BB15 / Watch Hill 15

[RT MAN]

I know these are similar who knows the differences?

Rufus

[SNagy]

Herreshoff built 3 types if 15-footers. The Buzzards Bay 15 was the first: 15-foot waterline, 6-9 beam, 2-3 draft plus a centerboard, gaff rig, and a coaming that curves around the front of the cockpit. Shortly thereafter came the Newport 15 ... exactly the same boat but with the keel dropped 6 inches to a 2-9 drfat with board up. They built 11 Watch Hill 15's, delivered to members of the Watch Hill Yacht Club for the 1923 season. These boats had the shallower keel, a marconi rig, a coaming that comes to a point at the front of the cockpit, and an ever-so-slightly higher freeboard. There were also a couple of one-off variations built. Maynard Bray owns Flicker, which is a BB15 with a full keel. All in all, there were 91 15-footers built, of which we have been able to find 31 still in existence.

-Steve Nagy

[RT MAN]

Steve, Do you know of any for sale?

[SNagy]

I just restored a BB15 and sold it last year. They are fast, stable, responsive, and SLIPPERY. What a great boat! Of the 31 still around, a number of them are in need of restoration. I don't know of any that are actively for sale, but I know of a couple (in varying stages of condition) that you could most likely acquire. PM me with your email address and I'll tell you what I know.

[HCR]

Snagy writes:
> ... All in all, there were 91 15-footers built, of which we have
>been able to find 31 still in existence.

Interesting information, thank you very much!

I seem to be able to find only 86:
#503 Buzzards Bay 15
#504 Buzzards Bay 15
#505 Buzzards Bay 15
#506 Buzzards Bay 15
#507 Buzzards Bay 15
#508 Buzzards Bay 15
#509 Buzzards Bay 15
#511 Buzzards Bay 15
#513 Buzzards Bay 15
#516 Newport 15
#518 Buzzards Bay 15
#519 Buzzards Bay 15
#521 Buzzards Bay 15
#525 Newport 15
#526 Newport 15
#527 Newport 15
#528 Newport 15
#535 Newport 15
#540 Newport 15
#543 Newport 15
#544 Newport 15
#550 Buzzards Bay 15
#554 Buzzards Bay 15
#556 Buzzards Bay 15
#557 Buzzards Bay 15
#558 Buzzards Bay 15
#577 Buzzards Bay 15
#584 Buzzards Bay 15
#585 Buzzards Bay 15
#587 Buzzards Bay 15
#588 Buzzards Bay 15
#589 Buzzards Bay 15
#609 Buzzards Bay 15 (possibly)
#645 Buzzards Bay 15
#649 Buzzards Bay 15
#650 Buzzards Bay 15
#651 Buzzards Bay 15
#652 Buzzards Bay 15
#653 Buzzards Bay 15
#654 Buzzards Bay 15
#655 Buzzards Bay 15
#656 Newport 15
#661 Buzzards Bay 15
#662 Buzzards Bay 15
#671 Buzzards Bay 15
#672 Buzzards Bay 15
#673 Buzzards Bay 15
#674 Buzzards Bay 15 modified
#680 Buzzards Bay 15
#683 Buzzards Bay 15
#686 Buzzards Bay 15
#693 Buzzards Bay 15
#700 Buzzards Bay 15
#704 Buzzards Bay 15
#730 Buzzards Bay 15
#731 Buzzards Bay 15
#735 Buzzards Bay 15
#739 Buzzards Bay 15
#740 Buzzards Bay 15
#763 Buzzards Bay 15
#784 Buzzards Bay 15
#785 Buzzards Bay 15
#786 Buzzards Bay 15
#787 Buzzards Bay 15
#810 Buzzards Bay 15
#822 Buzzards Bay 15
#823 Buzzards Bay 15
#882 Watch Hill 15
#880 Watch Hill 15
#881 Watch Hill 15
#883 Watch Hill 15
#884 Watch Hill 15
#885 Watch Hill 15
#886 Watch Hill 15
#887 Watch Hill 15
#888 Watch Hill 15
#889 Watch Hill 15
#890 Watch Hill 15
#919 Newport 15
#920 Newport 15
#981 Newport 15
#997 Buzzards Bay 15
#998 Buzzards Bay 15
#1079 Buzzards Bay 15
#1016 Newport 15
#1017 Newport 15

In addition, #677, #726, #809, #968 may be BB15s, based on their
length.

Can you help solve these discrepancies?

I am also intrigued by your stating that 31 are still in existence.
That is wonderful! I am aware of only 15 survivors:

#513 Hope
#577 Cats Paw
#588 Echo
#649 Toby
#652 Snipe
#673 Rebekah
#674 Flicker
#730 Scoot
#731 Maribee
#787 Elf
#880 Josephine
#883 Thistle
#885 Viking I
#887 Pixie
#1079 Monsoon

Which are the others?

Thank you for any information you can share!

[Oldsalt]

It can get confusing as there were knockoffs designed and built as well. You may come across one of these sloops too:

Westport (Massachusetts) Harbor One Design
William H Hand design #300. At least seven built in 1912 with possibly more.

LOA 24
LWL 15
Beam 7-5
Draft 3-9 (keel)
Ballast 1200 lbs iron with 450lbs lead inside
SA 312 sq ft

Cockpit coaming comes to a point behind the mast similar to the later Watch Hill 15. Sheer has a bit more of a curve as is typical of Hand. They were built in Bristol, Rhode Island for Fall River yachtsmen who summered at Westport.


Also, there is a Crowninshield 15
Designed by B.B. Crowninshield and built by Hodgdon Bros. East Boothbay, Maine, 1916.

LOA 23-6
LWL 15
Beam 6-2
Draft 4 (keel)
SA 265 sq ft

See Fiona for a profile drawing at www.brayprints.com (http://www.brayprints.com/).



Alec Brainerd of Artisans Boatworks www.artisanboatworks.com (http://www.artisanboatworks.com/) showed a new Watch Hill 15 at the Maine Boatbuilders Show in March.

[SNagy]

HCR: PM me with your email address and I can send you some information. I have a rather comprehensive database.

-Steve Nagy