HMCo #503s Vim [First BB15]

Particulars

Construction_Record_Title.jpgName: Vim [First BB15]
Type: Buzzards Bay 15 Footer
Designed by: NGH
Contract: 1898-12 ?
Launch: 1899-2-1
Construction: Wood
LOA: 24' 6" (7.47m)
LWL: 15' (4.57m)
Beam: 6' 9" (2.06m)
Draft: 2' 4" (0.71m)
Rig: Gaff
Sail Area: 353sq ft (32.7sq m)
Displ.: 2,432 lbs (1,103 kg)
Keel: yes
Centerboard: yes
Ballast: Lead outside
Built for: Emmons, Robert W. [Mgr.; Sargent, F.W. Jr. first owner]
Amount: $666.66
Note(s) in HMCo Construction Record: 1 Design Class B. B.
Last year in existence: 1952 (aged 53)
Final disposition: Lost in Onset, MA during a storm in 1952.

Note: Particulars are primarily but not exclusively from the HMCo Construction Record. Supplementary information not from the Construction Record appears elsewhere in this record with a complete citation.


Model

Model #711Model number: 711
Model location: H.M.M. Model Room North Wall Right

Vessels from this model:
92 built, modeled by NGH
#503s Vim [First BB15] (1899)
#504s Flickamaroo [Flickerman, Flickermaroo, Flickermaru] (1899)
#505s Peacock (1899, Extant)
#506s Eaglet (1899, Extant)
#507s Compress (1899)
#508s Teaser (1899)
#509s Go Bye (1899)
#511s Uarda (1899)
#513s Hope (1899, Extant)
#516s Budda [Budha] (1899)
#518s Sis (1899)
#519s Next (1899)
#521s Kirstie (1899)
#525s Breeze (1899)
#526s Kingfisher [King Fisher] (1899)
#527s Nora [Nova? Nena?] (1899)
#528s [Newport 15 for W. C. Whitney] (1899)
#535s Moya (1900)
#540s Sand Piper [Sandpiper] (1900)
#543s Hawk [Scud?] (1900)
#544s Eaglet (1900)
#550s Toby (1901, Extant)
#554s Nora (1901, Extant)
#556s Mystral [Mistral] (1901)
#557s Twinkle (1901)
#558s Ginty (1901)
#559s Little Robin (1901)
#577s Catspaw [Cats Paw] (1902)
#584s Minnow [Minvou, Minvon] (1902)
#585s Waturus [Waterus] (1902)
#587s Whisper (1902)
#588s Echo (1902, Extant)
#589s Yacona [Yacuna, Wacona] (1902)
#609s Avalon? [BB15 for R. W. Emmons] (1903)
#645s Seeps (1905, Extant)
#649s Tobey [Toby] (1905)
#650s Tinker (1905)
#651s Yalu (1905)
#652s Snipe (1905, Extant)
#653s Jack (1905)
#654s Jill (1905)
#655s White Cap [Whitecap] (1905)
#656s Muriel (1906)
#661s Mongoose (1906)
#662s [BB15 for E. D. Thayer] (1906)
#671s Murmur (1907)
#672s Anita (1907)
#673s Rebekah (1907, Extant)
#674s Flicker [BB15 for St. Y. Columbia] (1907, Extant)
#677s Dad [BB15 for St. Y Iolanda] (1908)
#680s Polly (1908)
#682s Marjorie [BB15 for St. Y. Atalanta ex-Lorena?] (1908)
#683s Snail (1908)
#686s Try (1909)
#693s Endeavor (1909, Extant)
#700s Mecoh [Micoh] (1910)
#704s Pheasant (1910)
#726s Hyassa (1913)
#730s Scoot (1914, Extant)
#731s Maribee (1914, Extant)
#735s Noanet (1914, Extant)
#739s Natella (1914)
#740s Ann [Anne] (1914)
#763s Buzzard (1915)
#784s Tricoon (1916)
#785s Flickamaroo [Flickermaru II] (1916, Extant)
#786s Ptiloris [Pitloris] (1916, Extant)
#787s Elf (1916, Extant)
#809s Splash (1916)
#810s Venture (1916)
#822s Buccaneer (1917, Extant)
#823s Poilu (1917)
#880s Josephine (1923, Extant)
#881s Miss Q. (1923, Extant)
#882s Shanendowa (1923, Extant)
#883s Thistle (1923, Extant)
#884s Fantasy (1923, Extant)
#885s Viking I (1923, Extant)
#886s Alert (1923, Extant)
#887s Pixie (1923, Extant)
#888s How Come (1923)
#889s Althea (1923)
#890s Tobasco [Tabasco, Tobasca] (1923, Extant)
#919s Sea Hawk [Seahawk] (1925, Extant)
#920s Mayfly (1925)
#968s Maureen (1925)
#981s Louanna (1925)
#997s Nabob II (1926)
#998s Nancy (1926)
#1016s [Newport 15 for Ogden Mills] (1928)
#1017s [Newport 15 for Lanier] (1928)
#1079s Monsoon (1927, Extant)

