Designed by John Alden in 1937 for a discerning owner who wanted an elegant floating home for 2 people able to go anywhere, she became the first pleasure boat ever to be tank tested !
On buying TRADE WIND in 2008, the current owners had a vision to give her everything she needed and deserved having been in commission for a full 70 years. In collaboration with the then still operational J.G. Alden Office in Boston and its head designer Niels Helleberg, they made a plan to make her a model of classic yachting while at the same time meeting the needs of modern lifestyle and seafaring.
Rockport Marine in Maine achieved the enormously complex keel up restoration to the exquisite taste and long experience of the new patrons. 3 years in the shed, close to 20,000 miles at sea and several prizes for best restoration, attest to her meeting all these parameters with bravura and TRADE WIND deservedly takes centre stage wherever she goes, piloted so far by the owner couple without additional crew.
Trade Wind was commissioned 1937 by a prominent Great Lakes yachtsman who wanted a “….comfortable floating home for two, able to go anywhere”, and a yacht he could use as a tender to the 8 Metre he campaigned up and down the East Coast as well as to accompany the race fleet to Bermuda. There is little information about her whereabouts during the war, but after that she entered a long and successful career, serving both private owners and commercial enterprises.
Under the name MARIGOLD, Reed Research Inc. in Washington DC used her as an ocean going research lab and later Iotron Inc had her as a stable basis to test “state of the art” electronic equipment. Then back in private ownership she changed her name to TSUNAMI, honouring her new owner’s favourite art form; Japanese prints of big waves. Under this name and successive ownerships, she commuted regularly between New England and Florida, confirming her ability to live up to her original owner’s requirements.
– Traditional heavy plank on frame construction, totally rebuilt over 3 year restoration 2008 to 11
– White oak back bone, stem and horn timber new 08
– Steam bent white oak 3 x 3 in frames centred 12″, replaced, scarfed or sistered as necessary 08
– White oak and fabricated bronze floors, all new 08
– Cast iron ballast keel; epoxied and re-hung with new bronze bolts 08
– Original 1 7/8th inch Burma teak planking fully refastened with silicon bronze screws 08
– 2 x Rubbing strakes of Purple Heart with bronze half round cap each side new ’08
– Laminated Douglas fir deck beams painted off white, all new ’08
– New ¾ inch beaded white T&G + 2 layers of 3/8th inch marine ply + ½ inch teak (buttless) deck
– Iroko covering board, bulwarks and cap rail; all new 08
– Transom framing of white oak and Iroko double planking; new 08
General
The interior is a very elegant blend of varnished raised panel and bead board, offset with white enamel and grey Corian counters, built to the highest standard of joinery. Hardware throughout is also of the highest grade, much of it custom built for this project, polished bronze or brass in living quarters, polished nickel in wet rooms.
Pilot house with Deck Saloon
– Very spacious 15 ft x 9 ft pilot house 6 ft 8 inch headroom
– Helm position forward
– Original 40 inch diameter 8 spoke wheel
– Dual engine controls
– Vintage gauges plus modern navigation panel
– Chart table 3 x 3 ft to port with locker below and swing arm bronze chart light above
– Overhead mounted 12 in vintage Westinghouse fan with brass blades and cage stbd fwd corner
– Dome lights over nav station with red night light
– Double exit doors port and stbd with screen doors allow easy access to deck
– Blackout curtain between steering station and dining area
– Main seating and dining area aft
– Original 3 ft x 4 ft butternut drop leaf table with three full length felt lined drawers
– L shaped settee (6 ft 5 x 5 ft 3 in) seats four plus optional four chairs (currently two in use)
– 6 ft 3 inch settee stbd
– All around visibility through ten large windows and glazed doors
– Four of the windows swing open in opposite directions, scooping or trailing the wind
– 6 x Dome lights, 2 x light sconces
– 2 x Swing arm reading lights and picture light over barometer and clock in centre panel aft
– Air heating via two registers under settees, plus powerful defroster blower under forward windows
– Oiled iroko sole with bronze lined hatch for engine lift out
– Small emergency exit from engine room
– Varnished raised panel finish with white overhead and varnished beam caps
– All fittings polished brass or bronze.
