We return to the fascinating subject of historic sea vessel architecture because the famous wooden yacht APHRODITE has returned to the renowned Brooklin Boat Yard for major renovations. Here you see her as she arrived in the main shop yesterday. Her renovations will take all winter, I’m told.
We’ll have plenty to say about her as we monitor progress on her over the winter, but here are a few basics. She’s well named: Aphrodite, of course, was the ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty and pleasure. APHRODITE was built by the Purdy Boat Company in 1937 for the wealthy Wall Street financier John (“Jock”) Hay Whitney.
Jock wanted something suitable to ferry him back and forth on the Long Island Sound between his home to his Manhattan office, as well as a pleasurable and unique salon for entertainment. Among the reported guests abord were Fred Astaire, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Shirley Temple, Henry Ford II, Nelson Rockefeller, and Sir Laurence Olivier.
APHRODITE is 74 feet long and features a gleaming black hull, varnished Philippine mahogany planking, and a distinctive beavertail (torpedo) stern that is helpful for wake control and cruising in following seas. She now is used for luxury cruises (such as sunset champagne sails) through Ocean House, a luxury resort in Rhode Island.
In prior years, she was equipped with twin 1500-hp Packard airplane engines, which thrusted her to a top speed of 38 knots (40 mph). After extensive deterioration, APHRODITE was completely rebuilt at the Brooklin Boat Yard in 2003-2005, when twin 1000-hp diesel engines that produced the same top speed were installed.
(Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on November 2, 2026.)