Overview

Nathanael G. Herreshoff designer of Marilee was described as “a man of strong will and unshakable precepts”.  The same could be said of the current owner.  Firm in his commitment to find a seaworthy NY 40 and restore her to a level beyond the high standards of 1926 when she was launched; he succeeded. The designer and builder would be delighted at the outcome.  Marilee is breath taking.

Marilee is one of four remaining New York 40s in commission. Of the original twelve boats launched, two are in Europe and two in the United States.  After reviewing his options, the owner acquired Marilee in the spring of 2014 and while sailing that summer season the restoration plan was developed. Extensive research of Herreshoff archives with Kurt Hasselbalch at MIT and Architect Ed McClave led the team to select boat builder Todd French of French and Webb in Belfast, Maine. 

The restoration was a massive undertaking requiring two winter seasons 2014-2016 and with the owner wishing to campaign the boat during the summer of '15 the restoration would be conducted in two phases. The list of items addressed included;

• replacing 75% of the planking.
• a new mast step (from 60lb top 150lb).
• new floor frames.
• 8’ curved bronze plate tied to mast step framing and hanging knees.
• load-bearing bronze plates.
• new rudder post; new rudder.
• horn timber rebuilt.
• relocation of engine and tankage to ensure flotation was closer to her original design.
• interior ceilings fastened to frames installed from stem to stern. 
• New sheer clamps.
• new deck beams.
• additional diagonal bronze strapping beneath the deck with two straps welded directly to the mast partner.  
• A three layer laminated teak on cedar deck with grey colored caulking replaced the original one layer design of pine.  
• The transom was replaced with reinforcing in the stern area to take the load from a Marconi rig which was being considered.  Research proved a Marconi rig had been designed for Marilee in 1933. 
• Fastening of 3,000 custom designed bronze fastenings.  
• Design and build a Marconi rig

This story is well captured in the documentary by film-maker Alison Langley titled NY 40 MARILEE: RESTORATION OF A HERRESHOFF CLASSIC. 

Nespresso Machine; electric kettle, electric percolator

- Marconi Rig;

- Mainsail  #1 jib, #2 jib, #3 jib, #4 jib.  A2 spinnaker, A3 spinnaker, spinnaker staysail

- Sail cover for mainsail 

Gaff Rig

North inventory

- Mainsail 

- A3, A2, A2 spare, 

- #3 jib top, #3 jib top 'big'

- 150% jib

- Medium heavy jib

- 1 x staysail, 1 x club staysail

- Downwind genoa 

- Jackyard

Doyle inventory; 1 x working topsail, 1 x drifter

- Two small sails unbranded.

- 1 set of jib sheets; 1 set spare jib sheets

- 1 set spinnaker sheets, 1 set spare spinnaker sheets

- spinnaker rack line, spare spinnaker tack line

- spare jib halyard

- spinnaker staysail roller-furler

- spinnaker staysail sheets

- hobble 

- Spinnaker tweaker 

- Barber hauler

- jib tacking line 

- Gaff rig spinnaker sheets

- Gaff rig jib top sheets 

- Equiplite high-load snatch blocks; 3 ton MWL

- UBI snatch-blocks 4 ton MWL 

- Antel hook size 16; Antel hook size 12

- Antal feral fairlead 14x10

-Antal feral fairlead  20x14

- #3 jib fairlead loops

-$2 jib fairlead loops 

- Dyneema soft shackles

- Dyneema loops 

- USCG standard running lights

- 1 x 6 person Chase Leavitt & Co. life raft

- 1 x 6 person Winslow life-raft

- PFD's type 1 x 8

- Safety harnesses x 6 

- 'Ditch Kit' with flares

- EPIRB

- Radar reflector

- Crew headlamps 

-Hand held portable spotlight

- Fire extinguishers ABC x 2

- Handheld VHF with charger

- Life rings

- Immersion suits x 2

- Air horn

- First Responder Kit

- Emergency Oxygen

- Defibrillator

- All purpose first aid kit

- Getac portable computer

- iPad

- Ships computer

- Printer

- UE Boom 2 speakers 

- Dock box

- Dock step

- Winch handles

- Hatch covers

- Yeti Cooler

- Shore power cord

- Cockpit divider bag

- Deck cleaning bin

- Bosuns' chair

- Boat hook 

- Teak cleat covers 

- Signal and festival flags

- Pig stick for burgee

- Ensign

- Snorkel gear