McCurdy and Rhodes

McCurdy & Rhodes was a prolific American naval architecture firm founded in 1966 by James A. McCurdy and Philip H. Rhodes in Cold Spring Harbor, New York, renowned for designing over 200 sailboats that blended classic elegance, seaworthiness, and performance for production builders like Seafarer, Hinckley, Pearson, and Hood. Building on Rhodes’ earlier work with Sparkman & Stephens and his iconic Rhodes 41 (1940s), the duo produced durable fiberglass cruisers and racer-cruisers such as the Seafarer 31 (1968, ~200 built), Pearson 30 (1971, ~1,000+ built), and Hood 38 (1980s), emphasizing moderate displacement, fin keels with skeg rudders, and balanced helm for coastal and offshore sailing. Known for hand-drawn lines, practical interiors, and PHRF-competitive rigs, their boats won Bermuda Race divisions and Cruising World awards, remaining cult favorites in 2025 for durability and value (used prices $15K–$80K). The firm closed after Rhodes’ death in 1974 and McCurdy’s retirement in the 1990s, but their timeless designs continue to sail worldwide.