Preview: Sailing LILY – L. Francis Herreshoff’s Design # 43

53 Responses So Far to “Sailing LILY – L. Francis Herreshoff’s Design # 43”

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  Marion Hobbs says:

  Another great video, very educational for this newbie that wants to build a small sail boat for the lake. keep up the good work. Any OCH members heading to Beaufort NC May 6?

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  Jay Knight says:

  I had watched this once before, probably when it was initially published, just watched again and I see a third viewing soon. So great to watch the masters sail and someone that is totally at home with his boat. Maynard is surly the master! Thanks for the efforts making this video.

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  Neil Henderson says:

  That’s one really nice boat, well sailed. Thankyou Maynard.

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  John Tate says:

  Thanks, Eric and Maynard. It’s so fun sailing with you! Brilliant!

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  Jodie Ireland says:

  Where is the video of this boat?

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    Steve Stone says:

    Hi Jodie. Are you referring to the video of “LILY – Maynard’s L. Francis Herreshoff’s Design # 43”? If so, it should be at the top of this page. If you’re looking for a video of a different boat, let us know which one and we’ll provide a link in our reply.

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  David Hubbard says:

  Love the “Look Ma! No hands!” at the start!

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  Jon Baldock says:

  just another great informative video, Thanks Jon

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  Richard Greenway says:

  I am great believer in trying different things to get the measure of the craft. A force 5 in a dingy will teach you everything that you need to know. Never even got wet!

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  Walter Allan says:

  What a great video. Not sure how I missed it at the time. The BIG 3 (Maynard, Eric and Steve behind the camera and editing) at their best.

  Lily reminds me of a our 23ft Croker Stone Horse – also with a big main, bowsprit and cutter rig all of which could be handled from the cockpit. She sailed like a dream (was full keeled) and I sailed her alone for years. Strikes me that boats of this design are are the perfect boat. Innisfree was built by The Apprentice Shop when Lance Lee was in charge.

  Thanks for this great sailing lesson.

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  Chad Brown says:

  Maynard, you are my Capt. Nat Herreshoff. I truly enjoy how you endear to us your passion of our Nations nautical history.

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  John Holscher says:

  After seeing the ballast listed as 1540 or 1030 lbs. in the comparison of the two Prudence specs I took a closer look at the plans in Sensible Cruising Designs.
  The Lines plan shows the Displacement as 4825lbs. with 1540 lb. lead keel.
  On the construction plan it shows the lead keel at 1030 lbs.
  Can anyone shed any light on this apparent discrepancy? Could it have anything to do with the engine that’s sketched in on the construction plan?

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    Maynard Bray says:

    Hi John,
    Based on an average width of 7″, a height of 4″ and a length of 96″, and accounting for the slot, the 1,030 pounds given on the construction drawing sounds about right. In retrospect, I wish we’d weighed Lily’s ballast keel when we dropped it a few years ago to replace the centerboard trunk. Oh well…

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      John Holscher says:

      Thanks Maynard,
      Should we then assume that the total displacement is still 4825 lbs. as indicated on the lines plan or should we the 510 lb. difference to arrive at 4315lbs.?

      P.S. I found a lovely picture of Lily(?) afloat on what looks to be a river or inlet.
      https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2153515287999351&set=a.2153515304666016.1073741826.100000227037315&type=3&theater

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  John Holscher says:

  I’m ready to move into a more stable craft than the 17′ Swampscot Dory that I built 25 years ago and am thinking of building a somewhat lager boat to use in my “golden years”.
  I was struck by the classic beauty of Lily and feel the size would be about right for me for daysailing with occasional overnighters.
  Happily, the Herreshoff Museum put me in touch with someone here in RI who had a Prudence H23 (design#71) who generously invited me out for a sail.
  I was impressed by the fact that she handled like a much larger boat. Her response to the helm was a bit slow but she was very solid in 15-20 knot wind with full sail set.
  No water made it onto the deck other than in the form of spray.
  ‘Trish’ (#71) is sure a beautiful boat but Lily has a certain charm that I like and to me lapstrake planking has many advantages and makes the right boat look right.
  So I’m wondering if any one has had the opportunity to sail both Prudence designs and could offer some comparisons. If not, any expert opinion of what differences to expect would be greatly appreciated.

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    John Holscher says:

    Oh, and what a great video of Maynard sharing his sailing experience!

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    Steve Stone says:

    John. I’ve had experience with both and would definitely go with the carvel planked version with no centerboard. Two reasons: no klinkering sound of the water on the laps, and lots more room without the centerboard. V-grooving the edge of the planks gives a nice effect if you’re a lap lover. Maynard may have more/better insights.

