HMCo #1231s Humdink

"[1933-04-15] Sat 15: 53-47, set 47. Generally overcast & fog. L[igh]t airs, SE & SW. Sidney tried new 11-1/2' dinghy Humdink [#1231s] and likes[?] well. ...
[1933-04-22] Sat 22: 54-40, set 40. Very fine. Overcast [in[ AM, clear [in[ PM. SW [wind] hauling to NNW fresh in PM. Sidney & Clarence went to Charles River taking Humdink [#1231s] on trailer. In PM, races with strong unsteady wind. Did not do well. Arrived home at 7:45PM.
[1933-04-30] Sun 30: 63-49, set 56. Very fine & warm. Calm [in] forenoon, mod[erate] SSW [in] afternoon. Clarence sailed Humdink [#1231s] to E. Greenwich for Sidney & (?) to sail in PM. All returned by auto with trailer. No worthwhile competitors.
[1933-05-07] Sun 7: 68-48, set 57. Clearing in early AM and very fine with mod[erate] N [wind in] AM & fresh SSW [wind in] PM. Sidney went to E. Greenwich taking his family. Carl Rockwell, Mr. & Mrs. Colt & Miss Hartley to see Clarence & (?) sailed in Humdink [#1231s]. Humdink won most events. Home at 7:10PM.
[1933-05-13] Sat 13: 62-52, set 56. Generally overcast. Fog at night. L[igh]t to mod[erate] S [wind]. Sid, Becky & Clarence went to Masons Is[land] to dinghy race, taking Humdink [#1231s].
[1933-05-21] Sun 21: [Thermometer] 62 - 55 - 55 [degrees]. Rain last night. Overcast all day [with] l[igh]t NE airs. Dinghies race off Wardwells in p.m. in which Sidney's Humdink [#1231s] won. ...
[1933-05-30] Tue 30: 61-54, set 61. Overcast all day [with] l[igh]t SE to S [wind]. Decoration Day, but very quiet all around. Sidney t[ook] dinghy Humdink [#1231s] to race at Edgewood, but went only one 1st place.
[1933-07-04] Tue 4: [Thermometer] 65 - 56 - 59 [degrees]. Overcast. Mod[erate] to fresh N to NE [wind] & cold. ... Sidney & family go to Newport in Bubble [#285p], towing Humdink [#1231s] and win dinghy race there. A very quiet 4th [of July].
[1933-11-19] Sun 19: 40-31, set 31. Fine with moderate NW [wind &] clear after 8AM. Went to Wardwells Popasquash with Ann, having Grace & Agnes to see dinghy racing. 13 dinghys [sic] took part in which Sidney and Becky in Humdink [#1231s] did very well, winning 2 out of 3.
[1933-12-03] Sun 3: 47-39, set 44. Overcast all day with a few showers in forenoon. Nealy calm all day. Went with Ann in PM to see dinghy racing at Wardwell's. Sidney was there with Velita & Humdink. 14 dinghys sailng in 2 classes. Humdink [#1231s] 1st in all B class races in almost calm.
[1933-12-24] Sun 24: 46-34, set 46. Thick fog & calm till afternoon, then very fine with light SSW [wind]. Calm evening. Frank Roebuck here & with Agnes, Ann took us to see dinghy racing. Humdink [#1231s] [had] most points. ...
[1934-01-14] Sun 14: [Thermometer] 43 - 33 - 33 [degrees]. Very fine & generally clear --- mod[erate] westerly to NW [wind] at night. ... Went to see 11-1/2 ft dinghies racing in which Humdink [#1231s] came in 2nd.
[1934-01-21] Sun 21: [Thermometer] 31 - 23 - 23 [degrees]. Fine & cool with mod[erate] N [wind]. Went with Becky & Agnes in Sid's car to see dinghy racing at Wardwells. Fine race in which Sid & Becky won 4 out of 6 races in class B [apparently with #1231s Humdink]. ...
