This boat arrived at D.N. Hylan & Associates in December, 2011, as GERALDINE, and was completely worn out. No wonder; she was almost ninety years old! She came out of the Herreshoff shops of Bristol, Rhode Island, in 1923 named TOBASCO, and was one of eleven identical sloops known as Watch Hill 15s because of their waterline length. She’s 24’6″ overall, with a 6’9″ beam and 2’3″ draft with her centerboard raised.
Six months later she left the Hylan shop as KRISTIN, and after sailing trials in Brooklin, arrived back in her Noank, Connecticut, home waters in time to be sailed upriver to the 2012 WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport.
As I hope you’ll discover in the photos that follow, the same procedure (outside molds attached to a stiff platform that creates a “basket”) that was used in this extensive restoration could be adapted to other types of boats. With KRISTIN, by using her designer’s measurements (known in the trade as offsets), precise molds were made that brought the weak old hull back to its original shape.
You’ll also note that some strength-enhancing alterations were made—like edge-gluing the three top strakes of planking, using plywood decking, and adding tie-rods to reduce the stress from the shrouds.
With good care, KRISTIN should be good to go for at least another century.
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Royal Declerck says:
How fortunate we are to have people like Maynard Bray who save these magnificent boats for the delight of future generations (and old sailors like me) Well done and congratulations on a beautiful job.
Maynard Bray says:
Hi Royal,
Thanks for your kind words, but much as I’d like to accept your compliment regarding the fine restoration of the Watch Hill 15 KRISTIN, in truth, I only stood on the sidelines and watched. And, of course, took photos of the progress that are featured in the OCH Post. Credit should go, instead, to Doug Hylan & Associates, including Doug’s partner, Ellery Brown, and the rest of the crew. Of equal import to the boat’s salvation is her owner, Michael Glasfeld and his wife, Kristin, for whom the boat is now named. BTW, I did get an opportunity to sail KRISTIN, with Michael and Ellery aboard, and can report that she handles as well as she looks—and that is saying something!
Arthur Maroney says:
The man who might own George Washington’s ax (the one George the legend says he used to chop down the cherry tree) has had two new ax heads and four new handles is one thing, but just look at KRISTEN, she is so beautiful that to me all else fades.
Hank Kennedy says:
a beautiful job. I saw and admired her at the boat show. There doesn’t seem to be much original material in the boat now. At what point does a “restoration” become new construction to original specs?
Hank
Ellery Brown says:
I think the distinction between restoration and new construction is a fascinating subject, and one that is sure to insight some passionate discussion in any quorum of boat nuts.
Personally I believe there are a couple restoration disqualifiers: if at any point in the process two boats exist… Not a restoration. If there is no piece of original fabric incorporated in the resulting boat… Not a restoration. But I don’t believe it is a question of percentage of original material. I think the distinction lies in the process.
The way I see it: a wh-15 formerly called Tobasco HMCo hull #890 arrived in our shop. We carefully returned her to the shape and configuration her designer originally intended. Every one of her hundreds of pieces of wood was examined, those that met with our strict standards of structural integrity were kept, and those that did not were replaced with equivalent OR better quality material. She left with the name Kristin, but she is still HMCo hull #890 and she still owns every victory, every defeat, and every mile that has past under her keel in her more than 90 years, and she’s easy for 90 more!
That’s what I call a restoration!
Peter Marshall says:
Smart technique, planing the new plank edges down to final thickness before fairing.
Gary Johnson says:
Beautiful! It’s inspiring to see a lovely old girl sailing again.