HMCo #1002s Gee Whiz [Geewhiz]

"April 1926.
No. 1002.
[Scale of Model 0023] 13 5/16 = 1 ft.
Timbers 1 5/16" at head increasing 1/16" per ft.
Planking 7/8".
Frame spaced 10", common rule.
Lines filled out 2 3/8" at Bilge [center symbol], 1 1/4" at transome.
Sheer raised 4".
Lines changed. Common Rule." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G.? [Penciled note in Offset Booklet HH.4.189.] Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

"A.S. deW. Herreshoff: ... I remember my father suggested that she'd be better with the bilge a little harder at first. Then [he] went away [to Florida] and left it with me to design the boat. Then when he saw the boat he thought perhaps I overdid it. ... Mr. Nelson White bought her from Malinkrodt and named her after his wife. ..." (Source: Herreshoff, A. Sidney deW. [Excerpts from the transcript of an oral interview held with Barry Thomas and Maynard Bray, both Mystic Seaport Museum.] Bristol, R.I., October 15, 1975, p. 13.)

"Besides the preliminary work on the cup defender to be built for the syndicate of the New York Yacht Club members, headed by Commodore E Walter Clark, there is considerable work in progress on smaller boats at the Herreshoff shops. Many yachts are being stored in the Walker's Cove yards and alongside the North Shop. ... At the Walker's Cove Yards the yawl Gee Whiz [#1002s], schooner yacht Dolphin [built by John P. Kirk in 1915], the sloop yacht Luanna [#681s ex-Au Revoir] from Westerly are already under cover." (Source: Anon. "Busy Times At Herreshoff Boat Shops." Bristol Phoenix, October 4, 1929, p. 4.)

"The latest addition to the fleet at Mystic Seaport just arrived in time for The WoodenBoat Show. Aida is a 33-foot keel/centerboard yawl designed and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. in 1926.
A recent restoration by Doug Hylan in Brooklin, ME sought to return her as close as possible to an “as built” condition using the original Herreshoff techniques. Both the interior and exterior were restored and the work also included refinished spars, a new diesel, and new sails. This was the first major refurbishment of the boat since launch.
Aida was owned for more than 40 years by former Museum staff member and trustee Maynard Bray and his wife Anne. Bray oversaw the project and just published a book chronicling the boat, her owners, and the restoration. 'Aida: N.G. Herrehoff’s Finest Shallow-Draft Yawl' is available in the Museum’s Maritime Bookstore.
Aida’s specifications are:
LOA - 33ft 6in
LWL - 27ft 0in
Beam - 9ft 2in
Draft - 3ft 1in (centerboard up)"
Aida will be on display at various locations on the waterfront." (Source: Anon. "Aida’s New Home." Mystic Seaport Museum News, June 28, 2013, http://www.mysticseaport.org/news/2013/aidas-new-home/, retrieved December 16, 2013.)

