The cruising sloop Prudence, 1937
Designed by L. Francis Herreshoff
Adapted in part from various sources, including The Rudder, September 1942. [1]
The Prudence is an interesting design (# 71, first built 1937) of a small cruising sloop by L. Francis Herreshoff of Marblehead, Massachusetts. She is 22 feet 9 inches overall, 19 feet 9 inches on the water, 8 feet beam, 3 feet draft and has a displacement of 6,888 pounds,
Two of these boats have been built by the Quincy Adams Yacht Yard of Quincy, Massachusetts. Others were built singly elsewhere. Reports from owners show that the little craft is able, weatherly and fast. They were designed for use without motor, and a five horsepower outboard motor with extension is recommended, However, inboard installation of a Gray Sea Scout or smaller power plant is shown and has been utilized in a number of these boats.
She has a lead keel of 3,150 pounds and can carry her modern rig in almost any kind of weather. The cockpit is large for a boat of her size, with comfortable transom seats over six feet long. The floor is nearly three feet below the cockpit coaming, an essential to the safety of the younger members of the family. The. deck- house is ten feet long, with two hatches, four windows and an opening port on the forward side. In the cabin are two pipe berths and possible arrangement for shipmate and toilet is shown. The forepeak is accessible through the forward hatch for storing anchor rode or other gear.
As built by the Quincy Adams Yacht Yard she was planked with mahogany, bronze screw fastened to 1¼ inch by 1¼ inch oak frames spaced 12 inches, and decked with ⅝ inch pine canvas covered on 1 inch by 1¾ inch oak deck beams.
The second illustration shows construction details for further study.
The little vessel is reported to be a fast sailer in a light breeze and extremely able in rough weather.
The Prudence was later built by Middleton Marine, Florida, including some hulls in fiberglass. This yard closed around 2006.
Footnotes:
[ Back ] Footnote 1: The article in The Rudder (September 1942, pp. 32-34) mentions neither the name Prudence nor design #71. This is surely because the original drawings did not show the potential placement for an inboard engine, with a shaft offset to port of the deadwood, for a propeller "Hyde 12 inch diameter; 2 blade for small, 3 blade for big engine." [Ed.]