Mower

[joed]

Anyone have any information about Charles Mower, other that what is available at Mystic Seaport? I own a Mower day sailer, Design #697

[Thad]

What information do you want? They probably have most everything there at Mystic SOMEWHERE. Mower grew up in Winthrop, MA, designing and building a very successful boat for himself when he was 17 or 18. He worked in B. B. Crowninshield's office. In 1898 he was commissioned to design a racing dory for the Swampscott Club. In the summer of 1899 he took the job of Design Editor for The Rudder magazine and moved to New York. Later in his career he also had an office in Philadelphia. It is possible that many of his designs are lost. Some are in Philadelphia, either at the Maritime Museum or a library, others at Mystic in their own right or in old Rudder material. His dorys for the Swampscott Club were successful class boats and also inspired other great designs like the Indian. Other small boat designs of his like the Snowbird, and yours too maybe, are still being sailed actively today. He was also the designer of many large sail and power vessels.

[Hwyl]

Google is a wonderful thing, it seems you have an old fishers island one design article here
http://www.glpyc.org/fisher_island_one_designs.htm

and meat of article: by James F.X. Egan
"This was the second fleet of Fishers Island One Designs built for Hay Harbor sailors. According to John P. Gaillard, whose family owned "Swallow," the first fleet of One Designs was built at City Island in 1913. Upon launching, the first fleet was towed up Long Island Sound by Walter Ferguson's steam yacht "Christobel. " Adding the 10 years of the first fleet to the experience of the second fleet, the One Designs have plied the waters of Fishers Island Sound for 83 summers.

The boats were designed by Charles Drown Mower, a naval architect, who spent most of his professional life in New York. In May of 1942, "Yachting" noted that "his was always an artist's approach to his profession." His original plans, or "linens," for the first fleet (Design #1 30) and the second fleet (Design #697) reside in the Mower collection at the Ship's Plans Division of Mystic Seaport. The first fleet was designed before 1910. The builder of the first fleet remains a mystery. John Gaillard wrote that this fleet was constructed at City Island, New York, while Mystic Seaport lists the builder as the Dauntless Yard in Essex, Conn."

[Jon Etheredge]

Some are in Philadelphia, either at the Maritime Museum or a library...
Sounds like Mystic has the plans for your boat but here is some additional info that may interest others...

Independence Seaport (ex Philadelpia Maritime Museum) has a number of original drawings from C.D. Mower. These are from the period when he was associated with Thomas Bowes under the name of Bowes & Mower in Philadelphia.

The drawings are for the most part on sized linen and are fascinating to look at. The use of built up longitudinal girders in boats like the 20' racing sneakbox designs allowed very light scantlings while retaining stiffness. Interesting stuff. There are also some pretty cat rigged daysailers in the bunch as well as larger boats.

[Thad]

Thank you Jon