rhodes 19 sailboat specs

Boat Profile

The Rhodes 19

An uncommonly enduring one-design

From Issue   October 2021

T he Rhodes 19 is a daysailer with a strong and enduring history as a competitive one-design. It began life soon after the end of World War II as a wooden centerboarder designed by Philip Rhodes and called the Hurricane. It didn’t catch on back then: there was only one fleet, at Greenwich Cove, Connecticut, and it soon faded. The design resurfaced, however, in 1947, when the Southern Massachusetts Yacht Racing Association (SMYRA), seeking a new one-design class, commissioned the Palmer Scott Yard of New Bedford to finish out a fleet of bare Hurricane hulls, fitting them with keels rather than the originally specified centerboards. The new boats also had aluminum masts. Renamed the SMYRA class, a fleet developed on Buzzards Bay and around Martha’s Vineyard.

In the 1950s, when fiberglass was gaining favor as a boatbuilding material, a company called Marscot Plastics took a class-sanctioned mold from a SMYRA-class boat. Marscot later joined forces with American Boat Building of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, and George O’Day, a gifted sailor from Marblehead who at the time was importing molded wooden dinghies from England. The fiberglass SMYRA became popular, and by 1958 O’Day had sole proprietorship of the boat’s production. That year he obtained Rhodes’s approval to rename the design “Rhodes 19,” and he immediately sold 50 of them; the first Rhodes 19 in Marblehead, sail No. 41, went to Dr. Randal Bell of the town’s Corinthian Yacht Club. Through the 1960s, sales skyrocketed and fleets were established in various locales—including Marblehead’s Fleet 5. The first national championship took place in 1963, and the first meeting of a new national class association was held at the Larchmont (New York) Yacht Club in 1965.

O’Day was a particularly skilled, even fearless, downwind sailor. He gained his racing chops in a hand-me-down Starling Burgess-designed 14’ cat-rigged Brutal Beast in Marblehead. He was not afraid to push his boat to the limit—and beyond. On one particularly eventful July day in 1942, having graduated from Brutal Beasts, he capsized his 24’ C. Raymond Hunt-designed 110-class sloop, VINCEMUS, under spinnaker. He was inspired in his downwind sailing by the great British dinghy sailor, designer, builder, and author Uffa Fox, who pioneered the concept of planing in dinghies. Years after his formative years in Marblehead, O’Day would establish his eponymous boatbuilding company and join forces with Fox, who designed the now-ubiquitous O’Day Daysailer. The Daysailer is a step down in size, in the early O’Day fleet, from the Rhodes 19.

Dr. Randal Bell brought the first Rhodes 19, sail No. 41, to Marblehead in the 1950s. Sales of the boat skyrocketed through the 1960s.

O’Day’s foundation years in his Brutal Beast and 110 gave rise to a sailing—and sailing-industry—legend: he would go on to collect national championships in several different classes, including the 210, Firefly, Jollyboat, and International 14. He also won gold at the Pan American Games in 1958, gold again in the 1960 Olympics at Rome in the 5.5-Meter class, and he served in the afterguards of the winning AMERICA’s Cup crews in 1962 (WEATHERLY, designed by Rhodes) and 1967 (INTREPID, designed by Olin Stephens). He founded the O’Day Company in 1958 and built more than 30,000 fiberglass-hulled boats that would bring the sport of sailing into the financial reach of the middle class—and in the process change the face of sailing at Marblehead and beyond. Uncounted kids in Marblehead and elsewhere learned to sail in the company’s Widgeon-class sloop (a Bob Baker–designed 12-footer of refined shape and proportion); Marblehead’s Frostbite fleet sailed in tiddly O’Day Interclubs for many years, and the Daysailer model remains popular on the New England used-boat market to this day. The Rhodes 19, however, has endured in popularity like no other O’Day boat. Most of the one-design fleets at Marblehead have diminished in number since the 1980s, but the Rhodes 19 fleet remains strong.

