Preview: Creating the Pisces – A Daysailer Inspired by the Herreshoff Fish Class
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January 29, 2016
Email this Video to a FriendThese days classic daysailers are increasingly popular with experienced sailors with an eye for simple elegance and comfortable performance. The Herreshoff Fish Class derivative, Pisces, is surely one of these. So popular is the Pisces daysailer, in fact, that the Classic Boat Shop has built 50 of them in recent years in their shop next to Acadia National Park on the coast of Maine.
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23 Responses So Far to “Creating the Pisces – A Daysailer Inspired by the Herreshoff Fish Class”
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Joseph Wl Haley III says:
Seeing Mr Morgan remarks, reminded me that our Fish Class that we sailed in Sarasota Bay were sometimes sail by the then young Charlie Morgan. At that time, he was a ‘sailmaker’ in St. Petersburg. Later the designer and builder CEO of many fine sail vessels.
Joseph Wl Haley III says:
Not the same FISH CLASS I crewed on as a youngster at the Sarasota Yacht Club in Sarasota Bay, on the the west coast of Florida. They were the same gaff headed main and club footed jib. 21′ with much smaller cockpit, and no cuddy. Solid wooden mast. Built of cypress with canvas covered deck. Much flatter hull design and steal keel. They were common to the Gulf of Mexico, and we raced them as far as New Orleans. They were also common on Tampa Bay in the 1950’s. Are these boats related ??
Radclyffe Thompson says:
I also bought one of these boats. Mine has a Fiberglass hull, laminated transom, teak cockpit sole, teak rub rails and inboard electric power. This is an absolutely amazing sailboat! Sails beautifully and looks like a dream. The electric power is very useful bringing her into a dock or just getting me home when the wind dies down. And, oh so quiet! Mine was first launched in 2014 and I am actually the third owner. Her first owner sailed her out of Southwest Harbor, ME for only one season and then she was shipped across the country to Newport Beach where she was sailed for two seasons. Jean bought her back from the CA owner and sold her to me after a trip back “home” in February 2017. My surveyor was amazed at how beautiful she was – everything looked brand new! I sailed her last July out of Northeast Harbor, ME and then brought her down to the Delaware River in August and sailed her, most of the time single handed out of the Corinthian Yacht Club. Up in Maine, I was out in a nice breeze tacking up Somes Sound with five adults and 4 kids under 7 and no one was cramped. The 50% ballast to total weight ratio makes her very stable and her high, hollow bow keeps the cockpit extremely dry. I just can’t say enough good things about this boat and Jean Beaulier has been a pleasure to work with.
Ready About!
Radclyffe F. “Mike” Thompson
richard naylor says:
What a wonderful boat.
I’m wondering if anyone even someone from the Classic Boat Show could comment on the gin pole setup being used to raise the mast in the video around 4:40 minutes. I Googled the name Quick Tip Technology on the one pole but couldn’t find anything. It looks like a great setup.
Thank you for the great videos.
Rick Naylor
George Weinbrenner says:
Really shipshape craft. Neat stowage and access to running rigging. Love the boom crotch with the tiller guide.
Robert Putman says:
I happen to live in Southwest Harbor and get to see Jean easily zip his Pisces around all the boats in the harbor as he slides into his mooring. Inspiring. Also, while he doesn’t know me, he is the friendliest welcoming person around the town dock.
John Supan says:
I’ve had a picture of a Pisces 21 on my pretty boat board for over three years now. I’ve been impressed at least that long and look at it, along with the others pinned to the board, regularly.
Peyton Gaines says:
Amazing
Wesley Chused says:
I’m prejudiced because I own one, but I just love my (2012) Pisces 21, Bluefish. She sails as beautifully as she looks. I can’t wait for spring. Thanks Jean.
Wes
Royal Declerck says:
What a beautiful boat, love the boom/tiller minder.
Scot Copeland says:
Another great video. Nice editing!
Tim Lang says:
Perfect!
Michel Lafrance says:
What à nice fleur de lys I saw!
nive job!
Lovely boat!
Bob Burk says:
Beautiful, w thoughtful attention to details and keeping things simple.
Eigil Rothe says:
I agree with the first comment from Mr. Morgan. I think a follow up video on construction and design changes would be perfect. Gorgeous boat and the understated tone of the narrator is perfect. Thank you so much.
Karl Williams says:
I WANT ONE!
Burton Blais says:
I love, love love the jib boom arrangement…
Burton
Karl Williams says:
Agreed!
Retrofitting and rehabbing a Pete Culler sharpie. It’s a cat ketch at the moment, and I’ll sail her that way for a year or so. But Pete designed her with a bowsprit and jib, and I figure on adding it, once I figure out what I’ve got and how it handles. But I love the roller furling and jib boom. Single-handed is all in my mind. And it’s already a ketch, with leeboards. Whatever I do for a jib will be as self-tending as I can make it, and this looks ideal!
Dale Stevens says:
I also have a Pete Culler designed boat that I love for many reasons, yet want to tweak to make her a bit easier to handle and rig. Would love to know more about what changes you have decided to make to your sharpie.
Denis Noble says:
She’s lovely, well thought through!
Steven Wallace says:
So sweet.
Walter Allan says:
Great video, Steve. The Pisces 21 looks like a great upgrade of a wonderful boat and what a day for sailing her in Center Harbor. Makes the winter melt away.
Raymond Morgan says:
Well done video, and beautiful boat. If these videos were longer to show more of the development of the boats construction, I’ll bet you would have no complaints.
Morgan