"[Item Transcription:] I am glad to hear from George Cormack this morning that he highly approves the details regarding your prize [the Herreshoff Medal] as you have worked them out, and that it will be presented to the Club at the May meeting. I feel sure it will be received with great enthusiasm.
I will mail you tonight a blue-print received from Bristol showing the outline of 'CAROLINA's' [#721s] new rig. I am a little worried about the size of the jib --- not that I anticipate any serious trouble in trimming it, but because I fear the added strain on the runners and, more particularly, their chain plates.
The sketch shows a single spreader. As we already have the double spreaders and the rigging to go with them, is it worth while to make the change? The staying plan is, of course, not worked out on this sketch. Would you sketch me out your suggestion? Aside from Mr. [Walter K.] Shaw [owner of #716s ANDIAMO ex-SAMURI], who may go on the [NYYC] cruise and sail for the important Cups, it seems doubtful whether I shall have any competition, so I am hesitating a little between this rigging and your suggestion of use of the regular mast fore triangle with a triangular mainsail. In this latter case, could a wire jack stay along the after side of the mast be set up tight enough with a turn buckle in the deck to hold the mainsail from the spreaders up? Below the spreaders, regular mast hoops or a lacing could be used. Possibly above the masthead, a few hoops could also be used, that the sail could be hooked as it is hoisted by a man aloft, in such a way that they would clear themselves as it is lowered? A scheme such as this would obviate removal of the iron work on the mast and scarring it up by screwing on a track.
I do not feel it worth while to make any very serious effort to compete with Mr. Shaw, for, while I shall doubtless feel badly at the time if he walks off with the Astor and King's Cups [Nichols and CAROLINA would win the 1926 Astor Cup for sloops], the chance of his starting for them is extremely problematical. Two years ago, you will remember, he brought out his boat for a season's racing. He was involved in a protest the second time he started, and the newspapers reported his time at the finish some seconds differently from what he had timed it himself. The difference in time did not involve any difference in position, but the two circumstances combined so annoyed him that he started in only one more race that season and, if my memory serves, dropped out of that. I very much like the man personally and admire his experiments, but what he really enjoys is sailing and making port to port passages, and he is sufficiently independent in thought not to race unless he happens to feel like it when the time comes, even though he has spent a lot of time and money in preparing to do so.
Ralph Ellis [former owner of #713s IROQUOIS II] has been playing with the idea of buying back a 50 Footer, but has telegraphed me that he will not come to any decision until his arrival from California the latter part of May, and probably will not do so.
Mr. Hanan [owner of #712s SPARTAN] has talked of coming out and may very likely do so for a short time, but is not preparing a serious racing season.
Am much interested in the new 'PLEASURE' for Mr. Mallinckrodt [#1002s AIDA], and was glad to hear from Charles [Nystrom], who was here yesterday, that you had sent him instructions about her. Mr. Mallinckrodt brought me a list of second-hand boats which he was considering, but it did not seem to me that any of them was quite satisfactory to his needs, so I persuaded him to give an order for a new one, and naturally feel much interested and, to some extent, responsible.
My kindest regards to Mrs. Herreshoff.
I hope you have arranged 'PLEASURE's' [#907s] insurance to your satisfaction. If there is anything more I can do about it, please let me know." (Source: Nichols, George. Letter to N.G. Herreshoff. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_30530. Subject Files, Folder 27, formerly 10-15. 1926-04-29.)
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"[Item Description:] HMCo Plan No. 6-111. Photostat technical drawing titled '#1002 [GEE WHIZ] Folding Propeller for 1 1/4in shaft'." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (creator). Photostat Technical Drawing. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Acc. 2004.0001.0206. WRDT08, Folder 19, formerly MRDW00. 1926-07-14.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Typed letter marked 'Copy' with 'Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, Bristol, Rhode Island' letterhead:] Referring to mine of yesterday. I have been to the shop and showed your letter and enclosed sketch to Sidney and Tom Brightman, which they highly approved. [Charles] Nystrom was away.
I questioned Tom about authority for building the boat [#193007es TERN (Aux. Weekend Cruiser)] and he said Mr. Haffenreffer said, 'So soon as plans were approved by you, Sid and me, to go ahead and get her out this fall'.
I didnot have the "GEE WHIZ's' [#1002s] plans by me in making this sketch and it covers quite satisfactorily what I consider a good cruiser should be and to cover your desires as well as I understand them, and for shallow water use, as in L. St. Clair on the South.
To carry out the conditions required and not feel cramped, I have taken a little more size than 'GEE WHIZ'. The w. l. length is 30ft, and extreme nearly 37ft and extreme breadth of planking 10ft, Draft 3ft. With the intention that the boat be hauled out Winters, and also that she will be several times duplicated, I would by all means, have lead casting include middle section of keel --- the C. b.logs and lugs for floor timbers --- so there would be no seam to shrink open below the cabin floor. You will see I have carried the raised side way to the quarter and the back rest of cockpit side seats are against the clamps, so getting a much wider cockpit. The cockpit floor to be about 9in above L. w. l. The quarter deck on which the helmsman would sit to be about 6in higher, than seats so he can look over his guests heads. Steering gear to be 'CONSUELO [#400s] type' --- that was also used on CLARA [#402s]- ALICE [#405s] and several catyawls of the old days and proved most satisfactory. The motor to be as already approved. I would advise having two openings and slides to cabin as shown, as it is often desirable to have one over galley for ventilation, and also for quick passage from cockpit. There will be, however, walking space aft of centerboard, as well as forward. Will be 3 1/2ft space for galley, with refrigerator and oilskin hanger apposite. Then settee berths 6 1/2ft with toilet room 4ft next forward to port and liberal hanging space to Starboard. To be a builtin berth, port and aft, in forecastle with a swing berth, Starboard and well forward. A high water tank over head to port of mast and probably a large reserve tank under settee Starboard side.
[p. 2] I should have rectangular windows to open, as shown on each side, fitted with removable screens. They will be quite water tight against storms and there is little danger of getting much water thru in a knock-down, if closed. To be a hatch over forecastle, a skylight over cabin, with one corner (1/4) over toilet room.
The head-room, as laid out to be 5ft 6in but could be more if topsides were made higher. Have just seen Mr. Nustrom [sic, i.e. Charles Nystrom] and he proposed having a copy of sketch made, so if you approve, please wire, so work on Model and plans can be started at once.
