While at the Mystic Seaport ( Museum of America and the Sea) this summer I got to sail on the Breck Marshall. She is a faithful reproduction of a Cape Cod Crosby Catboat, circa 1903. She was built at Mystic Seaport in 1986-1987 using the techniques used in the early 1900s. Her lines were taken off a surviving original Crosby catboat of that era, Tryphaena. She is said to have been built by Charles Crosby sometime around 1900.
The Breck Marshall on August 10, 2005 sailing on the mystic River, Connecticut.
The same day on the recommendation of the gentleman who took me out for the sail (Doug Butler), I bought the book "Building the Crosby Catboat" at the museum bookstore.
This book had a miniature set of plans in the back. I scanned and scaled these plans so that I had a set of lines for a 1/16th scale half-hull model. This will give we a 15" half hull. With the rudder, the model should be about 17 1/2" inches long. On this web page I will detail the building of this model.
Doris M Johnson Contacted me on Nov. 12, 2005 and provided the following photo and information.
Doris writes:
"Your Breck Marshall project is interesting.... You prompted a little nostalgia,
however, since I was reminded on Nov. 1 that the CBA steering committee
had a chance to "test drive" the Breck Marshall shortly after launch on
11-1-1987.
I've attached a photo I took that lovely day. At the tiller is Clark
Poston, who was responsible for much of the boat's construction and who
is now director of the International Yacht Restoration School in
Newport, R.I. Next to him, seated, is Barry Thomas, whose book you've
been reading. On the forward edge of the cockpit is Peter Vermilya,
Mystic's curator of small boats and plans then (don't know his current
title; he is still on staff there). And I don't know why his feet are
in the air!
If you have access to any CBA Bulletins, #85, Spring 1988, has a
