42' Rhodes Yawl (1955) - THOR

THOR is a Rhodes 29 centerboard yawl designed by Philip L. Rhodes and constructed by Abeking & Rasmussen. Commissioned in 1955 by A. Edward Thurber, Jr. of Locust Valley, NY, the engineer and frequent Yachting Magazine contributor demanded that THOR would be of the finest build quality. The hull is framed in oak and double planked in Teak below the waterline with Honduras mahogany above the waterline. Top sides are Honduras mahogany as well and the spars are crafted from Sitka spruce.

The Thurber family of five spent every summer aboard THOR cruising from her homeport in Oyster Bay, NY to Newport, RI, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Upon Edward’s passing in 1982 THOR was sold to a partnership in Connecticut, who actively sailed her. Remaining in New England, THOR was eventually owned by a gentleman in Jamestown, RI when the Charles Dana family took over stewardship around 2010. After stints in Newport, RI and the Bahamas, Mr. Dana, New York Yacht Club Commodore and Newport Shipyard owner, donated Thor to Sail Martha’s Vineyard in 2016, making his announcement that year during the Vineyard Cup awards ceremony. Telling the crowd his family had many happy summers of sailing aboard Thor. “She’s a very special boat,” he said.

In 2019, Sail MV listed Thor for sale at which time Priscilla Thurber Constants, daughter of A. Edward Thurber, Jr., was alerted to Thor’s listing by Ian McCurdy. In August of 2019 Priscilla took ownership of Thor, bringing in a partner in George J. Ellis. After 37 years Thor was back in Thurber ownership and back in her original homeport of Oyster Bay.