– Systems control panel and switch board to port and signal flag locker stbd
– Three-part lockable top leaf and doors to close
– Companionway stbd fwd end of saloon pilot house
Companionway steps down to galley to port, main saloon and fwd accommodation
– Galley half open to salon with L shaped countertop in marbled grey Corian
– White earthenware sink
– Manual vintage galley pump and similar but pressurized Herbeau tap
– Red enameled “French country” gimbaled 3 x burner propane stove
– Leaded glass galley wall cabinets
– Drawer fridge
– Top opening fridge / freezer
– Small microwave oven in under-sink cabinet
– Deck prism light and exhaust fan
– 2 x Dome lights and cord lights under wall cabinet
Saloon fwd
– Comfortable settee berth port with curtained alcove
– Leaded glass book cases above and outboard
– Butler’s tray table as coffee table, secured to bronze fitting let into sole
– Writing desk with drawers and filing cabinet to stbd
– Vintage 9 inch Emerson fan from 1914, with polished brass blades and cage on desk
– Curtained alcove and leaded glass book cases above and outboard
– Upholstered sofa chair
– Hanging locker and instrument locker for Viola da Gamba, stbd and aft
– Large 35 x 38 inch skylight
– 2 x 8 inch ports and 2 x dorade vents
– 2 x Light sconces, picture light, swing arm reading light over settee berth
– 4 x Dome lights and “mood” lights in alcoves
– Air heating through bronze register under lower companionway step
– Oiled iroko sole is with lift outs to access tanks and bilge on centre line
– Wood burning stove and mantelpiece centre
Divider bulkhead to two symmetrical twin guest cabins
– Doors to guest cabins port and starboard fwd
– Upper and lower single berths in varnished Iroko
– Clothes locker and dresser with small fold up writing table
– Deck head painted white
– Skylight 34 x 14 inch
– 8 inch port and a dorade vent each side
– Additional dorade vent circulates air to sole level and out via registers in mast box
– 2 x Light sconces, one dome light, two swing arm reading lights for bunks
– Power outlets; one in each bunk and under fold up writing table
– Air heating through bronze register under lower bunk
– Oiled Iroko sole is with three lift outs to access large storage bins
– Head room under beam caps 6 ft 3 to 6 ft 8 inches in this section
Guest head for the guest cabins
– White enamel beading and raised panels, varnished beam caps, countertops marbled, grey Corian
– All fittings, taps, lamps and portholes nickel plated (bronze and brass)
– Skylight 27 x 18 inch constructed as emergency exit
– 2 x 8 inch ports and 2 x dorade vents
– Dome light and two sconces
– Heated towel rack
– Oiled Iroko sole and shower grating
Forepeak accessible by booby hatch on deck
– Chain boxes, workbench, fenders and lines,
– Watertight (collision) bulkhead separates from living spaces
Access to aft accommodation from Pilot house
– Companionway stbd aft of pilot house with two 5 inch ports, down to master stateroom
– Headroom is 6 ft 3 inches throughout
– Hanging locker and three drawer dresser opposite bath room to stbd
– Vented washer / dryer behind raised panel doors
– Queen sized berth, four large drawers under and large storage space outboard and under to port aft
– 2 x Upholstered sofa chairs around Reflex stove
– Arched bookshelves both sides under raised side decks
– Light and ventilation through a 33 x 21 inch centre skylight, 8 x 5 inch and 1x 9 inch ports
– Vintage Westinghouse fan with brass blades and cage overhead over foot end of berth
– Small Reflex diesel stove that can run underway for heating
– 7 ft x 5 ft 5 inch bath room with tub to port
– White beaded and raised panel finish, marbled grey Corian counter tops, nickel plated fittings
– 2 x 5 inch ports
– Dorade vent circulates air through a pipe in the mast box down to the sole and out through a register
– Dome light, two light sconces and one light over tub
– Heated towel rail
– Oiled iroko sole and shower grating
– Sole has lift outs to access two large storage bins and one access to bilge
All domestic equipment with moving parts chosen with quiet running as top priority
– Techimpex red enamel 3 burner propane gimbaled stove with baking and broiling options in oven
– iWavecube microwave oven
– Isotherm DR49 drawer fridge freezer
– Isotherm BI29 top loaded fridge / freezer
– Splendide 210XC washer dryer with vented drying in Master state room (very quiet and efficient)
– Dometic Masterflush 8700 fresh water WCs (get high marks for quiet and reliability)
Watertight (collision) bulkhead to lazarette also accessible via two flush deck hatches
– Steering quadrant
– Hydraulic auto pilot
– Diesel tank for Reflex heater
– Storage for power cord, water hoses, spare lines etc
– Ketch rig redesigned by Alden Office in 2008 with an air draft of 63 ft
