Motor Sailers by Philip Rhodes & John Alden

maldwin · Jun 21, 2014

Good Morning Brian,
Do you know who made the helm chair? I like the combination of canvas and wood, which gives it an elegant but light feeling.
Best,
Maldwin

Kafue · Jun 21, 2014

brian eiland said: ↑

I was just looking back thru some files on my computer and discovered I had quite a few more photos of this vessel River Song. ...need to post a few
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Hi Brian, I admire this yacht.
Did you notice that it has been changed/modified since the first photo was taken?
The fly bridge has been deleted and a pilot house door built on the port side of the house.
I would have kept the fly bridge, so I wonder why it has been modified?
This yacht must be in my cruising area but I have never seen her.
I'll keep an eye out for her from now on.
Cheers
Kafue

brian eiland · Jun 21, 2014

Kafue said: ↑

Hi Brian, I admire this yacht.
Did you notice that it has been changed/modified since the first photo was taken?
The fly bridge has been deleted and a pilot house door built on the port side of the house.
I would have kept the fly bridge, so I wonder why it has been modified?
This yacht must be in my cruising area but I have never seen her.
I'll keep an eye out for her from now on.
Cheers
Kafue
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I think I would have kept the flybridge as well, but perhaps they thought it would be too much upkeep for very little usage? And perhaps they sought to keep the sail plan low on this limited keel design?

The layout is also totally different than the original vessel built to this design, Hawksbill,...covered earlier in this subject thread

brian eiland · Jul 8, 2014

MY Atalanta Amsterdam

This vessel's image was recently posted over on another subject thread
http://www.yachtforums.com/forums/199382-post114.html

She sure might have made a nice looking motorsailer
M/Y ATALANTA AMSTERDAM - Feadship

http://*********************/motor-yacht-6489/atalanta.htm

ATALANTA AMSTERDAM 83' - Luxury Charter Yacht Available In West Mediterranean - countless yachts, every ocean, one company to contact

Kafue · Jan 1, 2015

brian eiland said: ↑

57' Alden

Wow. look what I just found over in the Alden archives,...a 57' footer called Riversong built over in Australia.
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Hi Brian,
Happy New Year!!!
Riversong just sailed past my home!
If it was not for the fact that I have a Cold Beer in hand, on a very warm day and friends on the way for a BBQ, I would have jumped in my Boston Whaler and chased her down to to get you and I, plus the rest of us "tragics" some photos of this Beauty!
In real life, motoring past, even without sails, she is graceful.
Cheers,
Kafue

brian eiland · Jan 1, 2015

Kafue said: ↑

Hi Brian,
Happy New Year!!!
Riversong just sailed past my home!
If it was not for the fact that I have a Cold Beer in hand, on a very warm day and friends on the way for a BBQ, I would have jumped in my Boston Whaler and chased her down to to get you and I, plus the rest of us "tragics" some photos of this Beauty!
In real life, motoring past, even without sails, she is graceful.
Cheers,
Kafue
Click to expand...

I wish you hadn't had the cold beer in your hand either...oh well sometimes opportunities come up at the wrong time That would have been a pleasant new year's gift.

I've moved out of 'northern climates' down to Florida, so I'm rather involved with setting up a new abode for wife and self,...not so much time for boats at the moment.

brian eiland · Jan 1, 2015

Hey Kirk,
I know you paid a visit to the museum and brought back some copies of some of the dwgs. Would you have a better profile of the engine room / prop shaft arrangement than I posted here??

brian eiland said: ↑

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.

View attachment 53426

View attachment 53427

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.
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brian eiland · Mar 14, 2017

Check out the condition of this beauty !

1980 Cheoy Lee 52 Motor Sailer. LLC Owned Sail Boat For Sale

http://www.**************/boats/198...40358/San-Diego/CA/United-States#.WMf1x_KP_Z5

Curious k · Feb 25, 2020

Loren Schweizer said: ↑

Here's a 63 CL that was called "Blackship". I have a 78-ft. version ( framed photo ) hanging on my wall which was called "Don Quixote".
Somewhere in my office are the sales brochures for the 53-63-78.
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I found this old post And wonder if you have any performance numbers you can pass along for the CL 52, 63 and 78
Specifically how well do the perform at various points of sale, without motor assist?
I heard that a beam reach 15 knots wind produces around 8 knots unassisted?
But would be appreciative of confirmation from an owner.
Many thanks

Piet van Os · Mar 13, 2021

I know this is an old thread but I thought some of you might be interested to see the Virginia Reel, 65 ft version built at De Vries Lentsch and designed by Phil Rhodes is for sale now. She's a fantastic boat and at a good price due to her being part way through another refit. She still has her original charm but has many upgrades over the years.

https://www.**************/boats/1960/de-vries-lentsch-motorsailer-3814713/

I'm selling it for my family who has had her for the past 20 years. We've had lots of good times on the boat but it's time for someone else to enjoy and finish her off with their touches. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions!

NYCAP123 · Mar 13, 2021

Thoroughly enjoyed looking through the pics. I especially like that teak on the aft deck. Hopefully you've also posted in the Listings section.

Piet van Os · Mar 13, 2021

I haven't yet but I will. Thanks for the reminder. Yes, the teak aft deck was replaced in 2010 I believe. It's been under cover most of its life. That lower fishing cockpit is so unique. It also has two original Lee teak fighting chairs which sit on mounts there.

brian eiland · Mar 6, 2024

Too bad this forum discussion has fallen from grace,...

JoeQ · Mar 6, 2024

brian eiland said: ↑

Too bad this forum discussion has fallen from grace,...
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I still read it from time to time.

brian eiland · Mar 12, 2024

Piet van Os said: ↑

I haven't yet but I will. Thanks for the reminder. Yes, the teak aft deck was replaced in 2010 I believe. It's been under cover most of its life. That lower fishing cockpit is so unique. It also has two original Lee teak fighting chairs which sit on mounts there.
Click to expand...

Have you got some photos you could post?

hayden kemp · Sep 18, 2024

Hi Brian,
This post of yours was a while back, but I thought I would let you know Riversong is on the market
Cheers,
Hayden

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Motor Sailers by Philip Rhodes & John Alden

maldwin Senior Member

Kafue Senior Member

brian eiland Senior Member

brian eiland Senior Member

Kafue Senior Member

brian eiland Senior Member

brian eiland Senior Member

brian eiland Senior Member

Curious k New Member

Piet van Os New Member

NYCAP123 Senior Member

Piet van Os New Member

brian eiland Senior Member

JoeQ New Member

brian eiland Senior Member

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