This V-bottomed daysailer can be shallow or deep drafted.
Designed by Nathanael G. Herreshoff
The Hart Nautical Collections, M.I.T. Museum
The Biscayne's light but strong hull and rig, combined with some outside ballast, make her perform better than most boats of her size.
Whether designed as an AMERICA's Cup defender or the tender for it, each of N.G. Herreshoff's yachts was very carefully thought through, and then critically examined. The comparatively simple skiff presented here is no exception. After studying the fleet of these for their first season, Herreshoff commented, "They have proved a great success, being safe, fast, and able, and they handle beautifully." A dozen of these skiffs were built in 1925 for the Adirondack School, which had a station at Coconut Grove.Originally intended for the shoal Florida waters for which the design is named, this 14-footer is offered in two versions: a shallow-draft, keel-and-centerboard combination, or a deep-draft fixed iron keel. The second version is the easier of the two to build, and better to windward, but the original model will float in a mere foot of water, and, of course, be handier to trailer. In addition to the keel options there are some interesting construction features that put this boat a cut above anything like it-but still within reach of the skills of an amateur builder.
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The Hart Nautical Collections, M.I.T. Museum
Neat boat. Looks a lot like a Snipe with more sheer. Keel is very unusual & no details for the fixed keel.
All in all a very interesting sloop.
The fixed keel is indicated in the solid lines in the construction profile. The ballast keel and centerboard are indicated with dashed lines.