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HMCo #1500s [12 1/2 for Robert McLean]


Particulars

HMCo Construction Record Cover
Name: [12 1/2 for Robert McLean]
Type: Fishers Island 12 1/2 Footer (Improved Model)
Designed by: NGH
Contract: 1939-3-29
Launch: 1939
Construction: Wood
LOA: 15' (4.57m)
LWL: 12' 6" (3.81m)
Draft: 2' 6" (0.76m)
Rig: Sloop
Sail Area: 140sq ft (13.0sq m)
Keel: yes
Ballast: Lead outside
Built for: McLean, Robert
Amount: $775.00
Note(s) in HMCo Construction Record: Improved model
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.

Images

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  • Brightman, Thomas P. "[12 1/2 for Robert McLean] [#1500s.]" Photograph, 1939.
    Further Image Information

    Created by: Brightman, Thomas P.
    Image Caption: "Fishers Island 12 1/2 footer. Robert McLean. Buoyancy Test. 6/29/39." [Inscribed in ink on photo envelope, probably by Thomas P. Brightman.]
    Image Date: 1939-6-29
    Collection: Herreshoff Marine Museum Collection.
    Image is copyrighted: Yes, used with permission
    Copyright holder: Herreshoff Marine Museum, Bristol, Rhode Island, www.herreshoff.org.

Model

Explore the table of boats to see which boats were built from this model.

Model #716Model number: 716
Model location: H.M.M. Model Room North Wall Right

Vessels from this model:
409 built, modeled by NGH

Original text on model:
"12 1/2' Buzzards Bay boy class 24 boats 1915 scale 1/10 size three [sic, i.e. four? #806, #813, #815, #817?] boats 1916
16' w.l. Oyster Bay "Fish Class" 23 boats 1916 scale 1/12 size sections 1/13 lengths 3 1/2 added at bow on deck" (Source: Original handwritten annotation on model. Undated.)

Model Description:
"12'-1/2' lwl Buzzards Bay 12 1/2-class of 1915, HMCo's most popular creation with some 360 boats produced. Also, with change in scale and proportionally longer bow, the Fish class sloops of 1916 and beyond." (Source: Bray, Maynard. 2004.)

Related model(s):
Model XA2-1_01 by NGH (1914?); sail
Buzzards Bay 12 1/2
Model XA2-1_02 by NGH (1914?); sail
Fish Class


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.6.146-6

Offset booklet contents:
12 1/2-footer class, Fish class (Cape Cod Shipbuilding Embargoed)

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

Drawings

Main drawing Dwg 075-073 (HH.5.06081) Explore all drawings relating to this boat. Explore castings relating to this boat (if available).

