The Many Lives of Aphrodite: The Saga of a Great American Yacht

The commuter yacht Aphrodite was built in the depths of the Great Depression for JOck Whitney, one of the richest men in America. She hosted suh show business personalites as Shirley Temple, David O. Selznick and Tallulah Bankhead. She served in the Coast Gaurd during World War II, where she served as an escort to the "Queen Mary" and a chase boat for PT boat trials. She has long been admired for her beautiful lines. Not once, but twice, the boat was rescued from near-certain scrapping, and toda she continues to astonish viewers. This is her story, accompanied by many photographs of her lives and her rebirth.

ALAN DINN is the historian of the Purdy Boat Company, builders of Aphrodite. He has written about the company in WoodenBoat and Classic Boating magazines, and has lectured about the firm at the Antique Boat Museum. His history of the firm, Boats by Purdy, was published by Tiller in 2003.