Preview: Aboard a Legendary Boat, Malabar II

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Of all John Alden’s legendary Malabar designs, MALABAR II is our favorite. We caught up with her owners and took a sail aboard this iconic 42’ gaff schooner. This is the first of our tours of legendary boats, and Malabar II was at the top of our list.

MALABAR II was designed by John G. Alden and built originally in 1922 by Charles A. Morse & Son in Thomaston, Maine. She’s 41’6” on deck with a beam of 11’3” and a draft of a little over six feet.

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34 Responses So Far to “Aboard a Legendary Boat, Malabar II”

  • Fergus Grant says:

    They don’t get any better for sure. I’d love a tour below. Maybe another video?

    • Steve Stone

      Steve Stone says:

      That’s on our list too, Fergus. Maybe next summer.

  • Preston Keith says:

    My Dad had a Malabar jr. built in Ohio and sailed on Buzzards Bay in the 60’s. John Alden designed lovely looking and cruising sailboats. I ended up with a my own Bristol 34 and sailed out of Pocasset for 30 years.

  • Bruce Klein says:

    Responding to Edward Hollister’s comment on previous page: Sally built the Constellation to compete in the HawiianTranspac. Quite a gal, she skippered the Connie to an historic victory. Following Sally’s premature passing, the Connie was purchased in the late ’60s by Marshall Sevin, a Los Angeles attorney, WWII sub commander & owner of the Gallant, a magnificent 65′ ’20s-era schooner berthed in Alamitos Bay, Long Beach. I grew up on her–my dad was the Gallant’s foresail man when she was raced. Many of the happiest days & nights of my then young life, in sun, storm & at an Avalon, Catalina mooring, were spent aboard the Gallant. I left SoCal upon graduating UCLA in ’69 & have been unable to track down both the Connie & Gallant since.

  • David Tew

    David Tew says:

    My mom and dad (joined by experienced sailor friends) started chartering boats when I was maybe three years old. My first memory is all of us aboard Marianna, a black Malabar sailing up Frenchman Bay, east of Bar Harbor, Maine. My most vivid images are that it had a radio telephone and a fisherman staysail.

  • Rick Krementz says:

    Nice to see my grandfather’s boat on video, I learned to sail on her many years ago. My grandparents sold her to the Lobdells in 1971.

  • edward mcmahon says:

    I think Malabar II one of the most beautiful boats ever but I notice that she does not sail with runners. Every other schooner I’ve sailed aboard of that size or larger has running backs.

    Do you know why this is? Does she have a smaller rig? Are the shrouds further aft than other boats? Any thoughts?

    Thank you

    • Rick Krementz says:

      My grandfather (Exton Guckes) said she had had running backstays, but he never used them, including on his trans-Atlantic voyage.

  • Eric T. Pomber

    Eric T. Pomber says:

    This morning the gal and I watched the II sail off the mooring in Gloucester Harbor to join the other boats in the Schooner Festival. “A good boat moves us to the core”, as Mr. Blake says, is the only way to sum up the experience of watching such a fine and well handled boat beat its way out of the harbor. The scene was nothing short of breathtaking. Great video on a fantastic boat!

    Eric

    Eric

  • Lawrence Allen says:

    Out here in the Northwest – thank you so much for the video and looksee at Malabar II. Have a John Alden Countess ketch “Manu Iwa” and am presently restoring “Pequod” a Angleman gaff rig ketch and hope to have her back in the water summer of 2017 after 27 years inside a building here on the Island.

  • Al Mason says:

    Oh my goodness! I am a Chesapeake Deadrise Roundsterned kind of guy and have been so a very long time! This wonderful video reveals the character of Malabar II to a non-sailor. I hope there is exposure to one in my future.
    Thanks

  • Edward Hollister says:

    Loraine
    Connie 87 ft schooner was owned by Sally Blare , or comely known as Constellation. any one can give me some info?

  • John Gallagher says:

    I sailed on Allegro, an Alden forty three built in Booth Bay Harbor in 1923 (?). I was fortunate to be able to do this for around twenty five years. She was sailed on the Great Lakes and cruised Michigan, Superior and Huron.

    Watching your video brings back memories including the joy of being “full and bye with a bone in her teeth”.

  • David Dickson says:

    Truly a pleasure to look at, from all angles. Beautifully filmed!…..Thank you so much.

  • Gibby Conrad says:

    I have always loved this design…sleek simplicity. What a joy to watch her in motion and sailed so well. I wish I was aboard.

  • terry brower says:

    Any hints on how to make the videos stream quicker. I’m not very computer savy. might just be my old computer. Thanks.

    • steve johnson says:

      Terry, you are way out-numbered by those of us wanting the stream to move slower !!
      honestly, issue must be your system for I’ve not encountered your issue.
      .. did you try reefing or dropping the drifter ?

  • David Roberts says:

    Beautiful – the highest achievement of humans. Truly inspiring.

  • ROB BLACKBURN says:

    Worth the membership alone… Keep them coming.

  • Eric Blake says:

    Malabar ll was the first schooner my son Cyrus ever sailed. That’s tough…

    • Edwin Silver says:

      Thats awesome Eric. Thanks for the magnificent video. It makes me most glad that as you said, ordinary people like you and I are able to enjoy her.
      Warmest regards…

    • steve johnson says:

      nice you clarified that for I suspect many were wondering regarding your comment ’bout
      Cyrus steering with ease . That small wheel,it’s lean angle,the view.. instant lust !

  • Greg Reszutek says:

    Great job on this video guys, keep it up. Steve, summer is just around the corner, mark your calendar “Malabar II interior shots”.

  • William Turpie says:

    I would have liked to see the interior of Malabar II…please keep the “legendary boat” videos comming…just great stuff…thanks, bill

    • Steve Stone says:

      Thanks Bill. Ya, we had fully intended to show you all below decks, and time got away from us… leaves us something to look forward to next summer, eh?

      • Joseph Wl Haley III says:

        I have sailed aboard a couple of Schooners. But my love was the 110′ Voyageur out of NS. Built in the 30’s for Atlantic crossings. I was an 17-18 yr old crew member. She was Marconi rigged for the Caribbean Charter trade. Now restored to gaff headed, topsail rig she was built with. A black hulled beauty. But now I have this new love Malabar II. Just a dream for this 80 yr. old. Thanks for the visual trip.

  • Lorentz Ottzen says:

    The rock steady sailing qualities and extraordinary beauty of this classic schooner come through very well on this marvelous video and the dramatic still Photos are a joy. It was the next best thing to being aboard.

  • Chip Angell says:

    Wonderful boat, wonderful story. Keep ’em coming.

  • Mike McCue says:

    What a beautiful boat. This video really makes me appreciate the design simplicity of Malabar II.

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