28' Herreshoff Rozinante Ketch (1974) - TERN

Tern is as beautiful to look at as she is to sail. Her self-tending jib with all halyards and sheets leading to the cockpit make her easy to sail. Her tall ketch rig makes her an impeccable light air boat, yet her fifty percent displacement to ballast ratio make her comfortable and secure in all conditions.

Construction: Mahogany planking over white oak frames and backbone. Bronze fastenings and keel bolts. Dynel over mahogany decks, mahogany coaming and cabin sides. Teak toe rails, cockpit and cabin soles and seats. Sitka spruce spars. Original bronze hardware personally made by L. Francis Herreshoff.

Equipment: Bronze turnbuckles and 1×9 stainless standing rigging
J.M. Reineck & Son bronze blocks
Varnished mainsheet blocks
Bronze ventilation cowls
Endura braid classic rope halyards
Edson bronze 1-1/2” diaphragm bilge pump
Rule electric bilge pump
12V Battery and 100 watt charging solar panel (2022)
10-foot sweep oar and oarlock
5-inch Danforth Constellation compass with stowage mount
Radar reflector
Boom vang tackle
Bronze jib sheet winches and pedestals (stored ashore)
Original cast iron Skippy stove with copper heat shield, stainless stove pipe and Concordia smoke head (stored ashore)
Fynspray bronze galley pump
Two ash non-fouling pennant staffs
Brass oil lamp
Perko gimballed oil cabin lamp
Mahogany/bronze boat hook
Two canvas covered fenders
Array of dock lines
14 lb Danforth anchor
14 lb Fortress anchor
Two 120-foot 5/8 nylon anchor rodes
Porta Potty and traditional cedar bucket
6 life jackets
Flare kit
Required pollution placards
Bronze bell
Bronze sound device
First aid kit
2 ABC fire extinguishers
Full cockpit closed cell foam cushions
Sunbrella sail covers
Cockpit sun awning
Cockpit boom tent
Interim boom tent and frame (used when rig is not installed)
2017 full winter canvas cover and frame
6-inch foam berth cushions with 2021 Sunbrella covers and throw pillows and fitted bunk linens

Sails: Nat Wilson main, mizzen and jib (2021 & 2023) mizzen staysail, cruising spinnaker

Power: Torqeedo electric outboard, two batteries, removable motor bracket

Notable details: Tern has been professionally maintained. She has always been wet-stored under her custom canvas winter cover. Tasteful chafing gear and fancy ropework details throughout the boat. Decks refurbished 2025 with new nonskid. Maintenance records available upon request. New York State registration, PHRF and CRF rating certificates all current..
Available information:
See WoodenBoat Magazine number 213 Tern, L. Francis Herreshoff and Bill – A Seaman’s Tribute to Rozinante’s Simplicity
See Chapter 4, Sensible Cruising Designs by L. Francis Herreshoff
See Roger C. Taylor biography of L.Francis Herreshoff 2015 Volume 1 Yacht Designer & 2018 Volume 2 The Flowering of Genius
Watch Off Center Harbor 2018 video Thoughts on L. Francis Herreshoff’s Rozinante with Roger Taylor and Maynard Bray
Tern is as beautiful to look at as she is to sail. Her self-tending jib with all halyards and sheets leading to the cockpit make her easy to sail. Her tall ketch rig makes her an impeccable light air boat, yet her fifty percent displacement to ballast ratio make her comfortable and secure in all conditions.