Rigs: Fractional Sloop
Fractional Sloop
The HURRICANE, first built by Allied Aviation Corp.(USA), was more than likely the result of excess capacity experienced by many companies after war time contracts ran out. A HURRICANE class racing association was established for a few years on Long Island Sound (east coast USA). Palmer Scott and Co. (builder of boats for many years) purchased a number of bare hulls from Allied, redesigned the deck, added a keel and called it the SMYRA, which existed as a class in Massachusetts for a few years. (Some have said there was also a keel version of the HURRICANE) It was from an existing SMYRA hull that a plug was made for what became the RHODES 19 (Rhodes Design #508), first built by Marscot Plastics Co. and later by O”Day Corp..
Philip Rhodes was said to have a very loose policy about royalties paid for dinghies and smaller boats, relying more on their promotional value.
First sold by Posiedon Yachts and built in Sweden (boats with the hull number 1-62). Some time later the molds were aquired by Finngulf Marine(FIN) where at least 10 more were built with some modifications to the deck and interior.(FINNGULF 34)
Delivered by Taasinge Fiberglass in varying states of completion. Many were finished by other yards.
Most information from Impala owners club (in Danish).
Early models were masthead. Andersson modified the rig in 1978.
Many were sold in kit form.
Layout and other details vary.
Thanks to Dixie 27 owner Håkan Jonsson for updates and drawing.