Chine bLog

And now we have the one we've all been waiting for (trust me, you were waiting for it): the Boat of the Trip Award, given periodically to that vessel that best encompasses the ideals of Chine bLog. And the winner is: GODSPEED, from Mason, NH! [Mad applause]

I am not very good with eyeballing boat size, but I am guessing she is about 28' or so with a gaff ketch rig. The lines, to me, suggest a scaled up life boat, with a multi-chine hull. She was designed and built by the owner, whose name I did not catch (but, based on a quick Google, I am guessing he is the proprietor of Godspeed Boat Works of Mason, NH). Here is why this boat wins the award, aside from being a nice-looking, not-what-you-see-everyday wooden boat: he and a family of five or six - plus a dog - have cruised all over the East Coast in this boat. Look at the view facing forward:

So that sweet daysailer I reference turns out to be COQUINA, one of N. G. Herreshoff's personally prized works (it seems he might have used it more than any other). She is pretty sweet and definitely looks like a boat to have adventures in. I will definitely be using this as inspiration in the not too distant future. Doug Hylan and Maynard Bray got license from MIT's Hart Nautical Collections (they hold rights to much, if not all, of the Herreshoff designs, if I am not mistaken) to produce and market plans for the boat. Definitely would be a good project.

There is a really sweet Herreshoff cat ketch featured as the cover story for this month's Wooden Boat. I haven't read the piece yet, but look forward to doing so. The cover sure is captivating...