Original text on model:
"Buzzards Bay 15 footers No. 503 class December 4, 1898 scale 1/12
No. 559 LITTLE ROBIN with keel for 4' draft shear raised 4" 16' 3" w.l. 1903 by keel 22" deep" (Source: Original handwritten annotation on model. Undated.)

Model Description:
"15' lwl Buzzards Bay 15-class keel/centerboard sloops of 1898 and later. Also slightly deeper Newport 15-class, Marconi-rigged Watch Hill 15-class, the 16'4" lwl keel sloop Little Robin with freeboard added of 1901, the 15' lwl Flicker of 1907, etc. #513s Hope and #880s Josephine are in the collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: Bray, Maynard. 2004.)

Note: Vessels that appear in the records as not built, a cancelled contract, a study model, or as a model sailboat are listed but not counted in the list of vessels built from a model.


Offsets

Offset booklet number(s): HH.4.113

Offset booklet contents:
#503 - #509, #511, #513, #516, #518 - #519, #521, #525 - #528, #535, #540, #543 - #544, #550, #554, #556 - #559, #577, #584 - #585, #609, #645, #674 (changes), #880-class [15' w.l. Buzzards Bay 15'-class sloops et. al].


Offset Booklet(s) in Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection. Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections, MIT Museum, Cambridge, Mass. (Restricted access --- see curator.)

Drawings

Main drawing Dwg 076-006 (HH.5.05473) Explore all drawings relating to this boat.

