19' 7" Ketch Rigged Sailboat

Boat builder Rex Brown of Michigan, built this modified surf dory from plans developed by Ed Davis from Maine. The original "Tropic Bird" sailboat was designed and built by Mr. Davis. It was featured in the 2001 WoodenBoat Magazine No. 163.

Rex Brown completed his built of this fine wooden sailboat in 2007. My exploration friend and I fell in love with it and purchased it in August of 2017. We’ve sailed it on Northern Lake Huron, inland lakes, and Michigan’s Inland Waterway. It’s always been stored inside, and it’s in good condition throughout. 

The hull is made with seam-batten construction using quarter inch marine plywood, covered with epoxy/glass. The sturdiness of the boat is immediately evident when you see the laminated ribs; the strong, functional grab/rub rails; and decking. It’s a sprit rig ketch with modified batwing sails. The centerboard and rudder are made of stainless steel. I can pretty much sum up the character of this boat in one word, versatile. There are so many sail combinations and sail/rowing combinations for different conditions and waterways, not to mention the ability to beach it for the night. 

To learn more of the sailing characteristics of the boat, read Mr. Davis’s WoodenBoat article. The sailboat is 19-foot 7 inches length overall; the beam is 5 feet; and the draft is 7 inches, or 2 feet with centerboard down. The 9-foot oars are custom made from solid ash wood. There is a removable attachment to use an electric motor (motor not included). The Sailrite sails are in very good condition, as are the spars. A Danforth anchor is included. There’s a custom-built snap-down boat tarp that can be used even with the spars up, or for trailering. The tilt trailer makes loading/unloading a breeze. 

This boat will draw a lot of attention wherever your adventures take you! Asking $14,000.