BoatsHerreshoff 12 1/2

Herreshoff 12 1/2

Gaffhead Sloop · Long Keel w/trans. Hung Rudder · 1914–1948

A legendary gaff-rigged daysailer designed by Nathanael Herreshoff, still actively raced in both wood and fiberglass

Designed by Nathanael G. Herreshoff.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Long Keel w/trans. Hung Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 1.78 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 567 kg of hull, so roughly 1,150 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 567 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draught shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draughtDraws 0.76 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a beamy beam gives 14 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 14
CoastalBluewater

2.17 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.17
LightHeavy

286 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 286
EasygoingPowered-up

19.3 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 19.3
TenderStiff

59% of her weight is ballast — very stiff, carrying full sail in a blow.

Ballast 59%

Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.

  • Narrower than ~89% of boats her size on file

Compared with 37 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
58.8%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Gaffhead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
19.3
Displacement / length
285.7
Comfort ratio
13.7
Capsize screening
2.17
Hull speed
4.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
260
Hull
Hull type
Long keel w/trans. hung rudder
Construction
Wood
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1914–1948
Units built
400
Designer
Nathanael G. Herreshoff
Builder
Herreshoff Manufacturing Co, Cape Cod Shipbuilding

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Jeanneau Cap 5405.40 mSame hull family0.6 m longerA 1986 fractional sloop with a long keel and shallow draft, designed for stable, shoal-water coastal cruising
Delivery and tour, before and after ⛵️ Jeanneau 54 sailboat3:11from Allende los Mares · Vuelta Vertical

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Haven 12 1/2A Joel White redesign of the classic Herreshoff 12 1/2, featuring a centreboard and wider beam for versatile shoal sailingDoughdish Inc. DoughdishA faithful fiberglass replica of the classic Herreshoff 12 1/2, featuring a gaff-rigged sloop sail planHerreshoff Manufacturing Seawanhaka One-DesignA 1916 Nathanael Herreshoff design, this fractional sloop features a long keel and classic lines for one-design racing

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Herreshoff 12 1/2

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