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1926 John Alden 81’ Schooner “CURLEW”

Gene Prizer · Crow's Nest Yachts
Category
Sailboat
Price
$459,000
Phone
+1 (310) 749-4232 Call Text
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Vessel Specs
Year
1926
Make
Custom
Model
Staysail Schooner
Vessel Name
Curlew
Power / Sail
Sail
Cabins
3
Heads
1
Length
81′
Beam
14′ 8″
Draft
9′ max.
Hull Material
Wood
Displacement
84,000 lb
Fuel Capacity
2 × 360 gallons
Fresh Water Capacity
4 × 100 gallons
Cruising Speed
8 knots
Engine
Engines
1
Horsepower
120
Engine Make
Perkins M125
Fuel Type
Diesel
Engine Type
Inboard

Curlew, John G. Alden design #273B, was launched in 1926 by Fred F. Pendleton in Wiscasset, Maine. Originally commissioned by Charles Lee Andrews of the New York Yacht Club, she was intended as a cruiser but quickly became a regular offshore competitor, including the Newport–Bermuda Race alongside notable schooners such as Teragram, Nina, and Mistral. In 1937, new owner William Jay Schieffelin Jr. engaged Alden to refit Curlew from a gaff-foresail schooner to a staysail schooner—an innovation that kept her competitive with the leading yachts of her era.

Built of yellow-pine planking on white-oak frames, later re-planked with vertical-grain Douglas fir and fastened with Monel and galvanized iron, Curlew exemplifies the craftsmanship of early Maine yacht building. Her teak decks, butterfly hatches, and varnished deckhouses retain their original elegance. With her strong pedigree, graceful Alden lines, and racing heritage, Curlew remains a significant and seaworthy example of classic American yachting history.

Check out CURLEW’s video:

INFORMATION & FEATURES

Engine:

  • Make: Perkins M125
  • Engine Type: Inboard
  • Fuel Type: Diesel
  • Drive Type: Direct Drive

Dimensions:

  • LOA: 81 ft 6 in
  • LWL: 47 ft
  • Beam: 14 ft 8 in
  • Max Draft: 9 ft

Weights:

  • Displacement: 84,000 lb

Tanks:

  • Fuel: 2 × 360 gallons
  • Fresh Water: 4 × 100 gallons
  • Holding: 1 × 20 gallons

Accommodations:

  • Guest Cabins: 3
  • Guest Heads: 1

Other:

  • Hull Shape: Monohull
  • Flag of Registry: United States
  • Designer: John G. Alden

ACCOMMODATIONS

Curlew’s interior displays fine joinery, a teak-and-holly cabin sole, and warm varnished surfaces throughout.

  • Sleeps seven in four cabins: one main salon, two forward cabins, and one aft
  • Main salon amidships with port and starboard settees and a fold-down dining table
  • Owner’s stateroom to starboard with double berth, cabinetry, and hanging locker
  • Forward cabin with single berths port and starboard, plus storage and a workbench in the forepeak
  • Enclosed head to port with Corian-top vanity and separate shower
  • Lighting throughout by DC LED fixtures, with GFCI-protected AC outlets

GALLEY

Located to port of the companionway, the U-shaped galley is designed for sea-going use.

  • Three-burner LPG stove with oven
  • Double stainless-steel sink with Corian counters
  • Refrigerator/freezer, approx. 12 cu ft total
  • Pressure hot/cold water with 6-gal Kuuma water heater
  • Ample drawer and locker storage

TANKAGE

  • Fuel: 360 gal (2 × 180 gal Monel tanks)
  • Fresh Water: 100 gal (4 poly and stainless tanks)
  • Holding: 20 gal poly tank with macerator pump and Y-valve
  • Water heater: Kuuma 6 gal pressurized system

ELECTRONICS & NAVIGATION

  • (2) Garmin 7” touchscreen multifunction displays (Radar/Depth/GPS/Plotter)
  • Standard Horizon Matrix AIS/GPS VHF with Command Mic and remote cockpit speaker
  • Comnav 1420 Autopilot
  • Fusion AM/FM/MP3 stereo with satellite radio
  • Magnetic Danforth 6″ compass

ELECTRICAL

  • 12 V DC / 110 V AC systems
  • (3) 8D house batteries + (1) start battery
  • Xantrex inverter/charger with remote panel
  • Lifeline charger and isolation transformer
  • 50 A shore-power inlet
  • AC/DC panels at chart table with volt/amp meters
  • GFCI AC outlets and DC outlets throughout

PROPULSION & MACHINERY

  • Engine: Perkins M125 120 HP 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, fresh-water-cooled diesel
  • Drive: Direct-drive transmission to stainless-steel shaft with dripless seal
  • Propeller: Fixed 3-blade bronze
  • Steering: Edson worm gear helm with wood spoked wheel
  • Controls: Morse Red-Jaket type
  • Cruising speed: ≈ 8 knots
  • Engine space ventilation by blowers and natural draft; sound insulated

SAILS & RIGGING

  • Rig: Staysail schooner (1937 Alden conversion from original gaff fore-sail)
  • (2) Keel-stepped wooden masts, each with double spreaders
  • 1 × 19 stainless-steel standing rigging with synthetic running rigging
  • Staysail and jib with booms; spinnaker track on mainmast
  • Barlow winches: (2) #32, (2) #26, (2) #24
  • Running backstays, inner forestay, boomkin, wood bowsprit with safety net
  • Ratlines on mainmast rigging; canvas sail covers

DECK & HARDWARE

  • Decks: Teak over oak deck beams
  • Windlass: Maxwell 3500
  • Ground tackle: CQR anchor with galvanized chain
  • Pulpits/Lifelines: Stainless bow and stern pulpits with triple-wire lifelines
  • Hatches: Butterfly style and deck prisms for light below
  • Cockpit: Aft helm with wood spoked wheel, pedestal guard, and table
  • Additional gear: Tender with wood chocks, canvas covers, stainless rails, and safety netting at bowsprit

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

  • (5) Type ABC dry chemical extinguishers + CO? and Halon fixed systems (all certified)
  • (40) adult and (7) youth Type I PFDs plus spares (Type II/III)
  • (2) 20″ life rings and 30-person rescue platform (certificate valid through 2021; re-certification due)
  • Electric bilge pumps (3) + high-water alarm
  • Air horn, flares, CO monitor and smoke detectors, Waste Management plan and Nav Rules aboard

SUMMARY

Curlew stands as one of the finest surviving Alden staysail schooners—an authentic 1920s ocean-racing design brought forward through thoughtful restoration. With her handsome proportions, teak decks, and dependable modern systems, she combines vintage grace with practical reliability. Now based in Dana Point, California, Curlew operates as a certified historic charter vessel while continuing to sail actively along the Pacific Coast. She offers her next steward a rare opportunity to own and operate a living piece of American maritime history.

Disclaimer

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.

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