Facing rising materials costs and a poor economy, O’Day had discontinued production of the Rhodes 19 by 1980. That could have been the end of the class, but its officers kept calm and carried on for the next four years, through fits and starts with new potential builders. In 1984 Stuart Marine, a company set up by a Rhodes 19 sailor, Stuart Sharaga, for the express purpose of building the class, turned out the first of its Rhodes 19s.

Jim Taylor, a Marblehead-based naval architect, developed the production methods and tooling that allowed Stuart to turn out quality boats at a profit. One of these early Stuart boats was displayed at the Corinthian Yacht Club during the 1985 national championship and was roundly applauded by the fleet cognoscenti. Stuart boats did not replace the O’Day ones: although a Stuart model won the nationals in 1995, 1996, and 1997, an O’Day won in 1998, and the two models remain competitive with each other to this day. Kim Pandapas, a former Fleet 5 president and current scorer, noted in a 2010 Marblehead Reporter interview, “The old ones can be restored to peak competitiveness.” Pandapas sails an O’Day-built Rhodes 19, sail No. 982.

The list price of a new Stuart-built keel model is $39,800; classic O’Day examples routinely appear on Craigslist in the $5,000 range, and commonly require new floor timbers, brightwork refurbishing, and hull and deck paint. There is also a long-popular cruising version of the design, called the Mariner; it is fitted with a small cabin rather than the Rhodes 19’s low-profile cuddy. O’Day built many Mariners, and Stuart continues the tradition.

The Rhodes 19 carries 175 sq ft of sail on a 27′10″ mast. An outboard motor of up to 6 hp can also be carried for daysailing.

U nlike some higher-performing one-designs, the Rhodes 19 has comfortable bench seating and, with its varnished mahogany coaming and well-proportioned cuddy, has good protection from spray. Sailing the boat doesn’t require excessive physical exertion, which makes it a level playing field for sailors of all ages. Many teams are composed of husbands and wives; one skipper about five years ago retired from the helm at age 84.

I raced Rhodes 19s as a kid, beginning in the late 1970s. My brother Frank and I would ride our bicycles on Saturday mornings from our home in Salem, Massachusetts, to the Boston Yacht Club in the adjacent town of Marblehead. There, we’d meet our mentor, Dick Welch, a Rhodes 19 sailor, who would assign us to a boat in need of crew. We bounced between the Rhodes 19 and Etchells 22 fleets, mostly, with an occasional foray into the Lightning, 210, or Town Class fleets, until we eventually landed full-time slots in competing gold-hulled Rhodes 19s. Mine was called TRISCUIT and was skippered by Davis Noble. Frank’s was SAFFRON, sailed by the husband-and-wife team of Peter and Debbie deWolfe. With Frank, then 15 years old, as crew, SAFFRON won the nationals in Chicago in 1978. Those were heady days for us, and especially for Frank, with that victory. But it wasn’t until much later that I came to really appreciate the significance and brilliance of the Rhodes 19 as a pure sailboat.

Lately I’ve been lingering on advertisements for used O’Day models. It has been many years since I sailed a Rhodes 19, but the mechanics of sailing this boat are muscle memory for me. In its basic form, the boat is a wholesome daysailer with a form-stable hull and iron-ballasted fin keel—although there is a less-popular centerboard model, too. The off-the-shelf rigging is quite simple, but the fractional rig, along with fine-tweaking with the addition of a mainsheet traveler, twings, barber haulers, cunningham, jib-luff tensioner, and adjustable jib leads—all led to a control console—give incremental speed advantages and keep the competition in this fleet hotter than one might expect.

The standard Rhodes 19 rig is quite simple, though numerous sail controls, including a jib-luff tensioner, cunningham, twings, Barber hauler, and traveler can be added to increase competitiveness.

