Pocket Cruisers 16' to 20'

 

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POCKET CRUISER DESIGNS & PLANS
16' to 20' IN LENGTH


Study Plans are available for these designs - remember a study plan gives you more details and a wood materials list usually on two A1 sheets, so that you can cost out a project before ordering the full plans. When you order the full construction plans you do not need to order the study plan as well, as all the study details are on the full plans.

We have 9 designs all for modern plywood construction and some also have details for round bilge Strip Planking   - there are study plans (A1 sheets with sections, construction details and a wood materials list, for most of these designs - for further information please see the price list on the main page.

 

Note - In the particulars for each design, the dry weight is given for guidance only and will vary depending on the grade/density of plywood and solid wood used - different thicknesses of ply are often used by builders and the dry weight figure is based on the thinnest ply specified.
Also the Guidance Use comments are given in good faith and are based on feedback from previous builders etc and based on standard weight adults - contact us if you want further clarification before ordering/building.
Please also note that we give the computer faired mould, inner stem and transom shapes plus the building jig details for clinker ply construction where stated and recommend that the builder purchases a good manual on this method of construction to use with these details. E & OE

 

ORDERING PLANS

For each design you can order either:

 
PRINTED PLANS sent to you by post - Postage will be added to your order - see postage costs at the bottom of the page

OR

PDF PLANS sent to your email address - make sure we have your email address when you order.

 

Pocket Cruisers on this Page

Ptarmigan 17 17'6" Evening Swan 19'6" White Swan Galway 18 Micro 18 19'6" Pocket Cruiser
19' Jola Gaff Cutter 18' Morning Tide 20' Fisher Skipjack      

 

PTARMIGAN 17'

 The 6’ beam version of the Ptarmigan 15 is quite popular and now we have extended the whole design to 17’x6’11’’. Although only 2’ longer than her sister, the Ptarmigan 17 has quite a bit more volume for larger berths and more stowage. Construction is just as simple using pre-shaped ply hull panels which are held together temporarily by wire stitches until the chine seams are epoxied. The frames and transom are again are all pre-shaped and are simply slotted into place to give the basic shape of the boat. Building is therefore quick and simple and uses the minimum of materials. She may be fitted out in a variety of ways but the standard plans show a good size of cockpit and a comfortable cabin with 2 berths and stowage for the cooker etc. LOD (Length over deck) 17’; Beam 6’11’’; Draft 1’2’’/3’5’’; Sail Area 139 sq.ft.; Approx. weight 1300 lbs.(with steel centreplate).

 The plans now include the mould and jig details of a clinker version - see further down.

Ptarmigan 17

Ptarmigan 17

 

 

Right - the alternative yawl rig design included
with the full plan set.

 

Below is an example by Bob Shutte.  

 

The plans include the mould and jig details of a clinker version with 4 planks per side - see below with photographs of an example by Steve Cormack.

 

Below - a Ptarmigan 17 built by Aniruddha Pimpalkhare sailing on Mumbai Bay

Ptarmigan 17' Particulars

LOD 17' 5.19m
Beam 6'11" 2.11m
Hull Mid Depth 2' 4 1/2" 0.72m
Draft 1'2"/3'5" 0.36/1.04m
Sail Area 139 sq.ft 12.93 sq.ft
Approx. Dry Weight 1300 lbs 590 kg
Ballast Up to 160 lbs if fitted Up to 72 kg if fitted
Maximum Headroom 4'6" 1.36m
Number of berths 2  

Hull Shape

U with flat bottom plus 2 planks per side
Construction Methods Stitch and tape
Major plywood requirements for hull 18 x 9mm sheets
1 x 12mm sheet
Guidance Use Inland, estuary and coastal
Drawing/Design Package 5 x A1 drawings + 11 x A4 instruction sheets
Additions and alterations included with the plans Outboard well
Moulds/jig for clinker ply with flat bottom and 4 planks per side.

