Jet Joe: A Free Plan for a 13 ft Racer and Utility Boat
William D. Jackson's 13 ft hydroplane carries five as a utility boat or one as a racer, on a 30 hp Evinrude or Johnson.
Jet Joe leads a double life. As a utility boat it carries five passengers; stripped down as a racer, it takes a single driver. William D. Jackson drew the 13 ft (4 m) hull with a 63 in (1.6 m) beam and multiple beveled sides, shaped for tight high-speed turns. It was planned around a 1951 to 1956 30 hp Evinrude or Johnson outboard, classics in their own right.
Jet Joe at a glance
| Detail | Jet Joe |
|---|---|
| Type | Hydroplane |
| Length | 13 ft (3.96 m) |
| Beam | 63 in (1.6 m) |
| Capacity | 5 passengers as a utility boat, 1 as a racer |
| Construction | Plywood sides and decking; multiple beveled sides for high-speed turns |
| Power | 30 hp Evinrude or Johnson (1951–56) |
| Designer | William D. Jackson |
| First published | Boat Builder's Handbook |
| Craft Print | No. 271 |
| Plan sheets | 9 |
Two jobs, one hull
The multiple beveled sides are the clever part: they give the hull grip in fast turns, so it carves rather than skids. That same shape still leaves plenty of room for passengers when you are just cruising. It is a rare plan that handles both jobs well.
Plywood sides and decking keep construction familiar. Matching the boat to a vintage 30 hp Evinrude or Johnson makes it a natural home for a restored outboard from that era. Its nine sheets give enough detail to get the bevels right on both sides of the hull, which is critical for the way it turns.
The original plan sheets
These are the 9 original sheets, scanned from the magazine. For building, use the full-size PDF in the download section below.
Who designed it
William D. Jackson drew Jet Joe for the Boat Builder's Handbook, and it was issued as Craft Print No. 271. Jackson's name turns up on a large share of the Science and Mechanics craft prints.
Before you build
- Respect the two ratings: five people for utility use, one driver when racing.
- Get the beveled sides symmetrical, since any mismatch shows up immediately in hard turns.
- If you use a modern outboard instead of the 1951 to 1956 models, keep its weight and power close to the original 30 hp.
Download the plan
All nine original Jet Joe sheets in one file, ready to print at full size or open in the workshop.
Download the complete plan (PDF, 9 sheets, 3 MB)
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