5/12/10 The new 31-Plus DUCK! New 2 masted sail plan and construction photos of the 47-Plus being built in Argentina.
A "Stock Plan" is a set of building plans that is already drawn so is the least expensive way to get a set of plans. I offer quite a variety, so hopefully you'll find one of them is exactly what you want. Most people end up making some changes; for instance, the interior is almost ALWAYS changed to suit people's particular needs. That's fine; no reason not to.
If you think one of these boats is what you want but you want to see more, you can order Study Plans. These are printed from the actual building plans, are 24" x 36", and will consist of the profile and any versions, the interiors drawn so far, various construction details, and a sheet showing the top and side views with no interior which you can use to sketch in your own ideas. The study plan price (see order form) is refundable if you order the complete building plans within 30 days. If you can read AutoCad r.14 .dwg files I can send you study or building plans on CD, as well as email them to you. Please see the bottom half of this page for more information.
I'm willing to do redrawing on any of them but of course would need to charge you for it. In practice, you and the builder can usually work out most changes you want and I'm always happy to give my opinion if you'd like. Any consultation help I can give is part of the deal when you decide to build one of my designs.
While most people want steel construction, I also offer wood construction plans for most of my designs. If you're interested in wood boats, please click Wood Construction Details to see some details from the wood plans versions as well as a series of photos showing a wood 48 DUCK being built. Wood is out of favor in the general market but I'll always like wood boats. Wood simply isn't cost efficient to hire built; steel is far cheaper than good wood and much faster for a pro shop to work. But, the DUCKS in particular have hull forms that are very basic to build in wood and if you want to build the boat yourself and have some experience remodeling a house or similar, wood makes sense. The wood construction plans are all based on materials available in any good lumber yard. The larger designs use a "composite" hull which is a layer of common 1x4 (3/4" x 3 1/2") topped by several layers of plywood. It's labor intensive but very simple. Once you've built the hull, the interior and mechanical stuff is the same issue regardless. The composite hull when coated with glass cloth and epoxy is no different maintenance than a fiberglass hull, and unlike steel or glass, requires no insulation, and, is quiet inside. Wood makes a good boat!
I've certainly written enough about the "Diesel Duck" concept, but just let me say one last thing. The original 38 has always been the basis for the rest of the family; all of them start with her simple and rugged lines. The exact proportions change sometimes; the 48 is trimmer for her length than the smaller ones and the 55 SWAN is more in proportion to the 44 than the 48. But they're all DUCKS! By the way, the August 2004 issue of PASSAGEMAKER magazine did a very kind article about the Diesel Ducks!
Diesel Duck 34: I'm sure this will remain the smallest of the fleet. She was inspired by new laws in some new post Katrina Mississippi marinas that all boats must be under 35'. The marine industry ain't happy about that one! I didn't think 34' would work, but it does! She's a bit stocky of course but that's OK.
Diesel Duck 31-Plus: The newest is a "suger scoop" stern version of the 34, our baby of the fleet.
Diesel Duck 38: Here's the original Diesel Duck. She was built in steel but wood and even aluminum versions have been launched too. If marina slip fees are an issue where you live, the 38 is worth considering.
Diesel Duck 382: This is the newest of the Seahorse semi-custom production DUCKS, "budget priced" by today's standards, and ideal for a couple. 6/26/06 I added a nice letter from a French film maker who ordered #3. His comments are interesting! Ben took delivery and is now in the South Pacific, writing about his adventures on his blog
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Diesel Duck
41:
This version took the 38 and added 3 feet fwd. of the wheelhouse,
making a big difference to the interior but adds little to the
costs as the materials are almost identical and the outfitting
including power and anchors are identical. New 4/05 Wood
version building plans finally done. 10/06: Letter from
Benno and Marlene now in Venezuela. 2/09 Benno & Marlene
go around Cape Horn!
Here's a slightly
edited letter send via satilite email (what a world!)
It is time to celebrate! Diesel Duck 41, just rounded Cape
Horn from the west to the east today the 19, Feb. 09 at 17:30
hrs. Diesel Duck behaved wonderfully even in a shitty sea here
at the Horn. She always demonstrated seaworthiness and safety
to us. Diesel Ducks are good boats. You can be so proud of the
Duck. We are very proud of our Diesel Duck and we will drink
a bottle of Martini Spumante as soon as we have the hook down
in a safe anchorage tonight, following with a nice dinner.
