ECHO, Alden design# 949R, makes her the 17th Challenger built(Alden used letters instead of numerals to denote build order). She has been owned by the same family, and kept in this cove on North Haven Island in Penobscot Bay, for 57 years.
Like all 52 Challengers, the fiberglass hull and deck were molded and assembled at the Halmatic Yard in the UK. As fiberglass work using molds was a quick process in relation to traditional wooden hull and deck construction, Alden required several finishers to complete their Challengers.
Alden Design of Boston Mass. had previously contracted with LeComte Yacht Builders(established 1956, Netherlands), to construct Alden's 33' Malabar sloops and 42' Nordfarer Yawls, of typical wooden construction. This relationship lead to LeComte finishing 10 of the Alden Challengers.
ECHO's hull and deck - plus Alden's building design plans - were shipped to the Netherlands to the Adolf LeComte Yacht builders, in 1959, for finishing.
"Finishing", construction(in wood) of; the house, the cockpit and the complete joinery of the interior, was a far more labor and time intensive task than the fiberglass hull and deck.
Although the thick roll of Alden building plans were specific, the styles of the different yards as well as the skills of each experienced finisher, were unique. The result: No two Alden Challengers are alike.
Interesting data from Saildata: In 1961, LeComte-Holland moved into fiberglass construction exclusively, starting with the Medalist 33 sloop, followed in 1962 with the North East 38 sloop/yawl.
Like all 52 Challengers, the fiberglass hull and deck were molded and assembled at the Halmatic Yard in the UK. As fiberglass work using molds was a quick process in relation to traditional wooden hull and deck construction, Alden required several finishers to complete their Challengers.
Alden Design of Boston Mass. had previously contracted with LeComte Yacht Builders(established 1956, Netherlands), to construct Alden's 33' Malabar sloops and 42' Nordfarer Yawls, of typical wooden construction. This relationship lead to LeComte finishing 10 of the Alden Challengers.
ECHO's hull and deck - plus Alden's building design plans - were shipped to the Netherlands to the Adolf LeComte Yacht builders, in 1959, for finishing.
"Finishing", construction(in wood) of; the house, the cockpit and the complete joinery of the interior, was a far more labor and time intensive task than the fiberglass hull and deck.
Although the thick roll of Alden building plans were specific, the styles of the different yards as well as the skills of each experienced finisher, were unique. The result: No two Alden Challengers are alike.
Interesting data from Saildata: In 1961, LeComte-Holland moved into fiberglass construction exclusively, starting with the Medalist 33 sloop, followed in 1962 with the North East 38 sloop/yawl.
