7/6/21
12/19/12
SS Plans, Spinnaker Directions, Approvals & Requirements
In addition to the Plans, below will be of benefit to those wishing to adhere to our Class' Uniform Standards. The two posts recently uploaded describe the Approvals and Requirements for the SS Class and Spinnaker Measurement for the Double Luff. Thanks again to Rob Dudley for providing this information to be posted to our humble blog.
Here's wishing everyone a smooth sail during the holiday season and new year!
(pardon the pun :-).
- Will
Double Luff Spinnaker Directions
SS Class "Double Luff" Spinnaker Measurement
The spinnaker is measured by folding it in half, leach to luff with the tack and clew together. The sail thusly folded and pulled smoothly (but not stretched) between the measuring points should fill all the established dimensions.
To establish the proper marks on the floor from a head point, swing arcs of 3"-0" and 6'-0".
Then lay off chords across these arcs of 3'-0" and 4'-3" respectively.
Luff length should be established at 10'-10".
Foot length of 3'6".
Material: Spinnaker cloth shall be 3/4oz Nylon (with a finished weight of not less than 0.93 ounce per yard of 28.5" width)
Spinnaker design approved April 1969
Plan drawn December, 2012 by Robert Dudley (old plan had become yellow, torn and tattered with age)
The spinnaker is measured by folding it in half, leach to luff with the tack and clew together. The sail thusly folded and pulled smoothly (but not stretched) between the measuring points should fill all the established dimensions.
To establish the proper marks on the floor from a head point, swing arcs of 3"-0" and 6'-0".
Then lay off chords across these arcs of 3'-0" and 4'-3" respectively.
Luff length should be established at 10'-10".
Foot length of 3'6".
Material: Spinnaker cloth shall be 3/4oz Nylon (with a finished weight of not less than 0.93 ounce per yard of 28.5" width)
Spinnaker design approved April 1969
Plan drawn December, 2012 by Robert Dudley (old plan had become yellow, torn and tattered with age)
List of Approvals and Requirements
In June 1937, the SS Class Association was formed by SS sailors for the dual purpose of maintaining uniform one-design standards and to promote fleet activity. Uniform standards enable all sloops to compete fairly and evenly.
List of Approvals and Requirements in SSCA Records
Official plans and Specifications prepared and approved by SS Class Association, Sept.1945, revised 10/10/46, 4/10/55, 4/10/63, 8/10/66
Sept. 15 1946 Rub-strake is required; reef points are optional; bronze half round on forward edge of centerboard is permitted; stays and dead ballast not allowed.
July 24, 1945 SS Class boatbuilding agreements made with L.T. Nickerson and Howard Welch.
June 1947 SS Class boatbuilding agreement made with Luis Howell.
Jan. 4, 1954 Fiberglass coating permitted to save old boats for racing.
1955 Marine plywood used by Howard Welch for ribs in construction of SS147 because hackmatack is unavailable.
1958 Washboards approved, 6',3'each side of mast, 6" recommended height.
1959 Dacron sails tested and allowed.
August 26, 1962 Optional: Curved jaws on gaff, hiking stick on tiller.
July 22, 1966 Optional: track on gaff and boom, snatch block, toe rail(scupper rail), transom piece above deck, floor boards, hiking straps, deck pads, location and size of deck fittings, EXCEPT main traveler and jib tack eye fitting.
Required: anchor and 30' cable; one oar, paddle or setting pole, proper bailing equipment.
Not allowed: down haul or boom vang.
Nov. 2 1966 Gordon Dudley and Bud Simes approve Fred Scopinich to be a builder of SS boats.
Nov. 7 1966 Fred Scopinich is steam bending ribs for SS 154 as unable to get hackmatack.
Feb. 4, 1967 Optional 3/8" thick marine plywood deck covered with fiberglass or canvas; also marine plywood centerboards and rudders covered with fiberglass(rudder tapered to 1/4" rounded). Fiberglassed hulls must weigh a minimum of 500 lbs.
April, 1969 Balloon spinnaker approved after 7 years of research.
Sept 13, 1970 Dry sailing approved. 1/2 round bronze, or flat bronze, approved to protect skeg. Fitting on mast allowed for new spinnaker setting, optional, in place of the jaws of the spinnaker pole. No down haul or topping lift allowed on boom or spinnaker pole.
Aug. 29, 1971 Self bailers optional (Not recommended because they leak)
The above were compiled from old records and minutes of SSCA meetings by Rob Dudley.
Meeting of One-Design Committee on Tuesday, Jan.5, 2010.
Nov. 2 1966 Gordon Dudley and Bud Simes approve Fred Scopinich to be a builder of SS boats.
Nov. 7 1966 Fred Scopinich is steam bending ribs for SS 154 as unable to get hackmatack.
Feb. 4, 1967 Optional 3/8" thick marine plywood deck covered with fiberglass or canvas; also marine plywood centerboards and rudders covered with fiberglass(rudder tapered to 1/4" rounded). Fiberglassed hulls must weigh a minimum of 500 lbs.
April, 1969 Balloon spinnaker approved after 7 years of research.
Sept 13, 1970 Dry sailing approved. 1/2 round bronze, or flat bronze, approved to protect skeg. Fitting on mast allowed for new spinnaker setting, optional, in place of the jaws of the spinnaker pole. No down haul or topping lift allowed on boom or spinnaker pole.
