Preview: The Joy of Having a Boat Built: An Outboard Cruiser Takes Shape

41 Responses So Far to “The Joy of Having a Boat Built: An Outboard Cruiser Takes Shape”

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  Tom Reinecker says:

  Was at the Wooden Boat School several years ago to learn stitch and glue construction style and enjoyed every minute of it. I had been looking at Chesapeake Bay Deadrises as a potential retirement project but when I saw Doug Hylan’s Bowler Design, I was captivated. I ordered the plans and, as an architect, was impressed with the detail. I’ll start construction this fall. Thank you for a perfectly proportioned, shallow draft, outboard powered piece of art.

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  Graham Colville says:

  Excellent.

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  Jeff Patrick says:

  Now that both Bagatelle and sister ship Skye have some miles under their keels, it would be great to hear how well they’ve been received. Can either owners or Doug Hylan comment?

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    Doug Hylan says:

    I am a bit biased on this subject, so I better let the skipper’s comments prevail. That said, we have put a good number of miles on these boat ourselves, including Ellery’s trip to the Mystic, CT boat show and several crossings of Penobscot Bay. Also, the original TOP HAT, launched as PAGAN has been around for many years, and I have had good feedback from both of her owners. I know that two or three other boats to these designs have been built, including one at the Northwest School of Boatbuilding. Last summer we launched yet another iteration of this hull, GATSBY, with a sheer height halfway between TOP HAT and BOWLER, and a different accommodation plan.

    This hull is well proven. The debate seems to be whether or not to mount the motor in a well, or put it on the transom, with good arguements on both sides. Interestingly, the preference often seems to be determined by whether the skipper came from a sailing or a power boating background.

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      Jeff Patrick says:

      Thank you, Doug. Of course you are excused your bias. You should be very proud of this design. That said, I would be greatly interested in hearing some comments by the owners/skippers of the boats. I suppose I’m mostly interested for the sake of my dear crew. She can accommodate movement in a boat but not in excess. I want to be as confident about the boat as I can before I commit.

      I have the set of plans for Bowler and am diligently studying them. I love everything about the boat. The amount and type of accommodation is just right and the idea of secluding the noise making outboard is spot on. The relatively low power requirement Bowler has is highly desirable for me.

      Many thanks to anyone who can shed more information.

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    Robert Whitehouse says:

    I built the 3rd Bowler as an amateur builder. Tip Your Cap is built strictly to Doug’s design with only a few cosmetic and materials exceptions. The Bowler hull rides well in almost all seas. The low weight and the high reserve buoyancy forward makes her ride through high waves and stay dry. I have been in some pretty rough water between Casco and Penobscot bays. Someone asked me how she behaves when a wave breaks over the bow. I had to respond that I had no idea because even a 7′ wave failed to do so. Head on seas and quartering seas are really no problem as long as you have your feet well apart. The chines are fairly hard aft and fight the roll- she has a 3:1 length to beam ratio.
    Following seas are a different story with the semi-displacement hull. It depends on the size and spacing of the seas. Sometimes I slow down, and sometimes I speed up. The skegs on either side of the motor keep the stern from slipping too much. I may lengthen them and make them a bit taller this winter if the snow gets too deep.
    I have almost 1,000 miles under the hull now, and I simply love this boat. She is perfect.

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      Montaigne says:

      “I have almost 1,000 miles under the hull now, and I simply love this boat. She is perfect.”

      Several years later, I am wondering: is this still the general assessment? I am taking a close look at this boat for my next build. To my eyes a very beautiful and functional boat.

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  Eric J Nelson says:

  As a person with an inboard 20 hp sailboat engine with bad transmission, I have spent 6 weeks wanting to leave the dock. If I had an outboard it would be done weeks ago. Im done with inboards, nothing like leaving cutlass bearings, engine alignments, engine mounts, and the soreness of contorting myself into horrible spaces while lifting heavy pieces of cast metal and jiggling bolts just before they fall into oily disgusting bilge water. Curse words do not begin to describe the joy of outboards!!

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  Neil Thompson says:

  I go along with the writer who said on the west coast we all seem to favor outboards on a bracket aft of the transom. The step each side of the outboard is excellent for both mounting a small tender, and, as a swim grid. Perhaps this is due to our coast from the San juans
  To alaska, favorite nightly tieups are in some undevelopedcove, ideal swimming and playing, and then exploring with the dinghy. A well takes up 25-35% of what could be the total cockpit space. This superb design would be better adapted to the west coast if another model adapted.

