Seamaster 22, efficient motor boat

[rbgarr]

They were built in the 70s (perhaps longer) by Bob Whittier of Duxbury, Mass.
Several colleges in the NE used them as coaching launches for their rowing programs (low wakes).

I'm looking looking for a hull, a used boat, or even the lines if available anywhere.

The rowing programs went to power catamarans long ago.

Anyone seen one lately?

http://i43.tinypic.com/wui3ig.jpg

[ben2go]

WOW!I have no info but that's a nice boat.Low profile and little water or wind resistience.

[Hwyl]

Nice boat, maybe you could talk someone into producing them.

Dave, I sent you an email

[neal debonte]

Thats a neat looking boat. Woodenboatsnj.com has a 21' Pederson launch that looks akin to it. Would love to hear more if your search is successful.

[timfish]

I`ll see what I can find out.Are you sure they were built in duxbury or Bob lives in duxbury?If built here it would most likely have been at longpoint marine,781-934-5302.

[SHClark]

I thought they were built by Alan Vaitses.
Brown University Crew still uses Seamaster's and there are still quite a few on the Charles. I don't know if they couldn't be bought.
SHC

[rbgarr]

I thought they were built by Alan Vaitses.
Brown University Crew still uses Seamaster's and there are still quite a few on the Charles. I don't know if they couldn't be bought.
SHC

Thanks everyone.

I've heard from Bob Hicks of MAIB that Bob Whittier may live in Kingston, Mass now. My only information on designer and builder was from the Small Boat Journal page I scanned and posted, thus I was using the term 'built' loosely. If Vaitses built them that's a good sign, and I hadn't seen any on the Charles the last time I was there so that's good news that they may still be in use by Brown. I've got e-mails out to the Harvard and MIT rowing coaches.

The boat would be a pretty good model for weekend exploring trips: trailerable to rivers, lakes and bays alongshore, low power and fuel requirements, some weather protection and room/carrying capacity for a weekend's 'stores'. The removable cabin top 'lid' which allows for sitting in a 'bow cockpit' is attractive (quiet, protected, unobstructed view for SWMBO) and the folding windshield is also useful (a la Jeep CJs) for seeing lobster buoys. A boat suitable for our 'reset' economy up here IMO.

[dcobbett]

I believe the boats were initially built in southern NH. I first heard of them from a neighbor about 35-40 years ago. I recall the neighbor showed me an article about them in Popular Mechanics. If you can find that article, I'm sure it had a lot of particulars about boat. Finally, several years ago, there was one for sale sitting in the side yard of a home in Beverly, in teh Dana Beach area. Don't know what happened to it, but it might have stayed local and some of the area's yards may know where it is.

[Dave Wright]

There's a good photo of Bob Whittier's Seamaster on page 12 of the "Outboard Boater's Handbook," by David R. Getchell Sr. Getchell says its 21 feet by 6 feet.

The article confirms Whittier is the designer/ builder and "he once showed that the boat would plane with a 9.9 hp outboard..." Usual power was 40 to 50 hp. Getchell says the boat never caught on with boatbuilders or the boating public.

[JimConlin]

I rode in one on the Charles in 1984. Can't remember which club owned it. Call your old friends.

Within the last couple of years, there was a similar launch hauled out on the dock at Weld Boathouse. Ask Dan Boyne. 617 495 2226

[ChaseKenyon]

Not sure but believe they are the boat co. and were built in Concord NH.

There was a significant boat building co there in the 50s and maybe the early 60s. Seamaster seems to ring a bell somewhere in the back reaches of my mind.

So.........


Chase

[rbgarr]

Thanks everyone...I've got e-mails out to the Harvard and MIT rowing coaches.

...and they both responded already with identical information about where one of them is.
http://i40.tinypic.com/s1u87b.jpg

[JimConlin]

Damned if I know why, but i wound up driving one of those in the lower basin, carrying a race official with a bullhorn and an attitude, herding boats toward the start line of the Head of the Charles Regatta. Maneuverability was not the boat's strong suit and in traffic that made the Leverett Circle seem mild, I was terrified.
No lives were lost.

[rbgarr]

The president of the HOTC e-mailed and said almost the same thing about the boat's maneuverability. I'm used to driving a Lyman which has a rudder the size of my palm, so it wouldn't be anything unusual. ;)

[Liam English]

What a cool boat for exploring and camp cruising!

[ChaseKenyon]

shamless bump :D

[rbgarr]

I heard from Bob Whittier! He has the molds, built 30+ of them through various FG shops in SE mass about 30 years ago... and is willing to sell the molds. I'll let you know if anything comes of it.