Off Center Harbor's Remarks

Even if you’re not in the market for a boat like this, take a minute to check out this listing if only for the pleasure of immersing yourself in such a pure creation. Fast, stiff in a breeze, and lovely to look at from every angle, this is surely a boat for the ages.

Description from Boat's Main Listing

SELLER’S COMMENTS
“The asking price is very much open to offers!”

BROKER’S COMMENTS
As originally conceived the Buzzards Bay-15s were intended for speed and aggressive racing – and they are by all accounts thrilling sailing boats; fast, stiff and responsive with a hull form that creates so little turbulence the boat leaves hardly any wake – even at speed !

SPIRIT OF MARION is a stunningly pure new build, shying away from the quicker modern strip-planked method in favour of authentic carvel construction to present a boat that so completely deserves her place in the fleet of this iconic Herreshoff design.

CONSTRUCTION AND FINISH
The principal elements of the construction have incorporated some changes from the original in the light of non availability of some originally specified materials while some features have been incorporated to render the boat more robust without compromising the original concept.
– Alaskan yellow cedar planking; planks step scarfed rather than butt jointed
– European oak sheer plank, floor timbers and a single length timber keel
– Steamed green English oak ribs
– (American white oak unavailable in a green enough state suitable for steaming)
– Siding of the ribs increased by 1/8th inch to strengthen hull construction
– Ribs #30 through #35 are epoxy adhesive laminated oak to retain the tight bends
– Ribs lock into the bedlogs of the centerboard trunk rather than using metallic brackets as originally specified
– Laminated iroko stem
– Cockpit seating changed from single planks to box construction 
– Seating is wider with storage space below; this modification similar in weight to the original
– Seats finished in Albright
– Stringers and sheer clamps all in Douglas fir as on the original plan
– Western red cedar deck (as original specification), tongue and grooved with 440 caulking
– Deck traditionally finished with a painted canvas covering
– Transom frame added to provide a better landing for the planks
– Crewsaver bags in bow and vacuum sealed Styrene bags in the stern for buoyancy
– Small gunwale covers the end grain of the deck
– Silicon bronze fittings used throughout
– Hemple paint finished

OWNER / BUILDERS COMMENTS
Using Herreshoff’s original handwritten offsets, I very carefully drew a set of lines which confirmed that the offsets were incredibly accurate. Herreshoff worked almost exclusively from half models and this is how he arrived at the offset measurements. Academic intrigue took over and I decided to loft all 35 stations full size to confirm the accuracy of the offsets. The result was incredibly accurate, and rather than let the planks take the curve using, say, every fourth station or so, molds for all 35 frames were used. The stations were almost perfect. Small imperfections were associated with drafting discrepancies and frame cutting, rather than the Wizard of Bristol’s offset tables!

The only remaining available plans include an elevation and plan drawing with most of the scantlings shown, including wood type and sizes. Sail plan, mast and spar dimensions are also available as are rudder and centreboard details. I have deviated a little from the scantling specification because of timber availability. The centreboard is marine plywood, strengthened with bronze plates and weighted with lead.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TO THIS BUILD
It is easy to forget that – because Nathanael Herreshoff’s genius achieved such success in the America’s Cup resulting in commissions for large and medium sized racing classes – he also designed small boats. His Buzzards Bay 15, named after the bay off Southern Massachusetts was his second one-design class, following the Newport 30s of 1895 – and it became extremely popular. The first 11 boats of the BB-15 class were delivered to members of the Beverly Yacht Club for the summer racing season of 1899. In all 91 boats were eventually built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company between 1899 and 1927. Of these 91, 32 are currently known to exist, 20 are still sailing and others are in museums or awaiting restoration.

The Buzzards Bay-15 was designed under the then-prevailing Length and Sail Area Rule, which tended to produce graceful, hulls with long overhangs. The America’s Cup yacht COLUMBIA had been designed to this rule and many refer to the 15s as “little Columbias” – when heeled over the waterline length increases and so does the boat’s speed!

The builder and owner of this boat having developed an interest in Herreshoff designs whilst building a Haven / Herreshoff 12 ½ derivative, stumbled on the Herreshoff Registry, where many of Herreshoff’s yacht designs can be found, including the Buzzards Bay 15

Since the 1930s, several BB-15s and a Marconi rigged derivative called a Watch Hill 15 have been built and indeed several builders in the USA are still building them in GRP, strip plank, and traditional carvel wooden construction. This boat, however, is the first BB-15 to be built outside the United States as far as we know.

In taking on this project, our builder first contacted Jim Reineck who specializes in manufacturing replica Herreshoff hardware. He, in turn, recommended Alec Brainerd at Artisan Boatworks who specializes in classic boat construction and builds BB-15s. Alec, in turn, advised contacting the curator of the Hart Collection at MIT. It transpired that they have plans for the BB-15, but not all of them – although they do have the original offsets. Additional information was kindly provided by Jim Reineck.

FITTINGS, SPARS, SAILS, EQUIPMENT CANVAS AND TRAILER
– All fittings are HMCo replicas by Jim Reineck & Son, USA
– Ballast keel by Amat Metalplast, Barcelona
– Mast and spars by Collars, UK
– Rigging by John Albrecht, Gweek, Cornwall
– Sails; club-footed jib, strom jib, and gaff main sail by Nathanial S. Wilson, USA
– Two electric bilge pumps under cockpit floor
– Separate batteries and switches under cockpit seats
– Tent mainsail / boom cover and boat trailer cover; Crusader Sails, Poole
– Trailer by Lizard Trailers, Cornwall

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SOLD

Particulars

Length:
24 ft 6 in
Type:
Sail
Hull Material:
Wood
Designer:
Nathanael G. Herreshoff
Builder:
Summerwine Boats
Year Built:
2014
Power:
n/a
Asking Price:
$57,900
Name:
SPIRIT OF MARION
Location:
Dorset, United Kingdom
Contact Name:
Sandeman Yacht Company
Contact Phone:
+44 (0)1202 330077
Contact Email:
[email protected]