 

ORDER THE PTARMIGAN 17 PLANS

PTARMIGAN 17 PRINTED PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £195

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 234 Euros/$263 USD)

PTARMIGAN 17 PDF PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £175

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 210 Euros/$236 USD)
 
 
17'6" EVENING SWAN

Evening SwanEvening SwanEvening Swan
One of our clients, Mr. Masters liked the Grey Swan but wanted a cruiser just a little bit bigger so that she could accommodate an inboard engine and provide more room for a basic galley and stowage for a Porta-loo. Having extended the Grey Swan hull, we have also given her deeper sections allowing more space in the cabin. Some of the additional length has gone into the cockpit giving more sitting room for the crew. Installation details are given for the inboard engine to be mounted under the cockpit sole aft of the cabin but details are also shown for an outboard well right aft. The standard keel configuration is a long central ply box ballast keel with additional bilge keels which will also allow her to sit upright. Construction starts with the assembly of the pre-shaped ply bulkheads, transom and fore/aft girders. Chine stringers then go on (the plans also show alternative epoxy filleted chine joints) followed by the hull panels shapes for which, are given on the drawings. 

Note - the plans also include details/moulds for a strip planked hull.


Above - "Saskia" a strip planked Evening Swan built by Chris van der Craats in Australia - as he says"this has to be the Morris Minor of sailing boats, small in LOD, but enormous inside"
- and below two other examples, to the left a ply version by Alan Masters.
Note - we have now drawn up a yawl rig, bermudan rig and centreboard arrangement for the Evening Swan.
Below and right is a beautiful strip planked version
by Rob Geddes.

Alternative/additions given with the standard plan pack - a gaff yawl rig - left and below a Bermudan rig and pivoted centreplate.

17'6" Evening Swan Particulars

LOD 17'6" 5.3m
Beam 7'3" 2.2m
Hull Mid Depth 3'1" 0.94m
Draft 2' 0.61m
Sail Area 216 sq.ft 20.07 sq.m
Approx. Dry Weight (incl. engine) 2547 lbs 1155 kg
Ballast 630 lbs 286 kg
Engine Up to 9 hp inboard or 5 hp outboard in well or on transom
Maximum Headroom 5'2" 1.57m
Number of berths 2  

Hull Shape

U shaped - flat bottom plank with 3 further planks per side, round bilge (strip plank) and narrow flat bottom with 5 planks per side
Construction Methods Stitch and tape, ply over frame and strip plank
Major plywood requirements for hull 23 x 9mm sheets
2 x 18mm sheets
Guidance Use Estuary, coastal, cross channel
Drawing/Design Package 15 x A1 drawings + 16 x A4 instruction sheets
Additions and alterations included with the plans Gaff yawl rig
Bermudan rig
Centreboard arrangement
Water ballast
Moulds etc for strip plank construction

 

ORDER THE  17'6" EVENING SWAN PLANS

17'6" EVENING SWAN PRINTED PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £245

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 294 Euros/$331 USD)

17'6" EVENING SWAN PDF PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £225

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 270 Euros/$304 USD)
 
 
19'6" WHITE SWAN

White Swan

Below is an example built in Bolivia and sailed on Lake Titicaca.

Below is an example under construction by Wil Cilento

After many requests from clients, the 16’ Grey Swan has been stretched in this new version to 19’6’’, The beam has not been increased too much to enhance sailing performance and the additional 3’6’’ in length has greatly added to the space available for berths and stowage. The standard drawings show a four berth arrangement with cooker, fold away basin and space for a bucket w.c, However this may be changed to suit. The centreboard could also be changed for bilge keels or a central ballast keel. Construction is of pre-shaped frames, fore/aft members and bottom panel fastened together in a simple prefabricated assembly to which stringers are applied. The hull skin then goes on oversize to be trimmed later. A client has recently asked for the design to be modified for sheet grp construction so the plans now include details and all hull panel shapes for this fibreglass method of construction which requires no mould and is very similar to ply/epoxy construction (which can also be used). The plans also now include details of a modified centreboard arrangement along with details of an inboard engine installation. The engine is a 9 hp Yanmar and the new arrangement keeps the centreboard below the cabin sole with control to the cockpit. 

19'6" White Swan Particulars

LOD 19'6" 5.95m
Beam 7'3" 2.21m
Hull Mid Depth 3'3" 0.99m
Draft 1'4"/4'4" 0.4/1.32m
Sail Area 223 sq.ft 20.7 sq.m
Approx. Dry Weight 2800 lbs 1270 kg
Ballast 800 lbs 363 kg
Maximum Headroom 5'2" 1.58m
Number of berths 3  

Hull Shape

U shaped - flat bottom panel with 3 planks per side
Construction Methods Stitch and tape, ply over frame and strip plank
Major plywood requirements for hull 4 x 6mm sheets
23 x 9mm sheets
8 x 12mm sheets
Guidance Use Estuary, coastal, cross channel
Drawing/Design Package 10 x A1 drawings + 15 x A4 instruction sheets
Additions and alterations included with the plans Alternate centreboard arrangement with board completely below the cabin sole.
Inboard engine arrangement.
Lift cabin top.
Moulds and jig etc for strip plank construction.