List of drawings:
   Drawings believed to have been first drawn for, or being first referenced to
   HMCo #1500s [12 1/2 for Robert McLean] are listed in bold.
   Click on Dwg number for preview, on HH number to see at M.I.T. Museum.
  1. Dwg 079-091 (HH.5.05900): Chain Plates & Mast-Band for Port Boat on "Roamer" (1902-05-03)
  2. Dwg 079-091 (HH.5.05901): Fittings for Port Boat on # 215 (1902-05-03)
  3. Dwg 130-124 (HH.5.10432); Sails > # 744 Design for Buzzard's Bay Boy's Boat (1914-10-11)
  4. Dwg 128-142 (HH.5.10269): Sails > Sails for No. 744 Class (1914-11-20)
  5. Dwg 081-111 (HH.5.06203): Spars for # 744 and Class (11 Boats), 12 1/2 Footer (1914-11-21)
  6. Dwg 081-111 (HH.5.06203.1): Spars for # 744 and Class (11 Boats), 12 1/2 Footer (1914-11-21)
  7. Dwg 065-064 (HH.5.04659); Rudder Hanging for # 743, Rudder and Hanging for # 744 Class (1915-02-15)
  8. Dwg 074-060 (HH.5.05348); Anchor for # 744 Class Made of Manganese Bronze (1915-03-30)
  9. Dwg 148-000 (HH.5.12238): Construction Dwg > Herreshoff 12 1/2 Footer (ca. 1931)
  10. Dwg 128-142 [057-001] (HH.5.10270): Sails > Sails Plan 12 1/2 Footer Class (1934-06-04)
  11. Dwg 142-090 (HH.5.11837): Compartment Details for 12 1/2 Footers (1934-07-18)
  12. Dwg 065-064 A (HH.5.04660); Rudder and Hangers for 12 1/2 Footers, # 744 Class (1935-03-22)
  13. Dwg 164-000 (HH.5.13074): 12 1/2 Footer [After and Forward [Flotation?] Tanks] (ca. 1937)
  14. Dwg 164-000 (HH.5.13076): Section at Fr. No. 12 and No. 19 [12 1/2 Foot Dinghy] (ca. 1937)
  15. Dwg 164-000 (HH.5.13085): [Hardware Detail for 12 1/2 Foot Dinghy] (ca. 1937)
  16. Dwg 164-000 (HH.5.13084): 12 1/2 Footer Standing Rigging [Marconi, Gaff Shrouds] (1937-06 ?)
  17. Dwg 164-000 (HH.5.13066): [Boat Cradle, Appears to Be for 12 1/2 Footer] (1937-12 ?)
  18. Dwg 164-000 (HH.5.13079): Construction Dwg > Bull's Eye [Construction Plan] (1938)
  19. Dwg 164-000 (HH.5.13080): Bull's Eye 744 Class [12 1/2 Foot Dinghy] (ca. 1938)
  20. Dwg 164-000 (HH.5.13081): Bull's Eye Hull Fittings (1938)
  21. Dwg 164-000 (HH.5.13083): Mast, Mast Details, Main Boom, Jib Boom [12 1/2 Foot Dinghy] (ca. 1938)
  22. Dwg 076-118 B (HH.5.06085): 12 1/2 Footer Class Details of Hull Fittings (1938-02-19)
  23. Dwg 076-118 B (HH.5.06085.1): 12 1/2 Footer Class Details of Hull Fittings (1938-02-19)
  24. Dwg 130-124 (HH.5.10433); Sails > 12 1/2 Footer Class Gaff Rig Sail Plan (1938-02-19)
  25. Dwg 076-118 C (HH.5.06086): 12 1/2 Footer Class Gaff Rig Spar Details (1938-02-23)
  26. Dwg 076-118 C (HH.5.06086.1): 12 1/2 Footer Class Gaff Rig Spar Details (1938-02-23)
  27. Dwg 076-000 (HH.5.06088): 12 1/2 Footer Class Marconi Spar Details (1938-02-25)
  28. Dwg 076-118 D (HH.5.06087): 12 1/2 Footer Class Marconi Spar Details (1938-02-25)
  29. Dwg 076-118 D (HH.5.06087.1); 12 1/2 Footer Class Marconi Spar Details (1938-02-25)
  30. Dwg 025-159 A (HH.5.06080): 12 1/2 Footer Class Material and Construction List (1938-02-28)
  31. Dwg 025-159 A (HH.5.06080.1): 12 1/2 Footer Class Material and Construction List (1938-02-28)
  32. Dwg 130-124 B (HH.5.10434); Sails > 12 1/2 Footer Class Marconi Sail Plan [2 Plans] (1938-03-01)
  33. Dwg 130-124 B (HH.5.10434.1): Sails > 12 1/2 Footer Class Marconi Sail Plan (1938-03-01)
  34. Dwg 076-118 (HH.5.06083); Construction Dwg > 12 1/2 Footer Class 744 Construction Plan (1938-03-03)
  35. Dwg 076-118 (HH.5.06083.1): Construction Dwg > 12 1/2 Footer Class 744 Construction Plan (1938-03-03)
  36. Dwg 076-118 A (HH.5.06084): 12 1/2 Footer Class Hull Sections (1938-03-03)
  37. Dwg 076-118 A (HH.5.06084.1): 12 1/2 Footer Class Hull Sections (1938-03-03)
  38. Dwg 164-000 (HH.5.13063): [Rigging Detail for 12 1/2 Foot Dinghy] (ca. 1938-03-18)
  39. Dwg 164-000 (HH.5.13065): Construction Dwg > 12 1/2 Footer Class Profile and Deck Outline (1938-03-18)
  40. Dwg 130-200 (HH.5.10525): Sails > 12 1/2 Footer for Fisher's Island (1938-11-10)
  41. Dwg 075-073 A (HH.5.06082): Construction Sections, Fisher Island Sound Bull's Eye (1939-03 ?)
  42. Dwg 075-073 A (HH.5.06082.1): Construction Sections, Fisher Island Sound Bull's Eye (1939-03 ?)
  43. Dwg 148-000 (HH.5.12219); Construction Dwg > Improved Bull's Eye for Fisher's Island Sound (1939-03-28)
  44. Dwg 075-073 (HH.5.06081): Construction Dwg > Construction Plan Fisher Island Sound Bull's Eye (1939-03-31 ?)
  45. Dwg 075-073 (HH.5.06081.1): Construction Dwg > Construction Plan Fisher Island Sound Bull's Eye (1939-03-31 ?)
  46. Dwg 080-161 (HH.5.06075): Spar Plan, Fisher's Island Bull's Eye (1940-08-27)
  47. Dwg 080-161 (HH.5.06075.1): Spar Plan, Fisher's Island Bull's Eye (1940-08-27)
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 (see individual drawing's info for more information about these).
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