Aug. 29, 1971 Self bailers optional (Not recommended because they leak)
The above were compiled from old records and minutes of SSCA meetings by Rob Dudley.
Meeting of One-Design Committee on Tuesday, Jan.5, 2010.
Committee members: Chairman, Rob Dudley, Fred Scopinich, Beecher Halsey and Jimmy Ewing.
The following items were discussed and approved:
Due to the fact that one of our biggest problems is identification of old boats whose numbers are unknown, we request that all boats have the number carved into the starboard centerboard log, as specified in the plans.
The committee will assign numbers to boats with unknown numbers, using the numbers of boats known to have been destroyed, of the same approximate vintage.
Because the more recent plywood centerboards do not have the iron or bronze reinforcing rods that held the old centerboards together, they are lighter and tend to float up. Enough lead may be placed in the upper part of the centerboard to keep the board from floating up. Amount of lead increased to 12 lbs. maximum. Previous maximum was 8lbs.
Solid mahogany rudder OK.
4.5 oz. Dacron approved for sails, as already in use. Has not been changed on plan sheet, but is now officially approved.
Dacron line is allowed for halyards and sheets.
Blocks now available in stainless and plastics are OK because bronze and galvanized are difficult to obtain and expensive.
On Sunday Nov. 4, 2012 the SSCA Executive Committee met and decided that sails must be made by established professional sailmakers specifically according to the SS Class sail plans and may not be made by altering or cutting down old sails of other classes.
No "footshelfs" are allowed.
Recommended sailmaker Doyle Sailmakers at 225 Fordham St., City Island, NY 10464, office 800 237 4453, Paul Beaudin Senior Sail Consultant, cell 917 584 5194 Email: paulbeaudin@doyleplochsails.com
5oz. Dacron material, for the mainsail and jib, is now recommended and used by the sailmaker, and now that is approved.
3/4oz. Nylon is now used for the spinnaker (with a finished weight of not less than 0.93 ounce per yard of 28.5" width)
The following items were discussed and approved:
Due to the fact that one of our biggest problems is identification of old boats whose numbers are unknown, we request that all boats have the number carved into the starboard centerboard log, as specified in the plans.
The committee will assign numbers to boats with unknown numbers, using the numbers of boats known to have been destroyed, of the same approximate vintage.
Because the more recent plywood centerboards do not have the iron or bronze reinforcing rods that held the old centerboards together, they are lighter and tend to float up. Enough lead may be placed in the upper part of the centerboard to keep the board from floating up. Amount of lead increased to 12 lbs. maximum. Previous maximum was 8lbs.
Solid mahogany rudder OK.
4.5 oz. Dacron approved for sails, as already in use. Has not been changed on plan sheet, but is now officially approved.
Dacron line is allowed for halyards and sheets.
Blocks now available in stainless and plastics are OK because bronze and galvanized are difficult to obtain and expensive.
On Sunday Nov. 4, 2012 the SSCA Executive Committee met and decided that sails must be made by established professional sailmakers specifically according to the SS Class sail plans and may not be made by altering or cutting down old sails of other classes.
No "footshelfs" are allowed.
Recommended sailmaker Doyle Sailmakers at 225 Fordham St., City Island, NY 10464, office 800 237 4453, Paul Beaudin Senior Sail Consultant, cell 917 584 5194 Email: paulbeaudin@doyleplochsails.com
5oz. Dacron material, for the mainsail and jib, is now recommended and used by the sailmaker, and now that is approved.
3/4oz. Nylon is now used for the spinnaker (with a finished weight of not less than 0.93 ounce per yard of 28.5" width)
Spinnaker design approved April, 1969.
Spinnaker plan drawn December, 2012 by Robert Dudley. The old plan had become yellow, torn and tattered with age.
Bottom paint is now required on hull.
Bottom paint is now required on hull.
12/14/11
#123 Across Lake Champlain and Back
Occasionally I google "SS Sloop" to check for anything of interest that may be out there on the world wide web for our class. And today I came across a page that presents, with wonderful panoramic photos, the crossing of #123 across Lake Champlain and back. I'm not sure, judging from the page itself, when exactly Mary Jean sailed her beautiful vessel across the lake and back, but I would guess it has been recent.
Anyway, if you haven't seen the photos, here's a treat...
http://home.comcast.net/~tugtrilogy/pages/interestingboats/sailboats/ssboats/mjacrossback09/mjacrossback09.html
Seeing these photos reminds me how much I miss sailing right now!
Anyway, if you haven't seen the photos, here's a treat...
http://home.comcast.net/~tugtrilogy/pages/interestingboats/sailboats/ssboats/mjacrossback09/mjacrossback09.html
Seeing these photos reminds me how much I miss sailing right now!
11/7/11
Constitution of the SS Class Association
Here is the recently updated Constitution of the SS Class Association. Thanks to Commodore Tracy Cast for the document and permission to post to this blog.
ARTICLE I - Name
This organization shall be known as the SS CLASS ASSOCIATION.
ARTICLE II - Objects and Powers
(a) To organize and encourage the racing of the SS.
(b) To maintain the status of the SS as a one design class;
(c) To hold all right, title, and interest in and to the original and official SS plans,molds and sail plans.
(d) To prevent fundamental changes in construction, rig, or equipment.