I recall their light-air performance, which was aided by bringing the aftermarket Harken traveler well to windward and easing the mainsheet. Conversely, in heavier breezes the traveler was let down and the sheet strapped in tight, with the boom brought to centerline and the top batten parallel to the boom. Hiking straps along each bench seat allowed us to keep the boat flat in those conditions, though the iron ballast gave plenty of reassurance if we eased up on the effort.

Three Rhodes 19s ghost downwind under spinnaker in a regular-season contest of the Marblehead Racing Association.

The competitive boats looked like Harken catalogs. The stock layout had two long molded fiberglass seats that served as flotation chambers, but the added Harken traveler was mounted across these, just ahead of the helm station, dividing the cockpit. The console bar, studded with cam cleats, was typically slung under the after edge of the cuddy, with the sail controls within easy reach of the crew. The foredeck was spacious and the hull relatively stable, making end-for-ending the spinnaker pole, while jibing, a relative breeze. Spinnakers were typically launched and retrieved from the cockpit.

I sailed a different Rhodes 19 during the week in those days, too. This one had been a donation to the sailing camp where I taught for several years, and that boat had not been fitted out for racing. With its simple cockpit layout and sheeting, it provided a great contrast to the tricked-out racing version on which I spent my Saturday afternoons. It could comfortably carry six adults, and I recall one of my colleagues camp-cruising in it a few times with his wife and child. Indeed, a proper boom tent fitted over the cockpit of a Rhodes 19 would really open up the boat’s range.

One of the appealing features of the Rhodes 19 is that it does not require excessive physical exertion to be competitive. Some crews are composed of three generations of the same family.

Jim Taylor noted two more reasons for the Rhodes 19’s enduring popularity. First, “the boat is really well suited to intergenerational sailing, so that in addition to the husband-and-wife crews, there are lots of parent-child teams, too.” The second reason he noted is that that these “underpowered 40-or-more-year-old boats with fat bows and bad keels are drawing former college sailors who are accustomed to, and enjoy, sailing boats that are all equally slow. The competition continues right to the finish line.”

The 2014 NOOD (National Offshore One Design) Regatta at Marblehead, Massachusetts, saw a healthy fleet of Rhodes 19s. The class has flourished at Marblehead for more than 50 years.

The Rhodes 19 remains well represented in Marblehead. In fact, the nationals were held there this past summer; Steve Clancy and Marty Gallagher from the south shore of Massachusetts won the event. And No. 41, the boat that started it all in Marblehead, is back in town. Marblehead resident Peter Sorlien found her located in New York City and for sale on Craigslist.

Matthew P. Murphy is the editor of WoodenBoat magazine.

This profile originally noted the ballast was lead, not iron, and that Marty Gallagher’s sailing partner was Chris Clancy rather than his brother Steve Clancy. The text above has been corrected and we apologize for the errors. —Ed.

Rhodes 19 Particulars

Sail area/175 sq ft

Weight/ 1325 lbs

Draft, keel version/3′ 3″

Draft, centerboard up/ 10″

Draft, centerboard down/ 4′ 11″

The Rhodes 19 is available from Stuart Marine with a full keel for $39,800 or rigged as a centerboarder for $39,600. Used Rhodes 19s are also available via listings on the Stuart Marine website.

Is there a boat you’d like to know more about? Have you built one that you think other Small Boats Magazine readers would enjoy? Please email us!

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Comments (7)

Very enjoyable and informative. Thank you

Steve Clancy was actually the skipper of the Rhodes 19 2021 National Championship. I was his crew. His brother, Chris Clancy, competed with his own boat.

Marty Gallagher

Thanks, Marty, for providing the correct identity of your skipper. The correction has been made to the text. —Ed.

We were helping run the Navy Regatta in Corpus Christi, Texas, back in 1995 and Skipper’s friend Anne entered her Rhodes 19. For the regatta it was a requirement that all boats carry at least one military crew on board. We assigned our friend Chuck to Anne’s boat; Chuck had experience sailing from his time at the Naval Academy and several Newport-Bermuda races. Anne and Chuck won the overall event, from a fleet of over 50 boats!

