BUTTON SWAN, Newport Fish & Lobster Boat

Small working catboats are rare today; like most workboats they were worked to death.  BUTTON SWAN features a fish well, essential to the small-boat fishermen who worked around Brenton Reef, near Newport, Rhode Island. In the well, they could keep their catch alive and in good shape for the fancy hotels and cottages of Newport. This boat has no centerboard, relying on a relatively deep V-hull to keep her from making leeway when sailing to wind­ ward. If her larger sister, PEGGOTTY (Misc.I5), at the WoodenBoat School is any indica­tion, BUTTON SWAN will sail to weather and handle a blow. More importantly, most small cats row badly; BUTTON SWAN would be better.  From 87 Boat Designs by Ben Fuller. Plans drawn in 1975