List of drawings:
   Drawings believed to have been first drawn for, or being first referenced to
   HMCo #503s Vim [First BB15] are listed in bold.
   Click on Dwg number for preview, on HH number to see at M.I.T. Museum.
  1. Dwg 075-000 (HH.5.05468); Construction Dwg > Fiddler - Buzzard's Bay 15 ft. Class, 24'-10" L.O.A., 15'-0" L.W.L., 6'-9 1/2" B., 2'-3 1/2" D. (1959 ?)
  2. Dwg 096-107 (HH.5.08067.1): Sails > 15 ft. One Design Class for 1899 (1898-11-19)
  3. Dwg 130-062 (HH.5.10365); Sails > 15 ft. One Design Class for 1899 (1898-11-19)
  4. Dwg 127-066 (HH.5.09934): Sails > Sails Buzzards Bay 15 Footers (1898-12-06)
  5. Dwg 076-006 (HH.5.05473); Construction Dwg > One Design Class 15 Footers for Buzzard's Bay (1898-12-28)
  6. Dwg 060-039 (HH.5.04262); Centreboard for Nos. 503 - 509, 513, 516, Buzzards Bay 15-Footers (1898-12-30)
  7. Dwg 064-034 (HH.5.04510); Rudder, etc. for Nos. 503-509, 513, 516, 704, Buzzard's Bay 15 Footers (1898-12-31)
  8. Dwg 091-056 (HH.5.07327): Running Rigging for 15-Footers, Standing Rigging No. 503, 509 and Others (ca. 1899)
  9. Dwg 091-056 (HH.5.07327.1): Running Rigging for 15-Footers, Standing Rigging No. 503, 509 and Others (ca. 1899)
  10. Dwg 091-056 (HH.5.07327.2): Running Rigging for 15-Footers, Standing Rigging No. 503, 509 and Others (ca. 1899)
  11. Dwg 091-056 (HH.5.07327.3): Running Rigging for 15-Footers, Standing Rigging No. 503, 509 and Others (ca. 1899)
  12. Dwg 091-056 (HH.5.07326); Block and Metal List for # 503, Buzzard's Bay 15 ft. Class (1899-01-05)
  13. Dwg 080-065 (N/A): Spars for 15 Footers Buzzard's Bay (1899-01-11 ?)
  14. Dwg 059-030 (HH.5.04193); Knees for Stern-Board and Cockpit Rising (1899-01-25)
  15. Dwg 078-049 (HH.5.05765): Spreaders for 15 ft. Special Class # 503 (1899-03-27)
  16. Dwg 034-077 (HH.5.02488): Buzzard Bay Boats - Cradle for Fifteen Footer (1900-05-12)
  17. Dwg 079-077 (HH.5.05886): Bobstay Plate and Hook # 513 and 556 (15 Footers) (1901-05-01)
  18. Dwg 127-115 (HH.5.09983): Sails > # 559 (1901-06-24)
  19. Dwg 081-014 (HH.5.06102); Boom Crutch for 15 Footers # 503 etc. (1902-08-01)
  20. Dwg 091-158 (HH.5.07436): 15' W.L. Class [Rigging List] (1904-05-10)
  21. Dwg 076-079 (HH.5.05534); Construction Dwg > 25'-0" O.A., 15'-9" W.L., 6'-9" Beam, 3'-4 1/2" Draft (1907-06-04)
  22. Dwg 034-108 (HH.5.02518): Cradle for Buzzards Bay 30 Footers Used Also for # 701 and A Buzzards Bay 15 Footer (1911-06-07)
  23. Dwg 096-107 (HH.5.08067): Sails > 15 ft. One Design Class of 1899 (1912-06-13)
  24. Dwg 096-124 (): Sails > [Sail Plan for] Buzzards Bay 15ft Class (1921-10-03 ?)
  25. Dwg 096-124 (HH.5.08086): Sails > Spinnaker for Buzzards Bay 15 Footer (1926-04-29)
  26. Dwg 130-000 (HH.5.10547); Sails > Buzzard's Bay 15 Footer (1934-12-27)
  27. Dwg 148-000 (HH.5.12217): Sails > Buzzard's Bay 15 Footer with Marconi Rig (1934-12-27)
  28. Dwg 096-121 B (HH.5.08083.2): [List of Sail Plans for S-Class, 12 1/2-footer Gaff and Marconi, Fish Class, 15-footer Gaff and Marconi] (ca. 1938)
  29. Dwg 075-000 (HH.5.05469): Sails > Fiddler - Buzzard's Bay 15 ft. Class (ca. 1959)
Source: Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections, MIT Museum, Cambridge, Mass. Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection. Together with: Hasselbalch, Kurt with Frances Overcash and Angela Reddin. Guide to The Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection. Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections, MIT Museum, Cambridge, Mass., 1997. Together with: Numerous additions and corrections by Claas van der Linde.
Note: The Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection is copyrighted by the Francis Russell Hart Nautical Collections of the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Mass. Permission to incorporate information from it in the Herreshoff Catalogue Raisonné is gratefully acknowledged. The use of this information is permitted solely for research purposes. No part of it is to be published in any form whatsoever.