Explore diaries and logs of the Herreshoff family which may include this boat.

Other Herreshoff Family

"Herreshoff 12 1/2 Footer
... Shortly before World War II, a fleet of 12 1/2 footers was built for Fisher's Island. Although built on the same molds, these boats differed from the original by having a short after deck on a level with the sheer and with the tiller raised above this level. This gave more stowage aft. There was no bulkhead so the space forward of the mast was available. Floatation was provided by copper tanks under the side seats. Also, my father suggested moving the coamings inboard to provide a wider side deck and thus reduce the likelihood of swamping.
...
A. Sidney DeW. Herreshoff
May 12, 1974" (Source: Herreshoff Marine Museum Chronicle, Spring 1985, p. 3.)

Other Modern Text Source(s)

"1939. ... Herreshoff had a 68-foot twin screw cruiser [#408p Avoca] set up and was building one of the Fisher's island 23-foot water-line knockabouts for Gilman Lowe [#1505s Contest], and had an order for five of the 12 1/2-footers [#1500s, #1501s, #1502s, #1503s, and #1504s] for the Fisher's Island Yacht Club, decked aft and along the sides of the cockpit coamings, and buoyancy tanks under the seats instead of under the forward deck. ..." (Source: Davis, Jeff. Yachting in Narragansett Bay. Providence, 1946, p. 91.)

Further Reading

Supplement

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

Month: Mar.
Day: 29
Year: 1939
E/P/S: S
No.: 1500
LW: 12.5
Amount: 775
Notes Constr. Record: Imrpoved model.
Last Name: McLean
First Name: Robt.
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.

From the 2007 12 1/2 Registry by Steve Nagy

Hull No.: 1500
Contract Date: 1939-03-29
Org. Owner: Robert McLean

Source: Nagy, Steve. "The Herreshoff 12 1/2 Footer Registry." Version 2.0. August 2007. (http://h12.orrsford.com/H12_Registry_Ver_2-0.pdf, last visit May 23, 2008.)

Link to the Herreshoff Registry

The Herreshoff Registry, founded by Steve Nagy and later administered by Teeter Bibber, can be particularly useful for researching the provenance of Herreshoff-built sailing vessels. Permission to link to the Registry is gratefully acknowledged! Note: The Herreshoff Registry was offline in Spring of 2022. As a temporary measure here is a link to a backup file from January 2021. It is unclear how much the Registry has been updated since then.

Research Note(s)

"There were only 5 'Improved Models' built according to the builder's record (1500, 1501, 502, 1503, 1504). Again there may have been a couple more built (I heard rumors that there were 7, maybe 1509 and 1510), but there weren't many of these either. These improved boats had a flush aft deck with an over-the-transom tiller, wider side waterways, copper flotation tanks under the seats, and were Marconi-rigged. They went to Fishers Island, where they were referred to as the 'Fishers Island Model' or the 'Fishers Island Bullseye'." (Source: Nagy, Steve. Email to Claas van der Linde, November 11, 2010.)

"Sail area approximately 140 square feet by rule." (Source: Herreshoff Manufacturing Company. Yachts by Herreshoff. The Herreshoff Manufacturing Company: Designers and Builders of Sailing and Power Craft since 1861. Bristol, Rhode Island, 1937.)

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


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Citation: HMCo #1500s [12 1/2 for Robert McLean]. Herreshoff Catalogue Raisonné. https://herreshoff.info/Docs/S01500_12_1_2_for_Robert_McLean.htm.