen by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. October 21, 2010.)

"Built in 158 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $63/day, 493 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"[Sail area 2405 sq ft info.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Draft reply to letter by R. W. Emmons dated June 30, 1919. Herreshoff Marine Museum Correspondence, Folder 79 (new), 71 (old). Access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"[Displacement (1217.5 cubic feet).]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. Draft reply to letter by R. W. Emmons dated June 30, 1919. Herreshoff Marine Museum Correspondence, Folder 79 (new), 71 (old). Access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

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