Aloha's Construction Pedigree

The Aloha was featured in the Rudder Magazine issue dated December 1938. The article "Cutter Building at Dions" describes how the Fred Dion Yard of Salem Mass had been chosen to build Charles G. MacGregor's Design #61. She was commissioned at the Dion yard by future owner P.W. Whittemore, a well known yachtsman of Boston and Gloucester. The Rudder article boasts "this attractive cutter has the distinction of being the second cruising yacht built by Dion. Those who have seen the first (a schooner), can vouch for the fact that she is a fine piece of construction. She is, in fact, one of the nicest jobs to be seen on the North Shore." (Click to see the full Rudder Magazine article.)

The woods used in the construction of the Aloha are of the highest quality and virtually unobtainable today. Grown hackmatak knees, African mahogany, white oak, long leaf yellow pine (currently only found in salvaged docks!), and classic teak and holly speak to her integrity. The drawers were signed by the master craftsmen who built them almost 70 years ago.

Her Design Pedigree

In the most prolific period of his design career, and in association with Frank C. Paine, Charles G. MacGregor designed the Aloha, design #61, in 1938. Though not gaining the notoriety of his former employer, John G. Alden, Charles MacGregor's designs exhibit similarly beautiful lines. Rudder Magazine published 58 of Macgregor's designs including the Aloha, aka Design #61. (Her line drawings, sail plan, construction plan, and cabin plan are available on request.) While most designs were for plank on frame construction, in his later designs MacGregor was one of the pioneer innovators in the use of marine plywood. This is reflected in his designs for the Sabot and a plywood version of the Seabird yawl.

The construction pedigree would come to naught if subsequent owners had carelessly 'modernized' the boat. Fortunately, all seven owners have preserved her integrity. Any changes (the addition of a bronze winch for jiffy reefing and the elimination of the forward pipe berth, for example) have been in keeping with the original layout and construction. Aloha also has had the names Anna, Spar Isle II, and Jennie.

Four decades after her launching, yacht broker William C. Page of Camden Maine described Aloha's many virtues: "This cutter is an unusually well built, spacious, and comfortable cruising auxiliary". He went on to describe her "to be of extremely high grade of construction throughout and to have been well maintained through the years".

Sixty years after her launching, another survey describes her as "of good design and well constructed and is still in its original layout". The survey goes on, "all hull members are still reasonably fit. With recommendations complied with, and proper maintenance, the Aloha will provide her owners comfortable sailing in the Northwest and beyond for years to come". (2000 Survey, available on request.)

Details

Aloha has been housed in a well ventilated shelter near Port Townsend, WA for 8 years. The mild, moist climate has allowed her to stabilize here while we pondered her future for us. With a return to regular maintenance, she could be sailing again in short order. Alternately, she would be an excellent candidate for a complete restoration. We are looking for an owner who is committed to the work regime required for a wooden boat and has the vision to get her back on her lines. Sacrificing at $30,000.

Constructed in 1970, Heron's hull was laid up at Tyler Boat Company to Lloyds specifications and then moved to Gothenburg Sweden to be finished at the Ohlson Brothers' Yard. Richard Prouty of Mattapoisett, Mass had commissioned her to be a yawl with the tall rig option and with inboard shrouds. Her deck and cabintop are constructed of fiberglass cloth over plywood, with house sides and coming of African Mahogany and teak cockpit seats and sole. Internally, the deck is supported with pine frames. A laminated ash beam/hanging knee was originally used to stiffen the coach roof. Subsequently, to further strengthen the coach roof another laminated beam has been installed, along with an ash break beam included when the bridgedeck was added.