SS Sloop

[Larry P.]

Well after 20 years without a wooden boat, 8 years of dreaming about building one, and 4 years of looking for a restoration project, and a couple of years lurking the forum, success at last.
I found a boat that I've wanted since I was a kid.
it's an SS Sloop, built locally here on long Island, she is a real beauty.

16' gaff rig.

She's in preety good shape, a couple of ribs need sistering (or replacement I haven't decided yet).

I found out she was built in 1928. My 3 year old son is already in love with it and SWMBO seems alright so far even a little excited.

I should have some pics soon that I'll post later.
If anyone has any info on this class I'd like to hear it.

Thanks
Larry P.


If God had wanted fiberglass boats he would have made fiberglass trees. :D

[holzbt]

Hello Larry,
I just bought SS #100 last weekend, it only took me 25 years to find one for sale. Mine needs major surgery (like every other boat I've ever owned). I repaired the centerboard trunk and reframed and replaced the deck on one from East Moriches last year and the Long Island Marine Museum built a new one several years ago. There are still several dozen boats racing from West Hampton Yacht Squadron and there is a class association. One of the carpenters rebuilding the "Prisilla" at the LIMM just gave someone a quote to build a new one but I have not heard if he got the job. "Early One Design Sailboats" by Diana Eames Esterly has a chapter about them with some photo's. I'd like to hear more about your boat and come take a look some day.
Regards,
Roger

[ 05-15-2002, 11:17 PM: Message edited by: holzbt ]

[ken mcclure]

Sometimes it's important to see other people's dreams being realized. It keeps my hopes and spirits up.

Congratulations and thanks. I'm getting almost as much kick out of this as you are!

[Nicholas Carey]

The Yellow Pages:

Sparkman & Stephens, Inc.
529 Fifth Avenue, 14th floor
New York, NY 10017
Telephone:
(212) 661-1240 (Design)
(212) 661-6170 (Brokerage)
(212) 661-1235 (Fax)
info@sparkmanstephens.com
http://www.sparkmanstephens.com

They can sell you a set of plans, they can tell you who the boat was originally built for. etc. They can help with the restoration and any modifications (for a suitable fee, of course).

[holzbt]

I don't think Sparkman and Stephens will be much help. The SS class sloop was modelled and built about 1905 by Ben Hallock of Center Moriches, NY. No one is really quite sure what SS stands for, some say South Shore, Special Sloop, Super Sloop, etc. The real meaning of the SS designation has unfortunately been lost to time.

[ 05-16-2002, 06:47 AM: Message edited by: holzbt ]

[Art Read]

Just out of morbid curiousity, any idea what kind of figure he came up with on that quote for a new build? Just dug out Ms. Easterly's book to take another look... Looks like a fun boat! Sounds like it's rather "challenging" to stay dry though? Any flotation built into the design, or does the lack of a ballast keel make it unecessary?

[holzbt]

No idea what the quoted price was but I'll try to find out. These boats will swamp but not sink- a nice feature of an unballasted wooden boat. These boats are extemely wet, most have bailers installed in their bottoms. They will plane off under the right conditions but they also have a tendency to sail through the short steep chop found in the shallow bays of the south shore. Almost all the boats now have a V shaped spray coaming on the fore deck that is not shown on the plans.
Art- Maybe you could scan a photo from the book so others can see what these great little boats look like. I don't have a scanner or digital camera.

[Larry P.]

I'm going to borrow a digital camera from work and take some pics tonight, so if I can figue out how to out them on the forum you can see her.

They really are a fun boat. I used to watch them when I was a kid on Moriches Bay.

Holzbt I know a guy that has done ALOT of research on the SS. He has some pretty cool info on most of the Hull #'s. He's going to send me copies when he does I'll let you know and send some copies on to you.

[jeff pierce]

Originally posted by holzbt:
... No one is really quite sure what SS stands for, some say South Shore, Special Sloop, Super Sloop, etc. The real meaning of the SS designation has unfortunately been lost to time.And here I'd thought Larry had bought himself a stainless steel boat :D

[holzbt]

Hi Larry,
What # is your boat? I would guess somewhere in the 90's and built by Ben Hallock. The photo's in the other post look great. I would like to see your boat some day. Mine has most of a plywood deck left and the hull was glassed in the 1960's but the planking and ribs look very good. I need to replace my keel, CB trunk and deck and could use some info from yours to get the details correct.
Thanks,
Roger

[Jon B]

I grew up in Center Moriches and we owned SS 80. We raced the boat at the CMYC in the late 60s and 70s. I am glad to hear that there is some interest in the class. I would like to see some pictures when you get them. What number is she???

Good luck. Jon B

[Ed Harrow]

She Who Must Be Obeyed. Perhaps popularized by the great barrister Rampol (sp?)

[Dave Fleming]

She Who Must Be Obeyed...
From the H Rider Haggard pot boiler "SHE" made later much later into a movie starring Ursula "undress" Andress...
Later plagerized with great success bye the author/screen writer of' Rumpole of the Bailey".
Damn fine BBC Production, or so says I... ;)