The original Teak Lady was designed by Ted Kilkenny for his nephew in the mid-1930’s and resembled the 23-foot San Francisco Bay Bear Boat but 6 feet shorter and proportionately heavier, with a deeper full keel and a taller rig.
The Teak Lady proved herself so well against other Bay boats that soon outside orders were placed.
A brightly varnished Teak Lady was displayed at the 1937 World Expo/Fair on Treasure Island, and before the fair closed, fourteen new Teak Ladies were ordered. By 1940 the 17’3″ Teak Lady was an official San Francisco Bay racing class.
More fame came to the Teak Lady class in the 1940’s. A young couple sailed from Monterey, California to Hawaii, then to the South Pacific, logging 8,000 nautical miles. At that time she was the smallest boat to cross the Pacific Ocean.
If you know of any of the Teak Lady Class still afloat we would love to hear from you.