 

ORDER THE  19'6" WHITE SWAN PLANS

19'6" WHITE SWAN PRINTED PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £270

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 324 Euros/$3365USD)

19'6" WHITE SWAN PDF PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £250

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 300 Euros/$338 USD)

 
GALWAY 18

 The Galway 18 has been designed as a replacement for a client’s ageing Lysander and incorporates a number of his thoughts and ideas on the design of a safe cruising boat of this size. The main requirement is, of course, that she should be easily trailable behind the average family saloon car and therefore, her weight with permanent ballast has been kept below the 2000 lb. mark. In order to keep the weight down and yet still have a robust design, the construction of the Galway 18 is based upon pre shaped 3/8’’ ply bulkheads and fore and aft girders which are slotted together along with the transoms to form a very strong structure which incorporates much of the internal joiner work (bunk, locker, galley and cockpit seat fronts) and also forms the shape of the boat. The chine stringers and gunwale are then laminated in situ and the 3/8’’ ply hull panels are then applied. The bottom consists of 2 layers of 3/8’’ ply and virtually no beveling is required, even on the chine stringers as the ‘V’ gap between the stringer and the hull panel is filled with WEST epoxy putty. The design is very adaptable and bunk heights etc can be altered to suit. The small transom at the bow allows a safe and large recessed foredeck
area which acts as a self draining anchor and chain locker and there is a large outboard well at the stern. The standard arrangement shows 2 berths, a cooker and WC inside with 2 further people sleeping on wide cockpit seats under a boom tent, but there is space for 1 or 2 further berths to be fitted inside and extending under the cockpit area. With a view to safe easy handling, both a junk rig and a sprit boom rig with jib are shown on the plans and full details are given for the making of solid wood spars. The central ballast/bilge keel arrangement may be changed to centreboard or fin keel. 

Galway 18 Particulars

LOA 18'2" 5.54m
Beam 7'2" 2.18m
Hull Mid Depth 2'10" 0.86m
Draft 2' 0.61m
Sail Area 160 sq.ft 14.88 sq.m
Approx. Dry Weight 2000 lbs 907 kg
Ballast 650 lbs 295 kg
Number of berths 2  
Maximum Headroom 4'9" 1.45m

Hull Shape

Flat bottom single chine
Construction Methods Combi stinger (ply over frame)
Major plywood requirements for hull 24 x 9mm sheets
1/2 x 12mm sheets
1 x 18mm sheets
1/2 x 24mm sheet
Guidance Use Estuary, coastal, cross channel
Drawing/Design Package 4 x A1 drawings + 8 x A4 instruction sheets
Additions and alterations included with the plans  

 

ORDER THE  GALWAY 18 PLANS

GALWAY 18 PRINTED PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £155

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 186 Euros/$209 USD)

GALWAY 18 PDF PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £135

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 162 Euros/$182 USD)
 
 
MICRO 18

 

Micro 18

 

This project presents the amateur builder with little more difficulty than building an Enterprise dinghy. She is of multi-chine configuration with pre-shaped bottom, hog and bulkheads for quick construction. The latest low waterline beam/planing design has been used and yet she has 3/4 berths and sitting headroom. Plans include sail construction for the amateur sail maker. The keel lifts vertically using winch and tackle and is made of mild steel sheet with a lead bulb bolted to the bottom.

Micro 18 Particulars

LOA 18' 5.49m
Beam 8' 2.44m
Hull Mid Depth 3'6" 1.07m
Draft 3'6" 1.07m
Sail Area 199 sq.ft 18.5 sq.m
Approx. Dry Weight 1300 lbs 590 kg
Ballast 315 lbs 143 kg
Maximum Headroom 4'5" 1.35m
Number of berths 3  

Hull Shape

Narrow flat bottom with 3 planks per side
Construction Methods Ply over frame and strip plank
Major plywood requirements for hull 2 x 3mm sheets
2 x 4mm sheets
14 x 6mm sheets
4 x 9mm sheets
1 x 12mm sheets
Guidance Use Estuary, coastal
Drawing/Design Package 12 x A1 drawings
Additions and alterations included with the plans  

