The Hurricane 19 was constructed of moulded plywood, had an open cockpit and was initially built by the Allied Aviation Corporation.

Marscot Plastics used one of the wooden Smyrnas as a plug to build a mold from and created a fiberglass version, which became the Rhodes 19.

The hull has a raked stem, a plumb transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed fin keel or centerboard.

[1][4] The design has sleeping accommodation for two people in the cuddy cabin and includes a built-in icebox.

It is equipped with a stern-mounted mainsheet traveler, adjustable jib leads and foam flotation for safety.