Latest
- Right Wing Stuff
- "We'll make them do their jobs better."
- It's a Modern World
- Shaken or Stirred? The debate rages on ...
- Raised in Northeast Texas
- MDM Makes the Post
- With a passion, I hate house renovation.
- Emails 'pose threat to IQ'
- Best of Dos or Don'ts from Vice Magazine
- Cruise Life
Best of
Archives
- July 2004
- November 2004
- December 2004
- January 2005
- February 2005
- March 2005
- April 2005
- May 2005
- June 2005
- July 2005
- August 2005
- September 2005
- October 2005
- November 2005
- December 2005
- January 2006
- February 2006
- March 2006
- April 2006
- May 2006
- June 2006
- July 2006
- August 2006
- September 2006
- October 2006
- November 2006
- December 2006
- January 2007
- February 2007
- March 2007
- April 2007
- May 2007
- June 2007
- July 2007
- August 2007
- September 2007
- October 2007
- November 2007
- December 2007
- January 2008
- February 2008
- March 2008
- April 2008
- May 2008
- June 2008
- July 2008
- August 2008
- September 2008
- October 2008
- November 2008
- December 2008
- January 2009
- February 2009
- March 2009
- April 2009
- May 2009
- June 2009
- July 2009
- August 2009
- September 2009
- October 2009
- November 2009
- December 2009
- January 2010
- February 2010
- March 2010
- April 2010
- June 2010
- July 2010
- September 2010
- October 2010
- November 2010
- December 2010
- January 2011
- February 2011
- March 2011
- June 2011
- July 2011
- August 2011
- September 2011
- November 2011
- July 2012
- October 2012
Blanketing opinions that I'll probably regret soon.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Genius
Rowdy
Originally uploaded by lonniebruner.
"Genius" is an abused term. Most people who are called geniuses can hardly be considered such. With that disclaimer, I'd like to point out someone who really was a genius. His name was Nathanael Herreshoff and he was the designer of the above boat, The Rowdy (1916).
And hey, The Rowdy's for sale on ebay if you've got $975,000.00 to spare.
Here's Nathanael Herreshoff's resume in brief:
1) Designed and built five winning America's Cup yachts ( Vigilant - 1893, Defender - 1895, Columbia - 1899, Columbia - 1901, Reliance - 1903, Resolute - 1920. He sailed them as well, earning a reputation as a most proficient and skilled helmsman. Additionally, he built the winning cup yachts Enterprise - 1930, and Rainbow - 1934 (designed by Starling Burgess). In short, every winning America's Cup Yacht from 1893 to 1934 was built by Herreshoff!
2) Designed well over 2000 craft and produced more than 18,000 drawings. Between 1890 and 1938, the number of yachts he designed that won the Astor Cup, Puritan Cup and Kings Cup outnumbered the winning yachts by all the other yacht designers combined. An almost unbelievable accomplishment!
(3) Built the first torpedo boats for the United States Navy.
(4) Invented the streamline-shaped bulk and fin keels.
(5) Developed the overhangs on sailing yachts to allow longer lines and greater stability.
(6) Developed the first light steam engine and fast torpedo boats.
(7) Developed nearly all of the methods of constructing light wooden hulls.
(8) Invented the crosscut sail with cloths running at right angles to the leech.
(9) Designed more types of steam engines than anyone else.
(10) Developed light hollow steel spars combined with scientific rigging.
(11) Developed the flat stern form of steam yachts capable of being driven at high speed/length ratios.
(12) Designed the first folding propeller.
(13) Designed below deck winches.
(14) Developed the method of splicing rope to wire.
(15) Received the first U.S. Patent on catamaran sailboats.
Web Counters