Some years ago I designed, and built, a 17' V-bottom Sea Bright skiff named Happy Clam for Edgar Davis. By all standards she proved herself efficient, achieving some 14.8 mph with a Palmer 6 hp., single cylinder engine. The boat was comfortable in rough water and her owner ran her out of the inlets of Long Island's Great South Bay, to fish offshore. She was amazingly dry and stable and behaved herself in a completely satisfactory manner. Eventually Ed Davis decided on a larger Happy Clam, conceived for cruising in the Chesapeake during the summer and amongst the islands of the Bahamas in winter: a comfortable dependable powerboat for two companions living aboard for longish periods. Consideration was given to the idea of having an occasional guest, or two, aboard as well as in having a main cabin which reflected the character of the sea.
We spent a pleasant week poking into peaceful creeks on the Chesapeake, discussing the elements we felt would be desirable to incorporate in an able powerboat less than 40' overall. Ed Davis and I agree on matters of simplicity afloat�the elimination of non-essential trappings of shore life. We felt our experience with Happy Clam and our observations of other designs indicated that the modified Sea Bright hull had a great deal to be said for it. On this premise the lines of Namaki were developed.
Namaki is 36' 11" overall and 33' 9" on her waterline. She has a beam of 10' 9" and a draft of 2' 11". There is generous freeboard, some 5' 3" at the bow, 3' 3" least, and 4' 1/2" at her stern.
Below decks, Namaki's design reflects her owner's desire for comfortable quarters for two on extended cruises. The cuddy aft will accommodate two occasional guests. She has 6'3" of headroom.
A Lathrop "Mystic Model" 130-hp gasoline engine turning 1200 rpm gives her a cruising speed of 9 mph. Brought up to 1800 rpm, Namaki will plug along at a comfortable 13 mph.
As indicated on the accompanying drawings the hull has a fine entrance with moderate flare and flam. Purposely there is only modest overhang at bow and stern. Her flat keel, some 23" wide amidships, tapers fore and aft to fair into the stem and propeller post. A hollow, or box keel is formed flowing aft from the normal deadrise at her midship section to a gradually increasing reverse knuckle. Her chine, however, is like that of a more conventional V-bottom hull. The propeller is tucked abaft the box keel, and as can be seen in her lines drawing, gets a full flow of water and is completely protected.
Her owner has expressed his complete satisfaction, stating that "the boat handles easily around docks because of the positive steering made possible by the large outboard rudder and immediate thrust from the propeller at idling speed. We have run the Jersey inlets safely and comfortably in breaking seas without pounding, yawing or taking water on her deck. She is a very practical boat for all coastal waters and has a quiet personality seldom seen today, but very much in keeping with her name, Namaki, a Middle Eastern term meaning 'with salt.'"
