by David D. Beach
LOA 20' 3", BEAM 93"
This 20’ jet-inboard day cruiser will provide plenty of room for that afternoon on the water, as well as speed to spare for water skiers
For a long time, my mail has brought requests for a boat design suitable for the new marine jet pumps. These letters arrive in sufficient numbers to indicate that there is substantial interest in this type of propulsion. The writers are fairly well distributed throughout this country, and once in a while a query will come from overseas. It was, then, with an established basis of need that this design was submitted to the editors of the Boatbuilding Annual. The drawings that accompany the text should excite considerable enthusiasm. For those who are not overly familiar with marine jet systems, a few words may be in order to describe them. Essentially, a marine jet is another reaction device that operates in strict accordance with old Apple-on-the-Head Newton’s laws of motion. He said (and please pardon my paraphrasing his more formal exposition) that if you suck some water into the bottom of a boat and squirt it out the back faster than it came in, it’ll produce some push on the boat in the direction opposite the squirt. We need not get involved in more classical terms like time rate of change of momentum and reaction quantum, or stuff like that, to appreciate the jet. The jet has no external protuberances below the hull, so it’s wonderful for a water-ski boat, as the danger of propellers is eliminated. Because there are no propellers, struts, shafts or rudders to become damaged, it can operate in very shoal waters. You can make fullpower stops with the jet, because you don’t have to cut the engine speed to reverse the thrust. The jet is here to stay, and it will continue to increase in popularity as the boating public becomes aware of the plus factors and learns how to minimize the minuses. But we should get on with the discussion of the boat. Now, the craft is primarily a big runabout and day cruiser, because it will provide enough space to permit a party to spend an afternoon afloat without crowding. In profile, its straight sheer and moderately raking stem and transom provide a pleasant hull for a short cabin over the main seating. The cabin is a straightforward thing of simple lines and shape, with a flat windshield and a small overhang at the back end. It does, however, have a sunroof opening that permits the passengers to enjoy the sky and sun without exposure to wind and spray. The top is of automotive sport topping and can be fitted or removed quite easily and rapidly. The deckplan view shows that the sun-roof opening is substantial. The seating arrangement is for six people—a helmsman, a couple opposite and three in the wide seat forward of the engine box. The engine box has a folding top panel and double cushion that extend to form a very adequate area for sunning or relaxation, underway or at anchor. The area behind the engine box is adequate for a pair of folding chairs or even a single fishing chair. Let’s now look at the inboard plan and profile, which supplement the first drawing to show the features of the boat. Here the seating and sunning arrangement is better shown, as the top isn’t indicated to obstruct the view. Incidentally, some builders might not care to put a shelter on Piccadilli, and that’s perfectly okay. A wraparound windshield and a folding canvas top would fit fine, and the builder who wants the complete runabout treatment can get it in just that manner. The Profile view shows the seat arrangement with plenty of leg room, the stowage bins under the side deck, the anchor and fender stowage under the foredeck and the general schemes for sheathing the interior of the craft.
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