Benno and Marlene
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To all you folks who don't believe my "Modified Dhow sail plan makes sense, read what Marlene & Benno say about it. They're actually out cruising you know..... Marlene and I are very happy with the DD 41 and her performance, even under sail alone : Between Martinique and St. Lucia a nice 15 knot breeze over the port quarter invited us to cut the engine, feather the CPP propeller and let the sails take over. The duck moved along with 4 knots having George's original design of 400 sq.ft. jib and main up. Not bad, isn't it? A nice get me home rig, not designed for winning a regatta, but a good stabilizer and extra speed to save fuel. Whenever we have the chance, the sails are up to smoothen the roll. |
Diesel Duck 41 "Evolution": The base design was used to create the 382 that Seahorse is building. I liked it a lot so am offering her here with a bit more traditional type look than her luxurious cousin. Not that she can't be luxurious too, of course! (7/5/06)
Diesel Duck 41-"plus": Ideas from the 462 and the 45-plus went into this guy, making a very comfortable cruising boat for a couple. She lacks frills and is just a no-nonsense and low hassle little ship, although of course you can jazz her up! New building photos and 3 D drawings added 3/8/08 and 3/11/08/ New photos 8/13/08/08
Diesel Duck 44: This is the second DUCK, coming soon after the 38. Seahorse modified it some and built three, all of which have done long cruises. Here's both the original and the new "Evolution" versions.
Diesel Duck 45-"plus": Blending the 44 EVOLUTION and the 462 gets us this guy, or Duck rather. The first of these is being built by Townsend Bay Marine in Pt. Townsend, WA. New photos 4/19/09
Diesel Duck 46: This version looks a lot like the "Evolution" series but isn't. She was a preliminary for a guy who asked about the changes several years ago but then changed his mind. I liked her so went ahead and worked up several versions. It's odd that several years later the thoughts behind her would end up as the "evolution" ideas in the others. New 11/20/02 "sedan" sketches.
Diesel Duck "46 2": A whole new slant on the Duck theme, and only available as a semi-custom production boat from Seahorse. She's got some modern touches but is still obviously a Duck!
462 (really 49) Sedan: Based on the 462 DUCK hull, this coastal cruiser is a heavy duty sedan type a bit less gung-ho than her heritage but still plenty "game." Like the original 462, she is only available as a semi-custom finished boat, from Seahorse.
Diesel Duck 47-Plus: 5/11/10 new two masted Sail Plan added. A guy who really liked the 45-Plus wanted "just a little more room" and the result is this boat. That extra 24" doesn't seem like much but it gives us a bit more spacious wheelhouse.
Diesel Duck 47-Plus (actually 50') Sedan: Like the 462 sedan, this is a bit less gung-ho version of her very solid cousin. New photos added 4/19/09
Diesel Duck 48: The original and the "Evolution" model. She's a comfortable cruising boat. Be sure to visit the photos of building Harry & Vickie's Wooden 48.
2/09: Here's
a note I got from Vickie Jan. 2009! "We want you to know
how much we love the Vicki Lynn. We lived on her
from April to November the last two seasons and we hate every
minute of winter that keeps her on the hard. We enjoyed Lake
Michigan last summer and planned on heading south in the fall,
but once again a health problem got in the way We hope to leave
Michigan this spring.
Everywhere we go, people love the Diesel Duck. We have
met all kinds of folks who just come up and ask to see her. She
is the boat of our dreams and we are always thankful for your
wonderful design and the Backyard Boat Building book that got
us started." Shucks....... Since the financial rewards
of this bidness ain't the greatest, I'm glad I discovered many
years ago that it's the PEOPLE I get to meet through my designs
that make it worth doing. That doesn't pay the bills but believe
it or not, is actually more valuable. Once the wolves at the
door are fed of course....
Diesel Duck 55: This is a substantial cruising home! Elsewhere on this site you can see photos of her being built. Here she is soon after her launch. New interior plan 1/19/06. French sedan conceptual study added 7/3/06
Diesel Duck 55-Plus: (revised 7/26/08) A slightly enlarged 55 with the "sugar scoop" (as somebody called it) transom that seems to be happening to all the new DUCKS. It makes sense, and doesn't look to bad when you get used to it. The transom, I mean. The DUCK itself is gorgeous of course! AND, a throw-back to our roots, there's a 59 Traditional based on the same hull, just with a "normal" transom" and of course, outside rudder!
George's Main Site: Here's where you'll find all of my OTHER cruising power designs as well as my sail designs. We spun this DUCK site off the main site because DUCK stuff was growing so rapidly! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE these boats! But I like the other stuff too! For instance, the 55' IDLEWILD successfully made it through the NW passage in '05 and then went on around the world. She finished her circumnavigation in Vancouver, BC., in the process setting the record for the longest non stop voyage ever done in a power yacht. You'll see her, and others, at George Buehler Yacht Design, our main site.
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