Dasher
A 25' 3" V-Bottom Cruiser
By William
A Fast V-Bottom Cruiser
Here, Shipmates, is my design number 586; the cruiser Dasher. Dasher is of V bottom model and has perfectly straight sections below the corners of the chines as well as above the chines. This is a form that is reasonably easy to build and is at the same time one that is most efficient. Providing the freeboard is kept a modest height, straight topside sections look very well even at the stern, and so long as there is not excessive flare here one can have little quarrel with this form of topside. Her principal dimensions are: length over all, 25 feet 3 inches; length on the water line, 24 feet; breadth, 8 feet 1/2 inch; and draft, 1 foot 11 7/8 inches. The freeboard at the bow is 3 feet 10 inches; at the lowest point, 2 feet 9 1/4 inches; and at the stern, 2 feet 10 1/4 inches.

The deck plan shows a deck house 7 feet 10 inches long with a 12 inch wide waterway each side. The cockpit is 11 feet 8 inches long and is slightly less than 6 feet wide. The after seat forms a cover for the gasoline tank, and this being above the cockpit floor cannot leak into the bilge. The cockpit floor is self bailing and stands 4 inches above the water line. The headroom under the pilot house top is 6 feet.

The cabin is laid out for two. Stepping below we find a toilet room one side and compact galley opposite. There is room for single burner alcohol stove and work space. Beneath the table top there are lockers for odd galley things and above a good sized shelf. The galley and toilet room space is 2 feet 6 inches long and there is 5 feet 7 inches of headroom under the companionway hatch; the balance of the cabin has 5 feet 4 inches headroom. In connection with this; if you expect the boat to have proper stability do not increase the headroom by adding to the height of the sides, increasing the freeboard or accentuating the crown of the house top beams. The berths are 6 feet 4 inches long and at the tops of the cushions will be close to 2 feet wide at the after ends, and 19 inches wide forward. There are lockers beneath the berths. The forward end of the boat is given over to stowage space for anchors, cables, etc.

The bottom of the keel extends in a straight line from station 2 to station 10, thence sweeps upward to the lower end of the stuffing box flange. I have learned from long experience that this arrangement permits a very free water flow into the propeller and affords excellent protection for both the propeller and the rudder. There is ample deadrise to allay pounding and since the continuity of the bottom sections is especially even, this little cruiser will be well balanced and a very good seagoing boat for her type. She has a nice proportion of length to breadth and while lacking the extreme features of the newer crop of fast cruisers will behave after the manner of the little tug boat Judge Hooker.
The motor shown on the plans is a Kermath V8 of 90 horse power. This has a cylinder displacement of 221 cubic inches. The speed of the boat will be close to 20 miles an hour, perhaps a little more. Other motors can be installed with equal results to the V8 providing the cylinder displacement is approximately the same with weight not varying more than 100 pounds one way or the other and, of course, a motor of high speed type.
Plans for Dasher are $100

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