Larry and Wendy Brown are a couple of my favorite customers and thinking of them running their Devlin Black Crown 29, the "Gooselodge", always brings to mind an image of the two of them standing in the cockpit steering from her aft steering station with the sun on their faces and wind in their hair. It wasn't a surprise then a couple of months ago when during a visit to the shop the subject came up for a runabout type of design that would allow them enjoy every bit of nice weather that Puget Sound can dish out in the summer time. The requirements were very simple - a fast and responsive day-cruiser that would allow them to dash about the Sound. The boat needed to have a couple of covered bunks forward for an occasional nap when the time allowed, and a Porta-Potti in the same cabin. The boat had to be stylish and smooth running, with similar handling characteristics to their previous boat so that both of them could seamlessly, and without a lot of training, get used to the new boat.

So I laid a new sheet of drawing paper on the drafting table and the Surf Runner 25 was the result. The former vessel had a diesel sterndrive so the debate over power was short and decisive, with a Volvo-Penta 105 HP diesel sterndrive chosen. The result is a real wind in the face kind of boat with enough power to move at a good 35 MPH clip and allow economical cruising at 24 knots. That's fast enough to ski behind but I envision a good bottle of wine stored back in the bar with a glass between my legs cutting turns through smooth water just enjoying the day out in the air and sun. At that speed the skipper can still steer around the flotsam that is present in Puget Sound in the Summer months but also allows the sea miles to tick away relatively quickly so that exploring or simply going someplace by water for lunch doesn't have to take all day.

The Surf Runner has a small cabin forward under the foredeck with room enough for a small marine closet and two bunks...when I get tired and need a nap. I can just relax there, drifting for awhile and then, it's up and run some more.

The Surf Runner has a canvas cover over the helm station that can be folded forward up against the wind screen on those really nice and warm summer days. If the weather is a bit inclement then the cover allows running the boat to be done without getting wet and cold. We are putting a heat-exchanger heater up forward to allow for dash defrosting and give a bit more comfort on those cooler days. Just behind the helm and co-helm seats is a small bar on one side and cooker and refrigerator on the other side. It may seem ridiculous for such a boat to have a bit of a galley, but you would be surprised how good a bowl of soup tastes on a couple of hour jaunt around the Sound. Aft of the helm area is a open cockpit and over the engine box is stowage on either side and a large day-berth over that allows a simple and comfortable nap to be taken in the sun when desired. The Surf Runner has swim-steps to port and starboard of the sterndrive lower unit and with a folding boarding/swim ladder this would be a great platform for a SCUBA-diving boat.

There's seating in the large cockpit for four and enough room to have a picnic with some friends when the occasion arises. When the weather closes in for the fall, I can put her up on a trailer and store her indoors in my shop, where I spend cold days working on small gadgets and varnish. This is a fine way to spend ones spare time, dreaming again of the warm days of summer cruising in my Surf Runner.

Study plans - $15

Construction plans - $285

See a Surf Runner being constructed in our shop.