Restoration of 1971 McCurdy Rhodes

[Nitro]

All - I always enjoy reading about other people's restoration efforts so thought to post my current project.

This is a 1971 custom McCurdy Rhodes-designed, Paul Luke (ME)-built, 46' aluminum ocean racer originally named SITZMARK. I bought her in April '09 and immediately trucked her to Maine to Warren Pond Boatworks to be transformed into a 'wooden boat on the inside' for family cruising and updated outside for short-handed/solo operation and long distance racing.

She was gutted and went into the shed in October, '09 with a planned re-commissiong in April '11 to celebrate her 40th birthday.

SITZMARK (USA414)

[Faster]

A classic beauty, to be sure!

Looking forward to more pics in the spring!

[Capnblu]

Looking forward to the story!

[Nitro]

Originally Posted by Capnblu

Looking forward to the story!

Uyuh. There's always a story, isn't there

I tried to sum it up in the first blog post at SITZMARK (USA414)

Unwritten is that this was my 'Plan B'. What I intended to do (in the desperate financial times of Winter, '08) was to buy a pristinely restored this-or-that at a 50%+ discount (and there were many quality fire sales on the market) but my wife felt we shouldn't spend so much money....)). I walked away, scratching my head from some incredible values.

As anyone who's ever paid a yard bill knows, in the end, I'll have at least as much invested in this one...but I do love this boat and everything will be new and to my creation, for better or worse.

That's the unofficial story.

[mbrault]

Good job! This is a fabulous boat. You have any picture of the interior yet? Wishing you all the best until April. Where will she be in Main?

[Nitro]

Originally Posted by mbrault

Good job! This is a fabulous boat. You have any picture of the interior yet? Wishing you all the best until April. Where will she be in Main?

Thanks, MBRAULT. There are quite a few photo's in the latest blog entry of two weeks ago. 'As purchased' it was servicable but hardly what I wanted: painted-over perforated aluminum headliners, faux wood-grain formica, plain ply ceilings, sail bins and pipe berths, poorly 'updated' sole and cabin trim, obsolete wiring, panel and lighting, head in the wrong location, no holding tank, etc., etc. Just made sense to gut it and start over. Today, she's far more Hereshoff than Luke.

She'll be commissioned in Portsmouth, NH and moored at AYC in Rye, NY

[omaho5]

Hey, love it.

[Plumbean]

That's a great boat! Just read through your blog and very impressed with the work (and commitment).

Look forward to seeing her on the water, as I'm right across the way in Manhasset Bay. Perhaps our babies can wish each other a happy 40th, as my S&S 34 will also be turning 40 next summer.

If you end up making the Marion-Bermuda race, pm me if you need crew ...