1946 Hinckley H21 For Sale

MARGARET ANN IS SOLD - thanks for your interest. 1930s Penn Yan Dinghy (see bottom of this post) is still for sale.

Summary

Margaret Ann is for sale, fresh from her 2012 restoration. She is an achingly beautiful boat that is ready for her next caretaker.

28'6 x 8' x 4'7 (21' waterline). Hull #761B, Margaret Ann (her original registered name). Incredibly rare, the 2nd of only 20 sisters built (3-4 remain). All of the great names are attached to this boat: designed by John Alden, drawn by Carl Alberg, built by Hinckley. Extensive 2012 bare-wood restoration. One of the most original boats you will find (aside from newer Yanmar diesel engine). New: paint, varnish, sails, standing rigging, running rigging, lines, fenders, safety gear, etc. Extensive 2012 out-of-water survey (can email to prospective buyers). Mahogany over oak, canvas decks, bronze fasteners and hardware. Over $40,000 spent on restoration alone.

New England boat her entire life. Currently in the water along south-western coastal Connecticut.


History of the Hinckley H21

The Designer, John G. Alden

The legendary John G. Alden (1884-1962) was a very prolific designer working out of Boston, as well as a highly successful racing skipper. He was born in Rhode Island where he was heavily influenced by fishing schooners and small racing vessels. He started work under Edward Burgess, but founded his Alden Design Office in 1909. He became known worldwide for producing fast and seaworthy offshore yachts, particularly the ‘Malabar’ series of yachts which won a series of Newport-Bermuda races in the 1920′s and 1930′s. Alden designed a broad range of over 1000 exceptional boats including offshore and inshore racing sailboats, cruising yachts, and power cruisers. He was one of the greatest designers of his generation, in company with Nat G. Herreschoff and Olin J. Stephens.

The Draftsman, Carl Alberg

Carl Alberg, who would go on to become a great designer later in life, "cut his teeth" working for John Alden. And he drew the original lines of the Hinckley H21 (under the tutelage of John Alden).

Original lines of the Hinckley H21, as designed by John G. Alden and drawn by a young Carl Alberg:

Historical Documentation


Margaret Ann's original builder plates:

Construction of a Hinckley H21 in 1946 at Henry R. Hinckley Inc. in Southwest Harbor, Maine.

A freshly-built Hinckley H21 at her mooring in 1946

 
Period Documents

Margaret Ann is listed in the extensive (and excellent) book, John G. Alden and His Yacht Designs, by Robert W. Carrick and Richard Henderson.

Pre-Restoration Photos (Nov 2011)

Restoration Photos (Spring& Summer 2012)

  
No expense was spared on the exterior restoration of this boat. The sole focus was making things "right," consistent with how they were when she was delivered new. Aside from newer sail materials and better compounds, there was no effort to "improve" her; she is a true time machine, taking you back to the way things used to be. It is about simple pleasure.

The entire exterior of the boat was stripped down to bare wood for a thorough inspection. The only wood needing replacement were the port and forward bench seats in the cockpit. These were replaced with correct marine grade plywood, seamlessly duplicating the originals.

The glass on her cabin sides was replaced with new, shatter-proof glass.  Note below the original bronze frames, bronze starboard light, period-correct hemp-style "thump" mats and bronze blocks (that I had made at great cost).

The mast was unstepped for a thorough inspection, and all standing and running rigging was replaced (which should be good for another 30 years). A tremendous amount of money was spent on purchasing Vintage Series line for her running rigging, which looks like period-correct hemp line, but has modern strength and anti-rot qualities. 
 

The period-correct looking Vintage Series line was also used for her dock lines (at great cost).

All varnished wood received 8 coats of top quality varnish. Her mast received 10 coats.

Building the First Varnish Coats

Her Original, Hollow Sitka Spruce Mast, Stripped of Original Bronze Hardware for Varnish Build Coats

 Her canvas deck was gently sanded, repaired, and painted with two thin coats of a flexible, high-wearing tan paint.

Her hull was taken down to bare wood, re-caulked in few spots (per recommendation of boat surveyor), seam compound applied to all seams, primed, and then 7 coats semi-gloss white applied above the water line. 5 coats of an ablative anti-fouling paint was used below the water line. A new boot stripe was applied, and simulated gold leaf was painted on the iconic Hinckley stripe and emblem. The material costs alone were significant.

   

New main, jib and 150% genoa were made at a total cost of close to $7,000. They are a light tan "Egyptian Cotton" Dacron-type sailcloth made by a New England sail-making company that has been in business for 135 years. (NOTE that the sails look white in the photos, but they are not). A LOT of effort (and expense) was made to mimic (within reason) vintage sail design, including smaller battens and stitching techniques. We even replicated the original "H21" near the head of the mainsail, just as Hinckley did. (NOTE that in the photos, it shows "H28" as the sailmaker made an error. This was since been rectified and now reads "H21").    

  Post Restoration Photos (Nov 2012)

 

 Her Lovely, Original Details (Note the Incredible, Original Bronze Hardware!):

Her original, beautiful tiller (made of one piece of wood and bronze):

Interior Photos

Two wide, deep berths (I'm 6 feet tall and can lay down straight). Headroom is 5'10", but I do not have to "stoop" in the cabin. Private head (original toilet). 27 gallons of fresh water. Ample storage. Kerosene and electric (12 volt and 110 volt) lights. Sleeps two comfortably. A third person can sleep in the forecastle. If you like the outdoor experience, two people could also sleep comfortably in her spacious cockpit.

Looking Forward

Looking Aft

New Old Stock, Period-Correct Coleman Cookstove (replacing rusted original)

Galley (lots of storage, 27 gallon original bronze fresh water tank)

Original, Lined and Insulated Ice Box (with Original Wood Slat to Keep Food Dry)

Ice Box, Additional Storage, Original Bronze, Gimballed Kerosene Lamp

Original Bronze Reinforcement Pieces

Original bronze reinforcement pieces. Nice thing about the H21 is there is no mast obstructing the cabin (reducing space).

 

2nd Original, Gimaballed, Kerosene Lamp (works great!)

Spacious Storage Locker and Folding Chart Table

Original Head

Original, Restored Hinckley Anchor in her original Location in the Forepeak (Boat has 2 other anchors)

Engine

A previous owner replaced her original Grey Marine "Light Four" 4 cylinder gas engine with a newer, 23 HP Yanmar diesel (the one and only upgrade from original specs). Very reliable and it literally sips fuel (a huge advantage at today's fuel prices). It has more power than she needs, to be frank. Has her original, 27 gallon bronze fuel tank.

Weather Protection

Margaret Ann at her slip with her new, matching $2,500 Stay-Fast canvass mooring cover (to keep sun/fresh water off of her varnish):

Margaret Ann at her slip with her $5,000 winter mooring cover:

Dinghy

Beautiful late 1930s/early 1940s 8 foot Penn Yan dinghy (with an original, unrestored 1950 Johnson 5 HP outboard) is for sale for only $1950. Contact me at callook67@hotmail.com if interested.

To Purchase Margaret Ann

Margaret Ann currently lies in New England in the water along southwestern coastal Connecticut.

2012 restoration costs alone totaled $40,000.

She passed (with flying colors) an extensive 2012 out-of-the-water survey (including removing random fasteners for inspection) from a knowledgeable wooden boat surveyor. I'm happy to email the survey to prospective buyers.


She's a beautiful boat that would be perfect for showing, racing in the Wooden Boat Regatta Series, or just going for an afternoon (or weekend) sail with loved ones.