– Rig redesigned optimises handling, power under sail and ICW bridge clearance (65 ft)
– Spars all hollow glued Sitka spruce
– Stainless steel standing rigging
– Rigging tops attached to masts with spliced and leathered soft eyes
– Rigging lower ends spliced around thimbles and set up new (old stock) bronze Merriman turnbuckles
– Loose footed sails are, diagonal cut Dacron made by Nat Wilson Sailmaker 2011
– Sails set up and sheeted with 5 x self tailing bronze Wilmex halyard winches
– Red elm locks custom made by Dryade, France, with ship’s name embossed in centre coin
– Main and mizzen booms rest in rugged bronze gallows, one atop pilot house; one on aft deck
– Classic shock absorber main and mizzen sheet horses
– Main sail
– Mizzen sail
– Boomed staysail
– Large reacher
– All bronze deck & rig hardware, except two bronzed stainless steel electric Andersen winches
– Raised flush foredeck with 3 x skylights and a scuttle on centreline
– Each skylight flanked by two dorade vents, with heavy cast bronze 8 inch cowls
– Scuttle flanked by 2 x custom made bronze Ideal Windlass electric capstans 2010
– Bench seat across full width of pilot house, with three lockers under
– Port locker section offers pressurized fresh and salt water
– Centre locker houses gas bottles as detailed
– Stbd locker has high pressure fire hose tap
– Custom made bronze stanchions along lower side decks by pilot house bolted through deck to an underlying bronze plate for rigidity and a watertight deck
(These replace the original top timbers that penetrated the covering board)
– Bulwarks here have one large spilling port and a row of gutters to drain green water quickly
– Stowage atop pilot house for bronze anchor davit and 6 pers life raft
– Raised aft deck has a 12 x 8 ft trunk cabin over which roof the tenders are stowed
Lapstrake tenders custom built to plans from the 30 s between 2008 and 2011
– 1 x 10x 4 ft rowing boat
– 1 x 12 x 4 ft launch powered by 10 HP Bukh 1cyl inboard diesel
– Tenders held in (bronze) davits hoisted with ST bronze winches operable by owner couple
– Both tenders can be brought inboard using the mizzen boom and Andersen electric winches positioned at forward end of trunk cabin port and stbd
– Aft of trunk cabin two flush hatches to Lazarette and 2 x mushroom vents
– 2 x Mason heavy ships anchors carried ship fashion in through-hull pipes
– 2 x Independent electric capstans, each attached to 400 ft of ½ inch chain
– Chain boxes directly below deck fitting so chain drops easily into huge storage without flaking – Push button operation for easy, secure anchor drop and lifting, whatever condition and depth
– Entire Mech & E and tanks replaced / rebuilt to highest standards during restoration 2008-11
– Engine room has watertight bulkheads and state of the art sound proofing by Soundown
– Access through bulkhead door aft end of main salon, next to companionway
– Emergency exit hatch through pilot house sole
– Air intake control by Delta -T Systems with remote electro pneumatic damper actuator
– Fire control with Fireboy MA2, using FE-241clean agent
– Fireboy-Xintex Engine Shutdown Control (ESC series)
– Twin Detroit 6-71s two stroke diesel engines 1956, completely rebuilt and nulled 2010
– Allison 3:1 reduction gear
– 2 inch stainless shafts through Duramax dripless shaft seal and 4 x bronze struts outside hull
– The original 5 bladed 36 inch bronze propeller
– Exhaust stripped of water in engine room, with quiet dry run aft
– Manual steering is with wire over new, bronze Edson shives
– Edson gear enables disengaging wheel when under autopilot
– Steering quadrant new of bronze 2010
– Accusteer HPU212 continuous autopilot running on Kobelt 3 inch steering cylinder
– Original cast bronze rudder with bronze plating, refurbished 08
– 1 x 12 kW Northern Light generator:
– Victron 24 V 40 A charger
– Victron 24 V 100 A charger
– Victron 24 V 5000V A 120 A inverter
– Spectra Newport 75 water maker, producing 35 gallon per hour
– Isotemp 20 gallon water heater works from engines, generator, furnace or shore power
– Headhunte Caliber XR-124 and pressure tank AVF-4 pressurised water
– Kahlenberg P449 air compressor: for air horn and general use
– Hurricane H2L, 50,000 BTU per hour furnace
– 1000 gallons fuel in 2 x black steel wing tanks in ER for 1200 nm range under power alone
– Fuel content managed with fuel transfer pump.
– 2 x 5 gal propane gas bottles
– 2 x 165 gallon Monel fresh water tanks, new 2010
– 2 x 120 gallon stainless steel grey and black water tanks, new 2010
– Waste out by deck fittings or overboard via Headhunter Mako1 AC HD Diaphragm pumps
– Raymarine C140 / w plotter with radar and XM weather
– VHF, wind instrument, autopilot, airhorn, remote searchlight controls at centre panel
– Kahlenberg S-OA airhorn
– 2 x 6 inch 600 000 cp Jabsco 63022 search lights on spreaders