Just build a dodger and boom tent for a full-keel Rhodes 19 that now lives in St.Thomas and I sail an O’Day Mariner 2+2

What a great article. It would interesting to hear about the current Rhodes 19 production team led by owner Dave Whittier in Maine.

I am in the process of buying a Mariner 19 from Dave Whittier at Stuart Marine. Spoke to him the other day. He was on a ski lift in Utah. Said the powder was good. Too funny. I’ll be bringing the boat to Lunenburg, Nova Scotia where the missus and I are relocating to. Twenty years on the West Coast, it’s time to get closer to New England my birthplace. Now, I have the boat, I should probably find a house to live in. I think the v-berth may be too tight for a lengthy stay. Had to get the boat first, it’s important to set one’s priorities, eh. Happy sailing everyone!

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Rhodes 19 cb

The rhodes 19 cb is a 19.17ft fractional sloop designed by philip rhodes and built in fiberglass by o'day corp. since 1959., 3200 units have been built..

The Rhodes 19 cb is an ultralight sailboat which is a very high performer. It is stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a day-boat.

Rhodes 19 cb for sale elsewhere on the web:

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RHODES 19 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of RHODES 19. Built by O'Day Corp. and designed by Philip Rhodes, the boat was first built in 1959. It has a hull type of Fin w/transom hung rudder and LOA is 5.84. Its sail area/displacement ratio 22.91. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on undefined.

RHODES 19 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about RHODES 19 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, contributions, who designed the rhodes 19.

RHODES 19 was designed by Philip Rhodes.

Who builds RHODES 19?

RHODES 19 is built by O'Day Corp..

When was RHODES 19 first built?

RHODES 19 was first built in 1959.

How long is RHODES 19?

RHODES 19 is 5.41 m in length.

What is mast height on RHODES 19?

RHODES 19 has a mast height of 7.32 m.

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Designed over 50 years ago by Philip Rhodes, the Rhodes 19 is an exciting, one-design sailboat that offers both great family day sailing and competitive racing. The Rhodes 19 Class Association has been actively supporting Rhodes 19 sailors, events, and regattas for over 30 years.

The Hull Yacht Club's Rhodes 19 fleet together with the Hingham Yacht Club's Rhodes 19 fleet combine to represent Fleet 46 with a total fleet of approximately 30 racing boats.

Rhodes19- Fleet 46 2024 Summer Racing Schedule Coming Soon!

To join the Fleet 46 email list, please click here.

14 boats on the line, a great feast upon the picnic table

After the torrential rain, the Rhodes 19s that were covered with boom tents had water one inch beneath the floorboards. Those without covers boasted three inches of water above the floorboards, a new record.

Boats were bailed with enthusiasm, sails were rigged and 14 Rhodes 19s headed out to sweet Hull bay for some racing. The breeze started out as an Easterly, then clocked around in a circle before settling in at zero. Jason, Joel, and their team were on Harbinger on station without a mark boat.

No worries. Rhode Runnah took the leeward mark. Roger That! grabbed the pin. Fandango procured the weather mark. After a bit more waiting, the light started to get low.

It was time to place a bet as there would be enough light for one race, maybe two, but not enough time to wait, reset the course, and then race. The team put all of the chips on the breeze going north, despite the fact that the forecast was southwest.

Perhaps Ed Z should have taken the entire fleet treasury down to A Street Liquors and spent all of it on nip bottles of Gosling’s and scratchy tickets because the northerly filled, the entire fleet made it to the line, and there was much rejoicing at the prospect of racing in our beautiful bay.  Black cat’s paws clawed their way down the course and Dave Curry sailing single handed in Pyscho Killer had his hands full.

The RC got off a race then asked the fleet if we wanted another. “Winter is long, we come to race. One more please.” The RC obliged, dishing up another race.

The sun started to set, the fleet returned to safe harbor, the scores were tallied and announced. One-two, three-four, five-six, and ten-eleven were all decided by the Kiss Your Sister Rule, also known as the tie breaker.  

