HMCo #598s Curlew

"[1903-01-20] Tue 20: Fine & cold. Set up #598 [Curlew].
[1903-01-28] Wed 28: Thick fog and mist all day. Nearly calm. Turned over #598 [Curlew] in PM.
[1903-02-17] Tue 17: Heavy NE snow storm in night. Very low barometer. 14in. snow. NW [wind], clear & cold in evening. Moved #598 [Curlew] out of shop onto truck." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1903. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"Nos. 592 to 604 inclusive [#592s, #593s, #594s, #595s, #596s, #597s, #598s, #599s, #600s, #601s, #602s, #603s, #604s].
Bar Harbor Class.
Frame spaces 12 1/2".
Planking 1 1/8".
Timbers moulded 1 1/2" at head increasing 1/8 per foot.
Sided 1 7/8".
Keel steamed or bent 2 7/8" think[?]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. [Penciled note in Offset Booklet HH.4.139.] No date [ca. October 1902]. Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"A contract for sixteen [sic, i.e. thirteen] sloop yachts of the thirty foot class was received this week by the Herreshoffs. The boats are to be of one design and are to be drawn by lot next spring. It is to be known as the Bar Harbor class and the yachts will be constructed in the building now in process of construction on the east side of Hope street, opposite the construction shops." (Source: Anon. "Bristol and Vicinity." Bristol Phoenix, October 3, 1902, p. 2.)

"BAR HARBOR, Sept 20 [1902]. --- ... Prospects for the yachting fraternity next season are excellent. There is to be a single-design class built which will be uniform in every particular, the various members to draw for their boats. Those who will build are V. Everett Macy, A. J. Cassatt, W. G. Ladd, H. L. Eno, Edgar Scott, Edward Morrell, R. Horace Gallatin, H. M. Sears, W. C. Allison, J. M. Sears, Antonio Y. Stewart, and T. G. Condon." (Source: Anon. "Bar Harbor Happenings." New York Times, September 21, 1902.)

"Work has begun on the first of the new class of 30-footers known as the Bar Harbor class. These boats are to be built in the new shop constructed this fall directly opposite the old construction shop. There are to be fourteen [sic, i.e. 13] of these boats built from the same mould, and will be drawn by lot in the spring." (Source: Anon. "Yachting." New York Tribune, November 16, 1902, p. 10.)

"Curlew, sloop, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, RI, by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.
10.46 gross tons, 8.71 net tons; 36.4 ft. x 10.4 ft. x 5 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
One deck, one mast, overhanging head, overhanging stern.
Surveyed and measured, March 30, 1903." (Source: U.S. Customs Department, Bristol, R.I. Custom House Record Book, 1870s to 1904 (Collection of the Herreshoff Marine Museum), s.v. Curlew.)

"[License issued to vessel under 20 tons. Pos. 60:]
Curlew, sloop, of Bristol.
Built at Bristol, 1903.
8.71 tons; 36.4 ft. x 10.4 ft. x 5 ft. [Register length x breadth x depth.]
No specifications shown.
Lic[ensed] ([as] yacht) May 6, 1903. Owner: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company of Bristol. Master: N. G. Herreshoff.
Surrendered [license] June 4, 1903 at New York. ([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. Curlew.)

"Bar Harbor, Me., Saturday [July 30, 1904].— In spite of a very fresh wind, which reached almost to the dignity of a gale, the thirty-one footers went over the course to-day in their regular race.
The yachtsmen carried all sail and disdained to reef, and when they were coming to the finish line balloon jibs were flying in shreds. When about two miles on the course the mast of the Curlew carried away. She is owned by R. H. Gallatin, of New York. ..." (Source: Anon. "Curlew Loses Her Mast." New York Herald, July 31, 1904, p. ?.)

"LARCHMONT, N.Y., July 18.[1936]. --- There was a fresh northeast breeze that called for working head sails to usher in the Larchmont Yacht Club's race week this afternoon, and through it came Henry C. Taylor's fifty-foot sloop Barbara, Van S. Merle - Smith's international twelve-meter Seven Seas and John B. Shethar's Valencia for victories among the large yachts.
It was a case of jumping through seas with rails under. The breeze only registered between fifteen and eighteen miles an hour, but when it blew up against the ebb tide the Sound kicked up. ...
Two Boats Lose Masts
Two yachts lost their masts. The 30-footer Alera [#626s], owned by Harold Palmer and E. H. Leslie, lost hers before the start. Shortly after the getaway the stick went out of H. S. Gardner Jr.'s handicap-class sloop Ariel [#598s], one of the old Buzzards Bay 30-footers [sic, i.e. Bar Harbor]. Her crew went overboard and gathered in the wreckage. Then she chugged back into harbor, having an auxiliary motor. Alera was towed in. ..." (Source: Robbins, James. "Taylor's Barbara Leads 50-Footers As 250 Yachts Sail. Many of Small Craft Remain in Harbor Because of the Threatening Weather." New York Times, July 19, 1936, p. S1.)

"LOCKWOOD TRADE JOURNAL CO., INC.
Publishers, 15 West 47th Street, New York
Dec. 19, 1947
Mr. L. Francis Herreshoff, The Castle, Marblehead, Mass.
Dear Sir: ... It might interest you to know that I am the satisfied and rather proud owner of one of your father's Bar Harbor designs named 'Ariel' originally named the 'Curlew.' The rig was modernised sometime before I bought it and the interior has been made very comfortable for cruising for myself, my wife and four small children, ages 8, 6, 4 and 2. We not only find it very comfortable for cruising, but simple and easy to handle and one of the fastest boats, boat for boat, sailing on the Sound today.
I have got her in really first-class shape through the efforts of the Minneford Yacht Yard and William Caesar, the surveyor. Very truly yours," (Source: Lockwood, George E. [Letter to L. Francis Herreshoff.] December 19, 1947. Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Coll. 138 - Box 3, Folder 3, Page 174.)