Documents

Nathanael G. Herreshoff

"[1899-01-09] Mon 9: ... Overcast [with] mod[erate] SW to W [wind]. Turned over #503, [Vim, the first] 15 footer.
[1899-06-03] Sat 3: Very fine & warm. L[igh]t NE [wind in] AM. L[igh]t SSW [wind in] PM. ... Launched three 15 footers. [A total of seven BB15s were launched on June 3 and June 7, 1899 and they were probably these boats: #503s Vim, #504s Flickamaroo, #505s Peacock, #506s Eaglet, #507s Compress, #509s Go Bye and #519s Next]
[1899-06-04] Sun 4: Very fine. Went to Newport in Kildee [#460s] with boys in company of five 15 footers. [Six of the first ten BB15s had been launched by this day and the five BB15s that were sailed on this day must have come from the following group of boats: #503s Vim, #504s Flickamaroo, #505s Peacock, #506s Eaglet, #507s Compress, #508s Teaser, #509s Go Bye, #511s Uarda, #518s Sis, and #519s Next.]
[1899-06-07] Wed 7 Very hot last night with (?). Lowest [temperature] in night 72° and 80° in forenoon. Wind fresh E in PM with falling temp[erature], 57° in evening. [Illegible]. Launched #502 Cyrilla and 4 15 footers. [A total of seven BB15s were launched on June 3 and June 7, 1899 and they were probably these boats: #503s Vim, #504s Flickamaroo, #505s Peacock, #506s Eaglet, #507s Compress, #509s Go Bye and #519s Next.]
[1899-06-11] Sun 11: Very fine. ... Delivered 10 15 footers [probably #503 Vim, #504 Flickamaroo, #505 Peacock, #506 Eaglet, #507 Compress, #508 Teaser, #509 Go Bye, #511 Uarda, #518 Sis and #519 Next]; Cyrilla [#502s], 21 ft, Nautilus [#?s] & Widgeon [#?s]." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1899. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"... Buzzards Bay 15 [Name], 503+ [Building Number], 16.8 [Rating], 15 [Waterline], 16.56 [L = length at 1/4 beam as for Universal Rule], 5.98 [B = breadth of waterline as for Universal Rule], 2.4 [d = draft of water as for Universal Rule], 38 [D = displacement in cubic foot as for Universal Rule (= 2,432 lbs or 1.1 long tons)], 352.5 [Sail Area], 500 [Sail limit Present rule], -147.5 [Diff.], 326 [Sail limit Proposed rule], 26.5 [Diff.], Requires crew to windward [Notes] ..." (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Formula for Obtaining the Limit of Sail-Area in Yachts when Measured by the Universal Rule Formula." Bristol, R.I., July 13, 1907 with later additions. Original handwritten (in ink) document with penciled additions. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00080.)

"Also in 1899, the Buzzards Bay Fifteen Footers started, first with an order of seven, but augmented to seventeen. This class has been added to for thirty-one years, so there have been about eighty built." (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. 67.)

Other Contemporary Text Source(s)

"... Herreshoff has the one-design 15-footers for the Buzzards bay racing of the Beverly yacht club all completed except the last one ordered [#521s Kirstie], which is for N. F. Emmons. There are now 11 of these boats, and they promise some lively racing. ... [Note: The 11 boats were: #503s Vim, #504s Flickermaru, #505s Peacock, #506s Eaglet, #507s Compress, #508s Teaser, #509s Go Bye, #511s Uarda, #518s Sis, #519s Next, and #521s Kirstie.]" (Source: Robinson, W. E. "Yachts and Yachtsmen." Boston Globe, April 23, 1899, p. 27.)

"... The Herreshofft are also constructing 16 boats for members of the Beverly Yacht Club of Beverly, Mass. Most of these will be used in Buzzard's Bay. Thirteen of these boats are 15 feet on the water line and have centreboards [Buzzards Bay 15]. They are exactly alike and will be drawn for by their owners by number as were the famous Herreshof 30-footers in '97 [Newport 30s]. Two [#501s Quakeress and #502s Cyrilla] of the 16 are to be 21 feet on the water line and the other is a 25-footer [#514s May Queen]. ..." (Source: Anon. "Hustling At Herreshoff's." Bristol Phoenix, April 28, 1899, p. 1.)

"Official Number of Racing Yachts.
Herreshoff Fifteen-Foot One Design Class
E-0 Vim [#503s]
E-1 Anita [#672s]
E-2 Peacock [#505s]
E-3 Awahnee [#673s]
E-4 Tinker [#650s]
E-5 Jub Jub [#509s]
E-6 Uarda [#511s]
E-7 Fly [#518s]
E-8 Ranzo [#519s]
E-9 Seeps [#645s]
E-10 Hyassa [#726s]
E-11
E-12 Endeavour [#693s]
E-13
E-14
E-15 Yalu [#651s]
E-16 Jack [#653s]
E-17 Jill [#654s]
E-18 White Rabbit
E-19 Flickamaroo [#785s?]
E-20
E-21
E-22
E-23 Pheasant [#704s]
E-24 Pronto [#700s]
E-25 Polly [#680s]
E-26 Maribee [#731s]
E-27 Scoot [#730s]
E-28 Noanet [#735s]
E-29 Natella [#739s]." (Source: Beverly Yacht Club. Yearbook. 1915, p. 13.)