Those who came out ahead on the tiebreaker rule noted the just nature of the mechanism.  Here, here! A good outcome indeed! Those who came out behind demanded dueling pistols and Satisfaction, arm wrestling, or match racing in Lasers.  

While Charlie spun the platters, the picnic tables strained under the weight of pasta with meatballs, pasta with chicken, salad, and three kinds of desserts including Tod’s delicious S'mores.

The Hull Fleet Captain noted that next week, Steve Clancy and Joe Berkeley would be sailing the 110 Nationals (in separate boats) so would not be sailing Rhodes 19s. The fleet celebrated their upcoming absence and is looking forward to sailing without them. Thursday night, the 110 Nationals will be sharing the porch with the Rhodes fleet. There is a lot of crossover so don’t be surprised if you see Joe O’Neill reliving the glory days and hugging some old buddies.  

There is one Thursday night left in the 2021 Fall Season, then we have the Grab’N’Go the following week. Results for the Spring Series, Summer Series, Fall Series, and Year Series will be announced at the Grab’N’Go and all comers are invited to share their ideas for improving the quality of the racing and the on shore activities. Like all great organizations, the Hull Rhodes Fleet is made up of 100% Captains, 0% Privates. If you have an idea, be ready to roll up your sleeves to make it happen.  

Over the winter, I intend to upgrade some of the Hull Yacht Club intermediate marks. The mark representing the end of the starting line last night is top notch. It’s large, orange, and old eyes can see it in the distance. The faded leeward mark that is kinda-sorta-pink is ready to be retired. It’s crap. Ed Z notes we have some funds for marks and the expenditure will be a good one.

The Thursday night Hull racing is our signature event and overall it is in good shape. We could improve the experience by getting more boats on the line. Three boats we want out there in 2022: Josh Struzziery, Tom Craig, and Dave Curry as he is going to finish TOOLIN’ this fall with the encouragement of his Life Coach Bill Bradford.

It has been an honor to be the Hull Fleet Captain this season. The Thursday night series is a beautiful institution. I believe good racing begets more good racing. The competition, the camaraderie, and the Hearty Goodfellowship are a beautiful concoction. Like a Rhodes 19, the fleet thrives upon momentum. Let’s keep it moving forward. Thanks for reading.

To download race SI's or view results of the Rhodes 19 races this season, please click here .

To view the Rhodes 19 National Class Association website, please click here .

• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.

Rhodes 19 Class Association

The class association for Rhodes 19 sailboats.

Fall 2023 Mainsheet

The Fall 2023 Mainsheet is here .

2023 National Champions

Congratulations to Mike Lane, Yati Harsono and Renee Heffernan on winning the 2023 Rhodes 19 National Championships.  After 10 races in widely varying conditions on Lake Pontchartrain they came away with 22 net points, solidly beating 2nd place Rocky Sanchez, Christy Sanchez and Shannon Lane (28 net points) and 3rd place Steve Uhl /Kathleen Lane (30 net points).

East Coasts Results

East Coasts results are here

June 2023 Mainsheet

The June 2023 Mainsheet is available here .

2023 Registration

Registration for 2023 is open (click here ).  Also dates for some major events are shown in the sidebar.

January 2023 Mainsheet

Read the January mainsheet    here

Spring 2022 Mainsheet

Read the Spring mainsheet    here

December Mainsheet

Read the December 2021 Mainsheet here .

Article in Small Boats Magazine

Thank you to Matt Murphy for sharing this  article about the Rhodes 19 – just appeared in Small Boats Magazine

The Rhodes 19

2021 Nationals Results

Congratulations to Steve Clancy and Marty Gallagher for winning the 2021 Rhodes 19 Nationals.  They prevailed over a deep competitive 31 boat fleet.  They also took home the “Wet Bottom” trophy for best finish by a wetsailed boat and the “Jensen” trophy (best finish for skipper over 60).