(e) To authorize minor changes if convinced they will increase the safety or serviceability of SS and to approve the substitution of construction materials when the original materials are no longer economically obtainable.
(f) To appoint approved builders and sail makers.
(g) To maintain an up to date register of all approved changes;
(h) To maintain an up to date register of all known SS class yachts.
ARTICLE III - Members
(a) There shall be one class of members in the SS Class Association.
(b) Any person who is an owner, part owner or who is interested in SS yachts and their racing shall be eligible for membership.
(c) Dues shall be a donation of any amount.
ARTICLE IV - Registration of Yachts
(a) A yacht is considered to be in the SS Class only if it conforms to the measurements and specifications set forth by the SS Class Association.
(b) A register of approved SS yachts shall be kept by the One Design Committee which shall maintain the list by racing number together with such details as known including Owner, Name of Yacht, Builder, Year Built, and Club affiliation if any.
ARTICLE V - Executive Committee
(a) The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the management of the affairs of the SS Association in general and shall exercise all powers and perform all duties not otherwise delegated to any officer or committee herein.
(b) The Executive Committee shall consist of a Commodore, Vice Commodore, Treasurer, Secretary, and two Members at Large.
(c) The Commodore shall be the chief executive officer of the association and shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee.
(d) The Vice Commodore shall assist the Commodore and shall assume the powers and responsibilities of the Commodore in case of absence or inability to serve.
(e) The Secretary shall record all proceedings of the Association and the Executive Committee, keep a correct roster of members, give notice of meetings, and perform other duties usually pertaining to the office of the Secretary, including sending out annual fundraising/dues letters, sending out thank you notes to contributors, and notifying members of the race schedule,
(f) The Treasurer shall collect all moneys due the association, have custody of the Association funds, pay all bills of the Association, keep accurate records of all receipts and disbursements, and render accountings thereof at meetings of the Association and the executive committee.
ARTICLE VI - Other Committees
(a) There shall be a Nominating Committee of three members, appointed by the Commodore, which shall nominate candidates for all offices to be filled at the next Annual Meeting. Such nominations shall be reported to the Secretary, who shall incorporate them in the call to the meeting.
(b) There shall be a One Design Committee consisting of its Chairman. Appointed by the Executive Committee, and two members selected by the chairman and approved by the Executive Committee. The One Design Committee shall administer and enforce the Association’s one design specifications. It shall maintain and safeguard all such specifications and related items. It shall periodically recommend to the Executive Committee any necessary changes to such, and It shall maintain a listing of all such approved changes. The One Design Committee shall be responsible to maintain the register of known SS yachts and to recommend to the Executive Committee the addition of new yachts to the list and the removal of non-conforming yachts from the list for good reason. The One design committee shall also recommend to the Executive Committee the appointment of any approved builders of SS yachts and approved sail makers. The chairman of the One Design Committee shall be a selected member of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VII - By Laws
(a) The Executive committee shall have the power to adopt By Laws not inconsistent with this constitution, and to amend them from time to time.
ARTICLE VIII - Meetings
(a) There shall be an annual meeting of the SS Association to be held between July 1st and September 10th each year prior to or after one of the official race days of the association, as selected by the Executive Committee.
(b) Notification for the meeting including the recommendations of the nominating committee shall be given at least 10 days in advance by the Association Secretary.
(c) The meeting shall include reports from the Commodore, the Treasurer and the Nominating Committee.
d) Executive Committee members and officers shall be elected for a term of two years by majority vote at the annual meeting.
ARTICLE I - Name
This organization shall be known as the SS CLASS ASSOCIATION.
ARTICLE II - Objects and Powers
(a) To organize and encourage the racing of the SS.
(b) To maintain the status of the SS as a one design class;
(c) To hold all right, title, and interest in and to the original and official SS plans,molds and sail plans.
(d) To prevent fundamental changes in construction, rig, or equipment.
(e) To authorize minor changes if convinced they will increase the safety or serviceability of SS and to approve the substitution of construction materials when the original materials are no longer economically obtainable.
(f) To appoint approved builders and sail makers.
(g) To maintain an up to date register of all approved changes;
(h) To maintain an up to date register of all known SS class yachts.
ARTICLE III - Members
(a) There shall be one class of members in the SS Class Association.
(b) Any person who is an owner, part owner or who is interested in SS yachts and their racing shall be eligible for membership.
(c) Dues shall be a donation of any amount.
ARTICLE IV - Registration of Yachts
(a) A yacht is considered to be in the SS Class only if it conforms to the measurements and specifications set forth by the SS Class Association.
(b) A register of approved SS yachts shall be kept by the One Design Committee which shall maintain the list by racing number together with such details as known including Owner, Name of Yacht, Builder, Year Built, and Club affiliation if any.
ARTICLE V - Executive Committee
(a) The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the management of the affairs of the SS Association in general and shall exercise all powers and perform all duties not otherwise delegated to any officer or committee herein.
(b) The Executive Committee shall consist of a Commodore, Vice Commodore, Treasurer, Secretary, and two Members at Large.
(c) The Commodore shall be the chief executive officer of the association and shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee.
(d) The Vice Commodore shall assist the Commodore and shall assume the powers and responsibilities of the Commodore in case of absence or inability to serve.
