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Herreshoff Designs Not Built By HMCo / Re: herreshoff 18'
« on: May 28, 2014, 10:28:11 PM »
As this thread seems to be the main discussion point for the Harbor Pilots, I thought I would take a moment to introduce mine. I have a red ?1978 Harbor Pilot which has lived its life within a ten mile radius of its birthplace in Bristol RI. Based on the hull ID and builder's plate, it appears to have been built by Tillotson Pearson (hull) and finished at Squadron Yachts in Bristol RI. Not far from Halsey Herreshoff's office and home.
I am the fourth owner. It was originally (I am told) used by the harbor master in Newport. The next owner repowered with a Yanmar 3GM30F (now with almost 500hrs) and replaced and moved the fuel tank. The third owner was a neighbor who used it a few years and then upgraded to a small lobster yacht. I acquired the boat after selling a 36ft sailboat and intended to use it to cruise around Narragansett Bay. I did exactly that for a couple of years then got the hankering for a sailboat again and therefore this fine vessel has been on the hard under a tarp behind my barn for the past six or seven years.
The Pilot is a very stout little ship and has zero problems with the afternoon chop in a 20 knot breeze. It is cat boat beamy so very stable as well. Not sure how much difference the riding sail makes to stability but it sure looks salty when rigged. My cruising is done mostly at six knots or so. I know the engine is about twice the horsepower of the original powerplant (actually the same motor as on my former 36ft sailboat) but this is a displacement vessel so it really doesn't make much sense to try to push the boat at much more than six knots which it does easily at about 1500rpm in flat water as I recall.
I've pondered selling it for the past few years as I just haven't the time for two boats but have also just acquired a second mooring in a very convenient spot so will try to get it launched and see if it gets used more than before. I've started to recommission the boat starting with a thorough cleaning of the fuel tank and replacement of all filters, fluids, belts, coolant hoses, batteries, water pump impeller, zincs and lubricating or replacing engine control cables. Then comes a new bilge pump. I anticipate giving her a fresh coat of red interlux after attending to accumulated minor dings. The old depth meter doesn't work and is no longer made. Might replace it but a depth meter here in RI with mostly sandy bottoms and an 18" draft is not critical so that task may be postponed. Other than cleaning up the cabin I doubt I will have time this year to fancy up the woodwork and I am not one who really likes to fuss over perfect varnish anyways so I'll leave the weathered teak alone. I only use the trailer to move the boat a mile to the launch pad but that also needs a bit of TLC and new brakes. Projects, projects, projects....
I'll try to link some photos in Flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/118591836@N06/14291875865/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/118591836@N06/14105224568/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/118591836@N06/14291353654/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/118591836@N06/14105240560/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/118591836@N06/14105255080/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/118591836@N06/14105276780/
I am the fourth owner. It was originally (I am told) used by the harbor master in Newport. The next owner repowered with a Yanmar 3GM30F (now with almost 500hrs) and replaced and moved the fuel tank. The third owner was a neighbor who used it a few years and then upgraded to a small lobster yacht. I acquired the boat after selling a 36ft sailboat and intended to use it to cruise around Narragansett Bay. I did exactly that for a couple of years then got the hankering for a sailboat again and therefore this fine vessel has been on the hard under a tarp behind my barn for the past six or seven years.
The Pilot is a very stout little ship and has zero problems with the afternoon chop in a 20 knot breeze. It is cat boat beamy so very stable as well. Not sure how much difference the riding sail makes to stability but it sure looks salty when rigged. My cruising is done mostly at six knots or so. I know the engine is about twice the horsepower of the original powerplant (actually the same motor as on my former 36ft sailboat) but this is a displacement vessel so it really doesn't make much sense to try to push the boat at much more than six knots which it does easily at about 1500rpm in flat water as I recall.
I've pondered selling it for the past few years as I just haven't the time for two boats but have also just acquired a second mooring in a very convenient spot so will try to get it launched and see if it gets used more than before. I've started to recommission the boat starting with a thorough cleaning of the fuel tank and replacement of all filters, fluids, belts, coolant hoses, batteries, water pump impeller, zincs and lubricating or replacing engine control cables. Then comes a new bilge pump. I anticipate giving her a fresh coat of red interlux after attending to accumulated minor dings. The old depth meter doesn't work and is no longer made. Might replace it but a depth meter here in RI with mostly sandy bottoms and an 18" draft is not critical so that task may be postponed. Other than cleaning up the cabin I doubt I will have time this year to fancy up the woodwork and I am not one who really likes to fuss over perfect varnish anyways so I'll leave the weathered teak alone. I only use the trailer to move the boat a mile to the launch pad but that also needs a bit of TLC and new brakes. Projects, projects, projects....
I'll try to link some photos in Flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/118591836@N06/14291875865/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/118591836@N06/14105224568/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/118591836@N06/14291353654/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/118591836@N06/14105240560/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/118591836@N06/14105255080/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/118591836@N06/14105276780/