Philip Rhodes

1895 – 1974 • Website

Philip L. Rhodes is one of the best known American boat designers of the 20th century. His career spanned more than 50 years.

Rhodes had worked at a number of firms before joining Cox & Stevens, Inc., New York City in 1934. By 1947 this had become Philip L. Rhodes, Naval Architects and Marine Engineers.

Rhodes and his firm were pioneers in the development of fiberglass construction methods. The Bounty II for Coleman Plastics in 1956 became one of the earliest yachts built of fiberglass, and established the viability of the new material for larger production boats.

By the 1950's, Philip Rhodes spent most of his time as a manager of the firm. For many years, James McCurdy served as head of the Yacht Design Section. The actual designs of boats followed certain formula and guidelines Rhodes had developed earlier. Much of the later basic design work was done by his son Philip H. ("Bodie") Rhodes. Detailed layouts and drawings were done by Al Mason, Charles Jannace, and Dick Davis. Other designers worked on motor yachts, and commercial and military boats. In addition, Rhodes' other son Daniel Rhodes did brokerage work in the office.

Philip Rhodes retired in 1970.

Jim McCurdy and his son Bodie Rhodes had created their own yacht design company (McCurdy and Rhodes) in 1968.

Most of the Rhodes material is archived at the Daniel S. Gregory Ships Plans Library, (Philip L. Rhodes Collection) Mystic Seaport Museum.

Listed here are some of the better known, 'series built' designs.

Designs (57)

Name	LOA (ft)	First Built	Last Built	Rig
ANNAPOLIS 30 (RHODES)	30.21	1958	—	Masthead Sloop
ARROWHEAD (RHODES)	20.67	1937	—	Fractional Sloop
BOUNTY (RHODES)	38.75	1939	—	Fractional Sloop
BOUNTY II	40.83	1956	1961	Fractional Sloop
CABRILLO 32	32	1964	—	Masthead Sloop
CHESAPEAKE 32	32	1960	1965	Masthead Sloop
DANBOAT 33	33	1960	—	Masthead Sloop
DATER (RHODES)	20.66	1946	—	Fractional Sloop
DYER DHOW	9	1944	—	Cat (Marconi)
DYER DINK	10	1934	—	Cat (Marconi)
DYER DT	10.54	1977	—	Cat (unstayed)
EDGARTOWN ROVER	17	1937	—	Fractional Sloop
EMPIRE 40	40.75	1964	1976	Masthead Sloop
EVERGREEN (RHODES)	36	1945	—	Fractional Sloop
GRUMMAN DINGHY	8.52	1959	—	Sprit/Lug
HURRICANE 19	19	1945	—	Fractional Sloop
KINGFISHER III	11.92	1960	—	Fractional Sloop
LAKE ONE-DESIGN (RHODES)	34	1938	—	Fractional Sloop
LITTLE SISTER (RHODES)	27.12	1938	—	Fractional Sloop
MARINER 19 CB	19.16	1962	—	Fractional Sloop
MARINER 19 FK	19.16	1962	—	Fractional Sloop
MARLIN 18 (RHODES)	18.08	1937	—	Fractional Sloop
MERIDIAN 25 (SEAFARER)	24.75	1960	—	Masthead Sloop
OFFSHORE 40 (CHEOY LEE)	39.75	1964	1976	Masthead Sloop
OUTLAW 26 (O'DAY )	26	1965	1968	Masthead Sloop
PENGUIN	11.42	1939	—	Cat (Marconi)
PETREL 12 (RHODES)	12	1966	—	Fractional Sloop
RHODES 18	18	1948	—	Fractional Sloop
RHODES 19	19.17	1959	—	Fractional Sloop
RHODES 19 CB	19.17	1959	—	Fractional Sloop
RHODES 22 CONTINENTAL	22	1968	—	Masthead Sloop
RHODES 27	39.16	1939	—	Masthead Sloop
RHODES 28	39	1938	—	Fractional Sloop
RHODES 29	42.25	1955	—	Masthead Sloop
RHODES 33	33.67	1938	—	Fractional Sloop
RHODES 38 (SEAFARER)	37.75	1971	—	Cutter
RHODES 41 (PEARSON)	40.83	1961	1967	Masthead Sloop
RHODES 42	42.25	1954	1955	Masthead Yawl
RHODES 77	77.16	1947	—	Staysail Ketch
RHODES BANTAM	14	1945	—	Fractional Sloop
RHODES IDLER	25	1946	—	Fractional Sloop
RHODES RANGER 29	28.5	1960	—	Masthead Sloop
RHODES RELIANT 41	40.75	1963	1968	Masthead Yawl
ROBIN (RHODES)	10.83	1960	—	Fractional Sloop
SEAFARER 36C	36.33	1968	—	Masthead Ketch
SEAFARER 38 KETCH	37.75	1971	—	Staysail Ketch
SEAFARER 38C	37.75	1972	—	Cutter
SEAFARER 38C KR	37.75	1972	—	Staysail Ketch
SEAFARER BAHAMA 35 MS	35	1960	—	Masthead Sloop
SWIFTSURE 33 (RHODES)	33.08	1959	1965	Masthead Sloop
TEMPEST 23 (O'DAY)	23.17	1964	1968	Masthead Sloop
TEMPTRESS 32	32	1955	—	Fractional Sloop
TRAVELLER 32	32.08	1970	—	Cutter
VANGUARD 33 (PEARSON)	32.58	1963	1967	Masthead Sloop
WEEK-ENDER (RHODES)	38.83	1941	1941	Fractional Sloop
WHISTLER CLASS (RHODES)	38.5	1949	—	Fractional Sloop
WOOD-PUSSY	13.5	1943	—	Cat (Marconi)