THE CATBOAT ERA IN NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND

LEAVENS, John M.

ISBN 10: 0884482723 / ISBN 13: 9780884482727

Published by Tilbury House & The Catboat Association. Gardiner, Maine & Middleboro, Mass. ., 2005

About this Item

1st Printing. Edited by Judith Navas Lund. X, 182 PP with b/w illustrations (map, plans and line drawings, photos). Title spread: Afternoon at the races viewed from near Castle Hill Hotel, Newport. Cloth cover, gilt title on spine, dj. Fine. Oblong: 21 x 26.

Seller Inventory # 55720

Bibliographic Details

• Title: THE CATBOAT ERA IN NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND
• Publisher: Tilbury House & The Catboat Association. Gardiner, Maine & Middleboro, Mass. .
• Publication Date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0884482723
• ISBN 13: 9780884482727
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included

About this title

Synopsis

When we think of Newport at the end of the nineteenth century, we think of life lived large--big houses, big yachts, big money. But like the diversity of people found in any waterfront town, there was a diversity of watercraft in Newport waters. In among the yachts are found the workboats and other small craft. John Leavens took a look back at the humble catboat and found a wealth of information about its origin, its builders, and its owners. These small sailboats with their masts well forward served as fishing boats, livery craft, and pleasure boats and were seen everywhere, it turns out, in Newport waters. Combining years of research, conversations with waterfront habitues, and a fine collection of period photographs, John brought together the full story of Newport cats but passed away before it could be published.

About the Authors

Lawyer and management expert John Leavens (1907-1987) loved catboats--his own Herbert Crosby-built 21' 11" Pinkletink, first of all, and then every other catboat, catboat builder, and catboat sailor. With Paul and Molly Birdsall and the able assistance of his first mate, Pinkie, he founded The Catboat Association in 1962. He wrote extensively for the Catboat Bulletin, and in 1973 pulled together his accumulated knowledge and contacts to write The Catboat Book.

A former curator at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, Judy Lund writes on a variety of maritime and local history subjects. Currently historian of The Catboat Association and a member of its Steering Committee, she has taken on the task of bringing John Leavens' manuscript to the boating community.