52' Luders Gaff Sloop (1924) - DYON

Dyon, a 52’ gaff rigged sloop, was co-designed by Luders and Philip L. Smith in 1924. She was built that year at the Luders Ship Yard in Stamford Connecticut, and described as “one of the most attractive yachts of her type we have seen in plan… in form she has a slack bilge but she seems to carry her sail well in heavy weather and at the same time be quite fast in light airs.”
Dyon’s construction is a combination of sawn and bent frames with double planking of mahogany. Naturally all the fastenings are of bronze or copper. The trim and deck arc of teak. An innovation, at the time, in the rig was the use of slides on the gaff as well as the boom. This also worked to perfection and insured the perfect set of the head of the mainsail. One feature of her lay-out is the big cockpit. This was designed by P.L.Smith to comfortably accommodate his large numbers of guests during day sails.
The Dyon has remained in the Smith family since her construction and is still all original aside from upgraded sails and engine systems over the years. She is currently owned and cared for by three of PLS’s grandchildren; Stephen, Flip and Dorsey Smith.