(e) The Secretary shall record all proceedings of the Association and the Executive Committee, keep a correct roster of members, give notice of meetings, and perform other duties usually pertaining to the office of the Secretary, including sending out annual fundraising/dues letters, sending out thank you notes to contributors, and notifying members of the race schedule,
(f) The Treasurer shall collect all moneys due the association, have custody of the Association funds, pay all bills of the Association, keep accurate records of all receipts and disbursements, and render accountings thereof at meetings of the Association and the executive committee.
ARTICLE VI - Other Committees
(a) There shall be a Nominating Committee of three members, appointed by the Commodore, which shall nominate candidates for all offices to be filled at the next Annual Meeting. Such nominations shall be reported to the Secretary, who shall incorporate them in the call to the meeting.
(b) There shall be a One Design Committee consisting of its Chairman. Appointed by the Executive Committee, and two members selected by the chairman and approved by the Executive Committee. The One Design Committee shall administer and enforce the Association’s one design specifications. It shall maintain and safeguard all such specifications and related items. It shall periodically recommend to the Executive Committee any necessary changes to such, and It shall maintain a listing of all such approved changes. The One Design Committee shall be responsible to maintain the register of known SS yachts and to recommend to the Executive Committee the addition of new yachts to the list and the removal of non-conforming yachts from the list for good reason. The One design committee shall also recommend to the Executive Committee the appointment of any approved builders of SS yachts and approved sail makers. The chairman of the One Design Committee shall be a selected member of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VII - By Laws
(a) The Executive committee shall have the power to adopt By Laws not inconsistent with this constitution, and to amend them from time to time.
ARTICLE VIII - Meetings
(a) There shall be an annual meeting of the SS Association to be held between July 1st and September 10th each year prior to or after one of the official race days of the association, as selected by the Executive Committee.
(b) Notification for the meeting including the recommendations of the nominating committee shall be given at least 10 days in advance by the Association Secretary.
(c) The meeting shall include reports from the Commodore, the Treasurer and the Nominating Committee.
d) Executive Committee members and officers shall be elected for a term of two years by majority vote at the annual meeting.
9/10/11
Sailing with the Dead
Just five days after a typically busy Labor Day weekend on Keuka Lake, today was its antithesis. Sans motorboats. Sans fireworks. Sans hubub. September on Keuka is probably my favorite time on the lake. Still a hint of summer. The water is still warm. But Fall is definitely in the air, and in a couple of weeks the leaves will start turning. Having endured a busy Labor Day weekend here, today was the complete opposite, quiet. Ahh.A fabulous fall day today. As predicted by the hour by hour forecast of the Weather Channel (how did we go sailing before the Internet and hour by hour forecasting?), the winds picked up after lunch to a brisk steady north wind of about 8 to 10 mph. And the temp was in the mid-seventies. Perfect sailing weather.
I asked my wife and daughter to join me in a sail, but they declined, occupied with a new game they invented, "bounce back" where you try to bounce back acorns off our tree back to the deck. Riveting. Drives the chipmunks nuts. So for company I decided to bring along some music and disturb the serene, peaceful, quiet post-Labor Day Keuka lake bliss by bringing along my iPad and external speaker on the sailboat. Yes, I am willing to risk my iPad getting ruined by a rogue wave just so I can enjoy some music while sailing. Yes, it would be smarter to just bring along an iPod and some headphones and enjoy the music politely on this post summer serene lake. But today I decided to crank up the rock and roll and make some noise. And to be honest, the number of folks on the lake today most likely equaled the number of readers of this blog. I was really bothering no one, because no one was here.
And happily I can report it sounded wonderful. I have a portable speaker system that can readily connect to any mp3 player (iPad) and it is actually pretty loud, with it's own subwoofer. I could have brought along a smaller Jambox that works great too, but decided I needed a little more power. And since I was sailing, I did not have to listen to it over the sound of a motor (take that you gas guzzling motor boating resource burning heathens). Once I got underway I was literally my own floating rock concert. I swear I could hear the music echoing down Keuka Lake, bouncing off the cottages as I sailed by. With the speaker sitting back toward the boat's transom, SS #150 became one big boom box today.
What music did I play you ask.? Well I opted for Grateful Dead's live album, "Dead Set." Now I must admit that my music choice is still somewhat surprising to me. I have to admit that I am a relatively new listener to the Dead. Growing up I never really listened to them too much, and frankly could not relate to all the hippie wannabes that followed them religiously (no offense to true, authentic hippies that I have the upmost respect for - you know who you are). And some of their songs I just can't stand, particularly their commercial offerings (Touch of Grey, enough said). Overall, GD sounds great at the lake. I am not sure what it is. GD sounds great at a campfire. GD sounds great sailing. To me, I love the improv. It reminds me of jazz. I like that the songs last longer than three minutes. Play, Gerry, play. FYI you can like the Dead and not be druggie, it is true. I also like listening to The Band, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, and just about any band that played at Woodstock etc, and have never dropped acid.So anyway, it was a great sail. With a steady wind from the north, I probably sailed a good two miles up the lake, tacking several times, till, at the onset of Sugaree I came about and coasted home.
So why am I telling you, gentle reader, all this? Well I am wondering if anyone else has ever taken along portable music while sailing their SS. If you have, and you'd like to share your experience, please leave a comment. We do know that music was in the air (or at least in the minds of those sailing) when Dreamer was recently launched (an excellent Bob Dylan song I must add!). Perhaps there is a particular genre that naturally accompanies sailing (though maybe I am the only one who listens to the Clash's London Calling on the beach when I take #150 out of the water).
