HMCo #486s Edith II

"[1897-03-23] Tue 23: Began planking No 486 [#486s Edith]. ...
[1897-06-15] Tue 15: ... Turned over #486 Edith.
[1897-06-29] Tue 29: Launched #486 Edith & rigged. ...
[1898-05-16] Mon 16: ... Launched Edith [apparently #486s] from cove and Sintram #494.
[1899-05-26] Fri 26: ... Launched #518 [Sis], Gladys [#?s] & Edith [apparently #486s]. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1897 to 1899. Manuscript (excerpts). Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection [1897-1898]. Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff [1899].)

"No. 486. Ap[ril] 1897.
21ft w.l. c.[enter]b[oard] with outside ballast.
Frame spaces 9"
Deduct in making moulds
timbers 1 1/8"
planking 5/16 & 7/16 = 1/4"
Crown [of] deck 4" in 9". ..." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Penciled note in Offset Booklet HH.4.105.] April, 1897. Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"BOSTON, May 15 [1897]. --- Some very interesting racing is promised in the twenty-one-foot restricted cruiser class, which the Beverly Yacht Club has established in Buzzard's Bay. Lawley has three boats in hand, Herreshoff has at least one, and B. B. Crowninshield has designed another for Alfred Winsor of this city, which Sheldon will build. It is also likely that several of the Cape builders will be represented, so that the promoters of the class are confidently expecting eight or nine boats for the racing.
The starting of the class was due to the success of the restricted twenty-one-foot knockabout class at Marblehead. It was believed that equally goood sport could be had in similar boats south of the Cape. A centreboard boat was, however, a necessity in the shallower waters of Buzzard's Bay, and so new restrictions had to be formulated. The matter was placed in the hands of John P. Paine, C. H. Jones, and R. W. Emmons of the club, and after consultations with designers and builders, the committee made a report to the club, which was accepted with but a single amendment. The committee recommended a knockabout rig with the jib setting at the sternhead, as in the Marblehead boats, but the club preferred allowing a bowsprit for better balance of the sail plan.
The restrictions as now in force provide that the boats must not be over 21 feet water line, must be decked or half-decked, with a cabin trunk, must have a watertight cockpit or air tank sufficient to float the boat when she is full of water, and must have wooden centreboards with not over fifty pounds additional weight. The boats must have at least 7 feet 6 inches beam at the water line, cannot draw over 3 feet 6 inches, and must have 20 inches freeboard. A decrease of an inch in freeboard is, however, allowed for every 4 inches of increase in water-line beam beyond its minimum. At least 3,000 pounds of outside ballast must be carried, and the sail area is limited to 600 square feet, of which at least 120 feet must be in the jib.
Solidity of construction is also provided for, and the boats must have oak keels and frames. The frames must be not less than an inch square and spaced not less than 9 inches on centres. The planking must be at least 3/4 inch in thickness when finished. The boats are also required to carry a cruising outfit of anchor, cable, pump, &c.
Compared with the Marblehead boats, the Buzzard's Bay boats are more powerful, more heavily built, and carry 100 feet more sail. They ought to be faster, but certainly they promise to be as able, seaworthy, and easily handled as their keel sisters, and their owners are looking forward to no little sport, both in racing and in cruising. ... The Herreshoff boat is for a B. M. Baker.
... The Herreshoff design is reported as being moderate in all dimensions.
... The first race of the Beverly Club comes June 17, off its Wing's Neck clubhouse, at the upper end of Buzzard's Bay. ..." (Source: Anon. (W. J. H.) "Buzzards Bay Knockabouts. A New Class Which Promises to Furnish Good Sport." New York Times, May 16, 1897, p. 20.)

"... Crowninshield has sold the knockabout Edith for Vaughn Clark to William Mallinckrodt of St Louis, a student at Harvard. ...[Note: This may well be a reference to #486s Edith but this should be verified by consulting the American Yacht List. Note also the July 18, 1909 Boston Globe article which records a sale of the same boat ten years later, also by someone with the last name of Clark.]" (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, May 28, 1899, p. 29.)

"No. 28114. For Sale. Crack 21-ft. knockabout, designed by N. G. Herreshoff and built by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. at Bristol, R. I. 43 ft. 6 in. o. a. [sic, i.e. 34 ft. 6 in.?], 21 ft. w. L, 9 ft. beam, 3 ft. 6 in. draught. Combination keel and centerboard, with 3,000 lb outside lead ballast. This boat is built in the usual Herreshoff manner, and has a small cabinhouse. Has two suits of sails, one of them new, and made by Herreshoff; she has the usual equipment of a 21-footer. This boat is absolutely uncapsizable, and her moderate draught enables her to go into shoal waters. Apply to Hollis Burgess Yacht Agency, 15 Exchange Street, Boston, Mass. [Note: Though not identified by name, this appears to be an advertisement for #486s Spinster ex-Edith II whose dimensions, including the 3000lbs of lead ballast, provide an exact match to those in the ad, except for the overall length where a transposition error may have resulted in 43 rather than 34ft. The accompanying photo also appears to show $486s with her distinctive knuckle bow without bowsprit, very low deck house and fairly large transom." (Source: Anon. For Sale Advertisement. Rudder March 1909, p. 251.)

