The Boat
The Rhodes Reliant and the Cheoy Lee Offshore 40 were built in Hong Kong by Cheoy Lee Shipyards. About 150 of these near-identical sisterships were built between 1963 and 1976. Visit the Rhodes Reliant and Offshore 40 home page for detailed information about these yachts. Maintained by sistership owner Ben Stavis, this site has been an invaluable resource to over 100 sistership owners.
This photo shows Muritai (a 1967 Offshore 40) in Hong Kong being loaded for delivery to the U.S. (Click on photo to enlarge.)
This photo is a 1968 advertisement for three Cheoy Lee models, including the Offshore 40.
In the 60s , the price of a new Rhodes Reliant or Offshore 40 (RR/O40) was about $25,000. You can still buy a RR/O40 for $25,000, but she will require an extensive refit to approximate her original form. A properly restored RR/O40, on the other hand, demands top dollar. [A perfectly restored Offshore 40 (Jilasi) is currently listed at $800,000.] Ben’s site has a good summary of the current market for our boats and shows some current listings.
If you own a Cheoy Lee, then you should join the Cheoy Lee Association. Membership is free, and they may be able to provide parts or helpful information as you maintain your boat, and they might even send you a free hat.
The following images make up the original brochure for the Cheoy Lee Offshore 40:
Trish
03/03/2014 — 7:33 pm
Love the old advertisement. When you were looking at buying Thalassa, did you know you wanted a Cheoy Lee, or did you stumble upon it?
Mike
03/04/2014 — 4:46 pm
Trish, I knew that I wanted a 40-foot yawl that had the classic lines of a Hinckley Bermuda 40. I identified the Cheoy Lee Offshore 40 and the Block Island 40 as two candidates.
Jamie verdi
05/08/2016 — 2:58 pm
Good to see you Mike,
Can’t wait to get her in the water and make her go!
Jamie
Mike
05/22/2016 — 10:47 pm
Thanks, Jamie! It’ll have been 6-7 years out of the water.
Jamie
07/02/2016 — 1:42 am
Newport to Bermuda 2020, hurry up!
David M Epstein
07/03/2018 — 4:08 am
She looks great.
I am in the same boat so to say. Calypso a 1966 Rhodes Reliant Yawl has is just coming up on 5 years of restoration ( I have had her for 29 years). I was very lucky to have the guys from small craft at the Navel Academy who have retired refit the boat from stem to stern. Newport to Bermuda in 2020 looks possible. Looking for a goose neck fitting for the mizzen which must be hiding in a box. Would also like to replace my turning check blocks if anyone has any.
Bob Poindexter
10/22/2018 — 5:26 pm
This is a great site. Your massive overhaul is inspiring. I am slowly upgrading a similar Offshore 40, Moshulu, that I have owned for the last seven years. This winter I am replacing the ports with stainless opening port lights from New Found Metals.
Mike
10/22/2018 — 5:55 pm
Thank you, Bob. Someday I will replace my fixed ports with opening ports, but for now I’m devoting my resources toward what will get me sailing in the least amount of time. Keep in touch.