[1934-01-28] Sun 28: [Thermometer] 46 - 32 - 42 [degrees]. Rain early and [in] afternoon. Mod[erate] S to SW [wind] fresh in afternoon. Very low barom[eter] 29.09 in evening. Ann to[ok?] me, also Agnes & Frank R[oebuck] to see dinghy racing at Waldwell's in afternoon. Humdink [#1231s] & Thenbers[?] A class winning 4 out of 5 [races].
[1934-03-18] Sun 18: [Thermometer] 50 - 36 - 36 [degrees]. Very fine & clear with fresh to strong SSW [wind] till 4 p.m. then shifting to NW & a little r[ain] later. Ann took Agnes, Frank Roebuck & me to see dinghy racing. 13 [dinghies] out. Sidney nearly capsized in Humdink [#1231s] and withdrew. My 86th birthday.
[1934-03-24] Sat 24: [Thermometer] 40 - 25 - 33 [degrees]. Fair, though overcast most of day. L[igh]t variable winds between NE, SE & SW. Ann took Agnes & me to see the gathering of dinghies that were racing off Wardwell's. There were over 30, more than half visitors from NY to Boston. A fine sight with their colored sails. [Sidney was probably racing #1231s Humdink.]
[1934-03-25] Sun 25: [Thermometer] 46 - 31 - 36 [degrees]. Very fine after a light snowfall last night. Clear with light air NW to NNW ch[anging] to SW [in] late p.m. The dinghy sailors had a very fine time for racing and 34 were out at Wardwell's about 1/2 visitors from NY & Boston &c. [Again, Sidney was probably racing #1231s Humdink.]
[1934-04-01] Sun 1: [Thermometer] 51 - 43 - 43 [degrees]. Overcast. Mod[erate] to l[igh]t N [wind] becoming variable & westerly in p.m. Attended dinghy races at Wardwell's with Ann, Grace & Agnes. 13 sailing in l[igh]t airs. Humdink [#1231s] generally behind. ...
[1934-04-08] Sun 8: [Thermometer] 51 - 36 - 43 [degrees]. Very fine. L[igh]t NW [wind in] a.m. Mod[erate] SW [wind in] latter part [of] p.m. 11-1/2 ft dinghies had a fine afternoon for racing --- in which Humdink [#1231s] did well. Ann, Grace, Agnes & I went to [see the] sail[ing] at Wardwell.
[1934-04-15] Sun 15: [Thermometer] 55 - 42 - 45 [degrees]. Very fine & clear. L[igh]t NW [wind] early then l[igh]t SW and fresh SSW in p.m. The dinghy racing [was] interfered [with] by rough water. No A class started. Humdink [#1231s] with Sid & Becky capsized in jibing. ...
[1934-05-06] Sun 6: [Thermometer] 80 - 56 - 64 [degrees]. L[igh]t air f[rom the] eastward early ch[anging] to W & NW about 10 a.m. & growing warmer --- highest [temperature] about 6 p.m. Wind ch[anging] to SSW [at] 6-15 & cooler. Sid, Becky & Agnes went to Masons Is[land] early and raced Humdink [#1231s] [in] a.m & p.m. doing well. ...
[1934-05-13] Sun 13: [Thermometer] 59 - 45 - 52 [degrees]. Very fine & cool. Calm early then mod[erate] SW [wind] becoming fresh in p.m. Ann took Agnes & me to see last race of dinghy spring series in which I gave prizes. Only 3 B class boats [were] present. In a hard wet set of races Sidney's Humdink [#1231s] won out." (Source: Herreshoff, Nathanael G. Diary, 1933 to 1934. Manuscript (excerpts). Diary access courtesy of Halsey C. Herreshoff.)

