Herreshoff 12 1/2 for sale

[Cricket Tupper]

I've decided to sell "Picnic !"Mostly because I've pulled up lame; the boat's going strong. My family bought her in 1961; I've had her since 1984.Except for the time she spent at Ballentine's getting a rebuilt hull, she's been in the water every year, and I've put a week or so into her maintenance every year, as well as storing her in a shed built just for "Picnic." She's red with oak trim. I see that Mrs. Crowley is selling "Ding Hao." Her daughter was my best friend, and we sailed many happy races against each other in the 2 boats. "Picnic" is getting an extra deep Brightwork massage and other TLC, then she's going in the water in Harpswell Maine. I'm asking $20,000 for her.

[Steve]

Do you know PICNIC's hull number ?  Do you have an asking price in mind ?

[Cricket Tupper]

Unfortunately, she came without a number plate. I have my Dad's bill of sale; he bought her from a New Bedford resident , at Burr Brothers Boat Yard in Marion in 1961. The bill of sale has the seller's name. Mom (92 years old) believes that the seller was the original owner and that she had been in that one family since she was bought. The boat has always been named "Picnic." She was built in Bristol.  I don't know if it's possible to go back into Herreshoff's records.

[Cricket Tupper]

The other thing about "Picnic" is that, although I sent her off for hull work, I insisted that Steve Ballentine preserve as much of the old boat as possible. This led to some negotiations - but she has the original coaming, cockpit seats and all the old rigging, including the old Sitka spruce spars; and of course she has all the old hardware. This led to a very satisfactory result.

[Steve]

Could you tell us the seller's name?  It is possible that would allow us to determine which boat she is.

[Cricket Tupper]

His name was Gilbert Foster, and he lived in New Bedford. I don't have the bill of sale in front of me, but I'm, pretty sure his middle initial was V.

[Adam]

Well no Gilbert foster but could have been one of the dealer/broker-contracted builds for Barden. Do you have some photos? Sometimes basic age can be figured out by certain fittings and construction...

[Cricket Tupper]

I'll take some interior & layout pictures tomorrow when I pull her outdoors for the first coat of new varnish - then see if I can get them posted here ! In the meantime David Jones in Maine is listing her for me. He took some pictures of her in her barn and has them on his site, as well as putting them on YachtWorld. I hate D's barn photos -they're dark, one is out of focus, and it makes her look a lot shaggier than she is ! Now I'll try attaching something just to see if I can. No luck ! Any advice about how I can post a picture ? (Later:) If hardware can be a clue, I just took pictures of the masthead, peak halyard hardware, etc (those things are in my basement to get new varnish.) I do know how to email pictures !! so if you're willing to share your email address I could send you those, and a sailing picture that shows some layout...

[Steve]

If you send the pictures to info@herreshoffregistry.org, we can post them for you.