Ballentine's Herreshoff 12 1⁄2 Restorations

Ballentine's has been known for our thorough and meticulous restorations of original Herreshoffs. Over a hundred 12s have come through our doors for care or restoration. We have completed both partial and complete rebuilds and our work sets the standard for authenticity and workmanship. Each boat has a story and owners choose to invest in their boats for different reasons. Many want to pass their boats down to their children and grandchildren and others recognize the significance of the design and want to preserve the boat for its historical value. Our work makes sure the legacy continues for either reason.

A Tale of two Restorations:

MALABAR, hull #1407 was originally built in 1937 and bought by her current owner's mother in the 1950's. His mother was an accomplished sailor and racer and passed her H12 to her son, the current owner. He learned and taught his children to sail on MALABAR and wanted to give this special boat another lifetime. We were entrusted with the extensive rebuild. MALABAR is now raced and sailed by the third generation and is set to last well into the future. Her restoration can also be seen in WoodenBoat's issue 218:73.

MALABAR'S Photo Gallery - select any image below to launch gallery and auto-play... or use keyboard arrows to navigate or controls on image hover. Finger swipe on mobile.

Unlike MALABAR, CAPTAIN KIDD was not a member of the family for generations past. CAPTAIN KIDD was purchased because she was a great candidate for preservation. When her current owner found her, she was modified and in failing health, but her history and shape remained. CAPTAIN KIDD is hull # 1298 and was built in 1936. She was likely the last Herreshoff 12 built with oak trim. Over her long lifetime, her transom had been replaced in mahogany, hardware had been lost and mis-replaced and her oak trim painted. Her restoration brought her back to originality and authenticity and she remains as an accurate example of the Herreshoff legacy.

CAPTAIN KIDD'S's Photo Gallery - select any image below to launch gallery and auto-play... or use keyboard arrows to navigate or controls on image hover. Finger swipe on mobile.

If you have a boat like MALABAR and want to preserve a family heirloom or would like to acquire a boat and save a legacy, like CAPTAIN KIDD, please contact us. We can help you with your boat, but also can help you find a boat worth saving. If you have any questions or would like to discuss a restoration project please Email or call us at 508-563-2800.