Lucky us - The Common Sense of Yacht Design... online!

[Jackdaw]

OffCenterHarbor.com has just released a beautiful e-book of The Common Sense of Yacht Design — the iconic book on yacht design by L. Francis Herreshoff. This book has long been out-of-print, and goes for $150+ on eBay. They’ve done a nice job presenting it in a high-resolution flipbook format, so it’s easy to read, and you can browse through over 390 photographs, plans, and designs in detail.

While the link is designed for Sailing Anarchy minions, I'm saving you the trouble of venturing there. You can click here to sign up to get instant access to the full Volume 1 of the two-volume set. Sign up for membership of Off Center Harbor and get access to the full two-volume set, plus several more classic maritime books that are out-of-print.


https://www.offcenterharbor.com/sa-1801-csyd/

 

[dlochner]

Haven't had the chance to look at Herreshoff's book, but I can vouch for OCH. A top notch site for aficionados of classic boats, especially wooden boats. Take the tour here: https://www.offcenterharbor.com/tour/

 

[Will Gilmore]

I have a copy of that book. Read it in junior high thru high school with dreams of becoming a naval architect.

- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[jwing]

Herreshoff's yachts sure are pretty, but he was not constrained by modern design objectives. For examples, read his takes on headroom ("...not as important as some people suppose...with a little practice you can accustom yourself down to 3 feet six inches..."), berths (..."all berths that are wide or have to stay level on top are also definitely out. The pipe berth...has none of these disadvantages"), toilets ("I much prefer a wooden pail to a pump water closet"), electricity ("If you think about it long enough you will make a design for living at sea which has neither kilowatt hours or ohms of resistance."). Hereshoff worked when yachting was a manly sport and women did not have time for leisure, what with all the cookin' and cleanin' to do at the house.

I'd rather sail with my gal in a less pretty, but comfortable, cruiser than with the guys in a Herreshoff.

 

[Bosman]

Interesting. I am currently waiting for this book to arrive: https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Yacht-Design-Lars-Larsson/dp/0071826408

 

[Jackdaw]

Interesting. I am currently waiting for this book to arrive: https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Yacht-Design-Lars-Larsson/dp/0071826408

While the the authors are not nearly as famous, that book is the modern equivalent of LFH's book.

Sad you have to wait. Amazon says I can have it today (free shipping) before 9PM! ;^)

 

[Jackdaw]

Herreshoff's yachts sure are pretty, but he was not constrained by modern design objectives. For examples, read his takes on headroom ("...not as important as some people suppose...with a little practice you can accustom yourself down to 3 feet six inches..."), berths (..."all berths that are wide or have to stay level on top are also definitely out. The pipe berth...has none of these disadvantages"), toilets ("I much prefer a wooden pail to a pump water closet"), electricity ("If you think about it long enough you will make a design for living at sea which has neither kilowatt hours or ohms of resistance."). Hereshoff worked when yachting was a manly sport and women did not have time for leisure, what with all the cookin' and cleanin' to do at the house.

Oh for sure, you have to take that book in its historical context. While some of the design principles are still valid, none of it is state of the art, or even a current best practice. Its like reading a book that Glenn Curtiss would have written on airplane design.

 

[DArcy]

Interesting. I am currently waiting for this book to arrive: https://www.amazon.com/Principles-Yacht-Design-Lars-Larsson/dp/0071826408

That is a great book, I have a previous addition and it is really a great read if you have any interest in yacht design.

 

[CloudDiver]

Thanks for the tip, should be a great read... You think he'll cover foiling Cats is volume 2?

 

[Bosman]

Sad you have to wait. Amazon says I can have it today (free shipping) before 9PM! ;^)

You know Canada - Igloos, winter, -40C, everything takes time at this time of the year ;-) There is a reason it is called the Great White North

 

[Bosman]

That is a great book, I have a previous addition and it is really a great read if you have any interest in yacht design.

Good to know. I look forward digesting the book during the hard water season.

 

[Jackdaw]

You know Canada - Igloos, winter, -40C, everything takes time at this time of the year ;-) There is a reason it is called the Great White North

Kinda cool here too..... ;^) Just means that they have a copy at the gigantic regional logistics center just south of the Twin Cities. Their big-data algorithms keep the place stocked with things they figure are reasonable to ship to TC customers same-day via Amazon Now. Its amazing how much 'smarter' they have gotten in the last year of operation.

 

[Sandy Stone]

Herreshoff's yachts sure are pretty, but he was not constrained by modern design objectives. For examples, read his takes on headroom ("...not as important as some people suppose...with a little practice you can accustom yourself down to 3 feet six inches..."), berths (..."all berths that are wide or have to stay level on top are also definitely out. The pipe berth...has none of these disadvantages"), toilets ("I much prefer a wooden pail to a pump water closet"), electricity ("If you think about it long enough you will make a design for living at sea which has neither kilowatt hours or ohms of resistance."). Hereshoff worked when yachting was a manly sport and women did not have time for leisure, what with all the cookin' and cleanin' to do at the house.

I'd rather sail with my gal in a less pretty, but comfortable, cruiser than with the guys in a Herreshoff.

Yeah, I have a copy of that book, and there are quite a few non-politically-correct opinions expressed in it. It also includes the famous reference to 'frozen snot', IIRC. But it is a fascinating historical document.