1938 Rhodes Cutter for sale in San Francisco, CA

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1938 Rhodes Cutter for sale in San Francisco, CA

Name: Rhodes Cutter
Brand: Rhodes
Price: 250000 USD
Availability: InStock

San Francisco, CA, United States193811.6m

Asking PriceBroker

$250,000 USD

+64 more

MakeRhodes

ModelCutter

Year1938

Length11.6m3m beam

Cabins1

EngineGraymarine4 Cylinder Y112

Overview

About this vessel

The 1938 cutter NIKE is a classic American wooden sailing yacht designed by the renowned naval architect Philip L. Rhodes. Built just before World War II, NIKE represents the elegant transition period between traditional gaff-rigged yachts and the more modern Marconi-rigged offshore cruisers that dominated the mid-20th century.

NIKE has been owned by an award-winning sailor in San Francisco Bay since his purchase of the boat in 1967. The boat has been maintained and updated several times during his ownership. Most recently, it has had the mast rebuilt and the standing rigging replaced by Richardson Bay Boatworks in Sausalito in 2025.

This boat is offered for sale along with its 60' slip in the San Francisco Marina, subject to the rules and regulations of the SF Parks and Recreation Department. The slip is on the Head Dock in front of the St. Francis Yacht Club.

Design Background

Philip Rhodes was one of the most influential yacht designers of the 20th century, responsible for hundreds of successful cruising and racing yachts. His work ranged from small daysailers to large ocean-going yachts and even naval vessels. NIKE was conceived as a serious offshore cruising cutter—a yacht capable of long passages while maintaining the graceful lines typical of the pre-war yachting era.

Key design philosophy behind NIKE:

Strong, seaworthy hull suitable for offshore passages. Balanced cutter rig for versatility in heavy weather. Elegant overhangs and traditional sheer line. Moderate displacement for comfort at sea.

Rhodes cutters of this era were often described as "seakindly", meaning they move comfortably through waves rather than pounding.

Construction

NIKE was built by the Morse Boat Works in Thomaston, ME, using traditional yacht-building techniques of the 1930s. The boat features carvel planking (flush planks over frames) with mahogany planking over oak frames, a lead ballast keel, and bronze fastenings and fittings. These yachts were built to extremely high craftsmanship standards by East Coast boatyards.

Rig, Sails and Characteristics

NIKE is a cutter-rigged yacht, carrying a mainsail, yankee or genoa, inner staysail, and often a storm staysail for heavy weather. The cutter rig offers heavy weather versatility with smaller sails easier to manage in strong wind, a balanced sail plan that distributes power efficiently, and ocean passagemaking capability allowing many sail combinations for changing conditions. This configuration is especially well suited to windy regions like San Francisco Bay.

Rhodes cutters are known for several distinctive sailing qualities: exceptional balance—they tend to steer easily and track well, even in large seas; strong upwind ability—the deep keel and cutter rig allow efficient sailing into the wind; heavy-weather capability—long keel and displacement provide stability in rough water; and comfortable motion—they move smoothly through waves rather than slamming. Owners often describe them as confidence-inspiring offshore yachts.

Historical Significance

NIKE represents a notable era in American yacht design, designed during the golden age of wooden yacht design and reflecting the work of one of America's greatest naval architects. It combines traditional aesthetics with modern (for the time) performance. Rhodes also designed other famous boats including Stormy Weather (Bermuda Race winner), Carina, and numerous classic cruising cutters and yawls. These boats helped define American offshore sailing in the mid-20th century.

A surviving Rhodes cutter like NIKE is valued for its timeless pre-war yacht design, true offshore capability, extraordinary craftsmanship, and collector-level classic yacht status. The 1938 NIKE is a serious ocean-going classic cutter—beautiful, strong, and designed by one of the greatest yacht architects in American history.

Restoration History

NIKE was featured in a 2001 San Francisco Chronicle article about the Master Mariners Wooden Boat Show in Tiburon, which noted that the owner undertook an extensive structural restoration including major frame replacement. The project included approximately 90 percent new frames, indicating a nearly complete structural restoration of the wooden hull.

The Northern California sailing magazine Latitude 38 also mentioned the restored boat in a 2006 article about the Master Mariners Wooden Boat Show. NIKE won "Best of Show" in 2001 after the rebuild and later won the People's Choice Award at the event. The magazine described the boat's finish as having "the mirror finish on Nike's brightwork caused professional varnishers to stop by for tips."