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APHRODITE
commuter yacht model

The Aphrodite commuter yacht was built by the Purdy Boat Company and launched in May of 1937 for Wall Street financier and later Ambassador to the Court of St. James, John Hay Whitney of Manhasset, Long Island.

This elegant and sleek 74-footer whisked his owner each morning from his large house in Long Island Sound and thru the East River to his Wall Street office.

Aphrodite's guest list over the years included Fred Astaire, Sir Laurence Olivier, Spencer Tracy, Shirley Temple, Katherine Hepburn, Henry Ford II, FDR advisor Harry Hopkins, and Nelson Rockefeller.



The day after the attack on Pearl Harbor (1942), Aphrodite was given to the government for war service and she was commissioned as a Coast Guard auxiliary vessel (CGR-557).  The boat spent most of its war-time career  transporting President Roosevelt to and from his home at Hyde Park on the Hudson River and ferrying dignitaries up and down the Atlantic coast.

In the early 60s, Whitney gave the boat to an organization that served disadvantaged inner-city youth at East Hampton, Long Island. 

In 1983, the deteriorated, full of weed, Aphrodite was bought and then restored. After being launched in 1984, Aphrodite could be seen at many classic boat events where she garnered many prizes.

In 2000, the beautiful Aphrodite yacht was sold to its present owner who was a classic boat enthusiast.   The new owner decided to full restore the yacht, replacing every single old planks with new wood.

In October, 2005, after 33,000 man-hours, the famous Aphrodite commuter yacht was once again launched at Brooklin Boat Yard in the waters of Center Harbor Maine.  She was a complete restoration using the original boat as a template from which to create what would become the reborn “Aphrodite.”  

Aphrodite has been turning heads and capturing the hearts of mariners for more than 70 years. 

This primarily wood model of the Aphrodite model boat is 37" long x 7" wide x 14" tall. $4,750. Shipping and insurance in the contiguous USA included. Other places: $400 flat rate. Model is built per commission only. We require only a small deposit to start $900. The remaining balance won't be due until the model is completed. Please click here for lead time.