Doris: A 1905 Herreshoff Sloop — History and Restoration

Doris was built in 1905 by the renowned Herreshoff Manufacturing Company and launched that May. At 77 feet, 6 inches overall, she represented the largest all-wooden sailing vessel built by the yard at the time. She also has the distinction of being the first yacht constructed to the then-new Universal Rule, a rating system that reshaped yacht design in the early 20th century. For her historical and design significance, Doris received National Historic Recognition in 1984.

Only a month after her launch, Doris proved her capabilities on the racecourse. She competed in a Marblehead-to-Marblehead race that rounded the Isles of Shoals off Portsmouth, New Hampshire, against the sloops Wasp and Gloriana. Throughout the contest Doris stayed near the front of the fleet, and in the closing stages—after the other boats dropped their spinnakers—she sprinted to a clear finish. Doris crossed the line 75 seconds ahead of Gloriana, with Wasp finishing third.

Over the following decades Doris continued to perform strongly under various owners who made modest alterations to the yacht. Between 1934 and 1940 she sailed under the names Astarte, Huntress and Vayu. Later she spent an extended period laid up at Crocker’s Boatyard in New London, Connecticut, where she remained for some 30 years. In August 2013 she faced the prospect of being scrapped until a dedicated mariner intervened and commissioned Snediker Yacht Restoration of Pawcatuck, Connecticut to undertake a full salvage and restoration.

Approach to Restoration

Restoring Doris has been an exacting, carefully planned endeavour. The restoration team has relied on traditional shipwright techniques combined with a careful selection of durable timbers. The project uses high-quality woods chosen both for historical fidelity and long-term performance: Peltogyne (purpleheart), white oak, Douglas fir, teak and iroko from West Africa. These materials ensure structural integrity, resistance to decay and an appearance sympathetic to the original construction.

The initial phase required the creation of precise molds and steam-bent frames to match Doris’s original lines. Those frames were installed on the remaining hull and tied to a renewed centerline to re-establish the yacht’s backbone. Once the frames were faired—smoothed and adjusted to the correct shape—the team proceeded with plank-by-plank re-planking of the hull. This methodical process gradually rebuilt the hull so that Doris’s classic form became visible again.

After the planking work, the project advanced to installing essential hardware and the rudder assembly. One of the rewarding moments for the builders came when they were able to remove the temporary molds, revealing the restored hull as a continuous, self-supporting structure.

Current Status and Outlook

The restoration remains in progress. Snediker Yacht Restoration and the owner continue to work toward completing the vessel, addressing both structural systems and finishing details. The team aims to return Doris to seaworthy condition while preserving her historical character, so she can be appreciated as an example of Herreshoff craftsmanship and the Universal Rule era of yacht design. The hope is to complete the restoration within the next few years, but progress is being guided by careful, traditional workmanship rather than speed.

Doris’s long story—from her launch and racing success to decades of lay-up and now meticulous rehabilitation—illustrates both the endurance of fine boatbuilding and the dedication of modern restorers. When finished, Doris will once again represent an important chapter in American yachting history, offering future generations a close-up view of early 20th-century design and shipwright skill.

Originally published in the February 2024 issue.