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March 3, 2017 By Jack Griffin 11 Comments

1950’s Foiling Sailboat “Monitor”

Gordon Baker developed and tested Monitor in the 1950’s. Monitor could get up on the foils in about 13 knots of wind and sail at about twice the true wind speed. Top speed was reported at over 30 knots, with some reports claiming 40 knots. At 40 knots, cavitation would probably have set in.

Monitor is on display at the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Virginia.

Gordon Baker's Monitor hydrofoil monohull sailboat for US Navy
Monitor hydrofoil monohull sailboat

 

 

Gordon Baker's Monitor hydrofoil monohull sailboat for US Navy
Monitor hydrofoil monohull sailboat

 

Gordon Baker's Monitor hydrofoil monohull sailboat for US Navy
Monitor sailboat stern hydrofoil

 

Gordon Baker's Monitor hydrofoil monohull sailboat for US Navy
Monitor cockpit hydrofoil controls. Hand cranks on port and starboard to lower the hydrofoils after launching, and then to control the angle of incidence. The wooden lever and metal rod in the center control the vang and traveller assembly.

 

Gordon Baker's Monitor hydrofoil monohull sailboat for US Navy
Detail of Monitor hydrofoil control

 

Gordon Baker's Monitor hydrofoil monohull sailboat for US Navy
Vang and traveller on Monitor hydrofoil sailboat

 

Gordon Baker's Monitor hydrofoil monohull sailboat for US Navy rendering with wingsails
Rendering of  second generation Monitor hydrofoil sailboat with wingsails

 

Wingsail for Gordon Baker's Monitor hydrofoil monohull sailboat for US Navy
Wingsail for Monitor hydrofoil sailboat awaiting restoration at Mariners’ Museum.

Comments

  1. RAYMOND L SCHULER says

    August 25, 2019 at 03:41

    History Always Repeats. Its Like Inventing a New and Better Clothes Peg.

    Reply
    • Jack Griffin says

      June 13, 2020 at 15:59

      It’s hard to be truly original!

      Reply
  2. Pierre Terrien says

    August 25, 2019 at 15:06

    Soo interesting!

    Reply
    • Jack Griffin says

      June 13, 2020 at 15:58

      Glad you enjoyed reading about Monitor!

      Reply
  3. Gordon Howlett says

    August 26, 2019 at 09:38

    What a great mind.

    Reply
    • Jack Griffin says

      June 13, 2020 at 15:58

      Nothing new under the sun! 🙂

      Reply
  4. John Greeve says

    August 26, 2019 at 11:51

    Wow never heard of this before . So did the hydrofoil wing actually get used ?

    Reply
    • Jack Griffin says

      June 13, 2020 at 15:57

      The Monitor sailboat project was transitioned to a motorboat. 🙁

      Reply
  5. judi online domino 99 says

    May 16, 2020 at 18:59

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  6. flying surfboard says

    August 11, 2021 at 13:57

    Thank you very much for the information provided! I was looking for this data for a long time, but I was not able to find a trusted source.

    Reply
  7. Phillip Dickey says

    January 8, 2023 at 18:52

    We need to explore the possibility of retrofitting moderate displacement monohulls for cruising and racing. Apparently it has been researched but I know of no cruising boat sailing with them. Thanks for this nice article and great pics.
    Phil Dickey

    Reply

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