 

ORDER THE  MICRO 18 PLANS

MICRO 18 PRINTED PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £245

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 294 Euros/$331 USD)

MICRO 18 PDF PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £225

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 270 Euros/$304 USD)

 
19'6" POCKET CRUISER

This little ship, with it’s shallow draft, is ideal for exploring estuaries as well as for coastal cruising with a young family. Having bilge keels means that she will dry out level making her easily berthed in a creek. LOD (Length over deck) 19’6’’; LWL 17’; Beam 7’10’’; Draft 2’; Displ. 2700 lbs.; Ballast 850 lbs; Sail Area 200 sq.ft.; Headroom 4’3’’. Note - this design was part of our Professional Series of designs (for professional boat builders) but has now had it's hull computer modeled and plans amplified to include all necessary details for home strip plank construction

19' Pocket Cruisers Particulars

LOA 19'6" 5.95m
Beam 7'10" 2.39m
Hull Mid Depth 3'4" 1m
Draft 2' 0.61m
Sail Area 200 sq.ft 18.6 sq.m
Approx. Dry Weight 2700 lbs 1224 kg
Ballast 850 lbs 385 kg
Maximum Headroom 4'3" 1.3m
Number of berths 4  

Hull Shape

Round bilge
Construction Methods Strip plank
Major strip wood requirements for hull 2490' of 5/8" x 1 1/4" (760m of 16 x 30mm) Western Red Cedar
Guidance Use Estuary, coastal, cross channel
Drawing/Design Package 10 x A1 drawings + 6 x A4 instruction sheets
Additions and alterations included with the plans  

 

ORDER THE  19ft 6in POCKET CRUISER PLANS

19'6" POCKET CRUISER PRINTED PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £330

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 396 Euros/$446 USD)

19'6" POCKET CRUISER PDF PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £310

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 372 Euros/$419 USD)
 
NEW 19' JOLA GAFF CUTTER  

  This cracker of a little ship, will take you cruising into shallow waters and creeks whilst at the same time provide a seaworthy yacht for coastal and cross-channel sailing.

 Starting from aft, she has an outboard well, spacious self-draining cockpit and a cabin with up to 4 berths and space for a Porta Potti WC and small galley - if you do not want 4 berths you can have 2 or 3 and a larger galley area.

 Like many of our small designs the centreplate is housed below the cabin sole and the plans show both Gaff Cutter and Bermudan Cutter rigs.

 Construction details are shown for stitch and tape, ply over frame and clinker ply construction.

Left is a picture of Martin Lunghi's Jola under construction.

Below is Martin's example with a White Swan keel being added.

 

19' Jola Gaff Cutter Particulars

LOD 19' 5.81m
Beam 7'5 1/2" 2.27m
Hull Mid Depth 3'1" 0.94m
Draft 2'/4' 0.61m/1.22m
Sail Area 284 sq.ft 26.4 sq.m
Approx. Dry Weight 2867 lbs 1300 kg
Ballast 882 lbs 400 kg
Maximum Headroom 4'10" 1.48m
Number of berths 4  

Hull Shape

Round bilge with 4 planks per side
Construction Methods Stitch and Tape, Ply over Frame, Clinker Ply
Major plywood requirements for hull 6mm - 10 sheets
9mm - 17 sheets
12mm - 4 sheets
Guidance Use Estuary, coastal, cross channel
Drawing/Design Package 12 x A1 drawings + 10 x A4 instruction sheets
Additions and alterations included with the plans Bermudan Cutter rig.

 

ORDER THE  19' JOLA GAFF CUTTER PLANS

19' JOLA GAFF CUTTER PRINTED PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £270

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 324

19' JOLA GAFF CUTTER PDF PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £250

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 300 Euros/$338 USD)

NEW 18' MORNING TIDE  

 Many moons ago when I first started as a designer with McGruers on the Gareloch, I drew the lines of a 19' pocket cruiser for myself, partly as the day job was full of racing yachts - I never got to build her but the drawing was kept safe and would casually drop into my lap just to remind me of her existence when I was busy searching for other things in the office.

 I drew up a smaller version and called her the Tideway 14 (after an area on the Thames I had enjoyed boating on) and you can see her on the Pocket Cruisers up to 16' page renamed as the Morning Tide 14 - at the same time I sketched 18' and 22' versions and after many years of gestation I have finally detailed the 18 footer.

