Motor Sailers by Philip Rhodes & John Alden

Trade Wind

Dear Mr. eiland,
I noticed you are based in several places, including Annapolis. Trade Wind, the 1938 Alden Motor Ketch I entioned yesterday, is in Annapolis right now. We are docked at Yacht Basin Company, in slip 5 right next to the Annapolis Yacht Club. But we are probably going to head north today or tomorrow. Are you here now?
Marcy

 

I don't do computer designing (never learned), ....and I am acutely aware of sheer lines, bow shapes, and lots of other subtleties. I use to have a big scrap book of photos and drawings of designs I both liked (and disliked) to help with the process. Regrettably I lost that book long ago so I need to rely on the internet for multiple observations.

The idea of 3 rig options is to have one per original (to retain that original look), and two others of greater sail area and managability.

I think most will be pleased.

 

Regreattably I am not, at the moment I'm in DC with a very busy schedule for the day. Very sorry to miss you. Perhaps when you come back thru?

 

Trade Wind

We were at the Capital Yacht Club for three weeks starting April 18. Too bad! Baltimore? Cape May? Then Jersey City, Oyster Bay, Greenport LI, and Portsmouth, RI (home.) Heading north for summer, but may be back this way in the Fall. I will have a look at the forum every once in a while. Thanks for replying! And have a look at that video on Youtube, Trade Wind Restoration...

Cheers,
Marcy

 

Yes I did view that video. It had been sent to me not long ago, and I posted a link to it above at posting #82.

How long in Baltimore?

 

Baltimore

Only Wednesday afternoonuntil Thursday morni

 

Mystery Solved

Just a note of summation....clarification.

Firstly I had been for several years seeking to find out who exactly was the designer of this mystery vessel I had found sitting on the hard at a small marina in southern MD....was it a Rhodes or an Alden design. Well that has been solved with the submission by Tad Roberts. It is definitely the Discoverer model by Philip Rhodes, one of only 2 built.

Secondly there was considerable disparity as to her actual length, particularly as the 'advertisement drawing' dug up by Tad had not specified her length. I had seen a number of different figures...44', 45', 46',...even 52'. I had stepped it off as an estimate on several occasions and come up with less than 44', maybe even 41' but could this be possible? I did a rough tape measurement one time, but when I came up with likely 42' I just couldn't believe it....not with a 3-windowed saloon deckhouse.

Then Tad made the first good scaled-based estimate and came up with 44'. Just recently, Kirk, the new owner of that vessel in southern MD sent me a number of measurements between the major bulkheads on the vessel. When I scale these out on the exploded dwgs from the magazine ad, I very definitely come up with a vessel length of 44'....and a beam of 13' and a few inches.

Now it so happens that this is extremely close to the same dimensions as the 44' Virginia Reel designs by Rhodes. Could these be the same hull designs?...with different superstructures? I suspect so, and this is what threw me off-base in recognizing this twin design for so long.





Looking closer we can see the progression of this design from the VirginiaReel to the Discoverer model. Wouldn't most owners like to have a 'one level' deck from all way at the stern, thru the aft deck area, and into the main deckhouse saloon,.......rather than that 3-different levels on Virginia Reel? To get those fishing chairs down a little closer to the WL meant the engines where going to have to move forward in under the mail saloon floor, but that's OK as this floor level will be raised to be 'one level' with the aft deck And we can get rid of those v-drives, and deck-floor engine hatches that invariably leak salt water down on the tops of our engines. Now we move that outdoor steering station up on to the top of the deckhouse to form a flybridge, thus allowing for a bigger main saloon (now 3 big side windows rather than 2). Nicely done I think, and all in the same length vessel.

Discoverer still retained dual engines...two moderate sized Perkins in-line 6's. But what I detect on these drawings is a nice big opening designed to swing a single big prop rather than duals? He must have had this in mind when he drew up this design, however it appears as though all were built with twins....probably those cheap fuel days. I'd have a single robust in-line 6 myself for this modern day fuel pricing, and powerfull engine packages. Besides it would be easier to work around and service from either side with room to spare.

….more on these redesign thoughts later....

 

Nice post, Brian.
Best wishes.

 

Fascinating!
This is slightly off thread, but I just wanted to let you all know that our 1938 John Alden (Ralph Winslow, designer) motor ketch will be at the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic starting Thursday, June 28; if anybody can make it, please let Michael or me know where you are coming from so you are sure to get the royal tour!
Marcy

 

Laurent Giles Design

Apparently that one sold as the listing link is no longer viable.

But someone just brought this one to my attention. This is a lot of boat for the money,...certainly couldn't build anything like this for that kind of money.

For Sale:
60' Laurent Giles Design Ketch: $189,000 USD
1976 60' Ketch "Princess Irene". Built to highest possible standards. Documented Vessel. The yacht is designed for ocean passage making with as few as two crew. Built in 1976 by Royal Huisman, Holland and outfitted by A. H. Moody, Southhampton, UK. Multiple redundant systems including propulsion
For Sale: 60' Laurent Giles Design Ketch: $189,000 USD

I'll post a few photos of her very nice interior so they are presevered for future reference. You can find many more at that link above.

 

William Hand motorsailer

In the next few days I hope to be visiting this Willian Hand design, GUILDIVE
Ketch Guildive History, Sixpence, William Hand Jr., Wheeler Shipyard, Sailing Charters Castine & Searsport Maine

I've not explored this designer's vessels to any great extent, so I am really looking forward to the visit. This past spring I had occassion to spot her on the Eastern shore of MD, and took a few photos of in her 'winter stowage condition'. Now she is getting ready for a cruise north to visit Nova Scotia this summer.

 

Of note how similar in appearance this William Hand design GUILDIVE is to the Alden design TRADE WIND I had mentioned back here:

 

Brian good to see you are still at it. Ed Schulman here Dragonfly #5-Take a look at my boat 45ft+swim platform set up with twin motors(no sailing)-PLy epoxy composite.A modernized version of local Dream Boat. Could have easily had bottom changed to motor sailor keel.As a youngster on Long Island I saw raised deck pilothouse motor sailors that perked my interest. A long waterline 46.6 gives good speed with moderate fuel burn. No worries I did not give up sailing I keep a fast 33 ft single hander rigged and ready to go.

 

Hi there Ed, it has been a while.
I believe if memory serves me right that Hand motorsailer I plan on visiting is right around the corner from the launching ramp where we first spashed your Firefly trimaran,...that was right there just outside Easton, correct?

I think the third photo down (on the trailer) is your boat,....green strip....is that correct?
http://www.runningtideyachts.com/trimaran/

Do you have some more photos of that boat you could send me?

 

Any photos I have are in storage. You called me to take the boat by trailer before a lock down it was at the site in Denton. Yes Green stripe. Good luck with your motor sailor dream they are some very cool boats. Ed.