Richard Valdes
June 2, 2009 by Chris Wethered
Filed under Trailerable Sailboats
It started at college
Canoes to Columbia! Richard Valdes has achieved indeed. From a senior project at UCLA to helping build a business valued in the hundreds of millions.
Dick attended UCLA on a naval scholarship. His senior project becoming his first business. After securing a deal from Sears to produce fiberglass canoes, the business expanded into fiberglass caravan shells.
The enterprise grew to become Glass Marine Industries. Boats were sold under the name Columbia.The Columbia 50 hailed the change in name from Glass Marine Industries to Columbia. The 50 became synonymous with the classic style, comfort and race performance associated with today’s Columbias.
Despite being seized upon by the corporations Dickie maintained great design
Along came
The Whittaker Group approached him in the late sixties with a proposition. As the largest fiberglass boat producer, Whittaker wanted to buy the operation including his expertise to set up its own marine group. For five years he helped set up Whittaker Marine Group.
A busy time
In 1972 he left the group to set up Lancer Yachts. Whittaker Marine Group went on to become Bertram yachts. In 1982 he left Lancer Yachts to set up Endeavor Yachts, which closed in 1989. At this point his son Vince was ready to take on the family interest in Columbia once more.
From the background set out above it is not surprising that Vince has taken his Dad on board to help with the operation. In 1994 the Columbia 30 has unveiled. Read more here
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Columbia Yachts
June 2, 2009 by Chris Wethered
Filed under Trailerable Sailboats
Developed by Richard Valdes, Columbia Yachts sold thirty thousand through the sixties and seventies.
The class above
The classic design features and construction are the bench mark in todays vessels. Headed up by Dickies son Vincent the company has a strong family aspect.
The customers needs are met through practicality and excitement onboard. Innovation is key for the new generation of builds. Materials, techniques and engineering combine to out perform similar or larger vessels on the water.
Planing hull: the revolution
In 1994 the Columbia 30 was unveiled at the Annapolis Boat show. What sets the 30 apart from other yachts is it’s planing hull.
Displacement yachts are restricted to the theoretical maximum (TM) speed. As the hull moves through the water, a wave is created, bow and stern. Due to drag factors and hull / keel design the boat won’t be able to go faster than the TM.
Increases theoretical maximum
A planing hull acts differently at that point.
As the wave develops, the hull lifts up onto the wave which increases the TM considerably. This is possible as the keel offers significantly less resistance to the water. It is a spar keel with a streamlined bulb at the bottom.
Down wind, full tilt!
Rare mainsail design
The mainsail has a flat top. This is equivalent in design to the wing of an aircraft. Giving better performance through less resistance offered. This benefits the speed of the boat in low winds. In higher winds more so. Columbia yachts are designed from bullet shaped ballast keel at the end of the spar fin, through to the carbonized mast and spars, to handle the extra load. The 30 is a high breed sports boat!
Telescopic bowsprite
Asymmetric kites are standard and less hassle than managing a spinnaker pole. Due to the telescopic bow sprite, you can enjoy the advantage of more spinnaker area, which powers up the boat to plane on down wind sailing. Fifteen knots is not unexpected on these legs!
And trailerable
What is astonishing about this performance – cruising yacht is the foldaway ability to trail her. The keel fin is retractable from 7′ to 2′ 8″. The mast is raised and lowered by standard winches and a bridle. Not only can you be the quickest boat in the class, but also you can pack her away and bring her on holiday! Home from home in style! Finally there is no back stay. Instead the rig tension is adjusted having very swept spreaders.
It is true to say that Richard Valdes brings the classic design whilst son vince provides cutting edge innovation. Bringing the vessels screaming into the twenty First century!
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