Chapter 36

Beetle Cats #2

The bow of this boat is generous in proportion, so that even an extra-large man can stand on it without tipping over—a feature that is much appreciated when landing at a dock or float. The fact that the mast is short and the deck is long reduces to a minimum the possibility that such a boat may capsize while riding at its moorings, even in exposed locations where seas become decidedly heavy.

The Beetle Cat is a perfect type of boat for learning the fundamentals of sailing because of its safety features. It is also an easy boat to maintain. Most of the owners do their own maintenance. No special equipment is required. With no deep keel to contend with, this boat can be moved easily on rollers and can be stored readily under one's beach house or in a garage. Total weight is only about 450 pounds. The fact that many of the boats still race successfully when 15 to 20 years old is testimony to their sound construction.

In the years since the first boat was built, the design has remained essentially unchanged. The builders have aimed to maintain this as a definite one-design class boat for racing. Between 40 and 75 of them are built each season under the Concordia Company's controlled production plan. Every season, all the new boats are quickly "snapped up" by newcomers who have caught the "Beetle bug" after crewing with friends.

The following are the dimensions and standards of construction:

Dimensions

Over-all length: 12 ft. 4 in. Water-line length: 11 ft. 8 in. Beam: 6 ft. 0 in. Draft with board down: 24 in. Sail Area: About 100 sq. ft. Weight: About 450 lbs.

Minimum thickness of rudder is % in. and of centerboard is % in. at all points. Edges may be rounded, but not streamlined. The rudder does not project below the bottom of the keel at any point.

Specifications

Planking: ½-in. Cedar Frames: Oak
Decks: Canvas-Covered Hardware: Brass
Wash Rail: Varnished Oak Fastenings: Galvanized
Spars: Varnished Hull: Painted White

Optional Equipment: Side stays, track, slides, additional blocks on the mast or boom. Sliding goosenecks, if used, must be set on the mast bands or marked for all races held under the jurisdiction of the racing associations.

Maximum dimensions of sail: Foot, 12 ft. 10 in.; luff, 7 ft. 9 in.; head, 8 ft. 7 in.; leech, 16 ft. 7 in. Under the racing rules, reef points for purposes of flattening the sail and loose-footed or semi-loose-footed sails are forbidden.

Racing rules also require permanent bands or marks, readily visible, to be placed on spars by the club measurer, the inside edges of these marks to determine the maximum positions of the above dimensions.

The Beetle Cat is a surprisingly fast boat. It is at its best in a strong breeze. Experienced racing skippers advise keeping the boat well-balanced, always on an even keel, as with all centerboard craft. In light weather, they believe that the speed of the boat is improved by sitting forward. In a strong wind, they advise sitting further aft.

In light weather, the speed of the boat is improved if the crew sits well forward.

The early records of Beetle Cat racing are not complete, but recently there has been a movement afoot to compile them so that they may become a part of the permanent history of this class.

From available records, it appears that one of the first sizable fleets was organized at Duxbury, Mass., in 1923, under the guidance of Commodore Edward M. Farns-worth and Ralph Lawson. The popularity of these boats spread and soon there were fleets scattered along Cape Cod and on Buzzard's Bay.

In 1927, the first Beetle came to Bass River, Cape Cod. Ted Rowley, the owner, used to sail as far afield as Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard Island to attend regattas. His enthusiasm for his Beetle was caught by others and at the present time there are over 50 of these boats at Bass River.

Barnstable, also on Cape Cod, soon joined the growing number of Beetle fleets. Donald Griffin holds the honor of being first to own one here (1930). In 1932, he persuaded four others to acquire Beetles, and in that year they began racing.

In 1926, the first Beetle Cat (Felix) appeared on Narragansett Bay and by 1930, there were enough Beetle Cats in this area to hold "Friday races." In 1935, the Barrington Beetle Cat Boat Racing Association was formed. Later, in 1939, this group merged with the fleet at Edgewood, R. I., to form the Narragansett Beetle Cat Boat Racing Association. Today, this group is known as the Narragansett Bay Beetle Association.

On Cape Cod, meanwhile, both club-sponsored races and interclub regattas were being held. There was a strong feeling that the time was ripe to form a New England association for this growing class of boats. The first step toward this organization came when the Barrington Yacht Club offered to be host club for the first New England championship races.

