Design
Zipper
Designed by Andrew Walters
Zipper is an 11 ft runabout with a 4 ft beam, drawn by Andrew Walters as a modern take on the Class B stock utility racing boats that Hal Kelly and William Jackson designed in the 1950s. The look is period, the build is not: where the originals were framed and fastened, Zipper goes together in the Instant Boat manner, with plywood panels joined by glass tape set in polyester or epoxy resin.
The designer reckons 10 hp is enough to get her planing at better than 30 mph, which is a lot of fun from a boat this size. The materials list is short, calling for six sheets of marine plywood in three thicknesses plus a modest amount of solid timber for the skid, gunwales, coaming and seat supports. A good pick for someone who wants a small, quick retro runabout without learning traditional framing first.
What building a Zipper actually takes
Medians from the build logs kept on this site, not the designer’s estimate. Nobody has logged this boat here yet, so they are empty until the first builder does.
Those medians firm up as more people log this boat.
Builds of this boat
Nobody has logged a Zipper here yet.
If you are building one, yours becomes the reference: the page the next person building this boat finds when they search for it. One photo and one line is a valid first entry.
Start the first log of this boatBoats like this one
Same type, closest in length.
| Design | Plans from | LOA | Logs |
|---|---|---|---|
| TNT | Glen-L Marine | 11′ 0″ (3.35 m) | 0 |
| Utility | Glen-L Marine | 11′ 0″ (3.35 m) | 0 |
| Silver 333 | BCA Demco | 3.33 m (10′ 11″) | 0 |
| Dyno Jet | Glen-L Marine | 11′ 1″ (3.38 m) | 0 |
| Dyno Mite | Glen-L Marine | 11′ 1″ (3.38 m) | 0 |
| Jon Boat / Garvey 11 | Bateau | 11′ 1″ (3.38 m) | 0 |