[2] He traveled in Europe and, in an amateur way, studied the principles of naval architecture, bringing his knowledge and judgment to the practical test of designing and building vessels for his own use.

In 1884, a committee of Bostonians selected him to design a large sloop yacht to represent the United States in a series of international races.

This was a remarkable triumph as it was the first attempt of an American designer to solve certain shipbuilding problems to which Englishmen had given their attention for a score of years.

In 1888, Burgess' fishing schooner Carrie E. Phillips outdistanced four competitors in the fisherman's race held in Boston harbor.

His other yachts included the Mariquita and Gossoon, both remarkably swift sloops designed to counter the success of the Clyde-built cutter Minerva (William Fife, 1888).

[7] An image of The Senator passing Minot's Ledge Light features on the label of Cohasset Punch liqueur, which debuted at Crane's residence in the 1890s.