 She can be fitted out in a number of ways - the plans show forward V berths and a reasonable galley and WC compartment aft but one or other of these can be moved or omitted so that 1 or 2 quarter berths can be accommodated. The plans also show an optional outboard well.

 Like her smaller sister, she has a long keel with a simple ballast box. Other keel options could be used.

 Construction is egg-box type with ply frames and fore and aft girders slotted together - the hull panels can then be fitted and the chines finished in stitch and tape style, or stringers can be fitted and the planking completed plank over frame or clinker.

Below are photos of an example being built in Russia

18' Morning Tide Particulars

LOD 18'6" 5.64m
Beam 7'4" 2.25m
Hull Mid Depth 3'7" 1.10m
Draft 3'2" 0.73m
Sail Area 252 sq.ft 23.4 sq.m
Approx. Dry Weight 3197 lbs 1450 kg
Ballast 1213 lbs 550 kg
Maximum Headroom 5' 1.53m
Number of berths 2-4  

Hull Shape

Round bilge multi-chine.
Construction Methods Stitch and Tape, Ply over Frame, Clinker Ply
Major plywood requirements for hull 6mm - 3 sheets
9mm - 23 sheets
Guidance Use Estuary, coastal, cross channel
Drawing/Design Package 10 x A1 drawings + 9 x A4 instruction sheets
Additions and alterations included with the plans  

 

ORDER THE  18' MORNING TIDE PLANS

18' MORNING TIDE PRINTED PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £270

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 324

18' MORNING TIDE PDF PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £250

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 300 Euros/$338 USD)

NEW  20' FISHER SKIPJACK  


 The origin of the skipjack is a little obscure - they seem to have been a development of the flat bottomed sharpie with many examples having a much wider beam than the sharpie, a deadrise to the bottom and great flare to the topsides. However, historians are divided and some see the hull type as nothing to do with the sharpie form at all and simply a development in North American working boat hull shape in it's own right. Whatever the origin, examples were to be seen in the Gulf of Mexico in the 1880's and they were later built at Martha's Vineyard (Massachusetts) and Chesapeake Bay.

 Apart from their distinctive hulls, they usually sported a gaff main with single jib and were characterized by their sweeping sheer line. All in all, these features lead to a very seaworthy, easily built and very 'salty' looking craft.

 Construction is ply plank over frame with the ply fore and aft girder combined with the centreboard case set up with the ply bulkheads and frames upside down. Stringers are added before everything is cleaned up and made ready for the ply planking. To make things simple and low cost, the ballast, as in the original boats is in the bilges in the form of scrap steel or lead.

 The standard layout is for twin berths plus room for a galley and wc and a large cockpit but this can be easily altered to suit your own requirements.

Note - the specification has alternative width measurements for the frames etc so that the overall beam is within the 2.55m limit for towing behind a car.

20' Fisher Skipjack Particulars

LOD (excl. schooner beak) 19'2" 5.84m
LOA (excl. bowsprit) 20'8" 6.30m
Beam 8'8" (8'4") 2.64m (and reduced to 2.55m for car towing).
Hull Mid Depth 2'11" 0.88m
Draft 1'7 3/4"/3'10" 0.50/1.17m
Sail Area 231 sq.ft 21.5 sq.m
Approx. Dry Weight 2646 lbs 1200 kg
Ballast 882 lbs 400 kg
Maximum Headroom 4'8" 1.42m
Number of berths 2 + 2 in the cockpit  

Hull Shape

'V' bottomed, single chine.
Construction Methods Ply plank over frame
Major plywood requirements for hull 6mm - 10 sheets
9mm - 16 sheets
12mm - 6 sheets
Guidance Use Estuary, coastal, cross channel, offshore
Drawing/Design Package 9 x A1 drawings + 10 x A4 instruction sheets
Additions and alterations included with the plans  

 

There are now plans available for a model of the 20' Fisher Skipjack - go to 
Skipjack Model Plan

 

ORDER THE  20ft FISHER SKIPJACK PLANS

20' FISHER SKIPJACK PRINTED PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £270

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 300 Euros/$338 USD)

20' FISHER SKIPJACK PDF PLANS

UK/EU/US/Elsewhere - STUDY PLAN £25.00/FULL PLANS £250

(Study Plan approx. 30 Euros/$34 USD; Full Plan approx. 300 Euros/$338 USD)

 

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