Preview: Good Boat Up Close – Maynard Bray’s Herreshoff Coquina, Part 1 – Rigging & Getting Under Way, with Maynard Bray

45 Responses So Far to “Good Boat Up Close – Maynard Bray’s Herreshoff Coquina, Part 1 – Rigging & Getting Under Way, with Maynard Bray”

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  nathan dougherty says:

  Maynard – a lovely boat, such a sweet shape. I bet she can slip along nicely.

  Lovely reminiscences about time sailing with your wife too.

  Something so lovely about a simple, elegant boat.
  thank you.
  Nathan

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  Jonas Lif says:

  Very enjoyable to watch! Looking forward to part II.

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  Robert Hazard says:

  Maynard, I have a question: Have you ever experimented with a compression spar on your mizzen boom like the one in the 1919 Coquina photo? It would add a complication, but it’s flattening effect might be beneficial. Herreshoff himself must have thought it was a worthwhile addition.

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    Maynard Bray says:

    I thought about this in the beginning, but after sailing without such a sprit and finding the mizzen set pretty well, I decided for the sake of simplicity not to try adding one.

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  John Bouton says:

  Maynard, I echo all the well deserved, apt accolades such as “eximious” (I had to look it up), “elegant design and simple rigging,” and “stir[ring to] the soul.” Less sublime than ridiculous, perhaps, my question is this: what sort of dinghy adorns your backyard in the video, aft of COQUINA?

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    Maynard Bray says:

    The dinghy is a fiberglass “beater” built by Pete Lavoie, pretty much duplicating a Dyer Dhow. She’s proven indestructible, just right for laying hard against other boats all crowed together at the float.

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  J.D. Bondy says:

  What a welcome surprise to find this video series on OCH! It has been such a great pleasure to take ownership of a Coquina about 2 years ago now, and we make all the other sailors on our local lake envious when they see us sailing among their plastic crafts. Thanks for putting this together, Maynard!

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  Kenneth Purdy says:

  Thank you for the tour of one of my favorite boats. Just curious, is the pink interior a traditional choice?

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    Maynard Bray says:

    Pink was often used in the past, so it is a traditional color. My pinks are from Kirby, but pink paint was often made in earlier times by mixing red lead primer with white paint, I believe.

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      Kenneth Purdy says:

      Ok, thank you for that information

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  Neil Henderson says:

  I just watched the video by Maynard Bray about how to rig & sail a Coquina. Great video. I am building my 4th boat (a Caledonia Yawl) and would love to use the forward mast step that Maynard used in the video when the mast ‘clicks’ into place. It looks like a wonderful idea for an unstayed mast. Is it spring loaded, how do you release the mast when unstepping, and how do you make one?
  A video on the subject would be great, but and email with photos would be lovely.

  Thanks Neil

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    Steve Stone says:

    Hi Neil. That click-in system is definitely enticing, but…

    Someone may have a different opinion than me, but I’ve sailed our Caledonia for years now and wouldn’t change the keeper that Geoff Kerr arranged on the partner for the main mast (see the video series for details). And I can’t imagine replacing a simple system with one that has moving parts like springs, etc. that could fail. The mast is light enough that it’s easy to step and unstep. Lastly, that system on Maynard’s Coquina allows the spring mechanisms to be hidden out of site under the bow/keen/rails because it’s a cat rig. That wouldn’t be the case for the CY where the mast is attached to a thwart/partner.

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      Neil Henderson says:

      Thanks Steve, but my question also relates to others who have to step unstayed masts. Is it possible for Maynard to provide us with a brief description of how the Coquina mast retainer works?

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        Steve Stone says:

        Thanks Neil. We’ll try to do a video or post about that in the future.

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  Mark Kendall says:

  A great video .

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  Ed Altonji says:

  Well now you did it. After months of wrestling with which small sailboat to start next I settled on the tried and true Caledonia. Now seeing this beauty move through the water I’m waffling again! Maybe I need to take a trip up there to see these side by side. Maynard, my guess is many of us wonder if you truly realize the inspiration you are. Thanks again.

