1966 43 ft Ted Hood Auxiliary Racing Sloop
Siren Song For Sale - Price Reduced - $39,000
1966 43 ft Ted Hood Auxiliary Racing Sloop
Siren Song - Back Story
In the 60’s Ted Hood was one of the most prominent figures in sailing…owner of the world’s largest sail loft (Hood Sails), involved in a number of America’s Cup campaigns, and he was starting Little Harbor Yachts.
Over the years he had a series of personal racing boats named “Robin.” This 1966 Auxiliary Racing Sloop was originally intended to be his next Robin when Joseph Wright Sr, Commodore of the Chicago Yacht Club, bought it while in build in the Maas Yards in Breskens, Holland. Commodore Wright brought Siren Song to Lake Michigan where it was raced for a number of years.
In 1974 Siren Song came to Lake Superior, Bayfield, WI where it has resided since.
I chatted with Dieter Empacher (head designer) and Ted Hood when I purchased her…and both clearly recalled Siren Song and some very specific details.
I have had the pleasure of being Siren Song’s caretaker since 2010 enjoying her around the Apostle Islands and more broadly on western Lake Superior.
While I have done some selected racing (both solo and crewed) over the years…most of the time I have sailed her solo and have found her to have a comfortable motion, excellent sailing manners on all points of sail and forgiving in some of the challenging conditions Lake Superior can provide.
At anchor she is very comfortable…standing headroom throughout and presently set up to sleep five with three other berths converted for storage. Oil burning Welsh mining lamps and a fireplace (yes) create a welcoming salon and take the edge off early and late season chills.
Siren Song is old school sailing…classic CCA overhangs fore and aft, Corten steel hull with mahogany cabin top and teak decks. Head sails are hank-on and the numerous winches are manual, with cockpit winches being two-speed.
Comfortable aft cockpit provides lots of seating options, a great views of entire boat while sailing and room to socialize while underway or at anchor.
Siren Song's Photo Gallery
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Additional details
1966 Ted Hood Auxiliary Racing Sloop
Sails
Hood Main sail (jiffy with 2 reef points with 4 partial battens) in very good condition
Hood primary head sails (miter cut):
- 3 - # 1 genoas - Light / Medium / Heavy
- #3 Genoa
- Drifter
- Reacher
- Working Jib
3 - Hood Symmetrical Spinnakers - Light / Medium / Heavy
Hood Storm Jib
2- Storms mains (1 Hood)
Numerous stay sails
2 other original Hood main sails (boom roller furling)
2- Line/SS wire in-mast head sail halyards
Spinnaker halyard
Boom topping lift
Spinnaker pole track on mast
Spinnaker pole topping lift
Two reefing lines with winch on boom.
Engine
Marinized Starrett (Ford 590E) 330FD 6-cyl diesel (approx 90 HP)
Velvet Drive Transmission
85 gallon fuel tank
Racor 75500MAX fuel filter
Electronics
12 Volt DC
30A shore power / Separate 110V panel with interior GFCI outlets
Battery Charger
Wind Instruments - B&G Focus Series
Autohelm - Raymarine ST7000
Standard Horizon VHF Radio with RAM in cockpit
All LED lighting interior/exterior
2 - Group 27 Starting batteries
2 - Group 27 House batteries
Galley/Accommodations
Original (massive) ice box used as pantry
Additional icebox added to left of galley sink
210 gallon freshwater tank with Jabsco pump
3M filtered drinking water faucet
Heritage Gimble Pressurized Alcohol 3-burner stovetop and oven
Originally set up to sleep 8, but 3 berths converted for storage (cushions included)
2 - V-berths in forward cabin (with sink)
2 - pullout settee berths in main cabin
1 - pilot berth
Drop leaf table (with wine storage) in main cabin
Numerous cabinets and drawer throughout.
Head includes:
- Manual Raritan marine toilet (holding tank approx 18 gal)
- Vanity
- Shower
- Lots of storage
Other
Bauer 8 sailing dinghy (with sail, rudder and mast/boom)
Windvane self-steering - Aries Lift-off model
Fortress FX-37 anchor - 30ft of chain and (about) 100 ft of rode (and additional backup rode 100 ft)
Very unique stainless-steel foil-shaped shrouds
New spreaders and shroud turnbuckles (2022)
Original blueprints for boat signed by Dieter Empacher
Siren Song
Other Specs
LOA: 43'
Beam: 12'
LWL: 31'
Draft: 6'7"
Displacement: 24,800 lbs
Ballast: 7,700
Bridge Clearence: 55'
Hardware
Cockpit:
- 2 #16 Barient 2-speed winches
- 2 #22 Barient 2-speed winches
- 2 #30 Barient 2-speed winches
- Traveler
- Custom wrapped wheel
- Barient backstay adjuster
- Heavy genoa sheets for #1 / #3 headsails
- Heavy Working Jib sheets
- Light sheets for light sails and spinnakers
- Snatch / turning blocks along toe rail
- Stowable aluminum swim ladder
- Dock line storage in fantail
- Fender and line storage in cockpit locker
- Emergency tiller
Cabin:
- Brass Barometer/Chronometer
- Cast iron Simpson & Lawrence fireplace (custom locally source tile facing) mounted into forward bulkhead.
- Double drop leaf table in salon with wine storage.
- Numerous storage options throughout cabin
Other odds and ends
- Deck mounted spinnaker pole
- Rail mounted propane grill (propane storage on stern rail)
- Adjustable spinnaker track on mast
- Mast has 3- Barient 1-speed winches / 1 #2 Trident winch for stainless steel main halyard
- All LED lighting including light sensitive anchor (masthead) light.
- Dorade vents for head and main cabin
- VC17 Bottom paint
- Whale bilge pump and float switch / auto and manual control
- Anchor locker in foredeck
- 8 jackstands
- Lifesling MOB
- Horseshoe floats
- Very retro boom tent - totally 1960's harvest gold with fringe
About Us
I have thoroughly enjoyed my 14 years with Siren Song. She has been a wonderful companion over thousands of miles of sailing on Lake Superior, and at anchor as a great place to relax and host friends.
Times change and interests change...it is now an opportunity for new owners who will appreciate the unique sailing experience she is and to enjoy what she has to offer.