Robert Perry (yacht designer)
Encyclopedia
Robert H. Perry is a U.S. yacht
designer based in Seattle, Washington
. Among his designs are some of the most successful cruising
yachts in modern cruising such as the Tayana 37 and Valiant 40
.
Through his career he has designed boats for many well recognized names in the yachting industry, such as Tayana, Cheoy Lee,
Valiant, Baba, Ta Shing, Islander, Passport and Saga.
Perry has taught yacht design at Evergreen State College.
He writes that the trip made a lasting impression on him and spurred his interest in yacht design. At the beginning of his
ninth-grade year, his family moved to Mercer Island, Washington
, an area renowned for its school system. Here, his
interest in sailboats really clicked. He met famous designer William Garden
, joined the local yacht club, and
excelled at mechanical drawing. Perry graduated with a 1.69 GPA from Mercer Island High School in 1964.
The only local college
that would accept him (and on a probationary status) was Seattle University
.
He enrolled as a mechanical engineering student. After four years, he dropped out of college.
The Vietnam War
was growing and called him for enlistment. In a twist of fate,
his childhood history of petit mal seizures made him unacceptable.
Soon, Perry had his first published design, a 47-foot ketch in National Fisherman. Boatbuilder John Edwards who would
found Hans Christian Yachts
sent a letter to Perry in response to the 47-foot ketch. Eventually, this relationship lead
to Perry's first design, the CT 54. Ted Brewer consulted and helped Perry with the design. Ta Chaoi Brothers, a
Taiwanese yard built the pirate ship like cutter ketches.
Simultaneously, Perry was working on what would be his landmark design, the Valiant 40. Along with Nathan Rothman and Sylvia and
Stanley Dabney, he would design the first "performance cruiser." They all met at Benford's ferro-cement studio, but even as
Perry moved to work for Dick Carter they continued to stategize about building a bluewater cruising boat like the Westsail 32
that would have better performance.
Rothman contacted Uniflite, a Bellingham, Washington boat builder, and by 1974 the first Valiant rolled off their line. The design
combined the classic canoe stern cruiser shape with a fin keel and skeg hung rudder instead of the traditional full keel.
These two starts lead to more design commissions for Islander Yachts and Tayana Yachts. Perry became a popular designer for
Taiwanese built boats.
.
Perry also has a unique long narrow 62 foot double ended daysailor under construction at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in Port Hadlock, Washington. She is expected to be sailing by Summer 2012.
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
designer based in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. Among his designs are some of the most successful cruising
Cruising (maritime)
Cruising by boat is a lifestyle that involves living for extended time on a boat while traveling from place to place for pleasure. Cruising generally refers to trips of a few days or more, and can extend to round-the-world voyages.- History :...
yachts in modern cruising such as the Tayana 37 and Valiant 40
Valiant 40 sailboat
The Valiant 40 was the first boat designed by naval architect Robert Perry, it was introduced in 1973. The boat is configured as a rear cockpit double-ender, cutter rigged monohull....
.
Through his career he has designed boats for many well recognized names in the yachting industry, such as Tayana, Cheoy Lee,
Valiant, Baba, Ta Shing, Islander, Passport and Saga.
Perry has taught yacht design at Evergreen State College.
Early life
In 1957 when Robert H. Perry was twelve, he and his family moved from Sydney, Australia to Vancouver, British Columbia.He writes that the trip made a lasting impression on him and spurred his interest in yacht design. At the beginning of his
ninth-grade year, his family moved to Mercer Island, Washington
Mercer Island, Washington
Mercer Island is a city in King County, Washington, United States and the name of the island in Lake Washington on which the city sits. The population was 22,699 at the 2010 census....
, an area renowned for its school system. Here, his
interest in sailboats really clicked. He met famous designer William Garden
William Garden
William Garden, CM was a Canadian naval architect and marine engineer. For six decades, he designed watercraft ranging from commercial fishing vessels and tugboats to motor and sailing yachts....
, joined the local yacht club, and
excelled at mechanical drawing. Perry graduated with a 1.69 GPA from Mercer Island High School in 1964.
The only local college
that would accept him (and on a probationary status) was Seattle University
Seattle University
Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA.SU is the largest independent university in the Northwest US, with over 7,500 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within eight schools, and is one of 28 member...
.
He enrolled as a mechanical engineering student. After four years, he dropped out of college.
The Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
was growing and called him for enlistment. In a twist of fate,
his childhood history of petit mal seizures made him unacceptable.
Career
In 1970, Jay Benford gave Perry his first job as a yacht designer. Benford was promoting ferro-cement boats in Seattle.Soon, Perry had his first published design, a 47-foot ketch in National Fisherman. Boatbuilder John Edwards who would
found Hans Christian Yachts
Hans Christian Yachts
-History:Most designs are credited to Robert H. Perry, Harwood Ives, Scott Spragne and Tommy Chen. Boat production began in the early 1970s.-Hans Christian today:...
sent a letter to Perry in response to the 47-foot ketch. Eventually, this relationship lead
to Perry's first design, the CT 54. Ted Brewer consulted and helped Perry with the design. Ta Chaoi Brothers, a
Taiwanese yard built the pirate ship like cutter ketches.
Simultaneously, Perry was working on what would be his landmark design, the Valiant 40. Along with Nathan Rothman and Sylvia and
Stanley Dabney, he would design the first "performance cruiser." They all met at Benford's ferro-cement studio, but even as
Perry moved to work for Dick Carter they continued to stategize about building a bluewater cruising boat like the Westsail 32
Westsail 32
The Westsail 32 was a production fiberglass sailboat built between the years of 1971 and 1980. Approximately 830 were built, about half of them in kit form. The "W32", as they are often referred to, was very heavily built and has taken many people on trouble-free voyages and several...
that would have better performance.
Rothman contacted Uniflite, a Bellingham, Washington boat builder, and by 1974 the first Valiant rolled off their line. The design
combined the classic canoe stern cruiser shape with a fin keel and skeg hung rudder instead of the traditional full keel.
These two starts lead to more design commissions for Islander Yachts and Tayana Yachts. Perry became a popular designer for
Taiwanese built boats.
Recent
Perry has recently been hired to design the latest yacht for Pacific SeacraftPacific Seacraft
Pacific Seacraft Corporation is a Washington, North Carolina based sailboat manufacturer specializing in fiberglass monohull cruising boats. Pacific Seacraft is best known for producing the Crealock line of sailboats. These are heavy, overbuilt offshore cruising designs designed by William Crealock...
.
Perry also has a unique long narrow 62 foot double ended daysailor under construction at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding in Port Hadlock, Washington. She is expected to be sailing by Summer 2012.
Awards
- 1979, Yacht Racing/Cruising Magazine, Medal of Achievement for Performance Cruising Design
- 1989, Cruising World Magaizine, Cruising Hall of Fame
- 1995, American Boatbuilders Hall of Fame, Valiant 40 inducted into Hall of Fame