"... the B.B. Crowninshield agency has ... sold the raceabout Spinster VI for Louis M. Clark of Boston to George E. Gartland of New York. ..." (Source: Anon. [Title?] Boston Globe, July 18, 1909, p. 38.)

"Harry Adams of Cohasset has sold to a member of the South Boston Yacht Club the Herreshoff 21-footer Robin Hood II, formerly the Edith. The new owner of the sloop intends to race the craft in the Yacht Racing Union class B next season." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, December 26, 1915, p. 44.)

"William H. Hanley of Boston has sold to George Rolt of the South Boston Yacht Club the well-known Herreshoff 21-footer Robin Hood II." (Source: Anon. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, July 1, 1917, p. 51.)

"... Like A. C. Harrison, [Charles] Baker [a resident of Chapoquoit and member of the Woods Hole Yacht Club] was a prolific patron of Herreshoff. In 1895 he bought Edith [#456s] which had a 17' waterline, then in 1897 another Edith [#486s], a 21 footer. Also in 1897 he bought Alpha [#488s], a catboat that was a sister to Omega [#489s] owned by Mr. King, the developer of Chapoquoit. Baker bought Blazing Star [#515s], a 25 footer, in 1899, followed by three more 21 footers: Radiant [#548s] in 1900, Arethusa [#574s] in 1901, and Illusion [#611s] in 1903. ..." (Source: Littell, Browne. "Early Days of Racing in Woods Hole." In: Woods Hole Historical Collection (Publisher). Spritsail, Volume 10, Number 2, Summer 1996, p. 23-24. http://www.woodsholemuseum.org/woodspages/sprtsl/v10n2-EarlyRace.pdf, retrieved February 10, 2011.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled '#486 [EDITH II]. 1st Preliminary. M[ar]ch 22 [18]97'. With calculations arriving at a displacement of 99.3cuft = 6400lbs. Sections of another, wider, hull appear to have overlaid over EDITH's sections. On verso another set of penciled pantograph hull sections titled '#486. 2nd [trial] with calculations arriving at a displacement of 95.3cuft = 6130lbs. " (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_05560. Folder [no #]. 1897-03-22.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled 'EDITH 2nd. No. 486 [#486s]. 3rd Final. M[ar]ch 24 [18]99. Scale 1in. 21ft w.l.'. With calculations arriving at a displacement of 94.6cuft = 6085lbs." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_05540. Folder [no #]. 1897-03-24.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections titled 'Lead for #486 [EDITH II]. Ap[ril] 10 [18]97'. With note 'Weight of lead top one inch higher than drawing and extending to midway between # 29 & 30 frames' and calculations arriving at total lead of 3000lbs after subtracting 623lbs for centerboard slot." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_09500. Folder [no #]. 1897-04-10.)
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"[Item Description:] Printed leaflet titled 'Beverly Yacht Club. Cruising Class (25 Footers)' and providing regulations, dimensions, and scantlings for this class. Undated, annotated in pencil by NGH with 'Re[ceive]d fr[o]m C. M. Baker. Jan 28 '98'. [Charles M. Baker was the owner of the Beverly YC 21ft raceabout #486s EDITH (1897) and would subsequently contract for the BYC 25ft raceabout #515s BLAZING STAR (1899) and the Beverly YC 21ft raceabouts #548s RADIANT (1901), #574s ARETHUSA (1902), and #611s ILLUSION (1903).]" (Source: Beverly YC (creator). Leaflet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_76170. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 2), Folder B2F18, formerly MRDE15. No date (ca1898-01-28).)
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"[Item Description:] Printed leaflet titled 'Beverly Yacht Club. Cruising Class (21 Footers)' and providing regulations, dimensions, and scantlings for this class. Undated, annotated in pencil by NGH with 'Re[ceive]d fr[o]m C. M. Baker. Jan 28 '98'. [Charles M. Baker was the owner of the Beverly YC 21ft raceabout #486s EDITH (1897) and would subsequently contract for the BYC 25ft raceabout #515s BLAZING STAR (1899) and the Beverly YC 21ft raceabouts #548s RADIANT (1901), #574s ARETHUSA (1902), and #611s ILLUSION (1903).]" (Source: Beverly YC (creator). Leaflet. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_76180. Measuring and Measurement Rules (Box 2), Folder B2F18, formerly MRDE15. No date (ca1898-01-28).)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled preliminary midship section sketch titled #514s [MAY QUEEN], #515s [BLAZING STAR]'. With note '900sqft sail' and 'Can use [#486s] EDITH 2nd model at scale of 14/12 per[?] frame[?] & length. Ballast about 4750lbs' and further note 'W'ld make. Deck 39ft 9in. (41). w.l. 24ft 7in. (25). Beam 10ft 6in. (10.6). Beam w.l. 9ft 5in. (9.3). Draft 4ft 1 (4.0).' With scantlings. On verso more penciled midship section sketches. Undated, MAY QUEEN and BLAZING STAR were contracted for in January 1899." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Sketch. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_02610. Folder [no #]. No date (1899-01 ?).)
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"N/A"