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      John Holscher says:

      Hi Steve,
      Yes to the plank edge treatment, I beaded the lower edge of the sheer strake on my dory, it looks great.
      How would you compare the two under sail?
      I would expect #71 to be somewhat stiffer and heal less in a strong breeze and perhaps #43 would be a bit quicker to respond to the helm.
      Your thoughts?
      Thanks!

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    Steve Stone says:

    You may also consider a Herreshoff Fish Class. See our video on PERCH.

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  Nelson Colyer says:

  Lovely boat, bloody good video, damned good sailing lesson. I will return to this video many times.
  Thank you all.

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  Bruce Bolster says:

  I would love a video tour of the interior of this boat – I would imagine the interior is as thoughtfully laid out as the rig. It would be wonderful to get Maynard’s commentary on this, including whether he departed from Herreshoff’s specifications in any respect.This really is a wonderful, versatile boat, that would suit so many people, and it would be nice to see more of them built!

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    John Holscher says:

    Yes, please do, show us more.

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  James Vibert says:

  I am curious as to how the club is attached to the jib sail. I have not been able to find anything on the internet other than a jib boom attached to the fore stay or the deck (which is called a club also???) . And that brings up another question: why use the club since you have the two lines in a “traditional” jib set up without any boom. Or am I having a senior moment?

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  J.D. Bondy says:

  I just about don’t recognize Eric with that haircut!

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  David Tew says:

  Eggemoggin Reach looks like a perfect, protected stretch of water for experimenting and practicing like Maynard does. No wonder it has such a mystique.

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  Mark Ropers says:

  Sheer elegance! A lovely design and friendly sailing habits. A boat to focus my mind on what matters.

  Thanks,

  Mark Ropers

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  Karl Williams says:

  I WANT IT!

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  John Mark Connolly says:

  What can I say that the others have not already said? Even down in what seems like the opposite of New England (Texas Gulf), the basics of sail trim and handling are not missed by a novice such as myself. If I could “rent” Maynard’s knowledge for just a week or two, I’m sure my expertise would increase 100 fold! It is just beautiful to watch an experienced, knowledgeable skipper on his boat working with her to achieve their collective aim — whether that’s making time with rails in the water, drawing in to grab a sandwich, or point off to a heading with confidence and speed. So much knowledge shared in just 21:00 minutes! This is what brought me and countless others to OCH! Carry on!

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  Capt. Peter Reich says:

  Another great OCH video. Great job Maynard and Eric. Maynard hits the nail on the head repeatedly mentioning an owner has to get out there and learn what his own boat can and can’t do. Reminds me of one of my favorite quotes (Clint Eastwood), ” a man doesn’t know his limitations until he tries to exceed them”. Same is true with boats.

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  Robert Hazard says:

  You know, I’ve paged past this boat in “Sensible Cruising Designs” for years and never gave her a thought. What an eye-opener to see what she looks like in the flesh and see how nicely she behaves under Maynard’s casual but thoughtful handling.

  What a pretty transom!

  I also noticed that the main has only every other reef point tied in. I’ve thought of doing that myself on my little boat. Maybe now I will…

  Thanks!

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  William McCaffrey says:

  Great video guys – I love the message – “Know your boat, keep things simple and be at ease!”. Beautiful boat Maynard!. Thanks for including the lines and specs.

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  randall saunders says:

  great video – one question…the traveller and block connection are metal to metal – same on a little catboat I goof around on – my wife likes the boat but the noise during a tack or especially a jibe really seem to make her nervous – I’ve thought of wrapping some leather around the block connection – I know it wont last but maybe a season but I think it might make for a bit more settled down feel to changing tacks. Is that done?

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  Larry Cheek says:

  I certainly agree with all the comments on the beautiful boat and Maynard’s useful and intelligent demonstrations of sail control. However, that flying jibe is something I never do, on my own boat or anyone else’s. It places unnecessary strains on the rig and may lead to lazy habits.

  In one of my first sailing lessons some years ago, the instructor demonstrated an uncontrolled jibe in a 15-kt wind—on someone else’s boat. The lesson was valuable in demonstrating its violence, but I thought even then: pretty thoughtless handling of someone else’s property. (The owner was not aboard to see this.) A couple of years later, this same instructor was killed in a sailing accident of his own making. There was an attitude there.

  I’m not saying Maynard was doing anything thoughtless or dangerous with his own rig in the mild breeze in this video. He’s clearly a fine and capable sailor. Just saying—I know from simple physics what my boat will do in an uncontrolled jibe, and I don’t ever need to test or demonstrate it.