Second was Joe Fava and Elise Nash, who also won the “Norm Cressy” perpetual (2nd place) and the “Don Quixote” (best finish by sailor never before in the top 5).

Third were Will and Tom Dailey, who also won the “Novice” trophy (best finish for a 1st time nationals competitor).

Fourth were Nat and Jim Taylor, fifth were Kim and Christina Pandapas.

Travel Trophy – Tim Maye

Corinthian – Bridget Hickey

Fleet – Fleet 5

Congratulations to all.

full results at 2021.rhodes19.org

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Classic O'day Rhodes 19 Sailboats

O'day rhodes 19 keel model, o'day rhodes 19 centerboard model.

O’day Classic Specifications

Total Factory Restoration uses your hull or ours.

Original O’day components usually include:

• Awlgripped & gelcoated fiberglass hull, deck and interior parts
• Epoxy coated cast iron keel or centerboard
• Varnished mahogany floorboards & coamings

Replaced O’day components always include:

• White oak hull framing
• Mahogany plywood cabin structures  
• Mahogany plywood hull & deck reinforcements
• Rubrail, end caps & transom trim
• Stemhead & chainplates
• Mooring & docking cleat hardware
• Main & jib sheeting hardware
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Each O’day Classic is certified for sale and registration;

and carries a Stuart Marine Corp. two-year warranty.

Review of the O'Day Mariner 19 Sailboat

Ahunt/Wikimedia CC 2.0

For over 40 years, the 19-foot Mariner sailboat has been a popular daysailer. Based on the hull of the fast, stable Rhodes 19, the Mariner added a small cabin and other features. Built by O'Day from 1963 through 1979, and currently, by Stuart Marine, the Mariner was marketed as a family daysailer.

As one of the first affordable, trailerable fiberglass sailboats, the Mariner has been popular on lakes and protected bays every since. With its roomy cockpit, wide-beamed stability, and easy sailing characteristics, the Mariner deserves its reputation and is still among the best general-purpose sailboats of its size.

• Excellent boat for learning to sail and for family daysailing
• Stable and handles well if wind or waves kick up
• Very large cockpit provides comfortable sailing for 4 to 6 crew
• Solid and well constructed; older boats have held up well
• Self-righting and positive flotation
• Cabin is useful for daysailing but cramped for sleeping aboard for long
• Older boats susceptible to leaks in centerboard locker (if abused by previous owners)
• Early models lacked self-bailing cockpits

Specifications

• Length overall: 19 feet 2 inches
• Beam: 7 feet
• Draft: keelboat: 3 feet 3 inches - centerboard up: 10 inches - centerboard down: 4 feet 11 inches
• Empty weight: keelboat: 1435 lbs. - centerboard: 1305 lbs.
• Sail area (main and fractional jib): 185 sqft
• Mast height (deck-stepped): 27 feet 10 inches
• Rudder: keelboat: fixed - centerboard: kick-up
• Recommended outboard engine: 2-6 HP
• MSRP $24,000 depending on options - widely available used (NADA Marine Guide average retail price for 1977 models: $2,110)
• Parts readily available for older boats, plus information from owners and class associations

Review of the Mariner 19 Sailboat

In the 1950s the Rhodes 19 was a popular wooden racing and daysailing sailboat. In 1963 Olympic gold-medal sail racer George O'Day bought the hull design, redesigned the topsides with a small cabin, and began producing one of the first affordable fiberglass family sailboats, the Mariner 19. While still producing a keel version, O'Day offered a centerboard option that improved trailer launching and allowed the Mariner to sail up to a beach.

The Mariner rapidly became a popular club one-design racer but also a good family boat seen widely on lakes and bays. By 1979 O'Day had produced almost 3800 Mariners - a huge number for any one model - and after O'Day discontinued the Mariner to focus on larger cruising sailboats, Spindrift and then Stuart Marine continued building the Mariner. The Mariner is still being built - probably the longest continuous production run of any sailboat model ever.

