Design and Lineage
The centerboard model descends from the same lineage as the whole class: a wooden centerboarder called the Hurricane that Philip Rhodes drew soon after the war, later commissioned by the Southern Massachusetts Yacht Racing Association into a keeled SMYRA class before George O'Day secured Rhodes's approval to rename it the Rhodes 19 in 1958. The CB is the less-popular sibling to the keel boat, but it preserves the essential character—a fast and forgiving hull that is also an accomplished heavy-weather performer. With a 19 foot 2 inch overall length, 17 foot 9 inch waterline, and 7 foot beam, the centerboarder weighs approximately 1,030 pounds complete, carrying 150 pounds of internal lead ballast against the keel model's none, and a 70-pound fiberglass board where the fixed version hangs 440 pounds of iron.
Construction
The Rhodes 19 CB is built of solid fiberglass with a mahogany rudder of kick-up type, a practical detail for a boat meant to ground out on a falling tide. The varnished mahogany coaming and the well-proportioned low-profile cuddy speak to the class's traditional presentation, while the spacious foredeck and two long molded fiberglass seats that double as flotation chambers ground the design in sensible small-boat engineering. The mast stands 25 feet 6 inches in the CB (shorter than the keel version's 28 foot 4 inch stick) and weighs just 42 pounds, with a 10 foot 4 inch boom at 10 pounds, keeping aloft loads manageable for short-handed crews.
Rig and Handling
The fractional rig carries 175 square feet of sail and can be fine-tuned with aftermarket Harken travelers, twings, barber haulers, a cunningham, jib-luff tensioner, and adjustable jib leads led to a control console. The hull is relatively stable, making the somewhat awkward task of end-for-ending the spinnaker pole while jibing a relative breeze, and spinnakers were typically launched and retrieved from the cockpit to keep the foredeck clear. Writing in Small Boats, naval architect Jim Taylor described the boat as really well suited to intergenerational sailing, a judgment that fits a 10-inch-draft centerboarder six adults can ride in comfort.
Accommodations
This is a daysailer, not a cruiser, yet the stock layout's two long molded fiberglass seats provide both seating and flotation, and the comfortable bench seating accommodates six adults with the cuddy offering good protection from spray. A proper boom tent fitted over the cockpit would genuinely open up the boat's range for overnights, and the separate Mariner cruising version shows what a small cabin instead of the low-profile cuddy can yield for those wanting more shelter.
Refits and Ownership
The older O'Day-built Rhodes 19s can be restored to peak competitiveness, and Stuart Marine—founded by Rhodes 19 sailor Stuart Sharaga—turned out its first boat in 1984 using production methods and tooling developed by Marblehead naval architect Jim Taylor. The class association, first met at Larchmont in 1965, and the 1963 inaugural national championship testify to a deep one-design culture that keeps even decades-old CBs relevant on the racecourse.
The Verdict
The Rhodes 19 CB is a rare thing: a shallow-draft centerboard daysailer with genuine one-design pedigree, a forgiving hull, and a kick-up rudder that forgives a grounding. It sacrifices the keel model's iron ballast and fixed tracking for portability and shoreline access, and its shorter mast and lighter board make it a friendly boat for families and new sailors alike.
Pros
- Ten-inch board-up draft opens shallow water and easy trailer or beach use
- Form-stable hull with proven heavy-weather capability across 3,500+ hulls
- Competitive one-design class spanning O'Day and Stuart Marine builds
- Flotation-seat layout and six-adult capacity in a 19-foot package
Cons
- Less popular than the keel model, potentially thinner class support regionally
- No internal lead ballast in the keel sense; relies on board and 150 lb internal lead
- Cuddy offers only spray protection, not true cabin accommodation
