Thunder Lizard

The Haven 12 ½

In 1985, Joel White, the late owner of Brooklin Boat Yard and a well-known yacht designer, was approached by a client who was interested in a boat similar to the classic Herreshoff 12 1⁄2 but with shoal draft and “trailerability” for easy transport and storage. 

Joel decided that the Herreshoff 12 1⁄2 was such a great design that it made sense to stick with the original concept but to reduce the draft. He retained the profile, sheer, stem, and stern profiles, along with the rig.

The draft was reduced from 2′ 6″ down to 1′ 6″ and a centerboard was added. To ensure the new design had the same stability as the original, Joel increased the beam by 3″ amidships and 1 ½” at the stern. He also kept the original longitudinal center of buoyancy so that the new boat would float and conduct itself exactly as the Herreshoff design. The Haven class, like the Herreshoff, is 12’, 6” on the waterline and 15’ 10″ overall. A lead ballast keel brings her total weight to approximately 1,500 lbs.

The Haven is big enough to sail comfortably with four people but is also easily singlehanded. In terms of sailing ability and aesthetics, the design has proven to be virtually identical to her predecessor. In Brooklin (Maine), the WoodenBoat School and the Center Harbor Yacht club have mixed fleets of both Havens and Herreshoffs. The two classes day sail in company and often against each other as a single fleet as there are no real differences in their performance. If there is any variation, it can usually be traced to the quality of sails or crew.

From the outset, Joel White hoped the Haven would resemble the original Herreshoff boats. After sea trials, he wrote, “If you see this boat on the mooring or out sailing from a vantage point that obscures the centerboard trunk, I don’t think you can tell the new class from the old. What also pleases me is that the performance of the two classes seems to be exactly the same, both off the wind and to windward. So let the credit for the excellence of these boats go where it is due— to the Wizard of Bristol, N.G. Herreshoff.” Thanks to the genius of these two gifted designers, the Haven has gained a reputation for being a versatile beauty ideal for racing, family sailing, and coastal exploring. It is difficult to imagine a small boat design that affords more pleasure to the eye—or more pleasure to sail.

Thunder Lizard is an excellent example of a well-cared for Haven 12 ½. Under the same ownership since first built by Eric Dow (Brooklin, Maine) this boat was one of three Haven’s along with many other beautifully kept yachts watched over by a full time fleet manager and attended to by only the best artisan and craftspeople available.

Sparingly sailed during in the summer months and stored inside during the off season Thunder Lizard is kept and shows as a new boat. Recent work of rebedding and refastening of keel, stripping and repainting bilges, replacing stop water, refastening stem joint and repairs to centerboard trunk ensure that Thunder Lizard will continue to stay in new boat condition for future generations to come.