TOP HAT - a 26' Vee bottom launch
Good speed and sea keeping ability with low impact & noise


Top Hat outboard engine version

 TOP HAT traces her heritage to the vee bottom boats designed by William. Hand in the early 1900s. Her lines, construction and propulsion have be updated, but the essential virtues remain - seaworthy and seakindly performance, good speeds with modest horsepower, handsome looks and ease of construction.
Top Hat inboard diesel engine version


 A 50 HP Honda outboard in a well gives very quiet operation, easy maintenance and good handling in reverse. Also shown is an alternative inboard engine version.
Plans are well detailed, and consist of 8 sheets: outboard profile, lines & offsets, inboard construction profile, constructions sections, building jig, two detail sheets, and inboard diesel construction.

A CD of photos in JPEG format taken during the construction of the prototype is available and will be a help to all builders.
PARTICULARS

LOA - 26' 5"
BEAM - 7' 3"
DRAFT, motor up - 15"
DISPLACEMENT, outboard version - 3200 lb
HULL TYPE - Vee bottom chine
CONSTRUCTION - Strip plank topsides, double plywood bottom over sawn frames.
ALTERNATIVE CONSTRUCTION - Cold molded.
SUITABLE FOR - Somewhat protected waters.
TRAILERABLE - Yes
PROPULSION - 50 HP Honda outboard or diesel inboard
SPEED - Up to 18 kt.
SKILL REQUIRED - Intermediate
LOFTING REQUIRED - Yes
ALSO AVAILABLE: Photo CD, $50.00
OTHER REFERENCES - Design review by Robert Stephens in WoodenBoat #168, p. 86.

STUDY PLANS -

Click here to download free Top Hat Study Plans (2.4MB Acrobat PDF file).
Includes specifications, sample plans, and sample photos from the Photo CD.

PLANS -

  • PLANS SHEETS - 8
  • PLANS DETAIL - Above average
  • PLANS COST - $300.00 plus $10.00 shipping in US ($30 elsewhere)
  • TO PURCHASE PLANS -
    • To order online using Paypal's ordering system (which accepts Visa/MC/AmEx/Discover/eCheck/PayPal), please select one of the following buttons:

      (Plans, U.S. orders only, $250 + $10 shipping = $260)

      (Plans, international orders including Canada, $250 + $30 shipping = $280)

      (Plans + CD, U.S. orders only, $300 + $10 shipping = $310)

      (Plans + CD, international orders including Canada, US$300 + US$30 shipping = US$330)
    • You can see your Paypal Cart at any time by clicking the button below:
    • You can also order plans by sending a check or money order to D. N. Hylan & Assoc., 53 Benjamin River Dr., Brooklin, ME 04616
    • Many questions about ordering are answered in Frequently Asked Questions.
    • Contact us if you have any questions.
Link to New Construction for this boat

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