"[Item Transcription:] [Newspaper clipping titled 'Yachting Gossip by Jeff Davis'. Relevant Herreshoff excerpt:] Nick Potter, who has been in the designing room at Herreshoff's for the last year, has left and tied up with Bill Strawbridge and the pair will open a yacht designing office at Bristol. Potter designed the North Harbor 31-foot wa-terline knockabouts [#1227s TSANA, #1229s LONE STAR, #1228s BETSY] built at Herreshoff's this winter, and Strawbridge was you might say, the founder of the class as he ordered the first boat.
Capt. John Christianson of VANITIE and Capt. Gus Gunderson of WEETAMOE [#1147s] are both at Bristol and their crews are expected to put in an appearance within a week or so to get the two big boats in commission. There is nothing to do to WEETAMOE except the ordinary work of painting and fitting out, but VANITIE, being about 18 years old, needs more attention. Several plates are to be stripped off VANITIE, cleaned and re-riveted.
Two more Frostbite class B dinghies are being built at Herreshoff's from designs by Nathaniel G. [#1230s THORN?] and Sidney [#1231s HUMDINK]. Both are experimental boats. " (Source: Providence Journal (creator). Newspaper Clipping. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE14_00990. Folder [no #]. No date (1933-03 ?).)
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"[Item Description:] Three sets of penciled pantograph hull sections. Untitled. One is set marked 'Sidney's HUMDINK [#1231s]. April 1933' with waterlines showing displacements of 947lbs, 672lbs, 500lbs and 452lbs. A second set, apparently also of HUMDINK's model, is unmarked, crossed out, but accompanied by calculations arriving at the same displacements. A third set is marked '1st trial. NGH. Ap[ril] 18, 1933' with calculations arriving at 7.15cuft = 458lbs. On verso another two sets of penciled pantograph hull sections. Titled 'B or 14ft Class. Development boat. May 5, 1933. Scale 1/12. See over for 11 1/2ft'. One set (crossed out) is marked 'No 1' with calculations arriving at 12.0cuft = 770lbs. A second set is marked 'No 2. 14ft Development Class B model made Ap[ril 27 1933. 15ft o.a. 14ft Sailing Length. 13ft 6in w.l. 5ft 7[in] beam' and is accompanied by calculations arriving at 12.2cuft = 783lbs as well as by calculations for block coeeficient and prismatic coefficient." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Pantograph Hull Sections. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_06790. Folder [no #]. 1933-04-18.)
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"[Item Description:] Penciled diagram titled 'Displacement Curves of Dinghies (1933)' and showing '100lbs displacement' (from 1 to 15) on the x-axis and 'inches immersionof mid-section' (from 1 to 10) on the y-axis and plotting three curves annotated 'HUMDINK [#1231s]', 'May 27 Development 11 1/2ft' and 'Class B. Ap[ril] 1933 [Model 1307]'." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. (creator). Diagram. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MRDE04_02620. Folder [no #]. 1933-05-27 or later.)
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"[Item Description:] [Penciled draft letter on both sides of advertising letter by Engineering News-Record to 'Mr Herreshoff':] re: Morgan's sail plan for the development boat [#1148s] designed by him. Mention of #193103es SPRITE and #1231s HUMDINK. See final version of this letter of the same date." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Morgan, Junius S. Halsey C. Herreshoff Collection at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Item MR_05140. Correspondence, Folder 18, formerly 119. 1933-10-06.)
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"[Item Transcription:] [Handwritten (in ink) final version of letter:] Charles Nystrom has handed me a drawing of a new rig for your Development Class Boat [#1148s] that you have designed, with the work you, to effect, that I look it over and let you know what I think of it.
After questioning Charles how you kept your boat and prepared it for using, I understand it is hoisted out under shedded over davits, and rig removed to a boat house nearby by a man who takes care of the boat from time you leave her till again afloat and rigged for you to use.
I think you have designed a very good sail plan, and about as good as can be, provided the length of base of foretriangle is to be considered in sail measurement. If it is not, which I think is the case, it is a question in my mind, if the rig would not be more efficient if the jib (of 38 sqft) was moved forward to keep it well clear of mainsail. I may be wrong, in my belief, but I do know that along in the [18]90s the 'Raceabout Class' of Buzzards Bay 21 footers [p. 2] with restricted actual sail area of 600 sqft after a few years of intensive racing they removed the jibstay well forward on the forward overhang, so the jib was well clean of mast, and with improved results.
