Nelson Zimmer was born in 1922 and by the time he died in 2007, it is thought that he had produced some 500 designs, some of them while working for companies such as Chris-Craft and Toledo Ship Building. In 2018, Zimmer’s Utility Launch caught the attention of Peter Green, then an amateur boatbuilder originally from Ilfracombe in North Devon, England. Peter spent much of his career working in the oil and gas industry all over the world, and while he was based in the U.S., he built a Caledonia yawl. When the time came to move back to the U.K., he sold the boat rather than face the difficulties of shipping it. With a view to building another boat at some point in the future, he perused the designs in Fifty Wooden Boats, published by WoodenBoat. When he found the Zimmer Utility Launch, he immediately bought the plans. Designer Zimmer writes “Since this little launch is only 20′ long on the waterline, it cannot be pushed much beyond seven statute miles per hour, after which she will leave her stern wave behind and begin to squat, to the detriment of increased speed.”
Photographs by the author
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What a beauty! Would love to build one of these with electric power and a bit more height in the cabin
Stephan, electrical power would be a great option assuming you can resolve charging issues. It would gain a lot of cabin space currently taken up by the Yanmar diesel.
We looked at various options to improve headroom whilst not spoiling the lovely low coach roof lines. Final approach was to raise the roof very slightly and lower the bunk level. That has just allowed sitting headroom, but it’s tight.
I purchased the plans from Nelson Zimmer in the mid to late 1980s, as I recall. After the arrival of the plans, there were a few letters back ‘n forth with Mr. Zimmer discussing various questions and specifically a bill of materials so I could estimate the cost of construction. Never did build the boat but cherish the letters from him to this day.
What a beautiful and purposeful compact boat she is, and I particularly like the forward controls.
With a Lenihan Charcoal Heater, that tiny cabin would make a comfortable spot for winter camping.
I’d recommend not using a charcoal heater. Carbon monoxide is deadly.