S-Class Gob and Uncas

[Adam]

Question - hull #931 NASSAU was the one "S" built at HMCo. not to NGH's design (John Alden's #254). She was quite a bit bigger than the Herreshoff's "S" at 31'4" - where did she race? What fleet? She was a later boat in 1925 so I would assume most fleets were established by then….She is still with us BTW out in WI according to the registry….

[Steve]

I think she has been in the Great Lakes forever.

[Magic 56]

Steve,

I have lots of photos, but unfortunately can not make out which sheer Aquila has. If memory serves me it is molded, but I will ask the question.

There is a great photo of Nassau from 1995, but I haven't yet figured out how to insert. What do I need to do? She sailed out of the Charlevoix YC and is still in her original family, I belive third generation. Doesn't look like a Herreshoff at all.

[Steve]

To post a photo, just click the first icon on the left in the row above the smileys, and then enter the URL of the image (including the http://).

I ask about AQUILA because, based on this discussion, I would assume
that the original 828 had the flat sheerstake.

[Charles Barclay]

Aloha,

Universal Rule proposed by NGH in 1903 for NYYC, refined then adopted after the 1903 America's Cup.  Not really in effect until 1905 or so, as we see different citations of "first NGH boat designed for the Universal rule."

Yes different designers took a crack at boats for the S Class, as they did with other classes (P, R and J come to mind), one drawing even shows the 828 class S Boat with a "17 rating" which suggests they were raced against other classes on handicap; however the Herreshoff S Boat allowed close racing (one design as it were) and could be ordered in quantity as they did for the various fleets discussed.  By the 20's the Haffenraffers were running the business so chances are they promoted Fleet pricing.   

As far as the print date of the plans--most sheets contain what I would call a blue print verification stamp in the lower right corner, with handwritten initials etc.  from Herreshoff Manufacturing, Co.   Possible added later, but there are details like "drawer #" that make me think they were done as dated ie. 1919 through 1920. 

The earliest dated drawing is Nov. 1919, Rudder drawing is Dec. 24, 1919, a drawing for the water tight cockpit is Jan, 14, 1920, Peconic Bay keel drawing Sept. 20, 1920, Shear strake Nov. 29, 1919, Rig Drawings are late November through early December but has one dated April 16, 1919 which also has listed "Boom socket for 702" so perhaps this was from another knockabout type boat.  The latest date is a complete drawing of the vessel and rig dated Nov. 1, 1924.

Perhaps drawings were penned out when orders for more vessels came in so that they could be reproduced more efficiently and consistently. 

Charles

[Magic 56]

Charles,

I've never seen these plans and will have to chase them down. I know Roger, so will check with him for these. When I went to the Hart Nautical Museum, I only got to see the sail plan and a construction plan, but they were both dated later than 1919 I seem to recall 1924.

Steve, No url to add photos with, only copy and paste. No definitive answer yet on Aquila, but again I will chase it down.

[Steve]

Ken:  If you email the photos to me, I will be happy to post them for you.

-Steve

[Adam Langerman]

This is one instance I am happy to be wrong.  My sincere apologies.  I was fed bad information and swallowed it whole.  Adam

[Steve]

Ken supplied these two images:


SHONA (ex-Meteor) in 1951.  A Norman Fortier photo.



NASSAU, designed by John Alden, in 1995.

[Magic 56]

You can see the flat sheer with the bullnose clearly on Meteor (Shona). Also note that this boat has no portlights. Dirigo, hull # unknown, also has no portlights.

Shona was originally a Marblehead boat.

I found out that Aqulia had a flat sheer with bullnose replace with a carved sheer when it was restored by George Zachorne some time in the early 2000's. Not sure if the flat sheer was original as the boat was in the infamous Mamaroneck fire in 1957.

[Gregg]

I just met with Ted Chwalk - very nice guy - who is involved with two rebuilds of S-Boats in RI.  He and his mates seem to think they have found Gob and are rebuilding her.

[Steve]

Do you know anything about the boats Ted is working on?  Is the one he believes is GOB currently named AQUILA?  Would you be able to send me Ted's contact information so I might ask him a few questions?  Either private messages on this site or infor@herreswhoffregistry.org would work.

Thanks. 

[Rowdy78]

Steve,
Feel free to drop me an email, angus.davis@gmail.com. Ted is a friend we share an interest in S Boat sailing, history and research. Our family owns Aquila. We race her regularly and she is not being rebuilt, other than the usual maintenance after a busy summer of racing :-) We are researching the history of some of the other very early (first 16) S Boats. Ted and I heard there was an S boat with an arrow painted on the side of her in Marblehead that had been out of the water for some time, and we thought she may have been Cheerio #833, which was last seen in Marblehead in 1953 with the name Arrow then owned by Dr. Reginald Hammerick Smithwick. According to Ken she only appears in the race records for one year and then disappears. The rumor of an S Boat with an arrow was tempting, and that was the mission that brought Ted up to Marblehead where Gregg was very kind to show him Enterprise, which I understand was originally named Uncas. The search for Cheerio/Arrow's current whereabouts thus remains an unsolved mystery!
-angus