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  Allan Horton says:

  The Bagatelle most likely is the boat I would prefer for inland cruising in Southwest Florida. Her accommodation plan is excellent and her outboard power offers the best combination I can think of for reasonable speed plus shoal water access. We are beginning the process of selling the farm (true story), upon completion of which I may be contacting you.

  Nearly 20 years ago I bought a wooden 34-ft Chesapeake deadrise in St. Michaels, Md. and drove her home to Sarasota on her own bottom. She performed perfectly then and for the following 10 years and I miss her something terrible, but life and two kids in college at the same time intervened, and she had to go to another good home.

  I believe Bagatelle could refill the hole in my heart and my life.

  Once the ranch has found a new and appropriate owner, I may be contacting you in more serious terms. And, like I did with the deodorize, I would plan to drive her home – on her own bottom. I’ll keep you posted.

  Allan Horton
  Sarasota, Florida

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    Doug Hylan says:

    Hi Allan, My partner, Ellery Brown, brought our second Bowler, SKYE, down to the WoodenBoat Show in Mystic on her own bottom. Not quite the same as a voyage from Brooklin to Sarasota, but a good warm up!

    Hope you find a good buyer for the farm, and we get to help you make this trek someday.
    Doug Hylan

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  Neil Thompson says:

  Here on the N.W coast of America, the outboard is usually proudly mounted in plain view, and the extra four feet saved in the cockpit space is gigantic, maybe over 30 sq. ft. Swim grids aid in dingy mounting, dismounting, boarding after a swim,and sometimes storage.and in man overboard rescues. A tiny woodburner heater would give perfect comfort all fall and winter . ( the “sardine” measures 12by12by11″) This boat is trailerable. This. Design is a real keeper, lovely to live with, will be a classic.

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  George Weinbrenner says:

  Beautiful how she rides her lines.

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  Ramon L. Cosme says:

  very impressive I just look at few things do to time but at first glance I observed the treasure of knowledge and the ability to search and familiarize yourself with the type on information you want.
  I am a retired Army SSGT…..with 17.5 years of military aviation background and now that the kids came out of collage I want to go back to a regular routine….fishing camping you name it….so it is in my mind to build a pontoon boat or small plywood boat that I and my wife can enjoy without been paying for it until we die……you know what I mean with that!!!!
  thank you for invite me in…….and thank you for shinning the light of knowledge on boating…….RAMON

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  Georg Hinteregger says:

  Thanks Doug and Ellery. Don’t know how I missed this video when it was first posted. The sublime paint job (what shade of green is that?), her sweet curves, the elliptical portholes…her pedigree, and above all her quiet demeanor…
  But a boat being a thing between wind and water how is she in the wind? Is there room for a stick and spanker? Some way to make her go when the gas runs out or the fuel filter clogs–some way to make her go under jib and jigger?

  To stumble across a video like this on a do-nothing cold Winter morning is why I love OCH.
  My wife calls it, “Social media for wooden boat geezers.”

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  Martin Lunde says:

  I do not mind the appearance of the newer outboards and their very quiet operation. So I would like to trade a transom hung outboard for additional cockpit space. Are there any significant issues in doing this? I would use a splash well to maintain seaworthiness.

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    Doug Hylan says:

    Appearance and extra quietness are the main benifits of the well, and this design also has a radiused transom, the effect of which would be partially obsured by a transom mounted motor. These features do add an extra measure of complication to the construction, however,

    A transom mounted motor would certainly simplify thing, in addition to giving some extra space in the boat. The weight of the motor would be further aft, but this would be largely offset by the extra buoyancy of the filled-in well. A splash well would be an important safety feature.

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  David Kent says:

  As always wonderful job on the video, OCH.

  Hylan Boat Builders offers a wealth of custom design and construction expertise under one roof. So easy to work with professionals like Doug and Ellery. Looking forward to taking delivery of hull #2, “Skye” next month.

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    Steve Stone says:

    Lucky boy, David. We’ve been watching her come together down at the yard. Be sure to venture over to Vinalhaven on a warm day this summer in Skye, and swim in the quarries.

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    David Jeffery says:

    David: Please take and post as many photos and videos of your new boat as will satisfy us fans. (They won’t be enough.) Also, if there are notable changes to the details of construction, power, layout, storage of gear and gas, or anything else that departs from Bagatelle’s set up, please send them along. Or have OCH post them. Thanks. David J.

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  Robert Baird says:

  I have worked with Doug and his team on my boat projects for many years and have come to cherish the relationship, one for which I am extremely grateful! Their work is exceptional. Nothing brings more satisfaction than to work closely with the designer builder and traditional craftsmen to create your dreams. My hats of to Doug and Elery and their amazing crew for a job well done! Thanks to OCH for telling the story and congratulations to the new owners of Bagatelle on an amazing cruiser and having the vision to keep a tradition alive!