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  George Palmer says:

  First came across Coquina in the Nov./Dec. 2005 issue of WB. Ordered plans last year. Currently planking. The video makes me want to quit my day job and get on with it. Not sure that’s a good thing!

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  David Tew says:

  For anyone interested, the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum has an unfinished Hylan Coquina hull (and perhaps more of the kit) that may be available. A donation or purchase would be in the cards as well as going to look at and pick it up there.

  Here’s a note from Nick Patch, Director of Maritime Programs at the museum:

  “Hi Dave,

  Liam and Judy English did give us an unfinished Coquina last spring. Our plan was to finish it and offer it for sale but we would entertain the notion of selling it as is.

  Thanks,
  Nick ”

  nickp@lcmm.org

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  Robert Hazard says:

  Thank you, Maynard!
  I’ve been waiting for this video ever since I launched my own Coquina in 2010. When the Jan ’06 WoodenBoat issue with your Coquina article came out I devoured it, and sent off for the plans as soon as I had finished reading it through.
  Having looked at half a dozen other Coquinas over the years to see how they had been rigged and detailed, I was happy to finally see your boat, and how you rig it.
  I can’t wait for the second installment!

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  Lannis Morris says:

  Some of my better sailing has happened in my yard; Maynard. Less consequence. Never hit another boat there. You inspire me due to your quiet confidence and obvious skills. LoveOCH and the gang.

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  Christopher Wick says:

  Wonderful bit, Maynard. I’ve often admired the Coquina at the museum and wondered about some of the setup. A quite nice explanation. I hope to see you at the Seaport this summer.

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  Bruce Ringrose says:

  Thank you Maynard and the OCH crew for a great video! Capt Nat was a true genius! Condolences Maynard on the loss of your 1st Mate…😥, I lost mine in 2018.
  I’ll be trailing my Gloucester 16 up to Casco Bay from Port St Lucie, FL this summer to visit friends and family, but doubt I’ll get as far north as Brooklin, so keep the snow and ice off your beautiful Coquina have a great summer! Definitely will keep a weather eye out for Part 2.

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  Stephen Clark says:

  Have to absorb Part 1 first yet having just been alerted to this addition to your work Maynard I’m already yearning to see Part 2 appear!

  The steering arrangement is of particular interest to those of us who’ve built one of CLC’s Waterlust expedition canoes. Another builder who contributes to an epic Build Progress Log thread on the forum at FyneBoatsKits.com posted a link to this video, how I came to learn of it today.

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  Robert McBride says:

  Thanks Maynard for a most enjoyable and informative video. My personal sailing adventures started about 50 years ago in a Pearson Ensign, a 23’ sloop with spinnaker, on Long Island Sound in New York. She was a lot of fun for sailing with the family or one design club racing with myself and one or two crew. Retired and moved to Maine in the mid 90s and wish I had been aware of the Coquina. Am sitting by the wood stove with your inspiring video taking my mind off the NorEaster which is howling around the farm. Stay well and happy sailing

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  Ronald Roberts says:

  Just finished watching your wonderful video tour and description of your Coquina. So simple, similar to a Mercedes – plain and simple lines. The MAN has a reputation for designing fine boats and what a beauty. Your explanation of the details in such a loving and enthusiastic manner we could tell you enjoyed demonstrating as much as we enjoyed listening. Sad to hear about your loving first-mate, but I’m sure you always see her in seat, smiling, and pointing a new direction. Well done!

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  David Rawls says:

  Excellent as usual! Maynard; you’re a true ‘salt’ and a credit to all who work or enjoy the sea. God bless. Keep mentoring those of us who only get to “wish we still could!”. How you hop around the boat is amazing!

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  Tim Murray says:

  Greetings, Maynard– New to OCH here, but enjoyed hearing from you again. It’s been a long time since we crossed paths on Coronet and WoodenBoat. Great video, and fine-looking boat. Have you been following Coronet’s story lately?

