Haven 12 1/2' by pete48 - 1" = 1' Scale - Joel White version

[pete48]

Originally, I was planning on building Cap.n Nates ( Herreshoff ) 12 1/2, I ran into some lofting issues and decided that I would Build Joel White's Version. The boat is a Centerboard Version with some added changes. Before Christmas, I made a frame mock-up of this Boat, wich was dismantled and would be of no use anyway since I will be building the Boat upside-down. (however, it was a great visual tool ) I have all the drawings for the boat in a 1" = 1' - 0" scale ( or 1:12 ) There is no lofting required since the plans include all the patterns. I did have to subtract the thickness of the frames and planking from the Molds. ( not shown on the Body Plan )  The one thing I noticed with the drawings is that everything is square to a baseline, as opposed to the Waterline. ( I think this was done so that the drawings would not be easily altered to obtain the original Herreshoff 12 1/2) Here is what Joel White said about the Boat in his Designers Introduction:

 

   While the plans for the Haven 12 1/2 say " Designed by Joel White " and it is true that I did draw the plans, the concept and detailing of this Design were developed  by Nathanael Herreshoff back in 1914. His design, generally known as the Herreshoff 12 1/2 footer, produced the most popular of all the Herreshoff-built boats, over 400 having been built by the Herreshoff Mfg. Co. All I have done is to take the original 12 1/2 and slightly modify the lines to reduce the draft by 1 foot and provide a centerboard to offset the loss of lateral plane. Our goal while drawing the plans was to secure a shallower hull without losing the essence of N.G Herreshoff's original design, and without creating any noticeable change in performance. Every possible attempt was made to reproduce the Character of the body plan. 

 

So, I started by making the baseboard for the build ( I repurposed the Buzzards bay building board ) I then laid out the forms ( reducing for the ribs and planking) then cut them out, Here are the results.  The first shot is of the mockup 

[michael mott]

I will certainly be following this very carefully. Nice start and do you ever work fast.

 

Michael

[Omega1234]

Hi Pete

 

Your boatyard must be the pinnacle of efficiency because you're churning these hulls out at a super rate of speed.

 

Nicely done and pls count me in!

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[pete48]

Thank you, Michael, I appreciate the vote of confidence. I will be attempting to use the Herreshoff Mfg method for building this boat where applicable, so, unfortunately, I won't be working fast 

 

Hi, Patrick, I run a tight ship around here ( pun intended ) just kidding, I will count you in. This will be a very challenging build and a good stepping stone to the Wizzard of Bristol's 12 1/2 ( N.G. Herreshoff ) 

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[captainbob]

That's an interesting variation from Herreshoff's design.  count me in.

 

Bob

[pete48]

Hi Bob, I will count you in, this should be a fun boat to build 

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[pete48]

Today, I started by gluing blocks to the build board at the respective station locations. I then started working on the Stem and cutting out the rabbit line. I left the heel portion alone until the keel section is installed, then I can fair in the rabbit between the 2 points. I then turned my attention to completing the molds, I started by marking a line below the sheer line on the molds, I then cut a 1/16" slot into the molds to allow the ribs to fit in. I then cut out blocks and glued them onto the molds to reinforce where the cuts had been made. I then faired all the molds, they are now ready for the ribs to be installed. I started on the Transom and the framing to keep the transom in position. Next will be to finish making the Transom knee and keel section. I must say that I like working in this scale much better than the 3/4" to the foot. At this stage none of the molds have been glued in, Here are the results

[pete48]

Today, I started by cutting 1/8" X 1/16" X 6" Basswood strips, I then put them in rubbing alcohol, as these will be the bent ribs that go over the molds. I then turned my attention to making the Transom ( I do not have a scale drawing of the transom ) after 3 attempts ( 3's a charm )  I got it figured out. I then made the mold for station 22 ( wich is there to hold the Transom in position ) I will bend in the ribs once the boat is turned upright. I then bent the strips that had been soaking in rubbing alcohol over the molds I used masking tape to hold them in position and they are locked in at the base of the molds.  I got this concept from the Gougeon Brothers book on Boat construction, and it worked out very well. I then dry fit all the molds to the base and kinda taped the transom to its location. Next will be to layout the Keel. Here are the results

[Engelmann]

Count me in, I'll definitely be watching this one. (Gets a brusky and popcorn, then pulls up a chair)

[pete48]

Welcome aboard Deon, the more the merrier, this should be a fun build 

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[pete48]

Today, I started by making all the Floor timbers and installing them to the ribs. I then beveled the top of the forms to accept the Keel. I then faired in frame 22 and made the knee wich I attached to the Transom. Now I was ready to set up the molds, I plan to reuse these molds so I glued them to the baseboard with Elmers white glue and a dab of super glue ( to hold it in place ) Next will be to Glue in the Stem and set up the Transom. Here are the results

[michael mott]

Hmmm why does all that look familiar?  really nice work on setting up the ribs.

 

Michael

[Jim Lad]

Just catching up after being away.  That's certainly a very pretty dinghy - I'll be watching your build with interest.

 

John

[Engelmann]

 Not quite a dingy at 1409lbs displacement but I agree a very pretty boat

 

She is coming along nicely Pete

 

Regards

 

Deon

[Engelmann]

Michael, it does look very familiar doesn't it, You think they might have the same parentage? :10_1_10:

 

Pete, we almost expect to see little 12" people to walk around there and start working on her

 

Cheers

 

Deon

[michael mott]

Yes Deon we are both working from the same Drawing, but different scales, and like most things we each have our own twist on the framing. That last photo is great.

