2014 Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 15, Suffolk, Long Island | $59,900
SPIRIT OF MARION is a beautiful Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 15, authentically built using Nathaniel Herreshoff’s original handwritten offsets preserved at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Museum. His Buzzards Bay 15 was Nathaniel’s second one-design class, specifically planned for the choppy waters of the Bay and it became extremely popular - for good reason. The 15 was designed under the then-prevailing Length and Sail Area Rule, which tended to produce graceful, narrow hulls with long overhangs. The America’s Cup yacht COLUMBIA had been designed to this rule and many refer to the 15 as “little Columbias” – when heeled over the waterline length increases and so does the boat’s speed.
A 2014 build from Summerwine Boats Swanage in Dorset, UK, SPIRIT OF MARION is a beautifully carvel-built example and in perfect condition. She could be an easy solution for classic regattas, complete with her custom road trailer. She is Herreshoff Registry No. 154.
DIMENSIONS
LOA: 24’ 6”
LWL: 15’
Beam: 6’ 9”
Draft: 2’ 3” to 5’ with lifting centre board
Displacement: 2,800 lbs.
CONSTRUCTION & FINISH
The principal elements of the construction have incorporated some changes from the original in light of the non-availability of some originally specified materials, while some features have been incorporated to render the boat more robust without compromising the original concept.
- Alaskan yellow cedar planking; planks step scarfed rather than butt jointed
- European oak sheer plank, floor timbers and a single-length board keel plate
- Steamed green English oak ribs
- (American white oak unavailable in a green enough state suitable for steaming)
- Siding of the ribs increased by 1/8th inch to strengthen hull construction
- Ribs 30 - 35 are epoxy adhesive laminated oak to retain the tight bends
- Ribs lock into the bed logs rather than using metallic brackets as originally specified
- Laminated iroko stem
- Cockpit seating changed from single oak planks to box construction in cedar
- Seating is wider with storage space below; this modification is similar in weight to the original oak
- Seats finished in Awlbright
- Stringers and sheer clamps all in Douglas fir as on the original plan
- Western red cedar deck (as original specification), tongue and grooved with 440 caulking
- Deck traditionally finished with a painted canvas covering
- Transom frame added to provide a better landing for the planks
- Crewsaver bags in bow and vacuum sealed Styrene bags in the stern for buoyancy
- Small gunwale covers the end grain of the deck
- Silicon bronze fixings used throughout
- Hempels paint finished
FITTINGS, SPARS, SAILS, EQUIPMENT, CANVAS AND TRAILER
- All bronze fittings are HMC Co. replicas by Jim Reineck & Son, USA
- Ballast lead keel by Amat Metalplast, Barcelona
- Mast and spars by Collars, UK
- Rigging by John Albrecht, Gweek, Cornwall
- Sails: club-footed jib, storm jib and gaff main sail by Nathanial S. Wilson, USA
- Minn Kota electric trolling motor
- 12 V Leisure battery
- 2 x Electric bilge pumps under cockpit floor
- 2 x 6 V Batteries and switches under cockpit seats
- Tent mainsail / boom cover and boat trailer cover; Crusader Sails, Poole
- CQR Anchor with chain and warp
- 2 x Mooring warps
- Trailer by Lizard Trailers, Cornwall