"... The Hollis Burgess Yacht Agency has ... chartered ... the Herreshoff 15-footer Vim for Arthur Coombs of Boston to L. W. Arthur of Quincy. ..." (Source: Anon. "Notes from the Week's Log." Boston Globe, August 5, 1917, p. 50.)

Archival Documents

"N/A"

"[Item Transcription:] Typewritten (carbon copy) table titled 'Memorandum' with penciled additions listing boats built 1898/1899 with columns labeled 'No.', 'W.L.', 'Rig', 'To deliver', followed in some cases by penciled data for Boat Name and Actual Delivery Date. Relevant contents:
#503s to #509s [W.L.:] 15ft [Rig:] J.&.M. C.B. [To deliver:] About June 1st [1899]. [Note:] One design class." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.. (creator) and Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Memorandum. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDW02_01300. Folder [no #]. No date (1898-04 ?).)


"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.10365 (130-062). Photostat sailplan with calculations titled '15ft One Design Class for 1899 [#503s Buzzards Bay 15 class]'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Photostat Sailplan. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item WRDT04_05120. Folder [no #], formerly MRDW00. 1898-11-19.)


"[Item Description:] Two sets of penciled pantograph hull sections titled '# 503 to 509 inclusive [Buzzards Bay 15 class: #503s, #504s, #505s, #506s, #507s, #508s, #509s]. 15ft one design class. Dec[ember] 4, [19]98'. One set simply marked '1st Trial' with no further notes or calculations. The other marked '2nd [trial]' and with calculations arriving at a displacement of 2438lbs with 'Note, for finishing model have deducted 2% of disp[lacement] ...'. Also with rating-related calculations marked 'Dec[ember] 1901. Hyslop rule'. Also special displacement calculations for #559 [LITTLE ROBIN] (50cuft = 3200lbs body part) and specially marked waterline for this boat and a note 'sheer raised 4in in #559'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_04770. Folder [no #]. 1898-12-04.)


"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections titled 'Lead Keel for # s 503 to 509 inclusive [Buzzards Bay 15 class: #503s, #504s, #505s, #506s, #507s, #508s, #509s]. Dec[ember] 25, [18]98. Scale 1/4in'. With calculations requiring two trials to arrive at a final result of 995lbs lead at 8.6ft aft of w.l. (unclear if this includes the centerboard slot which is subsequently calculated). With separate calculations for '#559 [LITTLE ROBIN (deep draft cruiser)]. June 22, 1901'" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_09160. Folder [no #]. 1898-12-25.)


"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink and) table / design rule titled 'Formula for Obtaining the Limit of Sail-Area in Yachts when Measured by the Universal Rule' and signed 'Nath'l G. Herreshoff. Bristol R.I. July 16, 1907'. With formula 'Sailarea not more than C * B * (L * d * D)^.025 in which C = constant depending on rig, as follows: Sloops & Yawls not carrying topsails C=8.75. Full rigged Sloops C=9.8. Full rigged Schooners and Yawls C=9.3. L = length at 1/4 beam as for Universal Rule. B = breadth of waterline as for Universal Rule. d = draft of water as for Universal Rule. D = displacement as for Universal Rule. The following are examples of application of the above formula to some well known yachts designed by the author. Measurements for Universal Rule'. Followed by tabulated data showing Building Number, Rating, Waterline, L, B, d, D, S, Sail limit Present rule, Diff., Sail limit Proposed rule, Diff., and Notes for Buzzards Bay 15 [#503s class], KILDEE [#460s], SIS [#536s], DOROTHY Q [#668s], SENECA [#670s], N.Y.Y.C. 30 [#626s class], NEWPORT 30 [#463s class], ELECTRA [#530s], SPASM [#538s], PLEASURE [#545s], NEITH [#665s], DELIGHT [#679s], GLORIANA [#411s], ALTAIR [#539s], AVENGER [#666s], DORIS [#625s], WINSOME [#664s class], IROLITA II [#658s], YANKEE [#534s], CONSTITUTION [#551s], RELIANCE [#605s], PETREL [#510s], QUEEN [#657s], INGOMAR [#590s], WESTWARD [#692s], AND [KATOURA] [#722s]. [In an article in the March 5, 1905 Boston Globe (p40), N. G. Herreshoff argued that unless there be a stricter limit on sail area in the present Universal Rule, there would be only few cruising yachts racing. This formula is apparently an attempt to address the above issue. See elsewhere for complete spreadsheet transcription.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00080. Folder [no #]. 1907-07-13.)