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  David Jeffery says:

  My new fantasy boat. All other astern.

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  Geoff Kerr says:

  What a brilliant project on every front. Cheers to all involved!

  I cruised the Atlantic for three years back when I was a baby Coast Guard ship driver, logging some 30,000 miles at twelve knots. Believe me, that is plenty fast enough to screw up! On the plus side, it is also plenty fast enough to range far and wide. We of the illuminati know there should be a dozen of these in every harbor.

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  Bob Peterson says:

  In ballpark terms, what does a wonderful boat like this cost?

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    William Sanchez says:

    What does a cruiser boat like the Bagatelle cost and can the design be reduced to 21’ to better navigate inland lake cruising

    William Sanchez Jr.

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  Eigil Rothe says:

  Wow. Wonderful design. I hope there will be more videos of this boat moving through the water.

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  Mason Dyer says:

  I love this design, Doug what plan you did on this one

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  Michael Owen says:

  What a wonderful sweet spot you three have hit, on many levels! Lovely design and construction. Just-right size and accommodations. Congratulations to all involved.
  Thanks to OCH for the video, which is also lovely.

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  Robert Wilkinson says:

  Just for the record, I noted that you said that the original Top Hat named Pagan has no accommodations. I own the boat and can confirm that Pagan actually has two nice sized bunks in the cabin area. Pagan is a wonderful boat and very seaworthy. Doug has done a great service to the boating community in designing and building these boats. Thanks too to William Hand and to Harry Bryan for the continued inspiration.

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  Denis Noble says:

  What a joy to see this boat alive on the water. It was about one year ago that I called in to your’ workshop Doug, and you kindly allowed me to do some little paintings. I’m sure it was this boat that was under construction in the shop at the time. I was keen to chat to your staff about it, because I was about to embark on a very similar project here in Bridgewater, South Australia. My boat, “Hughie” after my late father, is being built as we speak in my shed at home. Hughie is slightly smaller, and based on a design for a 20′-0″ launch by David Payne. Can’t wait to get her finished and on the waters of the River Murray. Thanks Doug, for your hospitality and for adding to our wonderful week in Brooklin.

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  Edward Buckner says:

  When I saw this boat on Doug’s website, I immediately showed it to my wife and declared that if I had the space and money, I would build this boat. I am currently well along on the construction of a SkiffAmerica 20, which I hope fills a lot of the same goals that was set for Bagetelle, but on a smaller scale. And, if I hadn’t already spent good money on Honduras Mohogany, I would go with something like douglas fir and go with the all painted workboat finish that is on this boat. Absolutely beautiful!

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  Russ Manheimer says:

  Fine job folks. What a delightful boat and so very tempting. Perfect for post Sjogin (sailing) pottering about.

  Great paint scheme as well.

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  Fraser Robidoux says:

  Stunning video, a really nice design, very nice workmanship and materials.

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  Christopher Chadbourne says:

  What a fine video! I especially liked the discussion about the value of drawings. I think we’ve lost something when a boating magazine advertises a brace of new boats without ever presenting an inboard profile or a set of sections.

  Perhaps the time is coming when lines plans, profile, plan view and sections drawings will be preserved and passed along as art?

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  Timothy Dalton says:

  William Atkin’s Ninigret is similar semi-displacement concept with an otboard in a well, just a few feet shorter. Quite a looker without the shelter. Similar performance with less HP.

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    Doug Hylan says:

    NINIGRET is indeed a very nice design with a very similar hull shape. Comparing these boats illustrates the old rule of thumb that, amongst boat of a similar shape, horsepower requirements for a given speed are largely a function of displacement. NINIGRET is about half the displacement of BOWLER, and with half the horsepower, she goes pretty much the same speed.

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  Saxton Wiley says:

  Nice! Thinking.

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  Dave Lucas says:

  Perfect boat, in fact I’m building one just like it. Is 12 kts it’s top speed with the 60?

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    Doug Hylan says:

    Hi Dave,
    No, top speed is about 17 knots. Twelve just happens to be what I consider about the nicest speed for a power boat. Many years ago, I did a few summer cruises in a 28′ Frank Day lobster boat with an old slant 6 gas engine. At 12 knots, that boat was so smooth and quiet! She’d do 18 wide open, but there was no pleasure in it.

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  Peter Duncan says:

  What a great design.

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  Jonathan Mc Donald says:

  I learned a lot about the benefits of composite construction and outboard motors. What a beautiful boat.