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Astoria, OR

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Gallery 1 Aeolus

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Crods Cruise to Bonneville

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History

of the Columbia River One Design 28' Racing and Cruising Sloop

We are interested in updating the owner list and locations of all surviving CRODs.  Please see the owner summary for our best information to date. If you have updated information on any of the CRODs, please send us an email.

The 1935 Astoria Regatta, with Hull #3 slightly in the lead!

(Ed. Note:  This history the early days of the CROD class is found in an article in Pacific Motor Boat magazine from 1936:)

"After the formation of the Columbia River Yachting Association, whose purpose is the stimulation of yachting on the Columbia River as well as the harmonizing of existing interests, the officers of the organization decided that a Columbia River One Design Class which could fill demands of popularity would be of great value in creating this interest. To fill these demands, it was decided that a yacht must have several features.

First, it must be kept to a reasonable price; second, it must be of sufficiently simple construction to permit building by good amateurs or semi-professional builders; third, it must have comfortable cruising accommodations for three or four, or a small family, for week-end cruising; fourth, it must have auxiliary power for Columbia River conditions; and fifth, it must have shoal draft for the same reason.  Speed was to be of secondary consideration.

CRODs competing in the Astoria Regatta in the 1930s

With these requirements in mind, Joseph M. Dyer was consulted and asked to design such a yacht.  He started with a twenty-two foot boat and gradually increased the size until twenty-eight feet overall length was found to be the smallest that would fulfill the demand for the comfort required.

He then worked for several weeks to get the most possible in cruising comfort and, secondarily, speed under sail, from this size boat while at the same time making sure of its seaworthy qualities.  The result was "CROD"..."

The CROD profile from an original Joseph Dyer construction drawing

CROD sections from a Joseph Dyer construction drawing

(Ed. Note: This additional insight into the history of the CROD class was excerpted from an article written in 1983 for the Center for Wooden Boats by Tom Dyer, son of CROD designer Joseph Dyer.)

"Columbia River One Designs, known affectionately as CRODs, were designed by my father, Joe Dyer in 1934 at the request of the Columbia River Yachting Association.  The CRYA wanted a simple, affordable design suitable for the sandbars of the lower Columbia.  The concept was the of "everyman's" boat, somewhat like the Thunderbirds 25 years later.

CROD trophies from '30s regattas at Portland Yacht Club and Astoria Yacht Club.  (Click on thumbnails for larger view, then use browser back button to return to this page)

Legend has it the first CROD sailed up the coast from Astoria and swept her class in the PIYA Regatta.  Although slow by today's tupperware standards, in 1934 CRODs were modern, able boats.  Twelve were built in all, about 9 before, and about 3 after World War II.

CRODs 2 and 4 in close competition in a late 1940's race.  Note classic sailing apparel.

They remain popular on the Columbia, now more as classics than as an active fleet.  They were raced as a class at the Portland Yacht Club until about 20 years ago [1963].  

"CROD Row" at the Portland Yacht Club in the 1940s. (Image courtesy of McCuddy's Marina)

CRODs are 28 feet long, with an 8'10" beam, and have a low freeboard designed for swimming.  Their draft is  2'4" with the centerboard up; with the board down they draw about 5 feet.  They have a 4-cylinder inboard engine and cruise on average about 6 1/2 knots under power.

Although planked, CRODs have a hard chine desirable for shallow draft and lying high and dry on sandbars.  CRODs are plank on frame construction, galvanized fastened, with 7/8" fir on sawn oak frames. Seam battens are used above the waterline and the chine is protected by a 1-1/4" x 2-1/2" iron bark knuckle.  A 950-pound iron keel fairs into a motorboat style skeg, providing ballast, the ability to jump gillnets, and a good point for grounding.  The centerboard is 1/2" steel.  The main deck is 5/8" plywood covered with canvas over Irish felt, trimmed with an ironbark toe rail and guard.  The house coaming is 1-1/4" mahogany, while the house top is 3/8" plywood, again covered with Irish felt and canvas.

This October, 1941 cover of Pacific Motor Boat magazine features CROD #4, Diane, competing in the Astoria Regatta, with then-owner Gordon MacDonald at the helm.

The arrangements are classic, with a drop-leaf table on the centerboard trunk and two transoms which slide out to make "double" berths.  The galley is aft in the main cabin, separated from the cockpit by a bridge deck.  The engine is under the cockpit flanked by two 45-gallon tanks.

The 4-cyl Universal engine of CROD Hull "3, Aeolus.

Forward are two berths, one covering the head.  The cockpit is purposefully large and comfortable for day sailing, and the rig includes a club-footed working jib for single-handing."

Owner Summary

Jay Roberts, son of Jack Roberts who owned Spanker II (Originally Susan, CROD #6) in the 1950s has these memories of his time on the CROD:

"When my parents purchased the Spanker II was around 4 or 5 years old.  I have many fond memories sailing on the Columbia River.                                                                     

When I was growing up in Vancouver, WA, my parents had a restaurant. On several occasions during our brief summer, we would go sailing on the river after the restaurant had closed.  When we got to the boat and had her set for sailing it was usually dark.  We would try starting the cantankerous 6 - volt Gray Marine engine with mixed results.  Check to make sure we were pumping water out the stern and our adventure would begin!"  

The Jack Roberts Family aboard Spanker II, originally Susan (CROD #6), in 1957

"Sailing at night on the Columbia can have a lot of challenges.  There is a constant flow of barges, log rafts, ocean-going freighters, gillnetters, sand bars and buoy markers. There was a lot of knowledge we gained about all of the above mentioned when we took up night sailing. When we were finally underway sailing at night was one of the most memorable experiences I ever had on our boat. There were few recreational boaters out during the night. The wind would usually be good and the weather outstanding.  

During gillnetting season we would have to look for the 4 lights that would mark the gill nets so we would not get tangled in them. Sometimes these fishermen didn’t have all their nets marked with lanterns. We would sail on the river for several hours. When it was time to come home we never knew if the motor would start because we had used our running lights and the battery might be dead.  On more than one occasion we had to sail back to the dock without the motor or my father would use a hand crank on the heavy 2000 lb. Gray Marine engine to get her started. Sailing at night has to be one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences I had with Spanker. "

Crod #5, Dorla, later Antiki, was recently purchased by Jared and Jennifer Hass of Springfield, Oregon, and will undergo restoration soon.  As more is learned of the history of Antiki, and as the Hass' restoration work progresses, we will update this site accordingly.

Antiki as she arrived in Springfield, OR recently.