"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink) rating rule titled 'Formula for Obtaining the Limit of Sail-Area in Yachts when Measured by the Universal Rule' and signed 'Nath'l G. Herreshoff. Bristol R.I. July 16, 1907'. With formula 'Sailarea not more than C * B * (L * d * D)^.025 in which C = constant depending on rig, as follows: Sloops & Yawls not carrying topsails C=8.75. Full rigged Sloops C=9.8. Full rigged Schooners and Yawls C=9.3. L = length at 1/4 beam as for Universal Rule. B = breadth of waterline as for Universal Rule. d = draft of water as for Universal Rule. D = displacement as for Universal Rule. The following are examples of application of the above formula to some well known yachts designed by the author. Measurements for Universal Rule'. Followed by tabulated data showing Building Number, Rating, Waterline, L, B, d, D, S, Sail limit Present rule, Diff., Sail limit Proposed rule, Diff., and Notes for Buzzards Bay 15 [#503s class], KILDEE [#460s], SIS [#536s], DOROTHY Q [#668s], SENECA [#670s], N.Y.Y.C. 30 [#626s class], NEWPORT 30 [#463s class], ELECTRA [#530s], SPASM [#538s], PLEASURE [#545s], NEITH [#665s], DELIGHT [#679s], GLORIANA [#411s], ALTAIR [#539s], AVENGER [#666s], DORIS [#625s], WINSOME [#664s class], IROLITA II [#658s], YANKEE [#534s], CONSTITUTION [#551s], RELIANCE [#605s], PETREL [#510s], QUEEN [#657s], INGOMAR [#590s], WESTWARD [#692s], AND [KATOURA] [#722s]. [In an article in the March 5, 1905 Boston Globe (p40), N. G. Herreshoff argued that unless there be a stricter limit on sail area in the present Universal Rule, there would be only few cruising yachts racing. This formula is apparently an attempt to address the above issue. See elsewhere for complete spreadsheet transcription.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Handwritten Rating Rule. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00260. Folder [no #]. 1907-07-16.)


"[Item Description:] Blueprint table titled 'Formula for Obtaining the Limit of Sail-Area in Yachts when Measured by the Universal Rule' and signed 'Nath'l G. Herreshoff. Bristol R.I. July 16, 1907'. With formula 'Sailarea not more than C * B * (L * d * D)^.025 in which C = constant depending on rig, as follows: Sloops & Yawls not carrying topsails C=8.75. Full rigged Sloops C=9.8. Full rigged Schooners and Yawls C=9.3. L = length at 1/4 beam as for Universal Rule. B = breadth of waterline as for Universal Rule. d = draft of water as for Universal Rule. D = displacement as for Universal Rule. The following are examples of application of the above formula to some well known yachts designed by the author. Measurements for Universal Rule'. Followed by tabulated data showing Building Number, Rating, Waterline, L, B, d, D, S, Sail limit Present rule, Diff., Sail limit Proposed rule, Diff., and Notes for Buzzards Bay 15 [#503s class], KILDEE [#460s], SIS [#536s], DOROTHY Q [#668s], SENECA [#670s], N.Y.Y.C. 30 [#626s class], NEWPORT 30 [#463s class], ELECTRA [#530s], SPASM [#538s], PLEASURE [#545s], NEITH [#665s], DELIGHT [#679s], GLORIANA [#411s], ALTAIR [#539s], AVENGER [#666s], DORIS [#625s], WINSOME [#664s class], IROLITA II [#658s], YANKEE [#534s], CONSTITUTION [#551s], RELIANCE [#605s], PETREL [#510s], QUEEN [#657s], INGOMAR [#590s], WESTWARD [#692s], AND [KATOURA] [#722s]. [In an article in the March 5, 1905 Boston Globe (p40), N. G. Herreshoff argued that unless there be a stricter limit on sail area in the present Universal Rule, there would be only few cruising yachts racing. This formula is apparently an attempt to address the above issue. See elsewhere for complete spreadsheet transcription.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Blueprint Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0169. WRDT08, Folder 16, formerly MRDE06. 1907-07-16.)