"[Item Transcription:] [Signed handwritten (in ink) letter:] The new rig for the small boat [#488s ALPHA???] arrived in good order and worked first rate. We had to put on two mahogany blocks to raise the traveller above the tiller. I never enjoyed sailing a boat so much as this one and all the people at our place are pleased with her. She is a wonder. If it were only possible to make something in the 21 foot class that would act as this little boat does! But I am afraid the restrictions interfere.
[p. 2] I enclose a memo of our restricted classes as they stand today.
I think that a boat than can go well in a strong wind and a heavy short sea will win the most races in Buzzards Bay. We finished up the whole season as follows:
QUAKERESS, CYRILLA [#502s], AMANITA. EDITH [#486s], with the KESTREL, BOHEMIAN & SYLVIA next in what order I have forgotten.
Yours truly ...
[P.S.] A friend of mine wanted to know if the BLAZING STAR [#515s] could be changed to suit him and I referred him to you." (Source: Baker, Charles M. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_00160. Correspondence, Folder 1_14, formerly (84). 1900-09-11.)
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"[Item Transcription:] Order book with carbon copy duplicates of instructions given by NGH. Relevant contents:
§17: Work Order '[For] New rig of Edith (#486). [When wanted] On or before May 20 [1900]. Sails … (To sail loft).' (1900-03-23)
§19: Work Order '[For] #536 [SIS] and re-rig of #486 (EDITH). [When wanted] #536 - May 28. #486 May 21st or before. Complete set of spars … (To construction shop).' (1900-03-23)
§20: Work Order '[For] #536 [SIS] and re-rig of #486 (EDITH). [When wanted] #536 - May 28. #486 May 21st or before. Complete sets of standing rigging … (To rigging loft).' (1900-03-23)." (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 Transcription:] Order book with carbon copy duplicates of instructions given by NGH titled 'Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Orders from N.G. Herreshoff'. Relevant contents:
§2: Work Order [When wanted] Before April 1st. Mast hoops for #529s, #532s, #533s, #534s, #531s, #532s, #530s, #538s, #541s, #536s, #486s, #502s, #585s, #540s (1900-02-19)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Order Book. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE08_03460. Folder [no #]. 1900-02 to 1909-10.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #486s Edith II even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Edith (HMCo-made index card)
• Edith (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: Edith
Type: Knockabout
Length: 21'
Owner: Baker, C. M.

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

• Edith
• Balthazar ex-Edith
• Robin Hood II ex-Edith
• Spinster VI ex-Edith
• 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: Edith
Type: 20' 11" sloop
Owner: C. M. Baker
Year: 1897
Row No.: 181

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: Feb
Day: 26
Year: 1897
E/P/S: S
No.: 0486
Name: Edith
LW: 21'
B: 8'
D: 3' 6"
Rig: Knockabout
K: y
Ballast: Lead
Amount: 2200.00
Last Name: Baker
First Name: G. 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.

"[Sail number C-3 (Twenty-One Foot Restricted Class).]" (Source: Beverly Yacht Club. 1902 Yearbook. Boston, 1902, p. 61.)

"Charles M. Baker of Brookline was a Boston banker who in 1894/1895 had bought from Chapoquoit's developer Franklin King several lots in Chapoquoit on one of which he eventually built a large summer home complete with boathouse. For more information see Jenkins, Candace. The Development of Falmouth as a Summer Resort. 1850 - 1900. In: Woods Hole Historical Collection (Publisher). Spritsail, Volume 6, Number 1, Winter 1992, p. 23-24. www.woodsholemuseum.org/woodspages/sprtsl/v6n1-SummerRes.pdf, retrieved February 13, 2011." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. February 13, 2011.)

"Beam as per Construction Record was 8ft, but note that both the offsets booklet and the construction plan show a beam of 9ft." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. October 14, 2019.)

"LOA 34ft 6in as measured from Construction Plan." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 25, 2010.)

"Edith was designed for the twenty-one-foot restricted cruiser class, which the Beverly Yacht Club had established in Buzzard's Bay. This class was modeled after the successful knockabout class of Marblehead, but specified a bowsprit and allowed a centerboard. Even though the Construction Record indicates otherwise, we know from her construction plan that Edith had a centerboard" (Source: van der Linde, Claas. October 14, 2019.)

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