Credit must be given to John G. Howard, Sr., of the Barnstable Yacht Club, and Henry A. Street, Sr., of the Barrington Yacht Club, for organizing the first New England Championship for Beetle Boats in 1937. This regatta was held off Bristol Highlands, R. I. Subsequent races were held in 1938 and 1939 with skippers from Cape Cod and Narragansett Bay. Tom and Had Gately, of Edgewood, R. I., have the first trophy, a plaque that had been awarded from 1937 to 1947. It was retired in 1947, the year the Gately brothers won it for the Edgewood Yacht Club. The trophies now awarded in New England are Beetle miniatures (for both senior and junior races). These go to the winning yacht clubs and slightly smaller versions go to the triumphant skippers and crews.

To assure the continuance of these annual championships, the New England Beetle Cat Association was formed at New Bedford, Mass., in the spring of 1940, with the following yacht clubs becoming charter members: Angelica, Mattapoisett, Mass.;

Capable of withstanding rough water, the Beetle Cat is an excellent boat for the entire family.
 
Barrington, R. I; Barnstable, Mass.; Bass River, Mass.; Edgewood, R. I.; and New Bedford, Mass. In the years since then, the following clubs have joined: Bristol, R. I.; Cataumet, Mass.; Cedar Tree Point Association, Apponaug, R. I.; Chapaquoit, West Falmouth, Mass.; Coles River, Swansea, Mass.; Duxbury, Mass.; Falmouth, Mass.; Hyannis, Mass.; Lewis Bay, Hyannis, Mass.; Mattapoisett, Mass.; Namequoit Sailing Association, Orleans, Mass.; Nantucket Island, Mass.: Sakonnet, R. I.; Weekapaug, R. I.; Westport, Mass.; and Salter's Point, So. Dartmouth, Mass. In August, 1940, ten clubs were represented in the regatta sponsored by the newly formed New England Beetle Cat Association. By 1948, the association had grown considerably and new bylaws were adopted with a redefining of the purposes of the organization. Simply stated, these objectives are:

a) To promote and encourage the racing of Beetle Cat Boats.

b) To determine class champions.

c) To unify and govern class specifications.

d) To foster a feeling of good will and neighborliness among the Beetle Cat Boat sailors.

Membership is open to any organization that schedules regular Beetle Cat Boat races for three or more boats. Boats must be standard "Original Beetle Cats" (wooden) built by Beetle Boat builders or Concordia Co., Inc., New Bedford, Mass., or their licensees. The sail plan and deck plan published by Concordia Co. on July 1, 1947, are the accepted standards.

During World War II, with its yachting restrictions, the Beetles were taken over —on Sundays, at least—by the fathers. At Barrington, R. I., the "Tired Fathers" became the semiofficial organization and at Edgewood, R. I., a similar group became known as the "Peppy Pappies." These two groups hold an annual race on some Sunday after Labor Day—usually off Comimi-cut Light, midway between Barrington and Edgewood. Barrington also has another unofficial group, called "Grumpy Gramps," who race against the "Tired Fathers'' and Juniors in this club for possession of a cup donated by Walt Seymour, who, at over 70 years of age, was still an active participant.

An annual race that captures considerable interest is the "Ancient Mariner's Race, Senile Seadogs' Series" held at Mattapoisett, Mass., each Labor Day week end. A water-color painting of Beetle Cats is awarded annually.

Recognizing that Beetle Cats could no longer be considered boats for juniors only, and in keeping with the great strides being made throughout the country in small-boat racing, the New England Beetle Cat Boat Association in 1948 arranged senior championships for skippers over 18.

Also established in 1948 was a championship series for members of clubs in the Southern Massachusetts Yacht Racing Association—and so today, Beetle Cats are raced under two sectional associations (S. M. Y. R. A. and the previously mentioned Narragansett Bay Beetle Association) as well as under the all-inclusive New England Beetle Cat Boat Association.

About 1947, Beetles began appearing at Great South Bay, Long Island, N. Y. Bay-berry Yacht Club has a strong fleet. As this publication goes to press, news comes that the Bellport Yacht Club is planning a fleet. Reports indicate that the Beetle is well suited to the peculiar short sea and strong winds of this area.

 The New England Beetle Cat Boat Association is anticipating the formation of several new fleets in the summer of 1952. As of January, 1952, this association has 22 member clubs. Interest runs high, as this year marks the 15th anniversary of the first junior championship regatta. This regatta is being held in August at Mattapoisett, Mass.—Herbert T. Anderson

Over 1.800 Beetle Cats have been built to date and new fleets are formed every year.

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