Henry B. Nevins, Incorporated
Encyclopedia
Henry B. Nevins Incorporated was wooden-hull yacht builder in City Island, New York founded in 1907 by Henry B. Nevins
. Nevins was a master yacht builder and author on vessel construction in who roots in shipbuilding began as an apprentice for Charles L. Seabury & Company in City Island, New York. Later Nevins would purchase the nearby Byles Yard to increase his company's acreage. Henry B. Nevins Inc. built custom sail and motor yachts and racing craft for affluent clients, but also small tugs and barges for commercial customers. Ever being the perfectionist, Nevins' company seasoned its own lumber, designed and machined its own fittings, fastened its spars together with glue made of sour cream, and sometimes going so far as to trim the spars to the correct balance by weighing shavings. By such meticulous attention to detail, Nevins built more cup-winning yachts than anyone else in the industry.
In 1939, Henry B. Nevins Inc. was awarded $15,000 by the United States Navy
for the best design of a 54-foot motor torpedo boat. During World War II
, Henry B. Nevins Inc. built 24 YMS-1 class minesweeper
s for the U.S. Navy and 4 aircraft-rescue boats during as part of the war effort. A few yachts built by Nevins before World War Two, such as USS Saluda
served the Navy during the war. Built in 1938 as Odyssey, a wooden hulled yacht, USS Saluda served the US Navy into 1968 and today continues to serve the Sea Scouts of Tacoma, Washington
as the Odyssey. Following WWII the yard resumed private and commercial shipbuilding.
Nevins died in 1950. Except for three more minesweepers built for the Belgian Navy
in 1953-54, the shipyard was unable to compete with the postwar European shipyards who were making yachts at 1/3 the cost. His widow then sold the yard in 1954 and it ceased operations in 1962. The former site of Henry B. Nevins Inc. is now occupied by the City Island School. Today little remains of the yard, except for the marine railways and slipways which are only visible at low tide.
these sloops had a 24-foot hull with 15 feet on the waterline and 7-foot beam. The first boats were gaff rigged sloops. 25 built.
Polly - Nevins' private yacht. In 1949, Nevins was seriously injured in a fall at his shipyard and would pass away in 1950. In the last months of his life, he would ask to be carried out to the to his yacht just to feel the swell of the sea again.
Henry B. Nevins
Henry B. Nevins was a master yacht builder and author on vessel construction in City Island, New York. Born in New York in 1878, Nevins wanted to be a doctor but was too frail, so he decided to work Gas Engine & Power Company before deciding upon his hobby, shipbuilding by apprenticing at Charles...
. Nevins was a master yacht builder and author on vessel construction in who roots in shipbuilding began as an apprentice for Charles L. Seabury & Company in City Island, New York. Later Nevins would purchase the nearby Byles Yard to increase his company's acreage. Henry B. Nevins Inc. built custom sail and motor yachts and racing craft for affluent clients, but also small tugs and barges for commercial customers. Ever being the perfectionist, Nevins' company seasoned its own lumber, designed and machined its own fittings, fastened its spars together with glue made of sour cream, and sometimes going so far as to trim the spars to the correct balance by weighing shavings. By such meticulous attention to detail, Nevins built more cup-winning yachts than anyone else in the industry.
In 1939, Henry B. Nevins Inc. was awarded $15,000 by the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
for the best design of a 54-foot motor torpedo boat. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Henry B. Nevins Inc. built 24 YMS-1 class minesweeper
YMS-1 class minesweeper
The YMS-1 class of auxiliary motor minesweepers was established with the laying down of YMS-1 on 4 March 1941.Characteristics of the class: Displacement 270 t.; Length 136'; Beam 24' 6"; Draft 8'; Speed 15 kts; Complement 32; Armament one single 3"/50 gun mount, two 20mm, two dcp; Propulsion two...
s for the U.S. Navy and 4 aircraft-rescue boats during as part of the war effort. A few yachts built by Nevins before World War Two, such as USS Saluda
USS Saluda (IX-87)
USS Saluda was a wooden-hulled, yawl-rigged yacht of the United States Navy. Built in 1938 by Henry B. Nevins, Inc., City Island, New York as the Odyssey, the yacht was acquired by the Navy on 31 July 1942 from Mrs...
served the Navy during the war. Built in 1938 as Odyssey, a wooden hulled yacht, USS Saluda served the US Navy into 1968 and today continues to serve the Sea Scouts of Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
as the Odyssey. Following WWII the yard resumed private and commercial shipbuilding.
Nevins died in 1950. Except for three more minesweepers built for the Belgian Navy
Belgian Navy
The Marine Component of the Belgian Army, formerly the Belgian Naval Force, is the naval service of Belgium.-Early history:The Belgian Navy was created as the Marine Royale in 1831. This force has operated in various forms throughout Belgian history.When after the Belgian Revolution, the country...
in 1953-54, the shipyard was unable to compete with the postwar European shipyards who were making yachts at 1/3 the cost. His widow then sold the yard in 1954 and it ceased operations in 1962. The former site of Henry B. Nevins Inc. is now occupied by the City Island School. Today little remains of the yard, except for the marine railways and slipways which are only visible at low tide.
Ships, Yachts, etc. built
Fishers Island One Design: Designed by Charles MowerCharles Mower
Charles Drown Mower of New York was a noted yacht designer and author, and was at one time design editor of the Rudder magazine and a contributing author to Motor Boating magazine.-Career:...
these sloops had a 24-foot hull with 15 feet on the waterline and 7-foot beam. The first boats were gaff rigged sloops. 25 built.
Polly - Nevins' private yacht. In 1949, Nevins was seriously injured in a fall at his shipyard and would pass away in 1950. In the last months of his life, he would ask to be carried out to the to his yacht just to feel the swell of the sea again.