Emily Ruth is a Somes Sound 12-1/2’. Designed by John Brooks, the SS is derived from the well known Herreshoff and Haven 12-1/2’s. Unlike those boats, she is glued lapstrake construction using occume plywood. The transom, coaming, rails, and other trim are sapele. Secondary and tertiary woods are black locust and Douglas fir, both logged from damaged trees on Bainbridge Island. All structural hull fasteners are silicon bronze. She has a 585-pound lead keel. I built her over a period of 16 months at my home on Bainbridge Island. She was finished in the summer of 2015.
I chose the Somes Sound primarily because of her sailing characteristics. Like her predecessors, her displacement hull and ample lead ballast is designed to give an easy motion and comfortable ride. With ample sail area to move in light conditions, she is not easily overpowered when the wind kicks up. The H 12-1/2 was dubbed the “Buzzards Bay Boy’s Boat” by her designer and was used a sailing trainer by many families. While my days of boyhood have long since passed over the horizon, I figured that if a boat of this character was good for kids, it would be good for an older “kid”, too. As a first time boat builder I liked the design package put together by Brooks’ Boat Designs. There are full size plans for all the major parts, fully detailed cross sections, and even designs for the building jigs. The plans come with a nearly step-by-step set of instructions that allow the novice builder to proceed with the build in a logical order. Additionally, and not insignificantly, I think the Somes Sound is drop dead gorgeous.
I keep Emily Ruth on a mooring at my home but she can be easily towed and readily launched from her custom trailer. Her mast, being birdsmouth construction, is lightweight and can be stepped single-handed. I enjoy sailing alone and do so most of the time. She also accommodates a modest crew and has comfortable seating. Her canted coaming offers a quite comfortable back-rest. I enjoy tinkering with Emily Ruth’s rig and maintaining her. I seem to be forever looking for bits of hardware to add and methods to improve safety and ease of handling. Although her modest waterline naturally limits her speed, I’m not in a hurry. And I’ve a comfortable boat to be “stuck” on.
The name, Emily Ruth, is a collaborative effort by my wife Chris, and myself. Emily was Chris’ mom, and Ruth was mine. It seemed only fitting that our boat be named after these two beautiful, kind, intelligent women who were not shy about their desires for a good time.