About Splendid
Splendid was designed by the famed naval architect John Alden. Alden designed a series of 43′ schooners under the design number 270 (keel version) and number 309 (centerboard). Splendid is Alden design number 309-K and she was built by Goudy & Stevens in Maine in 1929. She is 43′3″ on deck and 33′3″ on the waterline with a beam of 12′6″. Over the years her centerboard was removed and her keel modified so that her draft is now 5′6″.
While Alden oversaw the entire design, he had many first-class designers working at his office at the time. Thus, Splendid’s hull and lines were drawn by Aage Neilson, Clifford Swain drew the accommodation plan and Carl Alberg, her sail plan.
Her planking is original long leaf yellow pine and her scantlings and timbers oak. Long leaf planking is one of the of the longest lasting planking woods ever used in ship construction, as it is has excellent strength properties, is highly worm resistant.
Her original painted white pine decks have been covered with a plywood, glass cloth impregnated with Thorpes easy deck which gives her deck structure considerable strength.
Her interior is very original, though modified from galley forward to galley aft. These are well ventilated boats with four deck hatches, companion way and two engine room hatches. Her saloon is aft with quarter berth, sliding berth and settee berth, owners stateroom to port, head to starboard amidships, a large foc’sle for storage which can also accommodate two pipe berths. Her spars are original, and standing rigging is stainless. She has been converted to a staysail rig and has been re-powered with a Westerbeke 55hp diesel.
The 309’s were one of Alden’s most successful stock boats. Though not as weatherly as their narrower, full keel sisters, the 270 design, the 309s are powerful and thrilling sailors on a close or beam reach under a strong breeze.