Motor Sailers by Philip Rhodes & John Alden

[brian eiland]

Tend to agree that she was more of a 'sailing aux' rather than motorsailer.

 

[schakel]

Schakel, she's lovely but to me she's simply a yacht with a doghouse/deckhouse. The cockpit is pure sailing yacht as are the hull lines.

I guess we should start a separate thread as Jack Laurent Giles drew some gorgeous motorsailors from Blue Leopard downwards.

I agree, but can't there be ships who look that fantastic without the long keel?

I know, it's a complicated story with hull stability in broadness, but still, a very narrow yacht, like the skerry cruisers, with kanting keel, wouldn't that be fast and beautiful?

And Laurent giles and Philip Rhodes are both in the hall of fame together with Sparkmann and Stephens, André Hoek other classic yachtdesigners.
Hoek Design » Hoek Design classic sailing yacht https://www.hoekdesign.com/sailing-yachts/classic

 

[RHP]

I've found another one! 1959 JOHN G ALDEN Design No 904-B

46ft Alden Motorsailer "Sunquest", 1959, Kauri, 130hp dsl (1200 hrs), 8 berths, gas oven, shower, fridge & freezer, gps, autopilot, 2 electric capstans, twin furlers, RIB & sailing dinghy. Separate double & single cabins.

1959 seems fairly early for this bloodline of motorsailers. This is a wonderful example, IF she was mine, I value a bigger cockpit more than the bigger wheelhouse so I'd shorten the wheelhouse by about a metre doing away with the aft bulkhead settee which would allow greater cockpit relaxation space. Not sure I'd keep the mizzen mast either... but I'm being picky, it's a beautiful hull.... Enjoy

1959 JOHN G ALDEN Design No 904-B Power Boat For Sale - http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1959/JOHN-G-ALDEN-Design-No-904-B-3101232/#.WetjuFuCx0w

 

[brian eiland]

I thought Niger was a landlocked country in Africa?

 

[Rurudyne]

I've found another one! 1959 JOHN G ALDEN Design No 904-B

46ft Alden Motorsailer "Sunquest", 1959, Kauri, 130hp dsl (1200 hrs), 8 berths, gas oven, shower, fridge & freezer, gps, autopilot, 2 electric capstans, twin furlers, RIB & sailing dinghy. Separate double & single cabins.

1959 seems fairly early for this bloodline of motorsailers. This is a wonderful example, IF she was mine, I value a bigger cockpit more than the bigger wheelhouse so I'd shorten the wheelhouse by about a metre doing away with the aft bulkhead settee which would allow greater cockpit relaxation space. Not sure I'd keep the mizzen mast either... but I'm being picky, it's a beautiful hull.... Enjoy

1959 JOHN G ALDEN Design No 904-B Power Boat For Sale - http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1959/JOHN-G-ALDEN-Design-No-904-B-3101232/#.WetjuFuCx0w

The house's windows don't seem to visually work with the sheer. So was it because it was an early effort or because it was added later?

Here's a 73' Fellows that I saw a few years ago on Yachtworld (when she was in visually better shape, no stains on the hull). I downloaded the photos they put up at the time ... these in the current listing do her no justice! She could be drop dead gorgeous with some love. She probably still is ... those are some crappy photos.

1938 Fellows and Stewart George Craig Design Diamond Head 73' Boat for sale http://www.boatersresources.com/boat-for-sale/1938-Fellows-and-Stewart-George-Craig-DesignDiamond-Head-Used-416952

 

[Rurudyne]

I thought Niger was a landlocked country in Africa?

Must be some new spelling for New Zealand ... or maybe a Nigerian Prince is selling her now that he's won the lotto and is buying a new boat, just send him your bank account info and the boat is yours!

 

[RHP]

I've done bit of research and the original design 904 drawn in 1954 was not particularly handsome vessel, built in the UK named Sunquest.
Alden Designs - Hart Nautical Collection, MIT Museum - Designers of Fine Yachts http://aldendesigns.com/motorsailers-ketch/d0904.html
http://www.aldendesigns.com/99years/rawimages/904_Sunquest.jpg

Alden Design No. 904
Ketch, Full Keel
Length on Deck: ft/m 46'2, 14.07m
Designed Waterline Length:ft/m 39'9, 12.12
Beam: ft/m 13'0, 3.96
Draft: ft/m 4'6. 1.37
Displacement: lbs/kg 39,200, 17,781
Construction Material: Wood
Number Built: 1
Original Name: Sunquest
Owner: Donald K. Ross, Benton Harbor, MI
Builder: Lymington Slipway, UK

Design 904-B drawn in 1960 and also named Sunquest had the same dimensions (officially) but is clearly better looking all round.

Construction Material: Wood
Number Built: 1
Specifications:
Block List:
Original Name: Sun-Quest
Owner: T. W. Steer, Nelson, New Zealand
Builder: T. W. Steer, New Zealand

Further photos of Sunquest II:

 

[RHP]

Not put off by my remarks concerning her looks, the owner of the 904 returned to Alden to get a 55' version of the design, 969, drawn in 1960.

