Category: Advanced

An evolution of the 29′ Beals Island lobster boat DIANA

D’Anna is an evolution of the Beals Island lobster boat, DIANA, which we restored in 2002. On re-launching, that boat was christened DIANA after the wife of her long time owner, Beals Island fisherman, historian and raconteur Avery Kelley. This modified design is named after Avery and Diana’s daughter, D’Anna.

Maine lobstermen like to have their engines fairly far forward in the boat, in order to make more room in the cockpit for working their traps. Typically, they do not carry much fuel, often topping up when they deliver their catch at the end of each day. This means that a true lobster boat hull is designed to carry its displacement relatively far forward. D’Anna’s lines have been modified to move her center of buoyancy slightly aft, to allow her engine to be mounted further aft and permit a somewhat larger fuel tank under the aft deck.

Other modifications include a slight increase in length to 30′ and a beam increase to 8′ 6″, the legal trailering limit without permit. At this beam she is proportionately wider than her mother, but still narrow by today’s standards, allowing for easier powering above theoretical hull speed. The freeboard has also been raised slightly, and the transom is proportionately wider. The extra size allows a self bailing cockpit. In spite of her extra size, D’Anna is slightly lighter than her mother, due to her glued construction. A speed of 14 knots is available with her 75hp inboard diesel.

While Diana’s plans were for traditional plank-on-frame, these plans show cold-molded construction. However, there is no reason why either boat cannot be built by either method. Please contact me if you are interested in alternative construction.

The full plans consist of four sheets: Lines Plan, Outboard Profile & Deck Plan, Inboard Profile & Framing Plan, and Construction Sections & Details. Also included is a CD with hull offsets, construction and finished photos of a similar boat, and other various and possibly helpful information.

Inspired by the reconstruction of a 1950’s boat.

DIANA was built by Alvin Beal in the early 1950s on Beals Island, Maine. She incorporates the handsome low sheer and skeg construction that were a hallmark of that area.

In 2002, a new owner asked Hylan & Brown to rebuilt DIANA for use as a picnic boat for his Downeast summer home. The boats lines were lifted and her original construction documented. A new house and shelter were designed and the original propulsion system was re-configured.

These plans will be of interest to students of Maine lobster boat design, as well as potential builders. Most early lobster boats were built from builders models, and little documentation exists. Plans consist of four sheets: lines & offsets, outboard profile, inboard profile and construction sections.

In 2010 we launched a cold-molded version of DIANA called BRENDA KAY. We also offer stock plans for a 30′ cold-molded evolution of DIANA called D’ANNA.