Philip L. Rhodes

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Philip L. Rhodes

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Phil Rhodes was born in 1895 and was one of the few yacht and small craft naval architects to recieve a college degree in large ship naval architecture.  He began practicing yacht design in 1919.  I was privileged to work for a designer who had learned a lot in Mr. Rhodes office about drafting technique. I have also had the good fortune to work on a major restoration involving one of his more famous designs.  Mr. Rhodes was known to have a great eye for the aesthetics and known for great care during the entire design process.  He designed a great many highly successful and cherished vessels large and small both sail and power both yacht and commercial craft.  His 12 Meter design Weatherly defended the America's cup in 1962.   Although he designed vessels for well-to-do clients many designs also were with those of very modest means in mind.  At no time did he lose sight of the need for each vessel no matter how modest or grand to be a true yacht.  Owners of a Rhodes vessel of any size can feel that they will be respected for the quality of their choice.

From 1934 to 1947 he was chief designer for the firm of Cox & Stevens.  In 1947 he became owner of the firm and changed its name to his own.  Unlike many designers who are comfortable with a limited number of materials, Rhodes, was comfortable with conventional carvel planked wood, modern wood methods, steel, and was a pioneer in fiberglass construction.  His classic  Bounty 41 foot sailboat was the first sizable production boat built in glass starting in 1956.   Unlike most of today's production boats the Bounty was actually engineered and therefore we still see them sailing today.  This was the first of quite a number of designs.  Your present author's favorite among these was the beautiful Rhodes Reliant 41.

Many designers at one time or another were associated with the Philip L. Rhodes office and we can say that his influence was extensive and widely respected. He died in 1974.   His designs are at Mystic Seaport.

Those wishing a more extensive look at his design work should read Philip L. Rhodes and His Yacht Designs by Richard Henderson, which was published by International Marine Publishing in 1981.

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