Fluke — Herreshoff Fish Class

Fluke is one of the beloved Fish Class one-designs built by Herreshoff Manufacturing Co (HMCo.) between 1916 and the closing of the company in 1938. They are an enlarged 12½ with a short cabin top and bulkhead providing additional hull structure to resist torsional loads and a dry place to stow some gear. The 12½, the Fish, and the Marlin (essentially a Fish with extended house top and rudimentary interior) were all built from the same half model, HMCo. Model 716, with a total of 409 documented builds of the three classes.

As sometimes happens, someone has absconded with Fluke’s bronze builder’s plate at some point in her nearly 100-year life. Based on our research, she is believed to have been built around 1930. The first batch of 26 boats built in 1916 and 1917 were delivered to Sewanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club with gaff rigs and painted cedar sheer plank. In 1925 the Warwick Country Club ordered three boats followed by six more the following year. These nine WCC boats carried a Marconi rig and varnished molded oak sheer planks. Subsequent orders for Fish are sporadic and not well documented. They were placed individually and likely varied in rig and sheer plank configuration. Fluke carries the later Marconi rig and a cedar sheer plank. We believe this indicates that she was built between the last of the Warwick boats, HMCo. #977s in 1926, and a later Fish, HMCo. #1379s in 1936. A photo of 1379s shows her with molded sheer plank. There is the possibility that Fluke is one of the original SCYC cedar sheer boats with a Marconi conversion, but without the builder’s plate there is no way to know with certainty.

Fluke has been lovingly owned and maintained by the same knowledgeable marine industry professional for more than 30 years. Until very recently, she went in every season. During this time, she has received the attention that she deserves (new weather decks, forward halves of garboards, some floor timbers, and other work). There is very little that she still needs, but after 100 years there will almost always be something on the list.

She sits on a wood storage cradle and conveys with mast, boom, jib boom, standing and running rigging, a main and jib, and some loose gear and equipment. All is in average and usable condition. She’ll need to swell before she leaves the slings due to being dry for a couple of seasons.

There won’t be any more HMCo-built boats. If you’re looking for something to deliver just a bit more comfort and capability than a 12½ and you want the Herreshoff history without a full restoration regimen, then Fluke may be exactly what you seek.

Principal Dimensions and Information

• LOA: 21’0”
• LWL: 16’0”
• Beam: 7’1”
• Draft: 3’1”
• Sail Area: 271 sq ft
• Displacement: 2,976 lbs
• Construction: Cedar on oak, bronze fastenings
• Built: circa 1930