In the late 1960s and 1970s, design changes increased the Mariner's popularity for family sailing. The 2+2 model added two more berths in the cabin, for a total of four, although the cabin really is too cramped to call this boat a cruiser. (Sleeping aboard is more like backpack camping.) The cockpit length was increased to the transom, making a much larger space than in most boats of this size.

The current model includes nonskid on deck and the cockpit seats, all control lines led to the cockpit, positive flotation, and a kick-up rudder on the centerboard model that allows the boat into very shoal waters. With its wide beam and fractional jib that reduces heeling, the Mariner is stable and safe to sail in most conditions.

Virtually all Mariner owners say they'd buy one again - they have no regrets. The features most commonly cited are its stability ("virtually untippable"), its oversized cockpit (where you spend most of your time anyway), and how easily it can be launched (even on a shallow boat ramp).

Perhaps most important, the Mariner is very forgiving of the sailor's mistakes - and thus is an excellent beginning boat. The few complaints of Mariner owners focus on the cramped interior, where the cabin roof is too low for taller people to sit on the settees without bumping your head.

Good Mariners can readily be found on the used market. There are more likely to be problems with an old trailer (rust, wear and tear) than the fiberglass boat itself unless it was abused by a previous owner. For a new owner, The Mariner Class Association offers many benefits, including boat information, sailing tips, sources for parts, and a newsletter.

If you're interested in a small sailboat with a bigger cabin for pocket cruising, check out the West Wight Potter 19 - an outstanding small sailboat. If you’re thinking about a trailerable sailboat like the Potter 19, remember that one of the great advantages is the ability to take it easily to other sailing destinations, such as heading to the Florida Keys in the winter.

Here’s an inexpensive, effective way to control your tiller if you have to let go for a moment while sailing. Need a new outboard motor for your small sailboat? Check out the great new propane-powered outboards from Lehr. If you own a trailer for your boat, be sure you maintain it adequately both to keep it working into the future but to stay safe when using it.

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• Sailboat Guide

2004 Stuart Marine Rhodes 19

• Description

Seller's Description

Get sailing with this well-maintained 2004 fast-but-forgiving Rhodes 19 sloop. Beautiful navy blue hull with white cockpit and decks. Its stored on-trailer rigged and ready to sail at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron. Sail it there, or trailer it to its new home.

The Classically styled Rhodes 19 is the ideal family daysailer and spirited one-design racer. She’s an accomplished heavy-weather performer built upon a fast and forgiving hull. Fifty years and 3500 hulls have proven her design, construction, and sailing character to beginning and experienced sailors alike. Production of the Rhodes 19 began in 1958 by ODay, and continues to this day by Stuart Marine in Rockland Maine.

Equipment: This is a complete package: mainsail with jiffy reefing, roller furling jib, boom-end main sheet for a clear cockpit and custom Bimini, working masthead anchor light and tricolor, 2 100 Ah deep cycle batteries and 2 100w solar panels on the foredeck, tiller pilot, Dandorth 8s anchor with 6 of chain plus 100 of rode, 6 hp 4-stroke Tohatsu longshaft outboard with 5 gal tank, fold-up transom swim ladder, canvas boat cover, and galvanized boat trailer with light bar. If you might want to use it as a pocket cruiser, also included are custom v-berths and a complete bug-free cockpit tent. Towing weight is 1500 pounds, doable even for many smaller vehicles.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

The RHODES 19 has it’s origins with HURRICANE class (1945) which was a molded plywood centerboarder with an open cockpit built by Allied Aviation Corp. Another builder, Palmer Scott, purchased a number of unfinished HURRICANE hulls, added a foredeck with cuddy cabin, and a fixed keel. This boat was sold as the SMYRNA. It was from the SMYRNA that Marscot Plastics made a plug for a fiberglass version. This was the boat that was later sold by O’Day Corp. as the RHODES 19. There are keel and centerboard versions. The fixed keel version become the standard for class racing.

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