Well I hope you have moderately enjoyed this post, and for that matter, your sailing season (frankly this blog deserved another post than to have the last one at the top -- FYI #8 has been released from captivity and is now back at the Long Island Maritime Museum, soon to be restored in the Moonbeam Shop! HOORAY!)
Summer has come and gone all too quickly. At least this winter whenever I play the Dead I can think back on the great fall sail I had today, and be Grateful ;-)
8/15/11
My SS Pilgrimage
Well, your humble blog editor is currently visiting Long Island (a once-a-year event) and this morning I decided to take advantage of the monsoon season here and visit the Long Island Maritime Museum in West Sayville. Greatly appreciative of the SS that I currently sail and my interest in the wooden boat world, I Carpe Diemed the day.
There are several exhibits and historic buildings on the grounds, and the one of particular interest to me was the museum's small craft building. I obtained a list of the some 76 vessels that are housed here for preservation. Included here is essentially a collection of boats built by the "who's who" of historic Long Island boatbuilders of the 19th and 20th century. There's a Herreshoff 12 1/2 (very impressed to see a Herreshoff in person for the first time), several Gil Smith's, Wilbur Ketchum's , and a few Benjamin Hallocks. Of course Mr. Hallock's designs are of note for the SS community, because he is our original designer and boat builder.
The Avalon, a Herreshoff 12 1/2, built in 1914, in prestine condition.
There are currently two SS's that reside at the Maritime Museum. One is the most recently built, the Barry-A which was built by a band of museum volunteers, with Martin Sievers as the main builder, in 2001. Officially SS #155, it is one of the last builds, just older than Beecher Halsey's Ghost, built in 2008.
The Barry-A was easy to find at the museum, it was actually outside, near the Penny boatshop (outside photo). It may sound silly and quite foreign to the rest of the SS community, but this was the first time I had ever seen another SS in person, other than my own. I spotted it a mile away.
The second SS in possession of the Museum, Eight Ball, is SS #8, built in 1914 by Benjamin Hallock! It was donated by Ed Dalmasse and the Hansen family to the museum, and subsequently the museum has had it on exhibition for years at the Islip MacArthur Airport in Islip, Long Island, where it greeted travellers. Only recently did SS #8 "disappear from the public" -- the past months several folks have even emailed me, wondering if I knew its whereabouts.
Checking the list of vessels in the Museum's Small Craft Building, a list that was given to me very kindly by volunteers there, I found SS #8 listed in the building.
Many wonderful wooden boats are found in the SCB -- and you can peruse the boats up close, without any hindrance of ropes and such. Photographs are welcome too, and the curator there is happy that you have an interest in many of these wonderful gems. As I made my way slowly around the room, however, I did not find #8, only it's descriptive plaque.
A hearty two thumbs up to visit / support the Long Island Maritime Museum. They are doing great work there.
There are several exhibits and historic buildings on the grounds, and the one of particular interest to me was the museum's small craft building. I obtained a list of the some 76 vessels that are housed here for preservation. Included here is essentially a collection of boats built by the "who's who" of historic Long Island boatbuilders of the 19th and 20th century. There's a Herreshoff 12 1/2 (very impressed to see a Herreshoff in person for the first time), several Gil Smith's, Wilbur Ketchum's , and a few Benjamin Hallocks. Of course Mr. Hallock's designs are of note for the SS community, because he is our original designer and boat builder.
The Avalon, a Herreshoff 12 1/2, built in 1914, in prestine condition.
There are currently two SS's that reside at the Maritime Museum. One is the most recently built, the Barry-A which was built by a band of museum volunteers, with Martin Sievers as the main builder, in 2001. Officially SS #155, it is one of the last builds, just older than Beecher Halsey's Ghost, built in 2008.
The Barry-A was easy to find at the museum, it was actually outside, near the Penny boatshop (outside photo). It may sound silly and quite foreign to the rest of the SS community, but this was the first time I had ever seen another SS in person, other than my own. I spotted it a mile away.
The second SS in possession of the Museum, Eight Ball, is SS #8, built in 1914 by Benjamin Hallock! It was donated by Ed Dalmasse and the Hansen family to the museum, and subsequently the museum has had it on exhibition for years at the Islip MacArthur Airport in Islip, Long Island, where it greeted travellers. Only recently did SS #8 "disappear from the public" -- the past months several folks have even emailed me, wondering if I knew its whereabouts.
Checking the list of vessels in the Museum's Small Craft Building, a list that was given to me very kindly by volunteers there, I found SS #8 listed in the building.
Many wonderful wooden boats are found in the SCB -- and you can peruse the boats up close, without any hindrance of ropes and such. Photographs are welcome too, and the curator there is happy that you have an interest in many of these wonderful gems. As I made my way slowly around the room, however, I did not find #8, only it's descriptive plaque.
A hearty two thumbs up to visit / support the Long Island Maritime Museum. They are doing great work there.
