Herreshoff 12 1/2 is a 15′ 9″ / 4.8 m monohull sailboat designed by Nathaniel G. Herreshoff and built by Cape Cod Shipbuilding, Quincy Adams Yacht Yard, and Herreshoff Mfg. Co. between 1914 and 1948.
- Designer
- Nathaniel G. Herreshoff
- Associations
- The Herreshoff Registry
- Herreshoff Marine Museum
- Herreshoff Legacy: An MIT Museum Project
- # Built
- 400
- Hull
- Monohull
- Keel
- Long
- Rudder
- Transom hung
- Construction
- Wood
Dimensions
- Length Overall
- 15′ 9″ / 4.8 m
- Waterline Length
- 12′ 6″ / 3.8 m
- Beam
- 5′ 10″ / 1.8 m
- Draft
- 2′ 5″ / 0.8 m
- Displacement
- 1,250 lb / 567 kg
- Ballast
- 730 lb / 333 kg (Lead)
Rig and Sails
- Type
- Gaff-Sloop
- Reported Sail Area
- 140′² / 13 m²
- Total Sail Area
- ?
Mainsail
- Sail Area
- ?
- P
- ?
- E
- ?
- Air Draft
- ?
Foresail
- Sail Area
- ?
- I
- ?
- J
- ?
- Forestay Length
- ?
Auxilary Power
- Make
- ?
- Model
- ?
- HP
- ?
- Fuel Type
- ?
- Fuel Capacity
- ?
Accomodations
- Water Capacity
- ?
- Holding Tank Capacity
- ?
- Headroom
- ?
- Cabins
- ?
Calculations
- Hull Speed
-
5.0 kn
Classic: 4.74 kn
Hull Speed
The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.
Formula
Classic hull speed formula:
Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL
A more accurate formula devised by Dave Gerr in The Propeller Handbook replaces the Speed/Length ratio constant of 1.34 with a calculation based on the Displacement/Length ratio.
Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio.311
Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL
- Sail Area/Displacement
-
19.3
Sail Area / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.
Formula
SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64)2/3
- SA: Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
- D: Displacement in pounds.
- Ballast/Displacement
-
58.7
>40: stiffer, more powerful
Ballast / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.
Formula
Ballast / Displacement * 100
- Displacement/Length
-
285.7
200-300: moderate
Displacement / Length Ratio
A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.
Formula
D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
- LWL: Waterline length in feet
- Comfort Ratio
-
13.6
<20: lightweight racing boat
Comfort Ratio
This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.
Formula
Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam1.33)
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
- LWL: Waterline length in feet
- LOA: Length overall in feet
- Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet
- Capsize Screening
-
2.2
>2.0: better suited for coastal cruising
Capsize Screening Formula
This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.
Formula
CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)
- Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
Notes
The original boats were built by Herreshoff Manufacturing beginning in 1914 (357).
From 1943 to 1948, more were built by Cape Cod Shipbuilding (34 + 200, later in fiberglass), as well as the Quincy Adams Yacht Yard (51).
Cape Cod Shipbuilding came out with the BULLSEYE, built of fiberglass, with a similar hull but a different rig.
The DOUGH DISH, (one of the many nicknames previously associated with the class)is a faithful rendition of the 12 1/2, first built in 1972 of fiberglass by Doughdish Inc., of which 575 were built. They have been recognized and approved by the class to race on equal footing with the remaining, original wood boats.
Class rules permit a spinnaker of 140 sq. ft.
