More Aphrodite

or maybe I should say “more, Aphrodite!“

Many thanks to eastriver for these photos taken last summer.  Just some specs first and then I’ll link to a number of articles I hope you enjoy reading as much as I did.

Built in 1937 for $90,000, adjusted to about $1,730,000 in 2021 money, Aphrodite has twin 1000 hp Caterpillars that can move the 74′ x 14.6′ x 4 boat quite fast;  the greater the speed, the higher the fuel consumption, like a gallon of fuel per mile at 30 mph or 150 gallons/hour at 40 mph. A source of jokes, she’s the charge of Captain Kirk.  Kirk is the first name; Reynolds the last name, but I’ll be he often goes by Captain Kirk.  Her current owner is Charles Royce.

Here‘s more on all that and more.

She was built by the Purdy Boat Company of Port Washington NY for John Hay Whitney (1904–1982), of the prominent Whitney family. For a sense of the Mr Whitney, he was an art collector [and much more] with the works by Manet, Degas, Monet, Picasso, Cezanne, Gauguin, Renoir, Eakins, Van Gogh, etc. in his personal collection.

Current owner Chuck Royce counts Rhode Island’s Ocean House among his projects.

 

An 84 year old yacht does not look this good without massive amounts of restoration done by skilled professionals like the folks at the boat yard in Brooklin ME.

Her decks have been graced by such luminaries as FDR, Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire, Nelson Rockefeller . . . .

Many thanks to eastriver for sending along these closeup photos.

For more beautiful wooden yachts, click here and here and here.  Oh sure, here too.

 

 

St. Lawrence River Wooden Traffic 3

Some more eye candy today . . . Portofino . . . Italian made?

 

Miss St. Lawrence is a beauty.

Is there an echo in the blog software maybe  . . . ?

Elusive is a Hacker beauty based on a 1920s design, I believe.

Another Italian bella passes us, or maybe it’s the same one traveling at speeds not permitted in the lagoon.

Legend is a beauty.  There’s a definite echo.  Let me say “exquisite.”

To avoid the echo, I’ll call Rumrunner just plain elegant!

 

I hope you’ve had your fix of post-summer summer refined craft.  All photos by Will Van Dorp.

St. Lawrence River Wooden Traffic 2

Behold a 90-year-young boat!

Drool if you like.  Click here for more info on the classic Elco cruisettes.

 

Click here for the specifics on KaRat!

Here’s another . . .

but

all I can say about Flox of Montreal is that she is la tres belle Flox of Montreal.

Ditto this beauty.

All photos by Will Van Dorp.

 

St. Lawrence River Wooden Traffic 1

This post follows on a similar one based on St. Clair River traffic .  . here.

Would the captain below qualify as a “back seat” driver?

He with his attractive runabout was taking part in this event . . .

Wood like this truly makes attractive vessels.

Zipper is a beaut,

as is Glacier Girl.  Look closely at her stern . . . I should have taken more pics after she passed.

G4 below is 1993 built Riot, a 25′ Clarion boat powered by a 585 hp Mercruiser.

She’s a beauty at speed or slower . . .

Pardon Me has the claim to being the world’s largest mahogany runabout, consuming 100 gallons/hour, and she’s spawned another . . .

Pardon Me Too is Hacker built, 1956.

that even golden retrievers approve of.

I’m redundant and say . . .  no boats are prettier than wooden ones, whether they’re varnished like Karen Ann below or

painted….

All photos by Will Van Dorp.

 

Old (and Less So) Wood 2

I took this foto in August 2010, here with my back to Anthony’s Nose.  Any guesses about the vintage of this chubby people mover?

Here’s a foto I took yesterday in Greenport of

this Morehead, NC veteran of WW1!!!

At the same locstion, I took this foto.  Anyone know what manufacturer this beauty is, frontal and

stern view.

And from inside the post-Sandy rebuilt Scrimshaw restaurant, I’d love to know what vessel

this figurehead once graced.

All fotos by Will Van Dorp.