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  Paul Cook says:

  Thank you Maynard for a wonderfull video on this beautiful design by Herreshoff. I completed building her down here in Tasmania early last year and enjoyed the build as much as I enjoy using her, a true thoroughbred, I have called her Shep after a past faithfull old dog of mine.
  Thank you

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  carey harmon says:

  great presentation

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  Christoph Harlan says:

  Thank you for this wonderful tour!

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  Jonathan Lewis says:

  Thanks Maynard, from a New England transplant living in the mountains of California, you’ve brought me back. I knew Carlton, who ended too soon but this video extended his reach. All the best!

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  Michael Vaughan says:

  Eximious boat.
  Eximious man.
  Thank you.

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  Alan Pickering says:

  Thanks for the tour Maynard. Elegant design, simple rigging and it must be a lot of fun to sail.

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  Burke Horner says:

  Thank you, Maynard, for a quite informative guide to a beautiful sailing vessel. Being a city boy most of my life, I have only viewed fine ships from a distance, only riding on a few of them in my life. I am living vicariously from this video, as well as your many trips throughout the world. Continue doing a great job for each of us!

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  Ants Uiga says:

  Are the keepers at the mast partners spring loaded so they stay in the keeping position?
  Seems like a nice arrangement!

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  Brunson Russum says:

  Thank you so very much Maynard. Herreshoff’s COQUINA is a stunningly elegant boat.

  I would be curious to know if you feel it would work well for dinghy cruising. We sail the waters of the Pamlico and Albemarle sounds along with the tributaries that feed them.

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  Michael Bigos says:

  What a beautiful boat, explanation, demonstration and video. Bravo! Throughout I was awestruck with the simplicity and art of the boat. Your video is a wooden boat lovers masterpiece. Then, at the end, with the beautiful tribute to Ann, I shed a tear. It is nice to keep remembering her in such a beautiful setting.

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  John Wujack says:

  I don’t have words for how much this stirs my soul. Thank you Maynard. Count me in if Coquina is ever developed as a kit boat.

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    David Tew says:

    I believe Doug Hylan’s shop created and offered Coquina kits a while ago but not many were purchased.

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      David Tew says:

      Oops. I see that mention was made of the Hylan ‘kits’. The recommendation for 4 oz. sailcloth is one I hadn’t explicitly thought of although looking back the sails on small boats we’ve had have always been about that weight. They dry swiftly as well as furl tightly and easily as Maynard notes.

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  Richard Morrison says:

  Thank you, Maynard for this video. I spoke to you at length about my Coquina in July at the Small Reach Regatta and learned a lot from you. I wish I had seen this video when I first got the boat because I learned many of the lessons about steering, rigging and sailing the boat through trial and error. Believe me when I say there was plenty of error! I am absolutely crazy about sailing this boat as it is the most well balanced boat I have ever sailed in any breeze (there are at least four rig combinations that you can sail with depending on the wind strength). It is also fast and elegant. Thanks again for the video- I picked up some new tips and cannot wait for part II of the series. Perhaps we shall meet again as I plan on doing some camp cruising in your home waters this coming summer.

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  Stephen Weld says:

  Some comments on the use of the amidships mast step would be welcome.

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    John Little says:

    Lovely piece about a lovely boat. Every photograph or video of a Coquina I’ve seen shows the boat wafting along in light conditions. There is a photograph of Herreshoff sailing one with two ladies dressed in long dresses and dressy hats as crew. Quite beguiling, but I wonder how the boat performs in, say, 25 knots of breeze? Can you hike out with that rope steering arrangement? I, too, wonder how well the midship mast step works.

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  Sanders Brott says:

  I came across the plans for this boat last week and wondered what Maynard would say about. Thanks for answering. Perhaps the divine is trying to inspire

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  Paul Cammaroto says:

  Thank You Maynard, you knocked this video out of the park. The simplicity and elegance of this vessel is truly amazing. Both the steering line arrangement and the jacklift lines are worthy of serious study and consideration.
  The timing of the release of this latest OCH installment could not have been more perfect as New England experiences a True NorEaster.