Navigate

Home

History of CROD

Specs

History of Aeolus

History of Terry, later Mamook

Astoria, OR

Astoria Marine Const. Co.

The ERRIA Fire, 1951

Columbia River Maritime Museum

The Dyer Legacy

Gallery 1 Aeolus

Gallery 2 Aeolus

Gallery 3 Old CRODs

Gallery 4 Phantom

Gallery 5 Merrimac

Gallery 6 Mine Sweepers

Crods Cruise to Bonneville

My Little Austin Seven

Links

Email Us

Columbia River One Design

Columbia River One Design, Hull #3 Aeolus ("God of the Winds"), built in 1934 by the Astoria Marine Construction Company. A total of twelve boats were built, mainly in the 1930's and 1940's.

The expansive mouth of the Columbia River in northwestern Oregon presents an eternal invitation to the sailor...and the shipwright. Its strong winds, boat-stranding tides and ever-shifting sand bars can challenge the most gifted sea farer.

See the latest CROD news on our blog!

Astoria is the gateway to the Columbia River, and nerve center of its sailing tradition.  Near the historic town is the Fort Clatsop National Memorial commemorating the 1805-06 winter encampment of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Astoria is also home to the Astoria Marine Construction Company, builders of the 12 Columbia River One Design (CROD) 28-foot sloops, constructed mainly in the 1930's and 40's.  These boats, designed by Joseph M. Dyer, provided recreation and competition for a small group of owners who wanted a shoal-draft boat to clear sandbars and gill nets.

Most of the the Crod hulls survive.  Hulls 1 and 2 have been donated to the Columbia River Maritime Museum, which also houses significant historical information on the class.  Hull 3, Aeolus, is sailing in Texas.  Crod 4, Terry (later Mamook) has been found in good shape, under new ownership in Seattle.  Hull 5, originally Dorla, now Antiki, has been purchased by Jared and Jennifer Hass in Springfield, OR, and is slated for restoration.  Hull 9, originally named Evening Star, is now moored in Olympia, Washington and is under restoration by owner Art Pier. Hull 10, named Tom Tom after Tom Dyer, son of the class designer, is still in use in Washington.   

Tom Tom anchored in the San Juans of Washington State

Hull 3, named Aeolus ("The God of the Winds" in Greek mythology) was acquired in 2003 and moved to the Dallas, Texas area.   Hull 3 is featured in this site, since it is, to our knowledge, the oldest CROD in active use.  Aeolus has been lovingly restored by David Fastabend and the shipwrights of Astoria Marine Construction, which still does business as a commercial shipyard. 

Aeolus under sail in Texas, August 2003.

It is our sincere hope that there are other CROD hulls out there, and that this site may serve as a forum for their owners to make themselves known, and to complete the knowledge base of this remarkable class of sailing vessel.

If you have news of other CRODs, please send us an email.

 

L.R. Daniels Watercolor Features Aeolus

Aeolus is featured in this original watercolor by artist Lisa R. Daniels. Her work may be seen at http://LRDaniels.com

 

Counter

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1