7/5/11
Dreamer #81
First off I would like to thank everyone for all their kind words and support; especially, Fred Scopnich and Beecher Halsey. Also, Ellen Slough for her generous gift, which I can hopefully exchange in a sail so that her “Dreamer” still lives.This project had its start several years ago while visiting the home of Mrs. Ken Warner at Old Country Road, Westhampton. It was then that I noticed what looked to be an SS upside down, tucked away in the woods next to their garage. After inquiring about the neglected wooden hull with Mrs. Betty Warner, she said she would like her daughter to have the boat but she would keep me in mind. Eventually, I found out the boat belonged to her daughter, Ellen Slough. Ellen had been living in upstate Hunter, NY for some time.
Well, one year later, another phone call found the boat still there and Ellen still not wanting to part with her memories. Now, 3 years later I noticed the boat still there and I made one last call….. Ellen finally agreed to part with her. I arrived within two hours with trailer in tow to pull the SS from the woods.
That spring of April 2010, SS # 81, originally “Dreamy,” arrived here in East Quogue (probably not having left Westhampton, I guessed, for 30 years) and awaiting my enthusiastic restoration project. After a closer inspection, I realized she would need everything - new ribs, centerboard trunk, rudder, transom, deck beams and decking. The only thing that held up well was the white cedar planking; for some reason this material held up just fine, other than a few port starboard collisions, which resulted in some small pieces assembled with butt blocks needing some longer boards.
Fall of 2010 now arrived - our big boat was put away and a new wood burning stove donated by a good friend would keep me company along with some oldies on the radio . Long nights would be a phone call that it was 9 pm and did I “want dinner?” Sometimes the phonecalls alerted me that it had snowed twelve inches since I entered my workshop. Amazingly, this was one of my most enjoyable projects and, probably so, because of my need for a challenge after building my share of custom homes. Without the help of Beecher’ s first -hand experience and his ability to acquire the original templates along with Fred Scopnich’s 70 years of experience, this project would have taken much longer and I, possibly, could have lost motivation in the way that everyone has experienced.
If anyone thought that restoring the SS would be simple , I can tell you it was quite a challenge. During the process of dismantling her, I could see how the builder assembled this boat with the greatest amount of skill (a skill which has long since disappeared in the trade) and with the craftsmanship of the simplest of hand tool that, today, with all our great electric tools, we struggle to even come close.
I’m now left with a few final pieces to finish that hopefully will result in a few happy sails, as well as the knowledge of this boat’s past, along with every other SS that enabled us to enjoy our beautiful east end.
And while everyone won’t agree with the way I have personalized # 81 - keeping its original shape while adding newer modern harken block and hi-tech running rigging - I think the original builders would be proud to see that what they created is still being enjoyed some 100 years after their original ideas. They created a small bay boat that would be simple so that everyone young and old could enjoy this wonderful special place we now call home.You’ll see #81 on the water soon!
Jim Sanders
UPDATE: July 4th Launching of "Dreamer!"
Today was the day. Independence day free from the forest and rotting wood. With the help of two friends we gave her a little toast and eased her into the bay. Masterfully restored SS 81 now sailed across the bay ...oh what a dream she is. E & J
6/12/11
News from # 59
Last year I decided to put SS59 in the water after a one year break. The southern part of Narragansett Bay is not exactly SS friendly, but that is where I live so for me it is do or die. Fortunately the good folks at Conanicut Marina in Jamestown , RI are kind enough to let me put SS59 [for free] in a spot that no one else wants to use. The reason is that while it is protected [by local standards], it is not so great because it goes dry at low tide.
I don't mind the boat sitting on the mud , but there are also rocks. Add to that the situation where a strong easterly wind comes up [happens all of the time] and you have a situation where waves come in to bounce the boat with no water underneath. This happened several times last year. I HATE it!
SS59 is a Hallock boat built in 1924, and she is relatively rugged, but I am always vigilant when she is floating in these treacherous waters. When I do find time to sail, I must mind the tide. It is possible to sail at full velocity and not be able to keep pace with the current. More than once, I have had to "self rescue" by grabbing a mooring ball or sailing into a rocky shoreline where I had to drag the boat "up tide" to safety. Long Island sailors- count your blessings!
Last year, I undertook a major boat project that kept me in the hot sun, on land, and away from the exciting activities [however SS unfriendly they may be] in and around Newport Harbor. In late August, I dropped everything, and gave chase to SS59. After 10 days, she looked like this:
SS59 has been thoroughly gone over, and preserved, but one thing that I compromised on was the mast base. Two of the four original wrought iron through bolts were clearly rotted, so I "sistered" them with Sikaflex and some long stainless steel screws. That was back in the early 1990's and everything was fine. Clearly fine. :-)
This past season, I got exactly 3 one hour sailing sessions [to go up against something like 25 hours of preparation work] and each of the sessions was in more wind than I like. An unstayed mast puts a "buttload" of pressure on various and sundry places, and I find too much wind to be nerve wracking. Nevertheless, all went well, even for the final session with wife and youngest daughter when we only sailed over to the boat ramp to get out of the way of an approaching late November storm.
When I got the boat back to safety at home, I did the usual lever lift off the trailer using saw horses and planks [with auto batteries as counterweights]. When I went to flip the boat I did the usual 2"x4" in the mast hole and into the mast base. I had the boat vertical on her rail[ working alone BTW] .
When I went to slip the 2"x 4" out of the way so that I could turn her upside down, the mast base came away from the frames- stuck to the 2' x 4" and NOT attached to the boat!
If that connection had let go while sailing the whole deck would have exploded all over the place and I would be telling a whole different story.
