Idem Class
“Idem Scow” — 32′ Gaff-Rigged Racing Sloops
Clinton H. Crane (1899)Through the restoration of KAZE, DRAGONFLY, and SPIDER, Artisan Boatworks has mastered the obsessive fairing and structural stiffness required to dominate the storied Idem fleet—one of the world’s oldest active one-designs.
Heritage, Exclusivity, and a Demanding Fleet
The Idem is a thirty-two-foot, gaff-rigged, centerboard one-design conceived by Clinton Crane specifically for the St. Regis Yacht Club—a tight, tradition-minded community that continues to race the class on Upper St. Regis Lake. It is widely cited as being among the oldest active one-design classes still sailed, with the fleet preserved almost entirely on this single body of water. The brief for these projects is both simple and unforgiving: restore each vessel to its original form and finish, then tune it to be fleet-competitive against rivals that take nothing for granted.
The yard’s recent work on the 1901 Idem DRAGONFLY—which, following its restoration, “won every ounce of silver” during its first summer back—provided a class-specific playbook for subsequent sister projects like SPIDER and KAZE. This collective experience has allowed the yard to refine a specific methodology for the Idem fleet, positioning Artisan Boatworks as the primary conservator of this exclusive lake culture.
Class Mastery + Racecraft Detail
The successful restoration of multiple Idems relies upon an innovative blend of class mastery and racecraft detail. Each project begins with a full structural survey, wherein frames, floors, and fastenings are renewed to keep the hull stiff and true under rig load—a requirement that is critical for these light, low-sided scows.
To gain the “Idem Edge,” the team employs battens, templates, and laser references to achieve perfect port-to-starboard symmetry and a glass-smooth fair. In a fleet where differences are measured in boat lengths over a short leg, this level of finish translates directly into speed—an approach validated by repeated successful campaigns on the lake.
Details
Features
Details that embody the intention and spirit of the designer
Race-grade Fairing & Symmetry
Hand-faired surfaces and mirrored geometry deliver measurable fleet pace.
Class-Correct Gaff Rig
Tuned for punchy acceleration yet controllable in the lake’s fluky air.
Stiffened Structure, Hidden Reinforcements
Renewed floors/frames and discreet backing ensure the hull holds tune.
Heritage Finish
High-gloss topsides and brightwork respectful of Idem tradition and St. Regis expectations.
Class-Wide Performance Intelligence
Standardized restoration methods and rig-tuning profiles, developed across the Dragonfly, Spider, and Kaze projects, provide a proven performance baseline for the entire Idem fleet.
