Small Boat Designs - 10' to 30'
Tad Roberts Yacht Design

Design Comments

The 18’ double-ender is the first of three similar designs. These boats--the 18’ double-ender, Northcoast 18’, and Fidler 19’--are all based on commercial fishing boats built in BC from the 1920’s to the 1950’s. These boats shared similar styling and arrangements but were also very different depending on builder, location, and use.

The 18’ double-ender is based on a gillnetter with full aft sections able to carry a heavy net. Gillnetters fish by setting out the net, waiting for fish to become entangled, and then hauling the net plus fish aboard. These boats were often built and owned by canneries located right on the river or inlet fishing grounds, speed or efficiency was not important. The boats were usually shallow draft intended for river fishing. She is also intended for carvel plank-on-frame construction and this is reflected in her heavier displacement. With heavy construction and inboard diesel power she will make a versatile small workboat or handlogger.

The Northcoast 18’ is based on a small troller, a type of fishing that required a boat to tow fishing lures at idle speed all day. These hulls are finer lined with smaller waterplanes intended to be more comfortable when fishing the offshore banks. Fish caught using hooks is of higher value than net caught fish so trollers have less emphasis on carrying capacity. Draft is deeper with greater deadrise to increase the stability range and slow the shift of CB with rolling.

The Fidler 19’ is another gillnetter adaptation, this time with a small transom to make strip-planking easier. Displacement is moderate to allow a heavy cruising load and the addition of inside ballast to adjust comfort in a sea. Any of these boats could also add a tiny steadying-sail to damp rolling in a cross sea.