Your affectionate father, ... [Compare with HH.5.12760 (155-000) Day Sailing Boat] (1930-09-03).]" (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Herreshoff, Alexander Griswold. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.091. Box HAFH.6.2B, Folder Weekend Auxiliary Cruiser. 1930-09-02.)
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"[Item Description:] Three sheets of penciled 'Proposed Specifications of Standardized One Man[?] Cruiser [#193007es TERN (Aux. Weekend Cruiser)]. Model GEE WHIZ [#1002s] 33ft-6in O.A., 27ft W.L., 9ft-2in B, 3ft-1in D'. " (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (?) (creator). Specifications. MIT Museum, Hart Nautical Collections, Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection Item HH.6.091. Box HAFH.6.2B, Folder Weekend Auxiliary Cruiser. No date (1930-10 ??).)
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"[Item Description:] Photo, apparently taken and sent by Henry C. White, of #1002s AIDA ex-GEE WHIZ, titled on verso 'Under way. Yawl Aida'." (Source: White, Henry C. (creator). Photographs. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_36900. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. ca1937s.)
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"[Item Description:] Photo, apparently taken and sent by Henry C. White, of White's boathouse with #1002s AIDA ex-GEE WHIZ on the ways, titled on verso 'Our boathouse. Waterford'." (Source: White, Henry C. (creator). Photographs. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_36902. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. ca1937s.)
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"[Item Description:] Photo, apparently taken and sent by Henry C. White, of White's boathouse with #1002s AIDA ex-GEE WHIZ on the ways, titled on verso 'Aida hauled at Waterford'." (Source: White, Henry C. (creator). Photographs. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_36904. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. ca1937s.)
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"[Item Description:] Photo, apparently taken and sent by Henry C. White, of #1002s AIDA ex-GEE WHIZ at anchor, titled on verso 'Yawl Aida in West Neck Creek, Shelter Island'." (Source: White, Henry C. (creator). Photographs. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_36924. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. ca1937s.)
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"[Item Description:] Photo, apparently taken and sent by Henry C. White, of a mooring field with, among other boats, #737s COMET (at left) and #1002s AIDA ex-GEE WHIZ (to her right), titled on verso 'Our harbor at Waterford. Aida and Comet at moorings'." (Source: White, Henry C. (creator). Photographs. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_36942. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. ca1937s.)
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"[Item Description:] Photo, apparently taken and sent by Henry C. White, of #1002s AIDA ex-GEE WHIZ at anchor with two rowboats in the foreground, titled on verso 'A still morning in creek with the Aida reflected in the water'." (Source: White, Henry C. (creator). Photographs. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_36980. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. ca1937s.)
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"[Item Description:] Photo, apparently taken and sent by Henry C. White, of a man and a boy in a rowboat with #1002s AIDA ex-GEE WHIZ in the background, titled on verso 'I am rowing with one of my grandsons. Aida in the distance'." (Source: White, Henry C. (creator). Photographs. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_36982. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. ca1937s.)
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"[Item Description:] Photo, apparently taken and sent by Henry C. White, of a boy rowing a man in a pram, titled on verso 'My son and his oldest boy in the little pram Sidney and I designed as an emergency tender for the AIDA [#1002s ex-GEE WHIZ]. It was Sidney's only slip from a virtuous life'." (Source: White, Henry C. (creator). Photographs. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_36986. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. ca1937s.)
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"[Item Description:] Photo, apparently taken and sent by Henry C. White, of #1002s AIDA ex-GEE WHIZ at her mooring, titled on verso 'The Aida moored off our camp'." (Source: White, Henry C. (creator). Photographs. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_37002. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. ca1937s.)
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"[Item Description:] photo of half models for #907s PLEASURE, #1002s AIDA ex-GEE WHIZ, NY50, #1233s RAINBOW, BB15, and #1106s COMET signed by Henry C. White" (Source: Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_36810. Photograph. Subject Files, Folder [no #]. 1937-09.)
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"[Item Description:] Spreadsheet listing original contracts (from 1923 to 1940) by HMCo in the collection of HMM (apparently from the gift of Everett Pearson). Listed boats are: #380p, #381p, #388p, #389p, #391p, #392p, #393p, #395p, #886s, #933s, #934s, #954s, #955s, #962s, #983s, #999s, #1002s, #1017s, #1054s, #1055s, #1057s, #1074s, #1078s, #1122s, #1125s, #1130s, #1131s, #1147s, #1152s, #1153s, #1154s, #1156s, #1157s, #1164s, #1170s, #1173s, #1174s, #1175s, #1175s, #1176s, #1177s, #1179s, #1180s, #1191s, #1192s, #1193s, #1195s, #1196s, #1198s, #1199s, #1200s, #1201s, #1202s, #1203s, #1206s, #1207s, #1208s, #1209s, #1210s, #1211s, #1212s, #1213s, #1214s, #1215s, #1216s, #1217s, #1218s, #1219s, #1220s, #1222s, #1224s, #1236s, #1226s, #1227s, #1228s, #1230s, #1232s, #1234s, #1237s, #1238s, #1240s, #1241s, #1243s, #1244s, #1245s, #1246s, #1247s, #1248s, #1249s, #1250s, #1251s, #1252s, #1253s, #1254s, #1255s, #1256s, #1257s, #1258s, #1259s, #1260s, #1261s, #1262s, #1263s, #1264s, #1265s, #1274s, #1275s, #1277s, #1279s, #1280s, #1281s, #1282s, #1283s, #1284s, #1285s, #1286s, #1287s, #1302s, #1303s, #1315s, #1508s." (Source: Rickson, Norene (creator). Table. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Item LIB_4220. HMM Library Rare Books Room (HMCo Contracts), Folder [no #]. No date (2010s ?).)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #1002s Gee Whiz [Geewhiz] even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. [Contract for #1002s Gee Whiz, yawl.] Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection. Bristol, RI, April 11, 1926. (1,961 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes. Copyright holder: Herreshoff Marine Museum. Original building/sales contract. Vessel description, scantlings, payment terms, delivery date. Includes detailed vessel specifications.
• Bray, Maynard (with photos by Benjamin Mendlowitz). "Aida." Nautical Quarterly, no. 37, Spring 1987, p. 49. (717 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes, used with permission. Copyright holder: Maynard Bray (text), Benjamin Mendlowitz (photos). Short vessel portrait. Part of the larger article "Herreshoff Legacies."
• Jackson, Tom. "Around the Yards. D. N. Hylan & Associates." Wooden Boat #200, March/April 2008, p. 18-19. (459 kB)
  Document is copyrighted: Yes. Restoration report.
• Bray, Maynard. "Aida. N. G. Herreshoff's Finest Shallow-Draft Yawl." Bristol, RI, 2012.
  Detailed vessel appreciation and history. Restoration report and advice much beyond this specific boat. Numerous photos and plans.

