Off Center Harbor's Remarks
Designed by Sidney DeWolf Herreshoff in 1932 and built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, this centerboard version of the Fishers Island 23 has been meticulously and beautifully restored to her original glory.
Description from Boat's Main Listing
Herreshoff Manufacturing Company #1225
As the only centerboard version of the famed Fishers Island 23 class built by the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, CRUSADER is a true one-of-a-kind. Her design by Sidney DeWolf Herreshoff was based on the long and narrow Scandinavian square-meter sloops, also known as “Skerry Cruisers” popular in the early 20th century.
Fifteen of the Fishers Island 23’s were built in the 1930s, advertised by the Herreshoff Company as “fast, seaworthy, easily handled, with good room in the cockpit for a large party and enough room in the cabin for two people on short cruises.”
For one particular client the 4’6” draft of the FI-23’s was prohibitively deep for the shoal waters of Great South Bay, NY. For this gentleman Sydney Herreshoff designed a custom centerboard configuration with a reduced draft of 2’ 11” and the max beam increased by 9 inches. This custom boat, named CRUSADER, was launched at HMC on October 1, 1932.
Fast forward to 2007, when boatbuilder John Hutchison discovered CRUSADER in need of serious help. Over four years he completed an extensive, 5000 man-hour keel-up restoration resulting in her return to “as new or better” condition.
CRUSADER’s high-aspect sail plan allows her to be easily single-handed in light to moderately heavy conditions. Her self-tending jib makes for quick tacks and excellent upwind angles. With her custom trailer, mast stepping tripod, and electric auxiliary propulsion, CRUSADER is an incredibly versatile boat.
You can learn more about CRUSADER in the book HERRESHOFF – American Masterpieces, in WoodenBoat Magazine #220 Currents and #196 Save a Classic, or by contacting Alec Brainerd.
Highlights of 2008-2011 Restoration
-Restoration of hull shape and sheer line
-Replacement of 88 tapered, white oak frames
-Replacement of original mahogany planking with Alaskan Yellow Cedar
-All new floor timbers and steam bent White Oak backbone
-Original Douglas Fir shear clamps repaired and reinstalled.
-Original lead keel, deadwood and rudder post reinstalled.
-Original transom and stem repaired and reinstalled.
-All wood coated on all sides with Smith’s Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer (CPES)
-All mechanical fasteners throughout replaced with new silicon bronze.
-Original mahogany shear strakes repaired and reinstalled.
-Hull faired and painted with three coats of Interlux Barrier Coat 2-part epoxy primer.
-New ¾” Okoume plywood structural bulkhead at mast / chainplate section.
-Interior bronze gusset plates connecting chainplates to frames, planking and bulkhead.
-Deck of two layers Dynel fabric over scarfed ½” Okoume plywood and white oak beams
-Interlux Interdeck polyurethane non-skid low-gloss paint on deck and cabin top.
-Original companionway bulkhead fitted with new mahogany doors and bronze hinges
-New Honduran mahogany coamings/house sides with dovetailed oak beams.
-Housetop of ¼” T&G cedar with 3/8” Okoume plywood and and Dynel/epoxy.
-Original mahogany house-top nosing and main deck toerail refurbished
-New replica deck hatch
-All original deck hardware refurbished and reinstalled
-New centerboard and rudder of Okoume plywood with fiberglass/epoxy
-Original tiller refinished and reinstalled.
-Original hollow spruce mast and solid boom refinished.
-New jib club and spinnaker pole made from original drawings.
-Original spar/rig hardware refurbished and reused.
-10 coats Epifanes Varnish on all brightwork
Since her complete rebuild/restoration, CRUSADER has been maintained at the highest imaginable standard, fair-weather day-sailing and racing from Plattsburgh, NY where she
has placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd in recent years in the Lake Champlain Mayor’s Cup Regatta. In 2011 she participated in Herreshoff Classic Yacht Regatta, in Bristol, R.I.
Equipment
Transport:
-2008 Viking-Spirit 7000# GVWR Float On/Off Sailboat Trailer with hydraulic brakes.
-Tri-pod for stepping/un-stepping mast without need for a crane
Aux Drive/Electrical: 48V Electric, 6HP, custom Wolfe E-Boat auxiliary in-board drive. Drive is completely concealed below cockpit sole. Stainless steel propshaft uses original HMC bronze strut and geometry. PYI packless shaft seal. New bronze 2-blade feathering propeller fitted.
Four (4) Lifeline AGM GPL-24T Batteries (replaced in 2020) (320ah provides 20+mile range).
Custom mahogany and bronze throttle control panel w/concealed Victron battery monitor.
On-board Delta-Q QuiQ 110v to 48V smart battery charger.
110V and 12V cockpit and cabin outlets.
Nav station electrical breaker panel.
30A shore power plug.
Two (2) Rule 12v bilge pumps w/float switches.
Blue Sea battery on/off switch and fuse.
Sails/Rigging: 2011 Beirig classic cream-color Dacron with hand-stitched pine-tarred and tapered bolt rope, etc., in exc. condition: 100sf self-tending jib, 250sf battened main w/reef, 200sf genoa.
Mahogany/bronze flag pole and American flag stern deck-mounted.
All new SS wire w/bronze turnbuckles in 2020.
Spinnaker with pole
Anchors: J M Reineck HMC 3-pc. replica bronze 24lb w/rode, 12lb Danforth lunch hook.
Covers: 2011 Beirig heavy-duty canvas custom covers re-stitched in 2020. Excellent cond.
Jib and Main sailcovers
Boom tent/Cockpit shelter
Foredeck cover
V-berth: 7ft long tufted-velour w/ 4” foam bedding cushions. Storage below.
Cabin seat: Custom folding and reclining mahogany seat w/storage below. Tufted velour cushions. Thetford porta-potti fits on this seat for use.
Nav table/cabinet: Port-side painted cabinet w/mahogany chart table. Storage for Thetford Porta-Potti below. 12v panel, outlets and shelving above chart table.
Galley cabinet: Stb-side cabinet includes Cook-Mate single–burner gimbaled alcohol stove and Engel 13qt. air-tight dry-box cooler.
Cockpit: Slatted teak sole w/lift-out access panels. Original turned mahogany seat legs, solid Honduran mahogany bench seats w/cabin door storage below. Storage below bench seats.
Tufted Sunbrella cockpit bench cushions w/2” foam.
2011 bulkhead-mounted compass with bronze trim.
Historical:
Extensive collection of Herreshoff Mfg. CO marketing materials and documents, Rudder magazine articles and complete documentation of the rebuild and all maintenance. Original wood keel, rudder, deck hatch and centerboard available as boathouse decorations.
Particulars
- See This Boat's Main Listing on the Web
- Length:
- 34 ft
- Type:
- Sail
- Hull Material:
- Wood
- Designer:
- Sidney DeWolf Herreshoff
- Builder:
- Herreshoff Manufacturing Co.
- Year Built:
- 1932
- Power:
- Wolfe 6hp Electric Inboard
- Asking Price:
- $135,000
- Name:
- CRUSADER
- Location:
- Plattsburgh, NY, US
- Contact Name:
- Alec Brainerd - Artisan Boatworks
- Contact Phone:
- (207) 542-0372
- Contact Email:
- [email protected]