designed By Wm. H. S. Oehrle
The accompanying plans of a 40-foot general purpose fisherman, intended for swordfishing in the summer and dragging during the remainder of the year.
The original plans were prepared for Captain Earl C. Collins of Block Island; the bat was built in the Casco Bay Section of Maine. This yarn properly begins last winter when I stayed at Cliff Collins’ house on Block Island one week-end. During the evening of course we talked about boats, especially fishing boats, and after a while Cliff mentioned that some one had told him I designed boats once in a while, which I admitted, though during the war I was too busy with torpedoes to do any designing. Some time later Cliff added that he was thinking of having a boat built, a fishing boat of course, that two good men could work, just about the limit in size on the large side. That observation broughf out a few questions about what kind of fishing he intended to do, and that led to how big she should be, and so on and on; till we hunted up a pencil and a ruler and some paper and made a night of it. Cliff and I both feel that a good boat for our waters off the southern New England shore ought to have ample draft, with deep reverse frames aft, to be fairly sharp forward, with long easy buttocks aft, and if she’s to go dragging in the winter enough bulk to her quarters so she can bring in a fare of fish without settling too much by the Stern. Some weeks later I sent over some sketches of a small dragger type boat just under 40 feet long, with a small forecastle, large wheelhouse, separate engine room, etc., and asked what be thought of them. The answer came back with a request that I quit stalling and get to work on the building plans as he wanted to get her started. Finally I took a roll of blueprints over to his place and we had another evening of discussion, mostly about details and rigging as Cliff and his mate pronounced the hull just about right. These plans show a boat whose hull form, size, rig, and layout have been critically examined and passed on by some experienced fishermen, and a number of builders. One old-timer down in Maine who bid on her construction said the plans were 99 per cent perfect for a boat of this type, but he may have exaggerated a trifle. She was designed to be the largest boat two good men can work efficiently, a better than average sea boat, and a fairly good carrier. The hull form was not developed to get the greatest possible hold capacity, which might be an advantage in an out-and-out dragger; but to be easily driven, an advantage when swordfishing, at the same time retaining sufficient hold capacity to show a profit during the winter when she will have to go dragging or tie up. Considerable thought has been expended in an attempt to get a boat that can be driven home against a northwesterly winter gale without pounding hard or shipping much water to freeze on deck. Construction is strong, but not exceptionally heavy, although the deck and deck framing over the hold will seem enormous to most yachtsmen. The deck over the holds is the working space on a fisherman, and when he’s dragging in the winter the bunt of his trawl may weigh a couple of tons; he hauls it aboard over the side, lets it swing inboard and drops it on deck; and anything not built to take it soon carries away.
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