Henry B. Nevins, Incorporated
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Henry B. Nevins Incorporated was wooden-hull yacht builder in
City Island, New York City Island is a neighborhood in the northeastern Bronx in New York City, located on an island of the same name approximately long by wide. City Island is located at the extreme western end of Long Island Sound, south of Pelham Bay Park, and ...
founded in 1907 by Henry B. Nevins. Nevins was a master yacht builder and author on vessel construction who apprenticed at the island's Charles L. Seabury & Company."MODERN LIVING: As Idle as a Painted Ship – TIME." TIME.com. N.p., 12 June 1954. Web. 2 July 2010.

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Later he purchased the nearby Byles Yard to increase his company's acreage. Henry B. Nevins Inc. built custom sail and motor yachts and racing craft for affluent clients,"Henry B. Nevins, Inc. Shipyard Collection." Mystic Seaport. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 July 2010. . but also small tugs and barges for commercial customers. Run by a perfectionist, Nevins' company seasoned its own lumber, designed and machined its own fittings, made its own glue, and balanced spars by weighing shavings. As a result, Nevins built more cup-winning yachts than anyone else in the industry. In 1939, Henry B. Nevins Inc. was awarded $15,000 by the
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
for the best design of a motor torpedo boat, used by
George Crouch George F. Crouch (1879–1959) was an American boat designer. He worked for the Dodge Boat Works in Newport News. Three speedboats built to his designs won the first three places in the 1924 Gold Cup of the American Power Boat Association. In ...
. During
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, Henry B. Nevins Inc. built 24 YMS-1 class minesweepers for the U.S. Navy and 4 aircraft-rescue boats during as part of the war effort."Henry B. Nevins Yacht Builders." U.S. Shipbuilding History. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 July 2010. . A few yachts built by Nevins before World War II, such as USS ''Saluda'' served the Navy during the war. Following World War II the yard resumed private and commercial shipbuilding. Nevins died in 1950. Except for three minesweepers built for the
Belgian Navy The Belgian Navy, officially the Naval Component (, ; , ; , ) of the Belgian Armed Forces, is the Navy, naval service of Belgium. History Early history The Belgian Navy was created as the ''Marine Royale'' () on 15 January 1831. This force ...
in 1953–54, the shipyard was unable to compete with postwar European shipyards able to make yachts at 1/3 the cost. His widow sold the yard in 1954 and it ceased operations in 1962. The former site is now occupied by the City Island School. Today little remains of the yard except for marine railways and slipways only visible at low tide. Nevins built the Fishers Island One Design. Designed by Charles Mower these sloops had a hull with on the waterline and beam.Egan, James F.X.. "Fisher Island One Designs." Groton Long Point Yacht Club. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 July 2010. < The first boats were gaff rigged sloops. Twenty-five were built.


Ships built by Henry B. Nevins, Incorporated

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Brilliant (schooner) ''Brilliant'' is a schooner located at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut, United States. ''Brilliant'' was built in 1932 on City Island, Bronx, by Henry B. Nevins Yard to a design by Olin Stephens of Sparkman & Stephens for Walter Barnum. ...
- 1932 *
Columbia (1958 yacht) ''Columbia'' (US-16) was the successful defender of the 1958 America's Cup for the New York Yacht Club, besting the British challenger ''Sceptre''. She has survived to the present day, and sails out of Newport with the distinction of being the ear ...
- 1958 Winner of the
1958 America's Cup The 1958 America's Cup marked the first Cup match sailed in 12-metre class yachts. Twenty years had passed since the last Cup match, held between immense Universal Rule J-class yachts in 1937 besides World War II, and the New York Yacht Club sough ...
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USS Grackle (AMS-13) USS ''Grackle'' (MSC(O)-13/AMS-13/YMS-312) was a built for the United States Navy during World War II. History The second Grackle was laid down as ''YMS-312'' on 7 June 1943 by Henry B. Nevins, Inc., City Island, Bronx; launched 9 November 19 ...
- 1943 *
USS Magpie (AMS-25) USS ''Magpie'' (AMS-26/YMS-400) was a built for the United States Navy during World War II. History ''Magpie'' was laid down as ''YMS-400'' by Henry B. Nevins, Inc., City Island, New York, New York (state), New York, 3 July 1942; launched 24 ...
- 1943 *
USS Robin (AMS-53) USS ''Robin'' (MSC(O)-53/AMS-53/YMS-311) was a built for the United States Navy during World War II. History ''Robin'' was laid down as ''YMS-311'' on 7 May 1943 by Henry B. Nevins, Inc. of City Island, Bronx; launched 6 October 1943; sponsore ...
- 1953 * USS Saluda (IX-87) - 1938 *
USS Seagull (AMS-55) USS ''Seagull'' (MCS(O)-55/AMS-55/YMS-402) was a built for the United States Navy during World War II. History ''Seagull'' was laid down as ''YMS-402'' on 24 July 1942 by Henry B. Nevins, Inc., City Island, Bronx; launched on 17 April 1943; an ...
- 1943 *
USS Tamarack (SP-561) USS ''Tamarack'' (SP-561) was a United States Navy patrol vessel in commission from 1917 to 1919. ''Tamarack'' was built as a private motor yacht of the same name by Nevins Shipyard at City Island in the Bronx, New York, in 1915 to a design by ...
- 1915


References

{{PT boat American shipbuilders Yacht building companies Maritime history of the United States City Island, Bronx Companies based in the Bronx