Rhodes 19

Rhodes 19
Class symbol	50px
Name	Rhodes 19
Caption	A Rhodes 19 under sail.
Designer	Philip Rhodes
Builder	O'Day, Stuart Marine
Year	1958
No built	4,000+
Role	Day sailer, One-design keelboat
Crew	2-4
Loa	19 ft
Lwl	17 ft
Beam	6 ft
Draft	2 ft (board up), 4 ft (board down)
Hull	650 lb
Displacement	1300 lb
Mastheight	26 ft
Mainsail	main, 145, sqft, m2
Jib	jib, 65, sqft, m2
Spinnaker	spinnaker, 150, sqft, m2
Phrf	96.0
Updated	2023

Rhodes 19. The Rhodes 19 is a classic American one-design keelboat designed by renowned naval architect Philip Rhodes and first built in 1958. Intended as a stable and forgiving day sailer and club racer, it has enjoyed enduring popularity for its simple rig, durable construction, and competitive class racing. With over 4,000 hulls produced, it remains a common sight at yacht clubs across the United States and in Canada.

Design and development

The design was commissioned by the O'Day Corporation, a major American sailboat manufacturer, as a modern successor to popular earlier daysailers. Philip Rhodes utilized a fiberglass hull with a fixed, shallow-draft keel and a retractable centerboard, offering good stability and the ability to sail in shallow waters. The boat features a fractional sloop rig with relatively low sail area, making it manageable for beginners yet engaging for experienced sailors. Its spacious cockpit and simple deck layout were tailored for family sailing and instructional use at organizations like the United States Power Squadrons and community sailing programs. The design's longevity is a testament to its successful balance of performance, safety, and ease of use.

Specifications

The Rhodes 19 has an overall length of 19 feet and a waterline length of 17 feet. It carries a beam of 6 feet 9 inches and a hull weight of approximately 650 pounds. With its centerboard retracted, the draft is 2 feet 6 inches, extending to 4 feet 6 inches when lowered. The boat is equipped with a Bermuda rigged mast standing 26 feet tall. The sail plan includes a mainsail of 145 square feet and a working jib of 65 square feet; a symmetrical spinnaker of 150 square feet is used for downwind racing. The design has a Portsmouth Yardstick handicap of 96.0 and a displacement of around 1,300 pounds. Early models were built by O'Day Corporation; production later shifted to Stuart Marine in Maine.

Operational history

Since its introduction, the Rhodes 19 has established a strong presence in one-design racing circuits throughout North America. Major regattas include the annual National Championship hosted by the Rhodes 19 Class Association, as well as numerous regional events on bodies of water like Buzzards Bay, Lake Michigan, and the Chesapeake Bay. The class is known for its active and sportsmanlike fleet racing, attracting sailors of all ages and skill levels. The boat's durability has ensured a large and active used-boat market, supporting continued class growth. Many boats are also used for sail training at institutions such as the United States Naval Academy and various community sailing centers.

Variants

* **Standard Model**: The original and primary production model with a fiberglass hull and deck. * **Race Package**: Often includes upgraded fittings, a spinnaker kit, and a higher-performance sail plan for competitive one-design racing. * **Daysailer Package**: Configured with simpler rigging and fittings, optimized for casual sailing and instruction.

See also

* Day sailer * O'Day Corporation * Philip Rhodes * One-design * Flying Scot (dinghy) * Lightning (dinghy) * Snipe (dinghy) * Yngling (keelboat) * Thistle (dinghy) * Hobie Cat

References

External links

Category:Keelboats Category:One-design sailboat classes Category:O'Day sailboats