"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled table listing OA, LWL, QBL, %, L = LWL + 1/2(QBL-.93LWL), and Mian[?] for Buzzards Bay 15 [#503s], KILDEE [#460s], DELIGHT [#679s], NYYC 30 [#626s], SENECA [#670s], SPASAM [#538s], NEITH [#665s], GLORIANA [#411s], ALTAIR [#539s], AVENGER [#666s], DORIS [#625s], WINSOME [#664s] class, MINEOLA [#529s] class, INGOMAR [#590s] and QUEEN [#657s]. With three formulas for L, one by 'NGH proposed', the other by Louis M. Clark and the third by NGH [apparently the old one]. On verso of printed receipt card by Callender, McAuslan & Troup Co. Undated, the latest of these boats is from 1908 suggesting this to have been prepared for the Universal Rule revision of 1908." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Calculations. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_01780. Folder [no #]. No date (1908).)


"[Item Description:] Penciled table, untitled, with data for OA, Extreme Beam, Breadth at wl, Draft, Freeboard, Displacement, Lead, and sail area for 15 footer [#503s class], OLEANDER [#710s], SADIE [#732s] and 'Proposed' [design] --- the latter being 24ft LOA, 19.3.LWL, 6ft 11in beam, 3500lbs displacement of which 2000lbs are lead and a sail area of 320sqft. Undated (might this be in response to George Nichols letter dated August 11, 1914 asking for a reduced SADIE-like design for the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club for what would become the Fish Class? 19 boats (#788s, #789s, #790s, #791s, #792s, #793s, #794s, #795s, #796s, #797s, #798s, #799s, #800s, #801s, #802s, #803s, #805s, #807s, #808s) would be eventually ordered on January 10, 1916 for Seawanhaka YC members)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Penciled Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE03_01150. Folder [no #]. No date (1914-08-11 or later ??).)


"[Item Description:] Handwritten (in ink) rating rule-related table on two pages with dimensions LOA, LWL, overhang fore & aft, mean length, freeboard fore & center & aft, breadth deck & w.l., draft, cube-root (displacement), 1st mast mean length, 1st to 2nd mast, J, P1, H1, B1, G1, V1, T1, P2, P2a, H2, B2, Q2, Y2,T2, sail area, sqrt(SA), sqrt(SA - NYYC Rule) for #605s RELIANCE, #499s COLUMBIA, #725s RESOLUTE, #529s MINEOLA, #663s ISTALENA, #666s AVENGER, New York 50s (#711s, #712s, #713s, #714s, #715s, #716s, #717s, #720s, #721s), #411s GLORIANA, #685s ADVENTURESS, #617s COCK ROBIN II, #586s NELLIE, #709s JOYANT, #708s CORINTHIAN, #670s SENECA, Bar Harbor 31s (#592s, #593s, #594s, #595s, #596s, #597s, #598s, #599s, #600s, #601s, #602s, #603s, #604s), New York 30s (#626s, #627s, #628s, #629s, #630s, #631s, #632s, #633s, #635s, #636s, #637s, #638s, #639s, #640s, #642s, #643s, #647s, #648s), Newport 29s (#727s, #728s, #737s), #691s MORE JOY, #446s ALERION II, Buzzards Bay 550s (#733s, #734s, #736s, #738s, #741s), #617s COCK ROBIN II, #493s JILT, #732s SADIE, #460s KILDEE, Buzzards Bay 15s (#503s Class), Buzzards Bay 12 1/2s (#744s Class), #703s FLYING CLOUD, #669s ELEANOR, #722s KATOURA, #692s WESTWARD, #657s QUEEN, #719s VAGRANT II, #698s VAGRANT, #663s ISTALENA, and #743s HASWELL. With penciled note 'Measurements in ft & inches. Results in ft & decimals'. Undated (the youngest boat on this list is from 1914/1915 and this was probably prepared in preparation for NGH's sail area rating rule of 1914/1915)." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Handwritten Table. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE15_00100. Folder [no #]. No date (1914 / 1915 ?).)


"[Item Description:] Typewritten (carbon copy) list titled 'One Design, Fifteen Footers' and listing 'Number' (from #503s to #890s), 'Year' (from 1898 to 1922), 'Ordered by' (name) and 'Rig' (Jib & Mainsail or Marconi) for 80 Buzzards Bay 15s and concluding with '80 boats from one design moulds'. (Interestingly, the special deep keel #674s FLICKER is listed while the other three special deep keel 15-footers are not listed.)" (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (?) (creator). Typewritten List. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00320. Folder [no #]. No date (1922 or later).)


Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #503s Vim [First BB15] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

Further Reading
  • Cheever, David. "The Herreshoff Fifteens." The Log of Mystic Seaport, v. 24, No. 2., Summer 1972, p. 38-44. (106 kB)
    Document is copyrighted: Yes. Short class history, detailed vessel description and appreciation and a thrilling account of a typical race of Buzzards Bay 15 at the Beverly Yacht Club. Special focus on #554s Fiddler ex-Nora, now in the collection of Mystic Seaport Museum.
  • Brainerd, Alec with Bernard H. Gustin and Steven K. Nagy. "The Herreshoff 15 is Alive and Well." In: Herreshoff Marine Museum (Publisher). Proceedings. The Classic Yacht Symposium 2010. Bristol, R.I. 2010. (5,834 kB)
    Document is copyrighted: Yes. Copyright holder: Alec Brainerd, Bernard H. Gustin, Steven K. Nagy / Herreshoff Marine Museum. Class history, construction and restoration comments, building and sailing a replica, detailed class register (including replicas). Photos, drawings.
  • van der Linde, Claas. "Herreshoff 15-Footers: Building Dates and Model Variations." December 7, 2021. (380 kB)
    Document is copyrighted: Yes, used with permission. Copyright holder: Claas van der Linde. Tabular summary of Herreshoff 15-footer construction dates and model variations. Together with information of BB15 sail numbers, boat names and boat owners from various year books of the Beverly Yacht Club.

Images

Supplement

From the 1920 and earlier HMCo Index Cards at the MIT Museum
  • 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.
From the 1931 HMCo-published Owner's List

Type: J & M
Length: 15'
Owner: Emmons, R. W.

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

From the 2000 (ca.) Transcription of the HMCo Construction Record by Vermilya/Bray

Year: 1899
E/P/S: S
No.: 0503
LW: 15'
B: 6' 9"
D: 2' 4"
Rig: Knockabout
K: y
Ballast: lead o.
Amount: 666.66
Notes Constr. Record: 1 Design Class B.B.
Last Name: E. Mgr.
First Name: R. W.

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.

Research Note(s)

"Regular Buzzards Bay 15s had a 15-foot waterline, 6' 9" beam, 2' 3" draft plus a centerboard, gaff rig, and a coaming that curves around the front of the cockpit." (Source: Nagy, Steve. June 1, 2008.)

"[The Beverly Yacht Club] published a yearbook each year listing all the boats in the club, with the owner's name and other information. This book was published in the spring, so it was a list of the boats as they were the previous year, plus, I suppose, any that were purchased over the winter.
... of the first 11 boats, the sail numbers were assigned in the same order as their hull numbers, so with the [Beverly Yacht Club] records, it is possible to name all of them." (Source: Beardsley, Bill. Email to Claas van der Linde, September 16, 2008.)

"503 Vim BB15-1 Sargent, F. W. Jr." (Source: Beardsley, Bill. Email to Claas van der Linde, September 16, 2008.)

[Vim was the first Buzzards Bay 15.] (Source: van der Linde, Claas. September 16, 2008.)

"[Sail area 352.5 sq.ft.]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Formula for Obtaining the Limit of Sail-Area in Yachts when Measured by the Universal Rule Formula." Bristol, R.I., July 13, 1907 with later additions. Original handwritten (in ink) document with penciled additions. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00080.)

"[Displacement (38 cubic feet = 2432 lbs).]" (Source: Herreshoff, N. G. "Formula for Obtaining the Limit of Sail-Area in Yachts when Measured by the Universal Rule Formula." Bristol, R.I., July 13, 1907 with later additions. Original handwritten (in ink) document with penciled additions. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE06_00080.)

"Lost in Onset, MA during a storm in 1952." (Source: http://www.orrsford.com/herreshoff/get_detail.php?hull=503, last accessed March 18, 2009.)

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

Note

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Citation: HMCo #503s Vim [First BB15]. Herreshoff Catalogue Raisonné. https://herreshoff.info/Docs/S00503_15_Buzzards_Bay_First_Boat.htm.