Sea Rover: A 1956 Utility Boat for Seven, With Cabin Options
William D. Jackson's 1956 Sea Rover carries seven people, runs about 26 mph on a 25 hp outboard and comes in utility, sports and cabin versions.
Sea Rover is the boat for a builder who wants options. William D. Jackson drew it at 15 ft (4.6 m), with an extended 17 ft (5.2 m) version, and in utility, sports and cabin layouts. The beam is 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) for the utility and 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) for the others. It carries seven people and reaches about 26 mph on a 25 hp outboard. You can plank it in plywood or go lapstrake.
Sea Rover at a glance
| Detail | Sea Rover |
|---|---|
| Type | Utility boat |
| Length | 15 ft (extended model 17 ft) |
| Beam | 6 ft 2 in (utility); 6 ft 5 in (sports and cabin) (1.88 m) |
| Capacity | 7 persons |
| Construction | 3/8 in. plywood bottom, 1/4 in. plywood sides, trussed keel and batten construction; lapstrake planking alternative |
| Power | Evinrude or Johnson 25 hp outboard (1954 models), about 26 mph |
| Designer | William D. Jackson |
| First published | Science and Mechanics, February 1956, pp. 166–176 |
| Craft Print | No. 239 |
| Plan sheets | 12 |
A boat that grows with you
Two lengths and three layouts let you shape the boat to how you will really use it, whether that is fishing, day trips or simple overnight cover. A beam of over 6 ft (1.8 m) gives room for seven people without feeling crowded. The construction is equally flexible: a 3/8 in. plywood bottom and 1/4 in. plywood sides over a trussed keel and battens, or lapstrake planking for a more traditional look. A 25 hp outboard gives about 26 mph.
The original plan sheets
These are the 12 original sheets from 1956, scanned from the magazine. For building, use the full-size PDF in the download section below.
Who designed it
William D. Jackson drew Sea Rover for Science and Mechanics, February 1956, pages 166 to 176, as Craft Print 239. Jackson produced a long run of plans for home builders, and this is one of his most versatile.
Before you build
- Pick the length and layout before cutting any parts, as the beam and framing differ between versions.
- Stay near the 25 hp outboard the design was drawn for and never exceed the seven-person limit.
- Add flotation and a bilge pump, especially if you build the cabin version for longer outings.
Download the plan
The complete 1956 Sea Rover plan in one file: all twelve sheets, every version included, ready to print or open on a tablet.
Download the complete plan (PDF, 12 sheets, 13.6 MB)
Tools for this
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to say what you think of this post.