An L. Francis Herreshoff Reader

Index:

The Ameica

Yachting in the 1900's

The Names of Some of the Yacht Sails

The Names of Some of the Rigging

Ropes

Marine Pictures

Some Reasons for the Peculiarities of Vessels of the Past

Captain Charlie Barr

Naptha Launches

Cutters, Laying-to, etc.

Lapping Jibs and Double Spinnakers

Nathenael Green Herreshoff

Tarantella (Catamaran Chronicle)

Safety First

H28 or the Building of the Snarke

Naming the Yacht

Trailboards and Figureheads

Small Coal-Burning Stoves Aboard Ship

Wooden Plates

Some Hints on Model Making

Discourse on Displacement, etc.

A Few Comparisons of Puritan and Mayflower

W. Starling Burgess

The Design of Fishing Vessels

Thoughts About Yachts Especially Designed for Ocean Racing

Charles E. Nicholson

A Sail in the Alerion

The Dry Breakers

Frostbiting

A Midsummer Night's Sail. Each chapter is an essay written for publication in a magazine now extinct called the Rudder. In some cases the article are only interesting from the perspective that they were written long ago from a different point of view than today. Others are simply excellent stories that convincingly describe past yachting history.

This is one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read. The story of the original America's Cup race is facinating and different from other versions I've heard. I believe it is an accurate description of the race and it debunks part of the myth of the America's Cup and puts it in perspective. A later essay, on Capt. Charlie Barr, describes how the America's Cup became more famous. Captain Barr was an outstanding seaman and leader and it was his skill and seamanship that won several of the America's Cup races.

This is a classic book and worthy of a place on your bookshelf. Please bring it back into print.

This book is written as a story, but the plot elements really only exist in order to string together pieces of information in a fashion which is entertaining to read. Topics covered include how to make a proper chowder, how to launch a boat off the beach, binoculars vs. telescopes, a good bit of boating history, anchoring, and many, many others. Herreschoff is quite opinionated, and this book is definitely an antique, but it is good reading and much of what he writes still applies today.

Originally written as a series of articles for THE RUDDER magazine during WW II, the abridged book-version is classic Americana. LFH manages to present a treasure chest of timeless yachting skills, while introducing the reader to the pre-multi-culti New England of his early 20th Century youth, a culture of genteel Yankee community in symbiotic relationship with a maritime inheritance of unpresendented abundance and beauty. If you want to learn the basics of pre-plastic messing about in good boats, while embarked on a time-capsule voyage to a bye-gone New England, still firmly in Yankee hands, this book will take you there. You will return with a ditty bag full of Herreshoff's life-experience, and eyes wide open, a budding student of the art of low-tech, high-touch cruising, a curiously-Yankee spiritual path of a transendant nature.

L. Francis Herreshoff was a man with a lot of opinions, a lot of strong opinions. A descendent of the famous Herreshoff family of Bristol, Rhode Island, L. Francis grew up around some of the finest yachts of the day. He was also a prolific yacht designer and writer. This book is a collection of L. Francis Herreshoff's designs, each accompanied by a description of the design. The book contains 49 designs in all. Some of the designs include very complete information including construction details and offsets while other designs are merely design studies.

L. Francis Herreshoff designed an amazing range of boats, from simple tenders to simple daysailers to meter class racing yachts. In its day, Ticonderoga, a Herreshoff designed 72 footer was a renowned ocean racer that set records that lasted decades. His double paddle canoes are still being built and are excellent examples of the type.

L. Francis is probably best known for his small cruising boats, the H-28 and the Rozinante, both of which have been included in the book with detailed articles by L. Francis titled "Building the....". But as I stated above, L. Francis was a man of many opinions and so in describing building the H-28 he launches off on a variety of topics from how to carry guns on a boat to the type of food one should eat while cruising. L. Francis's crusty writing is clear and forthright, with nothing held back; good solid fire from the hip and let the chips fall where they may stuff.

L. Francis had a marvelous eye for developing beautiful boats. His designs are a joy to behold. As a (sometimes) fellow yacht designer I admire the quality of drafting. As a (sometimes) fellow yacht designer, I admire the quality of drafting which is deceptively simple and clear while conveying a tremendous amount of information.

Today, many of the designs themselves are really relics of a bygone time. They are but a snapshot of a time when boats were simpler and sailing was a more of hands on sport. As boats have become more complex, and modern boats seem to have become so heavily dependent on electronics and hardware, its helpful to have a book like 'Sensible Cruising Designs' be remind us once and a while that sailing and sailboats does not have to be so complex.

It's surprising how poorly this book is selling. Herreshoff was one of the top yacht designers ever, and probably the best draftsman ever. This book shows many of his designs. It should be owned by anybody interested in sailing craft, design, or even drafting.