Herreshoff 12½: Shrimpo
Shrimpo with her new cover
Boat Type
Location
Year Built
1914-1943
Beam
6’ 2”
LOA (Length Overall)
15’ 10”
Boat Plans
Project Sponsors
Collector’s Foundation, IMLS American Heritage Preservation Grant
Website Link
Oral History
The Herreshoff 12 ½ was designed by Nathaniel G. Herreshoff in 1914 and built in his shop (Herreshoff Manufacturing Company) in Bristol, Rhode Island until 1943. During that time (364) 12 ½ wooden hulls were built, including our Shrimpo, which is Hull # 1086. Nathaniel G. Herreshoff was known for designing 5 of the 6 racing sloops that consecutively won the America's Cup championship sailing as defenders. In addition to the America's Cup defenders, Herreshoff also designed and built a number of yachts and one class boats including the 12 ½. Due to the popularity of his designs as well as his America's Cup champion sloops, he is not just an East Coast designer but a representative of all-American maritime heritage. It is estimated that of the original 364 wooden hulls only 200 still exist.
Boat Story
The Herreshoff 12 ½ Shrimpo has undergone a comprehensive restoration led by renowned Boatwright Eric Dow of Brooklin, ME. The hull restoration took two years, with participation by two classes of deeply dedicated students, work by CWB's resident Boatwright Jeremy Katich and a number of CWB's volunteers, especially Bob Forman. CWB's dedication to preservation and community involvement with the Shrimpo continued in August 2008 when CWB hosted a class to sew historically appropriate sails, and again in July 2009 when a CWB workshop designed and built a boat cover to protect Shrimpo from Seattle's winter rains. Funding for this boat cover was made possible through an American Heritage Preservation Grant - a special initiative of the Conservation Project Support Program in partnership between the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Bank of America.
Additional Images