Length on Deck: ft/m 55.0 16.72
Designed Waterline Length:ft/m 48.0 14.59
Beam: ft/m 15.0 4.56
Draft: ft/m 5.0, 1.52
Displacement: lbs/kg 67100 30500
Ballast Keel: lbs/kg 8500 3864
Inside Ballast: lbs/kg 1000 455
Sail Area: ft^2/m^2 50% Miz 951 88.4
Twin Screw

Alden Designs - Hart Nautical Collection, MIT Museum - Designers of Fine Yachts http://aldendesigns.com/motorsailers-ketch/d0969.html

He returned to Alden in 1969 for the final design 1019 at 65' named Sunquest III.

Design 1019
Motor Sailer, Ketch Rigged
Design Category: "Offshore"
Length on Deck: ft/m 64.9 19.73
Designed Waterline Length:ft/m 58.0 17.63
Beam: ft/m 17.0 5.17
Draft: ft/m 4.8 1.46
Displacement: lbs/kg 84000 38182
Ballast Keel: lbs/kg 13000 5909
Inside Ballast: 1000 455
Sail Area: ft^2/m^2 50% Miz 981 91.2
Twin Screw
Alden Designs - Hart Nautical Collection, MIT Museum - Designers of Fine Yachts http://aldendesigns.com/motorsailers-ketch/d1019.html

 

[Rurudyne]

The customer wants a house, the customer gets a house.

Windows seem to be working with the sheer in the latter drawings so they do look like they would look better ... even if they've got that whole custom station wagon from a Corvette Stingray vibe going on (especially the last).

 

[brian eiland]

Not put off by my remarks concerning her looks, the owner of the 904 returned to Alden to get a 55' version of the design, 969, drawn in 1960.


He returned to Alden in 1969 for the final design 1019 at 65' named Sunquest III.
Design 1019
Length on Deck: ft/m 64.9 19.73
Alden Designs - Hart Nautical Collection, MIT Museum - Designers of Fine Yachts http://aldendesigns.com/motorsailers-ketch/d1019.html

Hi RHP,
I think that final design you just spoke of may be this very vessel that I posted a brief amount of info back in posting #40.
I called it 'Sunshine', but you might very well be correct with the name 'Sunquest',....

Alden 64

Here's another design I found hiding in my old files. It's an Alden (office) design that reminds me very much of the Rhodes' vessels I documented in posting #1.

This vessel was actually owned by a gentleman who started up a well know seafood restaurant in old town Alexandria here in Washington DC. He has since passed away. I actually took photos of the pictures hung on the walls of the resturant, and that explains the bright refection in these scans that developed from the flash of the camera and the glass covering of the photos.

I believe the name of the vessel was SunShine.

 

[Mikeemc]

Alden Sportfishing Cruiser

I was just going thru some old paper files and found this clipping I had saved of an 1941 50 ft Alden sportfishing cruiser. You can see the lineage with the later Hawksbill design

It also had reminded me of another old wooden sportfisher, a 1941 43' Carl Adams I had once owned for a short period of time. Rumor had it that Hemmingway once fished off it.

This vessel looks like it has some sort of mast on it?...maybe for a crow's nest or something. Maybe I'll put something over on the sportfish zone and see if any old timers recognize it.

I know this is an old thread . The Alden Sportfish Ernest fished from was the Cudacatcher 1937 59ft , 1973 Giff Hayward owned it at Pines Marina , Indian Harbour Beach , Fl. He moved it to the keys that year. I understand it was sold and moved to Texas. I see now it has been totally restored . 1972 I did some extensive work on her.

 

[brian eiland]

I know this is an old thread . The Alden Sportfish Ernest fished from was the Cudacatcher 1937 59ft , 1973 Giff Hayward owned it at Pines Marina , Indian Harbour Beach , Fl. He moved it to the keys that year. I understand it was sold and moved to Texas. I see now it has been totally restored . 1972 I did some extensive work on her.

Do you have any pics of her when you worked on her, or after the restoration??

 

[Mikeemc]

Do you have any pics of her when you worked on her, or after the restoration??

Sorry no , my photos were destroyed in a fire in 1992. Mit has some photos of her after restoration , just google cudacatcher . I just loved that boat ! Loved my 47 Wheeler too !

 

[Mikeemc]

Sorry no , my photos were destroyed in a fire in 1992. Mit has some photos of her after restoration , just google cudacatcher . I just loved that boat ! Loved my 47 Wheeler too !

BTW most boat plans are still available from Consolidated wich bought out Alden boat works . Alden Yatch Designs Since 1911 - Niels Helleberg Yacht Design Designers of Fine Yachts http://www.aldendesigns.com/99years/detail.php?ID=1021

Robert Jacob Consolidated http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/yachtsmall/jacob.htm

The Cudacatcher http://www.falship.com/ship/cudacatcher-12365983

 

[RHP]

And another variation on the Rhodes Virginia Reel - she looks very similar to the green yacht I found in Italy (built in Liguria) but this one was built in Tazmania! The little dinky mast needs replacing with something that can properly propel the vessel.

Philip Rhodes 45' Huon Pine Motorsailer 'Windormar' | Sail monohulls | Boat Sales Tasmania https://www.boatsalestas.com.au/sail-monohulls/philip-rhodes-45-huon-pine-motorsailer-windormar/218721/