Preview: L. Francis Herreshoff – The Man Behind the Designs

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In the realm of classic boats, the designs and writings of L. Francis Herreshoff make him a crucial, if not seminal figure. Join the discussion as three men who knew him personally help us understand the man behind the work.

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48 Responses So Far to “L. Francis Herreshoff – The Man Behind the Designs”

  • kent lund says:

    What about his involvement in the Model boat hobby at Redds Pond in Marblehead?
    I believe he was the originator of the Marblehead 50/800 model sail boat? thats an
    important part of his legacy.

  • Linda-Beth Juchli says:

    What a magical listen! This interview provided a wonderful glimpse into a L. Francis Herreschoff. His life was illuminated by these 3! Nicely done…made me want for more.
    Thank you

  • Jerry Kirschenbaum says:

    Hello OCH….Maynard…..given the response to the LFH conversation above…..perhaps you fellows might like to consider a new feature called THE GAM….(long ago language for a meeting between seafarers or vessels for a conversation…..not an interview peresay….but a conversation between two or three people not so much about themselves….but some common subject of knowledge…from thing, to memory, to place, to vessel, to person little known or the opposite. Wonderful knowledge and memory is slipping through our mind-fingers every day….and Maynard you and Bill are fine interlocutors. Requirements for the setting are on-the-water, in a boat, a good harbor and coffee.

    • David Tew

      David Tew says:

      In Hearty Agreement here! What fun to sit in on one of your ‘morning meetings’.

  • John Bukowsky says:

    What a beautiful story told by 3 knowledgeable amigos. It inspired me to visit amazon and purchase Roger’s book for a friend who is a young man born 100 years too late. He will appreciate the beauty of LFH’s wonderful mind and his resulting designs.

    Thanks for the inspirational documentary.

  • Wayne Dyment says:

    Fantastic,thank you so much. What a beautiful insight to a man that had so much to offer.

  • David Ray says:

    Thank you for sharing. A great moving story of a legend told by men who knew the man and are legends in thier own right.

  • Rick Clark says:

    Awesome! Mr. Herreshoff had a God given talent. Very relaxing video….and very well done!

  • Peter Gossell says:

    WONDERFUL! I am sure that there are a whole lot of us out there that were also influenced by L Francis Herershoff, I know I was. One of my Treasured books is The Common Sense of Yacht Design. And I can’t wait to read Rogers next installment of L.F.H,s biography.
    Thanks so much.

  • Ralph Morris says:

    Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to sit down with Art Brendze, Roger Taylor and Maynard Bray, as they talk about L Francis Herreshoff.

    As a fan of L Francis, I have helped one friend build an H-28, and another to loft and build a Bounty, the later of which is for sale in Los Angeles Harbor. 57 ft on deck. $100,000.

  • Kaci Cronkhite says:

    What a beautiful conversation… moving, memorable, magical in the best of ways. Thanks OCH for making that happen and sharing it with us and the future. Felt like I was right there with them . <3

  • Robert Mansfield says:

    THANK-YOU…..It was simply Beautiful!!!!!

  • Tony Hoff says:

    Thank you for this video. I emailed it to a friend of mine who used to live on Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia. He had a H28 named ‘Klee Wyck’ which was a joy to sail. It was moored in American River, an estuary on the Island. That name came from the American sealers who were based there in the 19th Century. A dedicated group is building a full size replica of the ‘Independence’ a sailing boat the sealers built at American River.

  • Jim Hansen says:

    Inexplicably, at the end of this, I found myself in tears. Thank you, gentlemen.

  • Robert Vieira says:

    Thank you. This has been priceless – listening to these first hand stories and intimate knowledge of L.Francis Herreshoff has flooded me with many memories. My father talked of L.Francis as a super hero of boat design & practicality, and he knew of all the designers and their boats. He was one of those twenty-year-olds in the forties who read & rereading Rudder magazine, and was always waiting for the next issues of the latest Herreshoff article. His dream was of the H-28 – almost came to fruition. From “Sensible Cruising Designs”, I dreamed of Nereia – though later, I owned & sailed the Meadowlark for a couple of summers. My father became so delighted with the Meadowlark concept that he designed & built two double ended rowing/sailboats with ‘leeboards!’ In his sixties, he turned his boating pursuits to ‘messing about in small boats’. He built several double ended canoes, the first he named, “Wind in the Willows”. We are all a lot richer, and are grateful for L.Francis Herreshoff’s contributions & spirit to boating and for championing ‘common sense’. I believe I’ll dust of my father’s copy of “The Compleat Cruiser” and spend the evening sensibly cruising a fine yacht and in good company.

