An Able Outboard Designed for Fishing

This design is an answer to a great number of people who stopped at the booth of MoToR BoatinG during the Motor Boat Show in January. The wants of these boating men centered in a hull of simple design which might be planked with waterproof plywood, and which could be built, with the tools usually possessed by the amateur boatbuilder. Furthermore the construction should be plain and straightforward, no compound curved surfaces, and a minimum of planking seams with, if possible, no seam battens.

Our subject this month is a V-bottom model having an overall length of 16 feet; a water line length of 14 feet, 6 inches; a breadth of 5 feet, 3 inches; and a draft (hull only) of 9 1/2 inches. The freeboard at the bow is 2 feet, 1 1/2 inches, and the freeboard at the stern 1 foot, 6 inches. It will be seen from these dimensions that the new outboarder is of very nice proportions and a chunky little craft as well. She has a far more lively sheer than many outboard boats, a wholesome sweep for the length of her chines and keel, and pleasing over-hangs. If this boat, Walter Piel, is built in exact conformity to the plans and description set down here she will be one of those boats, so few and far between, which you will be most reluctant to dispose of.

Here is a useful and seaworthy outboard motor boat. This is not a hull designed for fast going but rather for those modest speeds required for fishing, camping-out and other utilitarian purposes. In this it is a departure from the wide and flat sterned models. The latter, naturally, have important uses for racing and other services where speed and time saved are the first considerations. At speeds up to and including 11 miles an hour this latest design for MoToR BoatinG, which by the way is our 603rd design, will produce an exceptionally able little boat and one which will do well with modest power. I would not advise using a motor on this boat of much over 8 h.p.; more power than this will result in but little more speed and will raise the bow and pull down the stern.

The drawings include two arrangements for the outboard profile and deck plan of this latest member of the family. One of these shows what the trade might well call a Deluxe Model, this one having a handsome flash of color extending for two-thirds of its length as shown. Make this black on white, red on yellow, yellow on blue or some matched colors to suit one's fancy. Years ago when we built boats this flash of color would have been gold leaf on black; a few dollars would have purchased all the leaf required with enough left over to letter in the name on the stern. The so called Deluxe Model is properly decked and is arranged to carry coamings, mooring bitt, bow chock and, if you wish, flag staffs. Seating is for four with thwart somewhat forward of amidships and stern sheets aft.