Sergeant Faunce built four boats from my designs in as many parts of the world and in recognition of his friendship and loyalty to my designs it seems appropriate to name a boat for him. Thus we have, Sergeant Faunce. The over all length of the baby of the family is 25 feet, water line length, 24 feet, breadth, 4 feet 8 inches, and draft 11 inches. The freeboard at the bow is 2 feet 5 inches, the least freeboard 1 foot 7 inches, and the freeboard at the stern 1 foot 9 inches. We all have become so accustomed to short, wide and high boats that a divergence from this practice is startling. There is a lot to be said for narrow beamed boats of all types and a sprinkling of these among our anchorages will lend interest and individuality to the pastime of boating.
The deck plan shows a long cockpit slightly forward of amidships. This is 8 feet 9 inches by 3 feet 6 inches wide. There are two thwarts spaced for giving plenty of room for feet and legs. The boat will be steered by a side lever, the steering lines extending completely around the cockpit. The motor is installed beneath a sliding hatch in the long after deck. This hatchway has double doors which, when opened, give free access to the motor space. The motor specified is a single cylinder 8 horse power Universal Fisherman equipped with clutch and reverse gear; but not with electric starter. Fitted with impulse magneto this motor is very easy to start by hand. The Fisherman has a cylinder displacement of 67.6 cubic inches and so is not a weak little machine. It will turn a two blade 10 inch diameter by 16 inches pitch propeller in this boat at approximately 1,200 turns a minute and the speed of Sergeant Faunce will be very close to 15.5 miles an hour.
The long decks both ends provide plenty of dry stowage room for clothes, sleeping bag, cushions, food, and all the other odds and ends required for day or over night cruising. Fitted with a mellon spray hood and a cover over the after end of the cockpit the boat would be a cozy abode in which to spend a few days afloat.
The lines show a dainty V bottom Seabright skiff. The useful flat double-ended bottom or keel, veed bottom sections, long flat buttock lines, moulded topsides, with plenty of flare and flam, tucked in stern with anti-trip characteristics all contributing to the speed, dryness, ability, and comfort of the little boat. Hulls like this do not pound in a head sea and do not yaw wildly when running off the wind. Another advantage of the type is that the propeller shaft has very little angle, a feature which contributes to easy steering, perfect maneuverability, and excellent steerage way when going astern. If you expect to get the most but of Sergeant Faunce do not alter the spacing between the propeller post, the propeller or the rudder and use a light pattern bronze stuffing box outside the propeller post precisely as shown on the plans. While on the subject of "alterations and changes" dismiss the urge to improve the design or construction and by this constraint produce a successful asset; not a disappointing liability. How many of the latter there are! So, shipmates, do not alter the plans and spoil the boat.
