How on Earth Did I Miss This?!

[Jon Brooks]

I really enjoyed the mini-feature in this month's Wooden Boat regarding the rebuilding of H-121/2 "Malabar" by the Ballentine Boat Shop.  She is anchored right off the Cohasset Yacht Club, and is just lovely.

What I didn't know until today when I signed up to join the H-Class Association was this:

Press Release:  10/26/10
Doughdish and Stuart Knockabout

We are happy to announce the formation of Doughdish LLC and Stuart Knockabout LLC and the purchase of the molds and the rights for building these two popular and timeless Herreshoff designs in fiberglass.  Both of these reproductions were created by Bill Harding, of Marion and Cataumet Massachusetts, who successfully marketed and oversaw the building of some 540 Doughdishes (since 1973) and 76 Stuart Knockabouts (since 1985).  The hulls for these boats were built at Edey & Duff of Mattapoisett.  Regrettably Edey & Duff has recently closed their doors, ending an era of successful and noteworthy boat building.  It is the intention of Doughdish LLC and Stuart Knockabout LLC to continue the production of these fine boats, as well as to provide replacement parts, repairs, and brokerage services.


Doughdish LLC and Stuart Knockabout LLC will be working in conjunction with, and will be located at, Ballentine’s Boat Shop (BBS) in Cataumet, Massachusetts.  BBS has been actively involved with these boats since their inception, and presently maintain some 45 Doughdishes and a dozen Stuart Knockabouts.  BBS has also worked on over a hundred wooden Herreshoff 12 1/2s, completely rebuilding several, and will soon be restoring BEAN MO CHROI, which is the only boat originally built to this 1932 L. Francis Herreshoff design, and was the inspiration for the Stuart Knockabout. 
With our long history of involvement with both boats and the retirement of Bill Harding, we thought it an appropriate next stage. We are pleased to have the opportunity to continue in Bill’s stead and look forward to perpetuating these amazing boats and providing support for the established fleets.

Amy Ballentine Stevens
Steve Ballentine
Managing partners
Doughdish LLC
Stuart Knockabout LLC
PO Box 457
Cataumet, MA 02534

508-563-2800

For those of us with aging Doughdish boats (our "new" boat turns 30 this year!) this is good news!  These people know 12's as well as anybody, and can do justice to the wood as well as the glass parts.  Steve and Amy will be hearing from me!

Jon   

[Adam]

Yeah, kind of sad about E&D - anyone know what happened? I was ther late summer - seemed busy.

Marshall took the Sakonnet 23 and is now building them.

The old Stone horse was one of my favorites - and just last year E&D was talking about putting them back into production. Wonder where those molds will go?

[Adam]

Here ya go....

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100905/NEWS/9050354/-1/NEWSMAP

[Steve]

Yup, the end of an era.  I spoke to Mait Edey a few years ago when I was researching the history of my BB15.  He once owned her, and modified her rig.  I'm sure the Ballentine's will do a fine job.

[Adam]

This is a good read - Letter by Edey going over the history of E&D as well as some of the models Duff carved - some of this was used in the history of Marshall Cat's for Graysons Book "Cape Cod Catboats".

http://home.comcast.net/~kgmurphy/sws/01-11/1.html

[Jon Brooks]

Steve & Amy will be at the Maine Boatbuilders Show.  I look forward to chatting with them.

Jon   

[Adam]

Here is the new Doughdish web site....of interest is that the Registry made their "Active Fleets" list....:-)

http://www.doughdishllc.com/index.html

[Steve]

Yes ... Amy and I correspond and help each other out quasi-frequently.

[Adam]

Did not know - They do some beautuiful work!

[Jon Brooks]

Be sure to check out Hull #745:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=246371&id=401198024195&l=d09695c4cd

Jon 

[Adam]

We should discuss this....Ballentine Boat Shop states that they consider Elf the first production 12 1/2 and Robin the prototype due to the fact that Robin has a slightly different length. I went back to the record and while the LOD is the same the LWL for Robin is one inch off (12' 5" vrs. 12' 6"). What was the difference - I assume balast? I also gather Robin and Elf had different rudders then all the others....

[Jon Brooks]

Interesting... nice restore too!

Jon   

[Steve]

I'm not sure I agree that ROBIN should be considered a prototype.  She raced at BYC and was sailing into the 1960's until we lost track of her.  There are several sources that refer to her as the first.  My guess is that the information written in the record is of variable accuracy, as has been proven the case on multiple occasions, so the exact LWL as recorded in the record might not be reliable.

The rudders, and a number of other characteristics, were different on the first 20, of which both ELF and ROBIN were members.

My question is:  How does Ballentine know that ROBIN is different?  From the builder's record or from first hand knowledge?  Interesting that the last known location for ROBIN is Cataumet.

[Jon Brooks]

Wow!  That IS interesting!

Jon   

[Adam]

I agree - Very interesting. Steve, you have more experience then I with the record, but one thing that supports a slightly different LWL is the 12'6" is written in the record first- then purposely crossed out - as well as she was sequential to Elf and the others - with Elf clearly written as 12' 6" just two weeks later. Wouldn't surprise me if Robin had ballast added/changed later on (we saw this with the S-class for example).

Next time you speak with Amy, let us know...