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  Stewart Lee says:

  What a great video. With so many helpful things packed into this, I’d love to see Maynard do a complete how to sail series.

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  Arthur Winer says:

  This video captures the essence of why I’m an OCH subscriber. I hope you’ll make many more like it.

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  Jim Dinneen says:

  Great, great video! This is a great refresher, even for a long time sailor. Great discussion of the rig. This should be a good watch for a long winter to come. Jim Dinneen

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  Jay Knight says:

  Maynard’s expertise shows, lovely boat, but discussing some of the nuisances of knowing the boat as they do is priceless. I can’t wait till I can try out some of his techniques on my PSC Orion. OCH is a jewel !

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  John Wujack says:

  If someone told me that they wanted to start sailing, I’d tell hem to get a subscription to OCH, watch Maynard’s, Lily video, coupled with Carol Hasse’s, Sail Trim videos and watch them over and over. Get a small, affordable boat and go play in protected (bay/lake) waters.

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  Terry Williams says:

  Just a great day on the water. what else do you need.

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  Bruce Abrahams says:

  Very enjoyable. Just list another hundred such demonstrations and I might learn something.

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  Anne Bridgman says:

  What a lovely and well loved boat is Lily. When I sail my catboat of 25+ years with a new crew, I tell them she is an old friend. I bet Maynard feels the same.

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  Conbert Benneck says:

  Why didn’t you make this video 30 years ago when I could have profited from all that sailing “know-how”?
  What caught my eye was the wonderful main sheet cleat with the slot. What a great idea.
  Thanks for another great video that lets an old sailor remember the joys he had sailing, and hear the faint gurgle of a bow wave..

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    Jim Hansen says:

    The slotted main sheet cleat is simple elegance; the jib sheet cleats with a jam leg on the aft end is elegant simplicity!

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  Warren Gammeter says:

  My first sailing experience was as a toddler in an old town whitecap. I loved to crawl up under the little foredeck and listen to the music made by the water against lapstreak planks. Still love that sound and those memories seventy some years later.

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  James Gallarda says:

  Simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.

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  Hans Scholl says:

  How to better convey the joy of sailing, trusting in simplicity and a deep knowing from experience of what the boat will do! And I love the moment when Eric just can’t hold it and rejoices with a big laugh when Maynard steers into the broad reach.

  Thank you, to the whole team, for making another great video, this one sticks out, it reaches my senses in every aspect. How much better can life on the water be?

  I had many times watching “the next” video when I thought “how much better can OCH get?”, and then you all pull it off again and it gets better still. Pure magic!

  Thank you!

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  Chris Powell says:

  Don’t you just love LFH designs-I thought she was a Prudence initially until the draught was mentioned-nice boat Maynard,but are not all LFH designs.

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  Georg Hinteregger says:

  Thank you Maynard and Eric for another wonderful enlightening video. Seeing Lily performing as directed by the hands of a master brings back many fond memories of sailing with Jim on lake Champlain. If there is a heaven I’m sure Maynard and Jim will meet there to sail Lily together. Like my father said about dogs, if there are no boats in heaven I don’t want to go there.

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  Thomas Buzzi says:

  Just a great video! Great advice. Take the boat out and see what she will do. The more times the better. The gurgling of the water along her “wrinkle hull” didn’t hurt either.

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  David Tew says:

  Wonderful.

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  William Parke says:

  Just couldn’t squeeze a controlled jibe out of Maynard this day.

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  Peter Brackenbury says:

  Wow! I Iearn so much from listening and seeing Maynard Bray sail. I will be coming back to this one many times to improve my basic sailing skills. I love this video and would love to see more like it. Eric did a great job of guiding discussion and made it easy for someone who is not so experienced to understand.

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    Percy Simmonds says:

    I recently had to say goodbye my H23 (22′ 9″) Blue Peter built in 1949. This stout little boat took me and other owners cruising the Gulf of St Lawrence, Northumberland Strait and beautiful Bras D’Or Lakes in Cape Breton Nova Scotia. This little blue water boat with her deep cockpit allowed cresting heavy seas to slip beneath her when you sure they were in the cockpit. At 6800 lbs she had an action that was just plain comfortable and off the wind in a 25 knot breeze, with your feet firmly planted on the opposing washboard and two hands on the tiller she provided quite a thrill and a solid workout on the helm. As with so many other boats her poor quality fasteners were the cause of her demise. Thanks for reviving some wonderful old memories Maynard.