• Gee Whiz (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Gee Whiz (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Aida ex-Gee Whiz (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: Gee Whiz
Type: Yawl
Length: 27'
Owner: Mallinckrodt, Edward, Jr.

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

• Gee Whiz
• 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: Gee Whiz
Type: 27' yawl
Owner: Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr.
Row No.: 247

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: Apr
Day: 11
Year: 1926
E/P/S: S
No.: 1002
Name: Gee Whiz
OA: 33'
LW: 27'
B: 9'
D: 3'
Amount: 10,250.00
Last Name: Mallinckrodt, Jr.
First Name: Ed.

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 33' 6" from HMCo construction plan." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 2, 2008.)

"Aida was sold by Anne and Maynard Bray to Michael Mills of Shelter Island, NY in early 2007. From 2007 to 2008 she was restored by Doug Hylan at Brooklin Maine receiving, among other work, new frames, a new backbone, new centerboard trunk, and new molded sheerstrakes (the old ones had chafed away in the hurricane of 1938). In the early summer of 2013 she was donated to Mystic Seaport Museum which sold her in 2018 to a new owner." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. May 14, 2019.)

"[See also:] AIDA
full model of AIDA
MODELS - VESSELS - FULL
41 1/4" H X 34" W X 13 1/4" D (case overall dimensions)
Full rigged model of yacht AIDA, in glass case on mahogany base; plate attached to base reads "AIDA / 1926 / DESIGNED BY N. G. HERRESHOFF / MODEL BY ROB WADLEIGH"; includes a boat hook on cabin roof, bucket and pail in cockpit; white hull, green below water line; lettered on stern: "AIDA / SHELTER ISLAND"; overall case dimensions: 41 1/4" H X 34" W X 13 1/4" D; excellent condition.
2017.30.2." (Source: Mystic Seaport Museum. [Catalog Entry.] http://mobius.mysticseaport.org/detail.php?term=aida&module=objects&type=keyword&x=0&y=0&kv=484009&record=6&module=objects, retrieved December 30, 2017.)

"Dates of contract '11th day of April, 1926 and delivery 'on or about July 1, 1926' from original contract in collection of Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 15, 2015.)

"Built in 81 days (contract to delivered; equivalent to $127/day, 133 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"Sail area 520sq ft (in 2008) from Bray, Maynard. Aida. N.G. Herreshoff's Finest Shallow-Draft Yawl. Bristol, RI, 2012, p. 24." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

"Displacement 10774lbs from Bray, Maynard. Aida. N.G. Herreshoff's Finest Shallow-Draft Yawl. Bristol, RI, 2012, p. 24. Note, however, that Aida's displacement was also stated as 14,000lbs in the 2007 WoodenBoat Register." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. March 17, 2015.)

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