 

Michael

[pete48]

Thank you, Michael, Actually, I am using the Joel white drawings for this boat, wich brings up an interesting point for Christmas I was fortunate to receive a set of plans for the 12 1/2 ( Cap' Nate's 1914 design ) so I compared the stations to that of the Buzzards Bay 14 plans and they are 2 different boats. The L. Francis Herreshoff Buzzards bay 14 is a lot more stream lined, so all these theories about the boat just being lengthened with the same beam and draft sounds good, but in reality they are 2 different boats, Its probably why I had so many problems with the prototype and a few other theories I tried out. The Haven is pretty close to the 12 1/2  in the bow and transom sections, The transom on this boat was lofted from my 12 1/2 drawings. I found a scan online thats close to the drawings that I am useing for this boat 

 

Thank you, John, Glad to have you aboard 

 

Thank you Deon, Shes not a dingy, but a small yacht 

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[pete48]

Thank You, Crackers, I appreciate it 

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[captainbob]

It's interesting watching the different methods of building essentially the same boat.  They are both fine builds.

 

Bob

[Engelmann]

Yup, that is what I was trying to say when Jim Lad referred to her as a dingy, at 1409lbs and a lead keel definitely not a dingy but a small yacht and a very elegant one at that.

 

There is just something about the Herreshoff boats that links straight into your soul and bypass any attempt at rational description, they talk directly to ones emotions. They are some of the most graceful yachts out there regardless of their size.

 

Joel really managed to keep the original character of the 12 1/2, not that he changed that much to her top sides. I believe that he increased her beam slightly to compensate for the reduction in draft and kept most everything else the same

 

Regards

 

Deon

 

PS. Pete, that is exactly the same set of lines that I have for the Haven 12 1/2

Edited January 13, 2016 by Endlesshunt

[pete48]

Hi Deon, I was bit by the Herreshoff bug at a very young age, ( I am fortunate to have grown up in a Sailing family ) the Herreshoff boats are some of the most beautiful boats that I have seen, They do get into your soul. I think Joel White did an Amazing job designing the Haven, he increased the beam to 6' from 5'-10" ( the original 12 1/2 ) and widened the frames in the mid section to compensate for the center board. The first 7 stations on the plans are almost identical to that of the original. I was fortunate to have been able to sail on a 12 1/2 and supposedly the Haven and the 12 1/2 have similar sailing performance, both on and off the wind. The Haven carries the same Sail plan and rig as the 12 1/2 ( although there is a Marconi version ) The drawings that I have are similar to the pic except the lines drawing and construction plan are on 2 different sheets and are the same scale.

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[michael mott]

Thanks for the clarification Pete. I must say that I have spent a long time this past few weeks looking at pictures of all three boats. I am also a big fan of one of Herreshoff's other gems Gloriana......

 

And just to stir it up a bit

Gill Smith's Pauline  a cat boat

 

Michael

[pete48]

Hi Michael, there are quite a few other Herreshoff boats  H28 comes to mind there was a recent article in Wooden Boat about building one. ( wich is interesting since there is a complete set of drawings for the boat in sensible cruising designs ) The Gill Smith boats are Amazing as well 

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[pete48]

Today, I started by securing the Transom and Stem to the Build board.  The Stem was only glued to the ribs at stations 2 and 4, for the Transom, It was glued by the knee to the ribs at station 20. For the Keel, I decided that I would laminate it out of 2 pieces, the reason for this is that I did not want to cut a 1/16" rabbet line the length of the keel. So what I did was take the first Piece 1/16" ( wich had been soaking in alcohol ) and glued it to the floor timbers, ribs, stem and transom, I then faired it in with the ribs ( I left myself extra toward the transom to beef up that section ) I then glued the top section of the Keel on ( now I have a perfect rabbet line ) Next will be to finish the rabbet line between the stem and Keel and finish the fairing at the Transom. Here are the results

[michael mott]

Very nice Pete, clever solution to the rabbet line.

 

Michael

[Omega1234]

Hi Pete

 

There's those beautiful Herreshoff hull lines starting to show through.

 

Nice!

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[pete48]

Hi Michael, I figured that this would be the best way to achieve the rabbet line. It would have been a very difficult cut out of one piece 

 

Thank you, Patrick, She's starting to take shape I really like this bigger scale and I plan to build more at this scale 

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[pete48]

I started Today, by finishing the rabbet line cut between the stem and keel and faired in the rabbet at the transom. I then started lining off the ribs for the planking, there are 10 planks per side ( port & starboard ) I then laid out the garboard plank ( you only have to lay out one side and use it as a pattern for the other side ) cut the garboards out and placed them in rubbing alcohol. I then laid out the broad strake and did the same as the garboard. I then ( after a 2 hour soak ) pulled the garboard out 1 at a time worked the bends and installed them to the keel and ribs. Next I did the same with the broad strake's. Next will be to continue the planking. here are the reswults

[Omega1234]

Looking good, Pete!

[Jack12477]

Since you are talking about Herreshoff designed boats, are you aware of his Ice Yacht Slipper? The only ice yacht (boat) he designed. I had the pleasure of seeing it under sail on the Hudson River in March 2014. I have pictures if you want me to post them.  Also Wooden Boat magazine did an article complete with plans on it in their January/February 2005, Number 182 edition. The tiller/rudder is unique in that it has a sprocket and chain drive. It is presently owned by someone in CT.