Design and Construction
Captain Nat built the 15s from the same molds as the Newport 15s but gave them shoaler keels and sizable centerboards, and he experimented with draft extensively raised lead ballast giving 2 feet 3 inches on 43 of 71 listed boats, including the 1923 Watch Hill Yacht Club boats. The hulls are wooden, with 9/16-inch white cedar planking and deck, 3/4-by-3/16-inch frames on 8-inch centers, 5/8-by-1-1/4-inch deck beams, and 1-1/4-inch-square clamps. As with all Herreshoff boats, the 15s have rather light scantlings. Built-in bulkheads seal big bow and stern air tanks for flotation. Older boats carried a couple of inches more freeboard at the bow than later ones.
Rig and Handling
The original rig carried 330 square feet—256 in the mainsail and 74 in the jib—and bigger spreads were tried, including a bowsprit rig and, on the Ptiloris, a three-quarter-length club jib that set very well. Writing in Small Boats Nation, one reviewer found these sporty boats quick in a zephyr and praised their perfect balance between speed, responsiveness, cockpit size, seakindliness, and looks. They turn on a dime thanks to short waterlines and saucer-like underbodies, and in a breeze they sail at a large angle of heel without losing much speed. A long, rather flat bow can pound to windward in a steep chop, and there is considerable weather helm on a broad reach in a breeze. Depowering is possible by backwinding the slacked mainsail's forward area against a tightly trimmed jib.
Accommodations
The 15 has a deep cockpit and a vast amount of deck space, making her easy to sail from inboard seats rather than on-deck benches. A long, high bow with generous foredeck keeps spray off passengers. A cruising cabin could be added without spoiling looks if kept low and short, and a boom tent served well as a weekend-cruiser setup on the boat ELF.
Variants and Later Builds
The Watch Hill 15s carried marconi rigs, while four boats including FLICKER used the same hull with full keels, deeper than standard and without a centerboard, plus a couple of inches more freeboard and slightly heavier scantlings; FLICKER gained a stouter mast, self-tending jib, and no running backstays, built to be hoisted aboard a steam yacht. A 1970 fiberglass class by Allan Vaitses at Mattapoisett with finish by Frank Hall Boat Yard at Avondale used Sandy Van Zandt's tall Marconi rig and 296 square feet of sail.
The Verdict
The Herreshoff 15 is a lithe, well-balanced centerboard racer with easy lines, flotation security, and a deep cockpit that rewards hands-on sailing. Her light scantlings and heeled habits demand a careful owner, but the design's longevity and variant experimentation show lasting relevance.
Pros
- Easy bow and buttock lines give speed without penalty when heeled
- Built-in bow and stern air tanks aid flotation
- Deep cockpit and vast deck make her easy to handle
- Turns sharply via short waterline and saucer underbody
Cons
- Light scantlings require vigilant upkeep
- Flat long bow pounds to windward in steep chop
- Considerable weather helm on broad reach in breeze
