Herreshoff Nereia Ketch Almitra

.......a sailor sails to within earshot and hollers, “She’s beautiful, what design is she?”..........

The Herreshoff Nereia Ketch Almitra is an ever so  slightly altered version of L. Francis Herreshoff’s  cruising ketch “Nereia”. Designed in 1947, as one in a series of the Rudder Magazine’s “How to Build” series, the Nereia/Almitra is a real little ship. (please refer also to the 22 page “How to Build” reprint in  Sensible Cruising designs, ISBN 0-87742-298-2) She points nicely, reaches like a tank, sails well on all points, and is very comfortable in a seaway. The design is, other than the blessed changes,  faithful to Herreshoff’s vision. The slight alterations amount to a few inches of extra freeboard, and an 18” extension to the stern, resulting in a classic Herreshoff transom. Herreshoff himself blessed these changes, offering that she would look better. And she does. For the past 33 years we have been “flooded” with compliments from sailors everywhere on how beautiful she looks. Construction started in 1969, and she was rigged in 1972.  She has been sailed every year but one ever since. Please enjoy the following inventory  and anecdotes of her experiences and outfittings.

Almitra Slide Show Almitra Pictures

Hull:

~ reinforced concrete with powder skim-coat, with an exterior finish of quality often taken for a fine built wood  or fibreglass yacht. The very fair hull and finish have 4 coats red oxide primer, and annual polyurethane white paint.

~ fore, side, bridge and after decks of reinforced concrete.

~ “rub rail:” and taff rail cap: Cetoled, laminated mahogany

~ ballast: approximately 11,500lbs internal lead

Many, many times, we have been approached by sailors asking as to her design and construction. We always oblige such requests, offering her design pedigree. To the uneducated, they are usually surprised and somewhat disbelieving to learn that she is of concrete construction.  The inquirers remain so until such time as they rap their knuckles on her fair and smooth hull.

Cabin and Cockpit construction:

~ fibreglassed multiple layers of fir plywood, painted biannually

~ mahogany handrails, Cetoled annually.

~ interior, acrylic painted as required.

Rig: the rig is true to Herreshoff’s specifications.

~ resourcinal glued sitka spruce box masts, spar varnished annually.

~ bronze tangs and hardware, stainless screwed.

~ spreaders: oak with brass reinforcement at the bolts

~ standing rigging: originally galvanized wire, currently 2/3 replaced with stainless of matching strengths, Norseman fittings at the turnbuckles, and swaged aloft.

~ turnbuckles:  bronze for the main and bowsprit, stainless for the mizzen.

The rig has been tested in many conditions. ......While sailing in moderate breezes with full canvas, (140% genoa), the breeze picked up to 25-30, gusting to 50 knots. We were sailing a close reach in 6’ seas with all this canvas up, really, just roaring through it all, rail down, great noise and spray everywhere.....nothing broke or tore....a very exhilarating and memorable ride! As well she has sailed largish seas in Lake Huron, and the nastiness of Lake Erie, all without any failures.

Sails:

~ working jib and mizzen, 1972, cut by R.B. Stevens, Lunenberg, Nova Scotia. Mizzen sail is getting close to it’s lifespan. Working jib is still a very good sail.

~ Genoa,  1999, 170%, by Kingston Sail Loft, on roller furling.

~ Mainsail, 2002, by Kingston Sail Loft. (one set of slab reefing points) This new, fully battened sail has a  shape, considered by it’s maker “ to be one of the best he has cut”.

~ Mizzen staysail, cut by the Owner gives that extra canvas needed in light airs.

Running Rigging:

~ ash faced, spar varnished, bronze strapped, bronze roller bearing blocks. By Merriman for the mizzen, and A. Dauphinee of Lunenberg for the main.

~ heavy duty snatch blocks for running backstays by Merriman and Dauphinee

~ most sheets are relatively new and are of Dacron.

~ halyards are of stainless wire, spliced to rope. (2 of 4 ropes could use replacement)

~ winches: 3-  6:1 Lewmar winches with ratcheting handles.  3 halyard winches: 2 speed winches for the main and mizzen halyards and a large bronze winch for the headsails.1 small Gibb winch on the main boom for reefing.

Mechanicals:

~ engine: Perkins 4-99 (99ci 4 cyl diesel- 1970. (We have all manuals)

~ cooling system:  isolated heat exchanger, seawater cooling engine antifreeze

~ gearbox: hydraulic drive:....PRM.......................

~ Controls: combined throttle, fwd/reverse, Morse control at the wheelhouse

~ exhaust system: cooling water injected into custom made aqua lift, exhausted thru’ exhaust grade flexible pipe, thru’ hull at transom.

~ fuel tanks: 2 vinylester fibreglass,1 under floor 25gal +-, 1 under cockpit floor (as yet unconnected) about 35 gal. 2 filters, I primary under floor with water separator, and 1 secondary on engine.

