Philip Leonard Rhodes was a prolific naval architect of extraordinary range. He was particularly known for the wholesome good looks and sailing qualities of his yacht designs. He designed vessels from 123' motor-sailors to 7' dinghies, from hydrofoil racers to giant motor yachts. His work also included commercial and military vessels such as minesweepers and police boats. His clients ranged from Rockefellers to Sears & Roebuck. His 12 Meter class Weatherly won the America's Cup in 1962

1962 America's Cup

The 1962 America's Cup was the second to be sailed in 12-meter yachts, marked the first challenge for the Cup from a country other than Great Britain or Canada, and was the first challenge from a country in the southern hemisphere...

.

Rhodes was born in 1895 in Thurman, Ohio

Centerville, Gallia County, Ohio

Centerville is a village in Gallia County, Ohio, United States. The population was 134 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Point Pleasant, WV–OH Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is located near U.S...

. He attended MIT, graduating in 1918 in naval architecture and marine engineering. He worked for the US Army Corp of Engineers during World War I. After the war he began work as a shipfitter in Lorain, Ohio

Lorain, Ohio

Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Black River, about 30 miles west of Cleveland....

. He later moved to New York where he opened a small office as a marine architect.

Philip Rhodes joined the design firm of Cox & Stevens

Cox & Stevens

Cox & Stevens began in 1905 as a yacht design and commercial brokerage in New York City. The original principal partners were Daniel H. Cox, Irving Cox, and marine engineer Colonel Edwin Augustus Stevens Jr., son of renowned designer Edwin Augustus Stevens....

 in 1934. He became head naval architect for the firm after the death of lead designer Bruno Tornroth in 1935. In 1946 the firm of Philip L. Rhodes succeeded Cox & Stevens Inc. It closed in 1974, following Rhodes's death.

Rhodes 19

The Rhodes 19

Rhodes 19

The Rhodes 19 is a sailboat, designed by Philip Rhodes and originally manufactured by O'Day. Currently, the Rhodes 19 is built by Stuart Marine Corp. To date, approximately 3500 of the boats have been built....

 is a 19 foot (6 m) long sailboat, designed by Rhodes and originally manufactured by O'Day. Currently, the Rhodes 19 is built by Stuart Marine Corp. To date, approximately 3500 of the boats have been built[1].

Available with either a fixed keel or with a retractable centerboard, it is used primarily as a day sailer or for one-design racing. The Rhodes 19 is still actively raced throughout the United States.

Rhodes 22

Among atypical Rhodes designs is the a Rhodes 22. It is a 22 feet (6.7 m) long sailboat

Sailboat

A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails. The term covers a variety of boats, larger than small vessels such as sailboards and smaller than sailing ships, but distinctions in the size are not strictly defined and what constitutes a sailing ship, sailboat, or a...

 manufactured by General Boats in Edenton, North Carolina.

Chesapeake 32

The Chesapeake 32 is a sailboat designed by Philip Rhodes and manufactured by Sanderson in Denmark from 1961-1965. Close to ninety boats were built, many are still in use today across the globe.

Other designs & ships

• 12 metre class yacht Weatherly, which successfully defended the America's Cup
  America's Cup
  The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
  
   in 1962.
• The "Bounty II" class sloop and yawl, which was the world's first fiberglass production yacht.
• Launch 5
  Launch 5
  Launch 5 is a restored NYPD patrol launch presently in use as a United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Facility as well as for volunteer non-profit environmental, public safety and educational work. Launch 5 enjoys a rich history beginning with her construction and dedication in 1966 and continuing to...
  
  .
• Woodpussy
  Woodpussy
  The WoodPussy is a 13½’ catboat designed by Philip Rhodes. The first boats were constructed in 1945 by Palmer Scott Boat Works. These boats were wood with wooden masts. The class switched to fiberglass hulls in the early 1960s...
  
  .
• Rhodes 33.
• Rhodes Evergreen.
• Rhodes 27
  Rhodes 27
  The Rhodes 27 is a sailboat designed by Philip Rhodes and manufactured by different boat builders in USA and Canada in the period 1938–1950. Approximately 40 boats were eventually built...
  
  .
• Rhodes Meridian, a 24-foot sloop sold by Seafarer Yachts.
• Rhodes Vanguard, a 33-foot sloop built by Pearson Yachts
• Rhodes Reliant, a 41-foot sloop or yawl built by Choey Lee Shipyard in Hong Kong
  Hong Kong
  Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
  
  .
• Rhodes Bantam
  Rhodes Bantam
  Rhodes BantamThe Rhodes Bantam is a centerboard daysailer designed by Philip Rhodes.- External links :* *...
  
  , a 14-foot sloop (daysailer/racer)

External links

• The Rhodes 19 Class Association, promoting racing of Rhodes-19 sailboats.
• Chesapeake Owners Association, information regarding Danish built Rhodes design of 1961-65.
• Philip Rhodes Sail Boats Information on Philip Rhodes designs.
• Stuart Marine Corp.
• http://www.rhodes22.com
• http://www.rhodes22.org
• http://web.archive.org/web/20091027084303/http://geocities.com/blew_skies/topics.html