Wild Duck is 32 feet 7 inches over all; 30 feet 9 inches on the waterline; 10 feet 6 inches in breadth; and 6 feet draft. It will be seen from this that the overhang forward is only 6 inches; aft only 16 inches. The body plan shows wholesome sections with ample flare. The keel is long and has little drag. There is generous freeboard without too much sheer. A short-ended hull having a bold sheer line appears too much like a chopping bowl. If you must have a lot of sweep in the sheer line have it in combination with a model carrying much longer overhangs than Wild Duck's. High ends are not always desirable, naturally cause excess windage, and with moderate heights forward and aft combined with a bold sheer line the freeboard amidships is likely to be insufficient. The lead keel weighs 8,650 pounds, and there must be another 2,000 pounds of inside ballast. Boats of short overhang model require rather more ballast in proportion to their displacement than boats having overhangs. This is because the long overhang model carries a good piece of her constructional weight in her deck and ends above the water line; while the short-ended models have comparatively little weight in decks and overhangs.

The motor, a Red Wing 8-10 h.p. two cylinder slow-speed type, is installed under the cockpit and bridge deck. The shaft line is absolutely parallel to the water line; however the flywheel end of the motor is splayed to the port side. Having the propeller in the center line of the boat this side splay corrects the action of the torque of the propeller. It is this torque that always causes the bow to work off in an opposite direction to that in which the propeller revolves. Gasoline tanks are fitted on the cockpit floor. These are covered by the side seats.