~  flexible coupling rebuilt (1999)between transmission and shaft. (prop is offset per Herreshoff)

~ shaft and prop.  stainless steel shaft, fixed 3 blade bronze, 16 x18pitch

~ refrigeration: by E-Z Kold, compressor with holding plate in LARGE “icebox”. (198...) Controlled by 60 minute spring switch.

The engine is a sturdy machine, and has been maintained. She was partially rebuilt in 1981, (after an oil leak) and since then has had annual changes of oil, filters and antifreeze. The valves were recently reset and gaskets replaced. Water pump impeller replaced  in the mid 80’s.

This engine is typical of old Perkins engines. For an engine of her size and vintage she is as noisy, hot, and as aromatic as you might expect from a diesel. While the engine box has acoustic lead lining/ fibreglass etc., the forward 2 panels could use replacement or rebuilding to create a better seal from the boat’s interior. Having said the above, the sound of the Perkins running imparts great confidence, she sounds like she will run forever......just that infinite diesel sound.

~ the 4-99 was made in such quantities world wide, that access to parts is quite easy.

~ Steering: hydraulic steering by Wagner Engineering. Pump is enclosed in a mahogany “wheel house”, totally refinished in 2002. The steering is very sturdy to say the least, and the helmsman can leave his post and the steering will not waiver. The tradeoff of such steadfastness is of course, reduced sensitivity to weather helm etc.

Electricals:

~ 2- 12V 650 amp batteries on 1, 2 or “both” switch.

~ automotive alternator, automatic, or manually switched on.

~ 12V DC aircraft switches to: water pumps, propane solenoid, refrigeration, port and starboard running and interior lights, radios, navigation etc. Secondary panel partially installed (with the intent of centralizing switching for exterior electricals.)

~ exterior p/s running lights.

~ (masthead, foredeck, stern and compass lights still to be connected)

~ separate switches for engine preheater, starter

~ instrumentation: oil pressure, water temperature, battery charge/discharge

~ Seafarer depth sounder and knotmeter

Ground Tackle:

~2 anchors, 35 lb Danforth typechain,and 150’ of 3/4” twisted nylon line, 75lb Herreshoff “Fishermans”  with 150’ of 3/4” twisted nylon line. At anchor, Almitra is very quiet and moves very slowly with the winds. With her sitka spruce masts and her lines tied back, she, unlike her aluminum masted cousins is quiet, offering peaceful sleeping conditions.

~ nylon mooring and spring lines.

Accommodations:

~ the interior is of lauan mahogany veneered ply with buffing sealer finsh, and is trimmed out in cherry. Floors: fir ply with strip cherry and maple inlay, polyurethane finish.

~ 6’3” standing headroom.

~ berths, 4. 2 - 6’6” x 3’ saloon berths. and 2- 7’ quarter berths, all with 4” upholstered foam cushions

~ galley: 3 burner/oven propane gimbaled “..Shipmate................” stove, propane switch

~ 2  lockers for pots and dry good plus storage under stove

~ bank of 4 drawers for galley storage

~ dish racks for full set of 6 dishes.

~ approx  8 sq. ft. of clear counter space plus fold up leaf, plus 9sf on top of ice box

~ stainless steel sink, foot pump.

~ cherry saloon table with 4 drawers, 2 fold down leafs

~ head: Brydon Boy w/c with hand-pump to holding tank, separate valve (unconnected) for discharge to sea.

~  Head sink: Monel (rescued from old passenger train) with electric water pump

~  4 drawers in head plus ample shelving

~ Storage: 3 easily accessible hanging lockers + room for further storage in as yet “undeveloped” spaces beside icebox and in the forepeak.

~ in cabin heater: “Force 10” kerosene heater.

Tankage:

~ Water tanks: 3. all under floor, totalling about 75 gal. 2 tanks, food grade stainless steel, the third, fibreglass. Tanks have separate outlets, piping is plastic.

~ Holding tank: 15 gal approx. new in 1997, fibreglass under head floor.

Navigation:

~ GPS: hand held unit by “Micrologic”

Other Goodies:

~ Broil King “Porta Chef” propane BBQ, in the lazarette.

~ Stereo: “Craig” AM/FM cassette with 2 speakers. (Cassette part needs repair)

Sailing Performance:

Almitra sails well. With her new main and large genoa, she points well in light airs. Off the wind she sails very well, putting her 33’ waterline to work. She will reach hull speed in 10 knots of wind.

She reaches with power and grace, and in a sea, her hollow foresections throw the water and is, generally a dry ride. One has to admire the genius of the Herreshoff legacy, combining beautiful looks and fine cruising qualities. As a good cruising yacht should, she tracks well, holds her course, and has a balanced rig. Reefing is seldom required. The ketch rig provides ample opportunity to douse a sail, when the wind causes too much leeway or an uncomfortable passage. This Herreshoff ketch is stiff,  seldom has her rail under, and handles all wind conditions with great confidence.

For further details and pricing please email normax@cohrs.ca