MARTHA

Daysailers MARTHA

MARTHA

Sam Crocker’s design work was highly regarded by his peers, and by those who built, brokered, maintained, or cruised his yachts. There is perhaps no better illustration of this esteem for the work of Sam Crocker than the boat MARTHA having been built by Joel White for use by his father the author EB White.

MARTHA has a very strong sheer, extended at the ends by her stayed bowsprit and boomkin; a big outboard rudder; a clipper bow; and a round-fronted cabin trunk which combines with a high coaming carried well aft. But for all the traditional detailing, the sail plan is a modern Marconi rig of manageable size giving credit to Crocker’s skill that he could set those sails on this hull and still keep it all in character

MARTHA’s scantlings are substantial. Her keel, for example, is 7 x 9″ oak; other structural members are sized accordingly. Sam Crocker used the hull itself (particularly the heavy backbone) to ballast this boat, and thereby simplified construction by eliminating a ballast keel. Her down-low weight and wide body, plus some inside ballast and the sensible sail plan, make this a stiff boat in strong winds.

As mentioned towards the start of this description, Joel White built this handy little sloop for his father, E.B. White, and named her MARTHA. E.B. White enjoyed sailing her for many years in the waters of Eggemoggin Reach and nearby bays. With the passage of time and age E.B.’s use of the boat diminished, and MARTHA would sit at her mooring in Center Harbor for most of each sailing season, used only occasionally by grandchildren, great-grandchildren and as would have it her current owner who at the time was beginning a lengthy career with the WoodenBoat School here in Brooklin, Maine. He was encouraged by Joel White to use her as often as he liked and became (over the next few summers) comfortable, confident, and at home sailing E.B.’s little sloop.

As these things happen MARTHA would become his own boat and for many years now, she has been under his care either out on the waters of the Eggemoggin Reach or tucked away for the off seasons at the WoodenBoat School. Now comes the time for MARTHA to be passed along to a new generation and for her next steward to raise sail, drop the mooring and feel the little tug of the tiller as she begins to make her way.