Our Boats

Magic

The flagship vessel of the KCSC fleet of boat, the 1968 Hughes sailboat “Magic” was donated in the winter of 2009 by Earl Lourcey for use by the KCSC. This boat is used by both the KCSC organization for classes as well as by Kenosha Yacht Club members for weekly club sailing and actively races around Lake Michigan.

The company that produces Hughes sail boats, Hughes Boat Works, was founded in Willowdale, Ontario, Canada in 1963 by brothers Howard and Peter Hughes. Originally, the company produced 8′-16′ dinghies.

In 1965, Hughes began producing the H24, H27, and H38, their first racing boats.

Many of the Hughes boats were designed or co-designed by Sparkman and Stephens. Sparkman and Stephens has over 2,600 designs in pleasure, commercial and military crafts. Sailing yachts remain the most well known branch of their empire. Many of these have been featured winners in the America’s Cup, Fastnet and Sydney to Hobart races.

Howard Hughes prided himself on the quality and craftsmanship of all the models of Hughes sail boats building with the principles of the “no compromise ‘Proper Yacht Method'”. The Hughes sail boats were built to last throughout the ages with top of the line materials of the highest quality.

All of the Hughes boats were built to be cutting edge in style and sophistication and well as speed and luxury. The phrase “interiors are our ‘thing'”, coined by Howard Hughes, was used to describe the comfort and workability of the Hughes interior. Howard Hughes felt that safety on board one of his vessels was not something to put a price tag on, and he did not believe in passing on the price of those “little extras” to the customer.

After selling the company in 1969, Howard Hughes bought back the then named Northstar Yachts, Ltd. in 1977 and renamed it Hughes Boat Works, Inc. Once again, in 1980, Hughes sold the company, this time to Aura Yachts. He would decide for the final time in 1986 to reclaim ownership of his beloved enterprise.

In 1991, the Hughes factory in Orangeville, Ontario was destroyed by a devastating fire. Since then, Hughes Boat Works has been out of production.

Use of KCSC boats by KYC members and KCSC students

KCSC has the following boats available

  • Magic, 38 ft Hughes keel boat
  • Senior Moments, __ ft keel boat
  • Rhodes, 19 ft keel boat
  • 5 open bics
  • 5 Vanguard Optimas
  • 4 420s
  • 5 Hartleys
  • 1 buccaneer

Who may use the boats?

To use a keel boat the individual must have the following:

  • Be a member of KYC
  • Have a current skipper rating provided by one of the KCSC Dock masters
  • Have completed the 12 hours of the KYC’s club participation program within the last 12 months.

To use the center board boats the individual must have the following:

  • Be a member of KYC who has completed the 12 hours of the KYC’s club participation program within the last 12 months or be a student of the KCSC for the current season
  • Have a current dingy skipper rating provided by one of the KCSC Dock masters or Instructors,

When can boats be checked out?

  • Keel boats can be checked out after receiving in person, email or text approval from the Dock master. The boat is checked out for a two hour period which may be extended by the Dock master.
  • Center board boats may only be checked out when a Dock master. is physically present on the KCSC dock.
  • Boats cannot leave the dock until the Dock master. grants approval.
  • The KCSC will endeavor to make a Dock master available for the centerboard boats at predetermined times such as Tuesday evenings or Saturday morning. Please refer to web pages for specific times.

How does one go about checking out one of the boats?

  1. Contact your instructor of one of the KCSC Dock masters. to obtain your rating. The rating will indicate what boats you can take out under what weather conditions and to which areas of the Lake. (See KCSC or KYC web page for contact information for the Dock masters.)
  2. Complete the following paperwork:
  • KCSC Sailboat Check Out Policy
  • Waiver
  • Check out Sheet
  • Sail plan if leaving the turning basin

What does one need to do upon returning the boat to dock?

  • Be sure the boat is properly derigged and stored
  • Check in with the Dock master.
  • If returning a keel boat and the Dock master is not present the skipper will need to complete the checkout paperwork with the time returned to dock.