Differing from my suggestions of last spring for Utility Classes of Dinghies, in which I proposed solid spars without standing rigging (this of course you understay[sic, i.e. understand?] was to cheapen cost, and certainly not what I would do for my own use) you want to have the lightest rig consistent with strength and donot care to stow it on board or have the extra trouble of fixing stays:- may I make a few suggestions toward the details in carrying out your sailplan?
First I question the policy of cutting away the sailtrack wood on aft side of mast to allow space for the double spritboom bearing. Since the 'meat' to make the sailtrack adds very much to strength of mast just where it should be strongest, I am afraid of it.
Perhaps you will be interested to know how I got over this difficulty two years ago when making a model yacht [#193103es SPRITE], in which I attempted to carry out a refined jib and mainsail rig [p 3] that would be proper for a small yacht having restricted actual sail area.
This model yacht I was making for a grandson carrying my name and has been boxed and put away to be given him after he is old enough to appreciate and to care for such things, probably in 10 years. In this,the mast is full length and section about like this [sketch of tear-drop mast section with integrated luff grove] and it is hung so the whole mast swings to direction of pull of sail. This is accomplished by stepping the mast on a metal pivot point, and all the stays are to a special metal fitting at forward side of mast connected thru a hinge joint that that lines with the heel[?] pivot, and so the mast takes the end thrust. Mast is held by woodscrews at a thickened place of mast. The whole fitting should not weigh twice as much as the tangs you describe to hold rigging, and possibly only 50% more. You will note by mast swinging by pull of sail, it is stream-lined to direction of wind, which a fixed mast is not excepting at anchor, --- also the mast can be made a little smaller in transverse measurement. Now, if jibstay is placed so leach of jib swings well clear of mast, the double sprit-boom can extend well forward of, and surround mast. And its thrust not taken by mast, but by a spar having its lower end on forward side of mast opposite tack of sail, and upper end about [p. 4] half way up to rigging attachment. To be a turnbuckle near lower end of spar to adjust for varying conditions of weather. Or it can be, as was in the case of a 11 1/2 ft dinghy [#1231s HUMDINK] my son Sidney rigged, with a tackle leading inboard so the crew could adjust thrust on sail any time.
I think you will see advantages in such a rig, but if you still prefer to have the jib stay placed so jib overlaps mast, I would advise running out the sail groove in mast above position of boom, padding out mast to circular form where saddle of boom bears [sketch] and have the sail cut so part below boom is just clear of mast and to be held by a short piece of laceline thru grommets in sail. Then a clue outhaul to be arranged with hauling end along outside or bottom of one side of boom, and finally run to convenient place.
I would have slip links at lower end of shrouds, runners & jib stay, without any lanyards, but arrange step of mast to be raised for adjusting the stays. I have used this plan of adjustment on my own boats for 20 years.
I am wondering if you saw an effusion of mine I sent George on Yacht Measurement? I sincerely believe it would be of great benefit to Yachting and Clubs generally if they changed to length measurement with penalties for undesirable features, as I have proposed. Also separating entirely in racing, Cruising yachts from Racing yachts.
With kindest regards, ..." (Source: Herreshoff, N.G. Letter to Morgan, Junius S. Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection Acc. 98.20. Correspondence, Folder 33, formerly 176, 182. 1933-10-06.)
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Note: This list of archival documents contains in an unedited form any and all which mention #1231s Humdink even if just in a cursory way. Permission to digitize, transcribe and display is gratefully acknowledged.

• Humdink (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Humdink (MIT Museum-made index card)
• Humdink and other Frostbite class (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.

"Offset booklet entry for Humdink is marked 'March 1933'. Plan 28-78 from which this boat was built was drawn 1932-03-31." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. October 26, 2009.)

"Built in 15 days (contract to finished; equivalent to 17 lbs displacement/day)." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. January 16, 2024.)

"Weight 215lbs
Sars and Sail 32lbs
Oars 6lbs
Rudder and Tiller 9lbs
[Sum 262lbs]" (Source: Herreshoff, A.S. deW. Herreshoff. Note on Construction Plan 028-078 (HH.5.02080) from March 31, 1933. Haffenreffer-Herreshoff Collection, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA.)

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