There's more on accessing the various Herreshoff plans here
I know a few people who specialize in building such boats, authentically. The
materials are available, but not at lumber yards. There's more forest in New
England today than a hundred years ago and there are people with sawmills who cut
cedar, oak and locust. Jim Reineck, Roger Winiarski and others are continually
improving the availability of authentic hardware and there's no mystery to casting
bronze. What's harder to find are the skills, but outfits like IYRS, The Landing
School and Mystic Seaport are improving that situation, too.
As I understand it, the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. plans at MIT are distributed
with the proviso that a boat built from them will be built authentically, without
substantial change either in the design or materials. See the WB article and
following letters last year about the Buzzard's Bay 25's . Besides, who would
have the temerity to tinker with such perfection? LFH once wrote that if a
builder made the slightest change to one of his designs "birds will no longer
carol over her". Can't have that!
At any time, the boats we build are constrained by the materials available. New
materials have become available, and the range of possible designs has therefore
expanded. This is an opportunity to achieve boats that function better. For
example, the designs of Joel White and his successor Bob Stephens capture the
aesthetic of the Herreshoff era while fully exploiting today's materials.
Jim
"William R. Watt" wrote:
just out of curiosity of what use are plans that old?
the old growth wood with the close rings would no longer be available?
Hereshoff made his own hardware, in fact his whole operation was
completely verticaly integrated?
how much alteration would be needed to build a lookalike today?
Courtney Thomas ) writes:
If so, where can they be accessed, please ?
Thank you.
--
Courtney Thomas
s/v Mutiny
lying Oriental, NC
WDB5619
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