Woodpussy

Summary

The WoodPussy is a 13½’ catboat designed by Philip Rhodes. The first boats were constructed in 1945 by Palmer Scott Boat Works. These boats were wood with wooden masts. The class switched to fiberglass hulls, dacron sails and aluminum masts in the early 1960s. It is estimated that 800-850 hulls were constructed by Palmer Scott, MarScott and O'Day. The Weeks Yacht Yard in New York is now building new fiberglass WoodPussys.

Woodpussy
Development
DesignerPhilip Rhodes
Year1945
NameWoodpussy
Boat
Crew1-2
Hull
TypeMonohull
ConstructionWood; Fiberglass
Hull weight430 lb (200 kg)
LOA13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
Beam6 ft (1.8 m)
Rig
Rig typeCatboat
Mast length23 ft 5 in (7.14 m)
Sails
Total sail area130 sq ft (12 m2)


Today there are four fleets of WoodPussies: Monmouth Boat Club (MBC) and Shrewsbury Sailing and Yacht Club (SSYC), both in New Jersey; Crystal Lake Yacht Club, Frankfort, MI; and NorthEast WoodPussy Association, Long Island, NY. The WoodPussy is used for both daysailing and racing. The class, which is recognized by US Sailing as a one-design for racing, holds two major regattas each year: the Solo Bowl, which is limited to single-handed sailing; and the National Championship, which may be sailed either single-handed or with a crew.

For information about the boats, boats for sale, etc., contact the commodores at SSYC and MBC via the links to their home pages shown below and request referral to their WoodPussy fleet captains.


Class National Championships Winners
Year Sailor - Home Club
2002 Dan Vought - MBC
2003 Dave & Julia Watts - MBC
2004 Dave & Julia Watts - MBC
2005 Tony Keator - MBC
2006 John Garth - SSYC
2007 John Quinn - SSYC
2008 John Garth - SSYC
2009 Dan Vought - MBC
2010 Dan Vought - MBC
2011 John Garth - SSYC
2012 Talbott Ingram - SSYC
2013 Jeff Jacobi - SSYC
2014 Jeff Jacobi - SSYC
2015 Dan Vought - MBC
2016 Cole Barney - MBC
2017 Dan Vought - MBC
2018 Cole Barney - MBC
2019 Cole Barney - MBC
2020 John Garth - SSYC
2021 John Garth - SSYC


Specifications Under Current Rules edit

  • Number of crew 1-2
  • LOA 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
  • Beam 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
  • Hull weight 430 lb (200 kg)
  • Mast Height 23.5 ft (7.2 m)
  • Sail Area 130 sq ft (12 m2)

Further reading edit

  • Henderson, Richard (1981). Philip L. Rhodes and His Yacht Designs. Camden, ME: International Marine Pub. Co. ISBN 0-87742-128-5. OL 3793032M.
  • Spurr, Daniel (2000). Heart of Glass: Fiberglass Boats and the Men Who Made Them. Camden, Me.: International Marine/McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0071579834.

External links edit

  • Woodpussy boat builder
  • Woodpussy Class Association
  • Shrewsbury Sailing & Yacht Club
  • Monmouth Boat Club