Best wishes for a great season! SS59 will sit this one out while I finish last year's project, and make a new mast base that won't rip away from the frames :-)
Good wind, and happy sailing in your beautiful magic boats.
-Will Tuthill. Jamestown, RI
I don't mind the boat sitting on the mud , but there are also rocks. Add to that the situation where a strong easterly wind comes up [happens all of the time] and you have a situation where waves come in to bounce the boat with no water underneath. This happened several times last year. I HATE it!
SS59 is a Hallock boat built in 1924, and she is relatively rugged, but I am always vigilant when she is floating in these treacherous waters. When I do find time to sail, I must mind the tide. It is possible to sail at full velocity and not be able to keep pace with the current. More than once, I have had to "self rescue" by grabbing a mooring ball or sailing into a rocky shoreline where I had to drag the boat "up tide" to safety. Long Island sailors- count your blessings!
Last year, I undertook a major boat project that kept me in the hot sun, on land, and away from the exciting activities [however SS unfriendly they may be] in and around Newport Harbor. In late August, I dropped everything, and gave chase to SS59. After 10 days, she looked like this:
SS59 has been thoroughly gone over, and preserved, but one thing that I compromised on was the mast base. Two of the four original wrought iron through bolts were clearly rotted, so I "sistered" them with Sikaflex and some long stainless steel screws. That was back in the early 1990's and everything was fine. Clearly fine. :-)This past season, I got exactly 3 one hour sailing sessions [to go up against something like 25 hours of preparation work] and each of the sessions was in more wind than I like. An unstayed mast puts a "buttload" of pressure on various and sundry places, and I find too much wind to be nerve wracking. Nevertheless, all went well, even for the final session with wife and youngest daughter when we only sailed over to the boat ramp to get out of the way of an approaching late November storm.
When I got the boat back to safety at home, I did the usual lever lift off the trailer using saw horses and planks [with auto batteries as counterweights]. When I went to flip the boat I did the usual 2"x4" in the mast hole and into the mast base. I had the boat vertical on her rail[ working alone BTW] .
When I went to slip the 2"x 4" out of the way so that I could turn her upside down, the mast base came away from the frames- stuck to the 2' x 4" and NOT attached to the boat!
If that connection had let go while sailing the whole deck would have exploded all over the place and I would be telling a whole different story.
Best wishes for a great season! SS59 will sit this one out while I finish last year's project, and make a new mast base that won't rip away from the frames :-)
Good wind, and happy sailing in your beautiful magic boats.
-Will Tuthill. Jamestown, RI
10/11/10
Late Launch, by Will Tuthill
2 years out of the water is 2 too many. I have been occupied, and was prepared to make it 3 years, but was goaded into action by a friend. Pulled the cover & began the process.
Wash, sand, apply new bottom paint Primer by Fine Paints of Europe made in
FPE primer goes on thick & smooth but powders easily under hand sanding. It blows away the Interlux Sanding Sealer 8087 that is supposedly the "best" sanding sealer. No comparison. Besides, this stuff has body & elasticity.
That is one coat of FPE "Hollandlac" Brilliant Coach Green. Use a cheap 3" roller carriage and a sawed off section of a gray foam roller to apply. This was tipped with a chip brush.
planks between horses support the boat
trailer goes in under the plank
lift bow and tease out the forward plank
but how to get the weight off the aft plank? HA! Easy.
pick it up with a lever. Being alone means using a weight. Gotta love a dead battery for that :-)
Let her down on to the trailer and move.
The whole loading process took about 1 hour. The whole project is up to about 5 hours so far, and with the things that I want to do to the deck, rigging , and stem, I'll hit the 8 hour mark- no problem.
I wonder if I'll get in 8 hours of sailing to match?
"Frankly Scarlet- I don't give a damn"- just using the paints & varnishes & seeing the results is so rewarding that I would be happy with just one sail. SS59 lives!!!!!!!
3/12/10
#125 Restoration Underway
Phil Smyth purchased #125 from Rich Gross in July 2008 at the time of the Centennial. It is currently being restored by Fred Scopinich in East Quoque. Phil expects to have it in the water this summer!
Great photos Phil! Thanks for sharing them with the blog. And kudos to Fred.
Anyone else doing any SS restorations, renovations, over the winter? Feel free to submit your info.
Great photos Phil! Thanks for sharing them with the blog. And kudos to Fred.
Anyone else doing any SS restorations, renovations, over the winter? Feel free to submit your info.
11/13/09
Fate of #57?
Marty Baker writes, “Does anyone know of the location (fate?) of #57? The Day-Rice-Baker boat you now most of the history. Pop sometime in the early to mid 70's gave her to a stranger because she was ‘too old to be any good’.”
10/27/09
Mystery on the Hudson
Another SS “mystery” currently resides at the Hudson River Maritime Museum Kingston New York Hudson River up around Briarcliff Manor. No, this SS was donated to the museum by Bonnie V. Davis, who received it from Sue Morrison Fahey of Crown Point Ticonderoga .
This mystery was brought to our attention by Betsy Brewster, who recently wrote to us and says that Sue Fahey is “extremely interested in tracing her boat and learning about the Centennial Celebration.” Both Betsy and Sue hope that some SS folks may be able to identify either the boat from some details in photos or from the name and recollections of the last owner from Westhampton.