"December 29, 1947
Mr. George E. Lockwood, 15 West 47th Street, New York, N. Y.
Dear Sir: I am very interested to hear that you have one of the Bar Harbor 30's, and believe that if she has good care she will last a good many years. No doubt in a good beam wind she will sail as fast, and faster, than a great many of the modern boats, and do this without the necessity of lapping jib, etc. ... Yours very truly," (Source: Herreshoff, L. Francis. [Letter to George E. Lockwood.] December 29, 1947. Mystic Seaport Museum, L. Francis Herreshoff Collection, Coll. 138 - Box 3, Folder 3, Page 175.)

"N/A"

"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections titled 'Bar Harbor class [#592s, #593s, #594s, #595s, #596s, #597s, #598s, #599s, #600s, #601s, #602s, #603s, #604s]. 2nd model [Model 713]. 1st trial. Sc[ale] 3/4. Sept[ember] 25 1903 []sic, i.e. 1902'. With calculations arriving at a displacement of 337.5cuft [= 21600lbs]." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_03990. Folder [no #]. 1902-09-25.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph hull sections with radials titled 'Bar Harbor Class. # 592 to 604 inclusive [#592s, #593s, #594s, #595s, #596s, #597s, #598s, #599s, #600s, #601s, #602s, #603s, #604s]. From finished model. Oct[ober] 2, 1902. Scale 1/16. W.l. 30ft 9in'. With tabulated calculations distinguishing between 'displacement body part' and 'displacement total' and arriving at a total displacement of 330.5cuft = 21160lbs." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_04130. Folder [no #]. 1902-10-02.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled pantograph lead sections titled 'Nos. 592 to 604 inclusive [#592s, #593s, #594s, #595s, #596s, #597s, #598s, #599s, #600s, #601s, #602s, #603s, #604s]. Oct[ober] 7, 1902. 1/8 size'. With calculations (marked 'By planimeter') and note 'Required lead casting of 10000lbs with c.g. [at] 55.4[%] of w.l. = 17.05ft aft ...'. With note 'Dec[ember] 11, 1902. #592. With all w[ei]g[h]ts represented proved too deep in water and 1045lbs removed, was then 30ft 10 3/4in w.l. Have decided to take a piece of equal thickness off top of lead = 2 3/8in' and calculations to derive this amount." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Lead Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_09280. Folder [no #]. 1902-10-07.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan HH.5.02171 (029): Blueprint general arrangement plan with plan view and inboard profile titled 'Preliminary Plan of Bar Harbor Cruising Class [#592s, #593s, #594s, #595s, #596s, #597s, #598s, #599s, #600s, #601s, #602s, #603s, #604s]. Herreshoff Mfg. Co. Bristol, R.I. Scale 1/4in = 1ft. Oct[ober] 9, 1902'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Blueprint. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0028. WRDT08, Folder 3, formerly MRDE08. 1902-10-09.)
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"[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 ?).)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #598s Curlew even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Bray, Maynard. "Two Views of the Herreshoff Bar Harbor 31s." Day, Fritz and Frances. "Desperate Lark." Bray, Maynard. "Holding the Shape the Herreshoff Way." Wooden Boat #45, March/April 1982, p. 68-74. (520 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes, used with permission. Copyright holder: Maynard Bray (text). Bar Harbor 31 class portrait with special emphasis on #602s Desperate Lark ex Cricket and detailed description of why Herreshoff boats have been able to hold their shape better over time than many other yachts.

• Curlew (HMCo-made index card)
• Curlew (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: Curlew
Type: J & M
Length: 30'9"
Owner: Gallatin, R. H.

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

• Curlew
• Ariel ex-Curlew
• 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: Curlew
Type: 31' cutter
Owner: R. H. Gallatin
Year: 1903
Row No.: 139

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: Oct. [sic, i.e. no month]
Year: 1902
E/P/S: S
No.: 0598
Name: Curlew
LW: 30' 9"
B: 10' 4"
D: 7' 3"
Rig: J & M
K: y
Ballast: Lead O.
Amount: $4960.00
Notes Constr. Record: Bar Harbor class, double head rig.
Last Name: Galatin
First Name: R. H.

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.

"LOA 48ft 9in from pencilled note on construction plan 76-46." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. April 25, 2013.)

"Launch date signifies the date vessel was taken on low gear to cove for winter storage." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. November 4, 2011.)

"Built in 137 days (contract to launch; equivalent to $36/day, 154 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"Sail area 1492 sqft from rating rule-related table handwritten (in ink) by N. G. Herreshoff on two pages with multiple dimensions for the most important Herreshoff-designed yachts in the Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. MRDE15, Folder [no #]. 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: van der Linde, Claas. September 16, 2020.)

"Displacement 330.5 cu.ft. [= 21,152 lbs] from untitled two-page rating-rule-related table handwritten (in ink) by N. G. Herreshoff with multiple dimensions for the most important Herreshoff-designed yachts. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum. MRDE15, Folder [no #]. Undated (the most recent boat dates 1914/1915 and the table was probably prepared in preparation for NGH's sail area rating rule of 1914/1915)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. September 16, 2020.)

"Designed disp. on 30ft-9in W.L., 21415 lbs." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Penciled note on construction plan 76-46.)

"In November 1950 my Bar Harbor 30, ARIEL [#598s], was lost in a storm. Since I so much liked these boats and the way they perform, I immediately searched for another Bar Harbor 30 and wound up buying the INDIAN [#599s] in April 1951." (Source: Lockwood, George E. "Indian Donated to Museum." Herreshoff Marine Museum Chronicle, Spring 1980, p. 4.)

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