NANTUCKET INDIAN Specifications:
LOA: 21’2″ / 6.45m – LOD: 21’2″ / 6.45m – LWL: 16’2″ / 4.93m – Beam: 6’5 / 1.96m – Draft: 1’6 / 0.46m – Ballast: 400 lbs – Displacement: – Sail Area: 222 sq ft – Design Number: 398 – Hull material: Wood construction – Rig: Jibheaded Sloop – Designer: Alden – Built by: George L. Chaisson, Swampscott, Massachusetts – Year Designed: 1929 – Restored By: – Current Name: – Original Owner: – Contract Cost: $750.00
Historical:
Conceived by Buell P. Mills, and other members of the Nantucket Yacht Club. Designed for use on Nantucket Sound and Kennebunkport, Maine. As many as 22 boats were built for Nantucket, 5 plus or minus remaining today.
Comments
Kenneth Rolt – August 1, 2020
The Alden plans for a Swampscott Dory, later known as an Indian, as based on the formal Massachusetts Bay Indian Class formed in 1926 and first raced in 1927, are at MIT Museum, the custodian for them after Alden’s firm closed: http://www.aldendesigns.com/
AND they are available through Wooden Boat: https://www.woodenboatstore.com/coll…aysailer-plans
The Wooden Boat source might be more reliable due to COVID-19, nevermind that the MIT Museum was in the process of moving into a new building.
I have also read that it was Crocker that actuallly drew the plan(s) but I don’t have them yet so I cannot confirm that.
There are several versions. Alden Indian design #148 which a centerboard (CB) lapstrake design using a depth-tapering skeg that leads gradually into a vertical-shaft rudder. Another variation was #293 using a full keel, 9″ longer and 3’10” draft (up from 1’6″). A third version was #398 for the Nantucket Indians — I have read that these were carvel-planked but were otherwise dimensionally the same and also used a CB. So the “yard number” listed isn’t correct, but these design numbers are.
Gaff-rigging on “new” Indian builds were probably extinct by 1927. I know my grandfather (and dad) built spars for Indians but I don’t recall them ever working on a gaff design. It was always Marconi. I believe some of the original drawings did have a gaff rig. HTH.