D E S I G N  &   H I S T O R Y

The W17 was produced from 1975 until 1981 with a little over 100 boats built.  The highest hull number to date submitted by an owner is #103 made in April of 1980 so a few more are possible since production stopped some time in 1981.  The Watkins Brothers are listed as the designers.  More information on the origin of the design is available on the History page.

              Specifications

 

LOA                                        17’ 0”

DWL…………………………..15’ 10”

Beam………………………..…..6’ 5”

Draft Centerboard up………...   7”

Draft Centerboard down……..3’6”

Displacement……………...580 Lbs

Ballast external………….….90 Lbs

Rig ……………….Fractional Sloop

Sail Area (total)……..…..145 sq. ft.

Cockpit length………………….9 ft.

Designer…………....Watkins Bros.

 

H U L L  &   D E C K

The hull is laminated in one piece with hand laid 24 oz. woven roving, with additional layers of laminate in high stress areas.  The centerboard trunk is molded into the hull forming a one piece construction.  Ninety pounds of centerboard made of hand laid fiberglass and encapsulated lead provide a low center of gravity and minimum angle of heel.  The deck is single piece molded fiberglass using alternate layers of hand laid 24 oz. woven roving and mat with plywood core for stiffening.  Non skid deck surfaces are molded in.  Positive floatation is achieved with over 40 cubic feet of foam as standard equipment.  She rides high and is self righting with a self bailing cockpit.  All hardware is thru bolted with 18-8 stainless steel fasteners using a three step bedding procedure and built in backup plates. 

R U D D E R  &  S T E E R I N G

The kick up rudder is made of Philippine mahogany with a tapered trailing edge.  Rudder side plates are anodized aluminum with 1/4 inch wall thickness.

S P A R S  &  R I G G I N G

All spars (mast, boom, and spreaders) are anodized extruded aluminum .  The standing rigging is made of 3/32 stainless steel wire. The forestay attaches to the stem head fitting at the bow. This is fabricated of welded stainless steel backup plates and through bolted to the hull. All other stays and shrouds are attached to chainplates at the edge of the deck and are through bolted to the hull. Additional fiberglass reinforcement is molded into the hull in all chainplate areas. The mast and boom were made by Kenyan.

L A U N C H I N G & T R A I L E R I N G

The boat is trailerable and launchable from a hot dipped galvanized trailer

Additional information can be found on the History page and in Photo Albums.  The Downloads page has a downloadable and printable copy of the original sales brochure.

If you have information, literature, advertisements for this model which you do not find hear, please consider helping us by sending a scanned copy.  Click on the “About Us” on the home page to find out how you can help.

Last updated 10/20/2006

 

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