Buzzards Bay 14 by L. F. Herreshoff

LOA:                               17′ 3″
LWL:                                   14′
Draft:                               2′ 6″
Beam:                             5′ 10″
Sail Area:           158.00 sq ft
Displacement:  1,700.00 lbs

This boat represents essentially the same concept as the Herreshoff 12 ½ enlarged and updated by L. Francis Herreshoff, the son of the 12 ½’s designer.

She is a fair amount larger than the 12 ½, with more storage space and increased speed and power. Like the older design, she is an ideal daysailer for deep water coasts, being roomy, comfortable, seaworthy, and good looking. She is specifically designed to contend with the notorious Buzzard’s Bay chop, and thus will be relatively dry and handy under a wide range of conditions on any coast with the water to float her.

While she’ll need a tender to provide shore access for picnics, she is powerful enough to tow one without much bother. Being a “sit down inside” boat, she is very reassuring for timid sailors, and would be excellent for very young yachtsmen and for couples with small children. Like the 12 ½ she does not require a strong or athletic crew, and would be easy to sail singlehanded at all times. A BB14 would be an excellent boat for those getting on in years.

A simple and forgiving boat to sail, she is an ideal boat to learn with, but she is a great all-around boat that will also be satisfying for experienced sailors.