Mister Simms
A 36' Trunk-Cabin Cruiser
By William Atkin
A Husky Cruiser
Webster Eldredge, who runs a nice little boat shop down at Noank, Conn., built a cruiser similar in some respects to Mister Simms for one of my client-friends, William R. Owings, of Springfield, Mass. This was several years ago and the boat has since been used off the end of Long Island Sound, which can be a roughish old spot. Mr. Owings tells me his cruiser is a most comfortable craft. She is powered with a heavy duty 40 h.p. engine and will do very nearly 11 real miles, hour in and hour out. The Eldredge-built cruiser is, however, two feet longer than Mister Simms, and draws only four feet against four feet six inches for the newer design shown herewith. Also the bigger boat depends upon inside ballast alone, while Mister Simms carries 2,600 pounds on the keel outside. She will need another 1,600 pounds inside.

Now I have gotten away ahead of my story and must get back to the dimensions of Mister Simms. Over all she is just 36 feet, on the water line 35 feet, and on the beam 11 feet. Her freeboard at the bow is 5 feet 6 inches; at the stern 4 feet, and at the lowest point 3 feet 7 inches. This is a heavy displacement type and must not be confused with the average lightly built motor boat. A heavy boat is always comfortable especially in rough and bad weather. She is less lively than a light craft, dryer, and her weight absorbs engine vibration nicely. In case of grounding there is little to worry about except a loss of time for even a bad pounding will do little damage. And a heavy boat need not be slow; in fact it seems to me that in any kind of a sea that the heavy boat plugs along keeping up a high average speed; while, the lighter sister is obliged to slow down if the going gets bad at all.

Mister Simms is a trunk cabin boat and I have left a nice wide deck all around the craft. There is a bulwark rail 6 inches high from end to end giving security when going forward to handle anchors or lines. The pilot house gives protection; but being short allows the sun to shine in the after end of the cockpit and, too, in case one wishes to use the boat for fishing gives headroom for poles and gear. The cockpit floor is well above the water line and is of course self-bailing. Unlike many motor boats Mister Simms has a bridge deck between the cockpit and the deck house. Now this means that one must step over this in going below which is not a hardship. It also means that the hull will be greatly strengthened because the bridge deck ties the sides of the hull together thus preventing wringing and panting. Also the bridge deck brings the sill of the companionway doors well above any water that might find its way into the cockpit in the event of a sea coming over the stern.

Stepping below the unusual size of Mister Simms begins to be appreciated. First there is a big slow turning 50 h.p. engine, 700 r.p.m., under the cockpit floor and completely separated from the cabin by a water-tight bulkhead. Everything connected with the engine, including fuel tanks, batteries, etc., are abaft this bulkhead. The galley is located on the port side and is 5 feet 4 inches long, containing ice box up under the bridge deck, sink, coal range, large lockers for dishes, locker for coal, and a closet under the sink for pots and pans. On the port hand there is a chart table with fine big lockers below. The cabin is divided into two parts by the toilet room and clothes locker.

The main cabin is fitted with two seats and has folding berths behind these. The folding berths are in the form of boxes 6 feet 2 inches long and 2 feet 4 inches wide. Springs are built into these and mattresses. They swing on a pivot hinge, each end. When folded up the bottom of the bunks form lazy backs for the seats. Then behind the folding bunks will be found nice big lockers for blankets, and linen, and things.The forward cabin sleeps two on built-in berths 24 inches wide and, of course, full length. You, will notice that the cabin trunk extends over the forward cabin for a matter of 2 feet which provides full headroom for dressing. There is a little seat built in between the ends of berths and beneath this and the bunks there are lockers, for anchor chain, and other miscellaneous gear.

Now to return to the hull. The drawing of the lines show a burdensome hull of easy form and rather good deadrise. The keel has ample drag and from station 4, and aft the bottom is a straight line. The keel extends under the propeller and serves as a hanger for the heel of the rudder. Here you have excellent protection for the propeller and the rudder. The stern will have well-rounded quarters after the manner of the Banks fishermen. This gives the appearance of tumble home. The rudder is hung outside which is the best place for it from every angle.
 
PHOTOS OF MISTER SIMMS
Plans for Mister Simms are $100

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