    • Robert Vieira says:

      Whoops – I meant to say, ” My father built several ‘double-paddle canoes’…. I caught this mistake while looking through another great book by L. Francis Herreshoff, “Sensible Cruising Designs”.
      After this current foray into Herreshoff, I think I’ll request a birthday gift of Mr. Taylor’s recent book, “L.Francis Herreshoff: The Flowering of Genius”. And my birthday is in February! Thanks everyone for the spark & delight.

  • George Conbeer says:

    Well done!
    It is very important to hear and read the experiences and ruminations of those fortunate enough to have touched greatness. What we usually learn is how human they are as they struggle and succeed in bringing their dreams and aspirations into the world.

  • andrew kepert says:

    Very nicely done. I’m moved to learn about such a great man.

    • Lannis Morris says:

      Listening to these 3 men share stories with such emotion and respect for Mr. Herreschoff is a fitting tribute to his legacy. The vast expertise of his God given talents manifested in and through his boatbuilding career is quite exceptional. It really encourages me to know, All of this is possible in spite of his learning disability. I’ve been to the Herreschoff museum in Bristol, and to be around such rarified greatness, is inspiring to me and it motivates me to pursue excellence in the realm I belong to. I’m a backyard boatbuilder and he makes me a dreamer as well. Thanks y’all, good stuff.

  • John Supan says:

    What a lovely video. Enjoyed with hot coffee in my OCH mug.

  • Sean Hogben says:

    So beautiful and easy to manufacture were Araminta’s bronze rig fittings I copied many of them for a 30ft sloop rig I built for a 21ft knockabout. They have not failed in 25 years of hard work and will go the same again I bet. LFH was a master craftsman who visualized and built as an artist, therein lay his talent. Thanks to the three gentlemen who plainly admire LFH greatly, and spoke so perceptively of him.

  • Bill Page says:

    Beautifully done gentlemen, the whole thing – just wonderful in every way.

  • Jon Baldock says:

    Great historical information, It gives me much incentive , Thanks Jon

  • George Lucas says:

    What a treat you gave us. My hero’s swapping stories about an earlier hero of mine.
    Thanks for the idea and for
    sharing it with us.

  • Julian Kuffler says:

    Very nicely done.
    It is good to remember that dyslexia is a type of learning disability, not a living disability. L Francis showed us how to live with a “disability”.
    Thanks
    Julian

  • Bruce Trethewey says:

    L. Francis Herreshoff – greetings Steve & Co > fantastic article , video’s are super > we have our Mahurangi regatta this Saturday 25th IE Auckland Anniversary weekend so will be thinking about you down under last year —-
    anything i can do for you – tell me please \\
    tight lines
    Bruce Trethewey
    Rose House

    • Steve Stone

      Steve Stone says:

      Thanks Bruce. With a foot of fresh snow on the ground here, we’re sure missing the Bay of Islands about now, but it is nice to be home working on videos in the shop next to the wood stove. Check out our article in the Mahurangi Yearbook. Next year…

  • william hunt says:

    My “Rozinante”, Alfalfa , nears 50 and mine since ’77, was built on the north shore of Ontario.
    She astounded me by parallel parking at Little Current with a good current. Ever since a joy to look at and be aboard.
    Thank you for sharing such excellent yarns with us acolytes.

  • owen o'neill says:

    The essence of mentorship conveyed so beautifully. Dreams, rigor, failure, commitment, contentment, beauty. These quiet stories…..lessons shared…. Thank you OHC!

  • Michael Naumann says:

    „Alice“, by NAT Herreshoff and owned by the Hamburg Banker Warburg used to beat the Kaiser‘s „Meteor“ until told to stop it. The son Francis continued the great work. Thank you for this loveley Film!

  • Peter Leach says:

    Very inspiring and wonderful to learn more about L Francis. I have a 50 yr. old H-28 , Limfjord, built by Bent Jespersen in Canoe Cove, B.C.. It is a beautiful, quiet, elegant boat to sail and am honored to be the current steward. More than ‘enough’ !

    • Steve Stone

      Steve Stone says:

      We filmed a video aboard Peter’s H-28 LIMFJORD, and the link is above in “related videos”.

  • William McCaffrey says:

    A small tribute to a wondrous man by 3 men of their own right. Where are the dreamers of today?

  • Howard Hilliard says:

    My friend Stephen L. Clark and I have long appreciated the Herreshoff story. To hear it amplified by these men brings a dimension to it that only the spoken word and first hand experience can add to these exceptional tales. Thanks. HH

  • Gerald Flatz says:

    What an absolutely wonderful tribute. Thank you.

  • Stephen L. Clark says:

    I could listen to these gentlemen discuss boats and boatmen for the rest of my life. What understanding, enthusiasm and skill of conveying the stories for which I remain hungry! The very essence of OCH! Thanks, Steve

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