Okay SS sleuths, below are the details that Betsey Brewster recently provided in an email, along with photos of the vessel. Please feel free to share any info here, by using the comments link at the end of this post, or contact Betsey directly at betsybrewster@comcast.net Betsey added “I'm sure some SS folks remember the Morrisons and their boats, know who might have owned the SS before them, and what her number might be. Let's try to give her identity as part of her wonderful history.”
- The SS was donated to HRMM by Bonnie V Davis (Putnum,
- William Morrison, Sue's dad, bought/obtained the SS#? with #53 sails in 1968. Sue does not remember from whom they got the boat. The original Egyptian cotton sails that came with the boat (#53) were a mess, so they had a new dacron suit made in
- William Morrison owned Narrasketuck #99, Sabre, which is listed in Stan Medina's WYS history. Sue Fahey has a copy of the book.
- The Morrisons kept their Elco power boat in Harts Cove/Eastport at a dock east of Nickerson's Boatyard. Sue recalls hawling the Narrasketuck out on a small beach nearby to scrub the bottom before races--she crewed for her dad. She also recalls 'swimming across Harts Cove to Dalmasse's'. She remembers towing the sailboats to the races on Saturdays. And she remembers many family names of WYS people, specially Narrasketuck and SS owners.
haylard holes in deck
"Eye" to trim jib
wide deck plank
tiller to centerboard
starboard view
8/28/09
SS Mystery: What does it stand for?
Those of you who are a part of the SS email community know that recently there was a flurry of activity discussing what exactly the SS stands for (if anything). I counted over 40 emails sent discussing this matter. It is a mystery, and certainly this post will not resolve the question. For the benefit of this blog, and those outside our community who may stumble upon it, here’s a review the discussion, and the possibilities of the abbreviation.
First, we can put to rest a notion that Will Tuthill had to hear from an “expert.” As Will explained, “While I had SS59 at the dock at the
George Carmany provided further clarification. “The Seaford Skiff was indigenous to the west end of
Small Sloop?
Arma "Ham" Andon, age 90, called Meredith Murray to say when he got his SS 92, which was built by Benjamin Hallock, "it was called a small sloop." That’s certainly noteworthy, given the historical significance of knowledge held by one of our elder statesmen of our SS community. Others recall a similar response from elders. Tracy Cast: “As far as my mother can remember (Karin Storer), SS always stood for Small Sloop.” Denise Dalmasse says her family also referred to it as the Small Sloop.
George Sandberg: “Small Sloop - very descriptive of exactly what the boat is.”
Small Sloop certainly seems to be the most fitting piece of the puzzle. But there are others…
Dean Speir: “On the other hand, the Rice family of
George Sandberg: “
Personally I like the nod to
Special Sloop?
Doug Simes: "I recall the letters standing for 'Special Sloop' since the boat was such an early one-design concept. I'm sure it's debatable whether the SS was actually the first one-design class, but that's what I was told when I was a kid."
Meredith: "I love some of the 'I’m-absolutely-sure-it-stands-for ...XX.' My favorite is the opinion of a number of Quogue residents who think SS stands for Shinnecock Sloop. Now I ask you, would Benjamin Hallock from Center Moriches and William Atwater of the Quantuck Yacht Club (soon to be commodore of Quantuck and not long after the commodore of the Westhampton Yacht Squadron), who sent the first couple of dozen SSs to the Westhampton Yacht Squadron in Moriches Bay, name the boat 'Shinnecock Anything'??"
Rob Dudley: "Of the first nine SS boats that hit the water in the summer of 1909, five went to Quantuck and four went to Shinnecock. SS boats didn't go to Westhampton until 1914, when seven went to Westhampton and three to Quantuck. My source for this information is the QYC 75th anniversary booklet written by Gordon Dudley and Cory Reynolds."
Hmmmmmmmm. Nah, can’t be.
Slow Sinking?
Rob Dudley: “Sinking Submarine.” Rob also noted, “There is the old story of when my uncle Gordon asked Ollie Howell what SS stood for and he replied that he ‘guessed old Ben knew,’ referring to Ben Hallock who had passed away.”
Dean Speir: "Then I am compelled to note that Bobby Rice (brother of Martha and Lou) and David Royce (brother of Nancy Fenner), who are eight-nine years senior to Rob, always referred to the boats as 'Sinking Sloops' throughout the mid-to-late '50s."
Sounds like the mystery was alive and well back in the ‘50s, and those who were assigned head bailers pondered the answer.
The Alphabet / Harry S Truman
Merry: “Well, personally, after all my reading I think “SS” stands for nothing, just two letters of the alphabet like the AA class and the BB class and the B class. It was designed by all the guys who sailed the AAs and BBs, so to my mind they might have thought it appropriate to put “SS” on a small sloop. I vote for the alphabet letters SS.” Good enough for Harry S Truman, good enough for the SS.
Still a Mystery
After reading the blogs, Fred & Doris Scopinich say leave it SS. As no one knows for sure, let the mystery remain!
Bob Millstein: “Voting for something doesn't make it so. Since it is a mystery and shall probably remain a mystery I think we should leave it SS - no more and no less. SS - one of the earliest one designs in
Dean Speir: "I'm on the plain 'ol "SS" side of things, and would prefer that it be said that if it actually stood for anything, that the origin of the name is lost in the mist of
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