Hull #965

[Adam]

Steve you show Hull 965 as the "S" Coquina (owned by HH). S&S is selling Jim Phyfe's SILHOUETTE out of Padanaram. The Registry has this boat with with no hull #, However when she was restored by IYRS, they added a nice plate and claim her hull is # 965. I assume they were wrong?

[Steve]

Well, I am not sure who is right and who is wrong.  If you check out this link, you will see that HMM lays claim to #965.  I don't know how they know that, if they have the hull plate, etc.

I think I still have some correspondence on my home computer from Jim on this topic ... let me see what he has to say.  I'm surprised he is selling it ... he was very pleased when he got it in 2006.

I am friendly with Warren Barker, the lead instructor at IYRS.  I may need to reach out to him as well.  I'll get back to you.

http://www.herreshoff.org/hmm_05_01_hall_of_boats.htm

[Adam]

Thanks Steve.

[Steve]

Adam:  I couldn't find the listing on the S & S site.  Could you post the URL?

[Adam]

Here ya' go....

https://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1926/Herreshoff-S-class-2018239/Padanarm/MA/United-States

[Steve]

Warren told me that the research on SILHOUETTE was done by Jim Phyfe, the owner.  Apparently, he spent a good deal of time trying to determine the hull number.  I sent him an inquiry and will post what I hear back.  Next trip to the museum, I'll try and find out if they have the hull plate.

[Adam Langerman]

"Coquina ex-Avocet #965s was owned by Halsey Herreshoff in the 1960s and moored in Marblehead when he was studying at M.I.T. In 1960, during Hurricane Donna, she broke her mooring, went on the rocks and was severely damaged, neccessitating her restoration in Bristol by Halsey Herreshoff and his father, A. Sidney deW. Herreshoff. Coquina was sold to Briggs S. Cunningham in San Diego who later donated her back to the Herreshoff Marine Museum." (Source: van der Linde, Claas (based on info written on back of envelope containing photo of Coquina on the rocks in 1960). November 15, 2008.)

"Note that Kenneth B. Upham, in his 1994 "History and Register of the S Boats" is unable to assign a HMCo hull number to Coquina. He notes her to have been from the #996 class and lists her as "Puffin" in Marblehead in 1950, having previously part of the Sorrento fleet." (Source: van der Linde, Claas. November 15, 2008.)

I just checked - no plate on Coquina, but the screws are there so I imagine it is in the collection - somewhere....

Halsey hopes to restore Coquina and perhaps another of the Museum's S-boats in the coming years.

[Steve]

Thanks for this information, Adam.  Just yesterday I got a note from Jim Phyfe on this subject.  He will be discussing this with Ken Upham on Sunday, and has some concerns aboout potentially conflicting information.   The first of the 996-Class was ordered on 2/2/1926.  Hull 965 was ordered on  10/6/1925 and is noted in the builder's record as #8 of the 956-Class.  It seems that either COQUINA is not #965 OR not part of the 996-Class.

-Steve