The melonseed is now one of the best-known adaptations, as commercial builders have replicated the melonseed illustrated in Howard Chapelle's American Small Sailing Craft. When Barry had a chance to measure another melonseed with New Jersey boat historian Wayne Yarnell in 1974, he jumped at it. This one was found in Northfield, New Jersey. She is a bit bigger than the one Chapelle drew. She is lapstrake built of l/2" cedar over her and has more rakes to the stem and more deadrise than the Chapelle boat. Her stern kicks up sharply, which may be why the plank keel is straight and has oak deadwood set on it with a rabbit to take the gar board. It seems to have been more common to spring or bend the oak keel up and attach a skeg. With the boat were two leg-of-mutton sails, one with a club. From 87 Boat Designs by Ben Fuller.
Additional Information
| Type |
Hunting |
| Lines taken by |
Yarnell, Wayne; Thomas, Barry |
| LOA |
13’ 10” |
| Beam |
4’ 10” |
| Plans include |
3 sheets: lines, construction, offsets, sail |
| Previous order number |
MISC.5 |
Catalog number WSP.MISC.5
