1936 Herreshoff Amphi-Craft on original trailer
Lent by the Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic CT
The mid-1930s was a time of depression era wishful thinking. The thought of taking idyllic road trips in the family car was becoming a possibility for many families. So why not take your small multi-use boat with you? The 1936 ad for the Amphi-Craft say it all:
“This Herreshoff creation will add a new thrill to your weekends and will open up thousands of miles of waterways hitherto inaccessible and will give those who must live in the city a chance to vagabond at will on their holidays at such yachting centers as Newport, Lake Placid, etc., or to fish some secluded mountain stream. Suitable for hunting, ideal for fishing, the camper or picnicker will find countless recreational and practical uses for this all-purpose boat. The center board and adjustable rudder permit the use of the Amphi-Craft in shallow as well as deeper waters.
The AMPHI-CRAFT is thirteen feet over-all and is planked with cedar, copper fastened to steamed oak frames and trimmed with Mexican mahogany. The boat, equipped with the new Herreshoff sprit rig, carries seventy-two square feet of sail. Price $560, complete, including trailer. Motor $55.00 extra.”
The trailer was designed to minimize handling and simplify the fastening required to secure the boat for transportation. The oars, rigging, and gear could be safely secured in the hull with the canvas tarpaulin covering the open cockpit when on the trailer. Marketing the Amphi-Craft complete with the car trailer was a brilliant idea.
The wheels and fenders of the wooden trailer were supplied by the Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Co. in nearby Springfield, Massachusetts. The resulting well-dressed trailer cost Herreshoff nearly as much as the boat to manufacture!
Specifications:
Length Overall: 13’1”
Beam: 4’9’’
Sail: 75 sq ft
Weight: 175 lbs