Current Designs

“Tink is the finest and purest boat I’ve ever sailed. She’s really, really fast. They hit it out of the park.”

Jack Lefort, Owner of Tink

The Brooklin Boat Yard Design Team

Tink is the latest design + build from Brooklin Boat Yard.

Imagine combining world-class design, the best materials and the finest craftsmanship to create a boat that performs. Tink is the result of this perfect formula, and she can move.

Designed by Will Sturdy and commissioned by an avid racer, Tink is an updated version of the classic Eggemoggin 47.

When Tink was only a few months old, she dominated NYYC’s Newport Race Week. In the words of her racer owner, “She is the perfect boat.”

See more about the amazing Tink here.

Brooklin Boat Yard Designs 2015-Present

57’ Fast Cruising Sloop 2021

A very experienced sailor commissioned this design for a fast cruising sloop.

The design brief was complex, with high requirements for performance, ease of handling, and accomodations for a large family. All in all, she is not too different from many production and semi-custom yachts on the market with one exception- it needed to fit within a classic New England aesthetic and not look like a floating shoebox.

The end result is a unique custom yacht that is sure to stand out in any harbor.

We build one-of-a-kind boats.

The average time a Brooklin Boat Yard craftsman has been here is fifteen years, and many of our team members have been here for much longer. We accomplish boatbuilding milestones every single day.

While we are best known for our “Spirit of Tradition” builds, we continue to push the envelope with a wide variety of small craft. From lobster boats to offshore cruising yachts to high-performance race boats, our custom approach to building yachts results in unique works of craftsmanship unparalleled anywhere else in the world.

Our project managers, Eric Blake and Brian Larkin, are masters of craftsmanship, but they also understand the importance of design. With every step, the design office and project manager work together to accomplish a dream; the one-of-a-kind Brooklin Boat Yard boat.

Great Cove 27’ 2019

This fun little daysailer was designed for a home-builder who is currently building this boat in his New Hampshire workshop. We're all really looking forward to seeing her in the water! The inspiration for this design came from the Stuart Knockabout designed by L. F. Herreshoff above water, but our challenge was to combine that aesthetic with a modern underbody and rig to keep her competitive with modern designs in local club racing. A lightweight cold-molded hull, electric propulsion, lifting keel, and a spacious cockpit combine to pull together some of the latest developments of modern yacht design into a simple and classic daysailer.

“I tell friends and clients that every inch of Legend was built by hand with pride. Every inch… from the helm to the custom hardware down to the engine mounts. Legend is a high tech replica of a famous boat which would have made my Dad and grandfather proud. The crew knew they were building something truly special, and they are now connected to the Hemingway story, too.”

Wes Wheeler, Legend & Syntax

38’ Power Cruiser 2020

These two design concepts came about when a client approached us about building a larger version of the Aroha.

As the concept developed, the customer decided to focus on a higher speed range so the design morphed into an intriguing concept for a fast but simple boat.

Light displacement paired with twin 200hp outboards would result in a comfortable and extremely efficient 25kt cruise. The unique cockpit layout is equally perfect for a couple cruising for the weekend or a group of friends out for an afternoon.

Aroha

Many years ago, Wooden Boat published a tantalizing article about a small yacht called Whio built by Peter Sewell down in New Zealand. After years of circling back to this design, we partnered with Off Center Harbor and Peter to bring this design to the homebuild market.

While keeping the overall design of the boat true to Peter's concept, we redesigned the structure and build methods to simplify the construction and produced a full set of drawings and CNC cut jigwork. In 2021, we launched the first hull to this design. Several more have been launched and dozens more are under construction all over the world.

This design showcases how amazingly efficient a lightweight, long, and narrow powerboat can be with moderate power. Her 38hp diesel engine pushes her along at around 15 knots wide open. But, at an optimal cruise speed of about 10-12 knots, she burns just under 1 gal of fuel per hour - roughly 12 Nmi to the gallon!

The first Aroha design to be built is named Nymph and was launched in 2021.

About Our Designers

Brooklin Boat Yard has maintained an active design office since its inception in 1960. During his lifetime, founder Joel White designed a wide variety of boats, from small dinghies to large cruising and racing yachts, both power and sail. 

Following Joel, Bob Stephens took over as lead designer at Brooklin Boat Yard. Bob had worked under Joel for many years, and following Joel’s passing carried on the legacy in designing many beautiful yachts built by Brooklin Boat Yard. Bob and his co-designer Paul Waring have since formed the independent firm of Stephens Waring Yacht Design.

Today the Brooklin Boat Yard design office is led by Will Sturdy and is supported by project managers Brian Larkin and Eric Blake.

Along with the designs of Joel and other in-house designers, new boats built at Brooklin Boat Yard have come from the drawing boards of some of the world’s leading yacht designers including Jim Taylor, Sparkman & Stephens, Dieter Empacher, Alden Yacht Design, Germán Frers, and Botin Partners.

36’ Express Cruiser 2022

Length: 36'

Beam: 12'-6"

Displacement: 14,500 lbs

Power: 2x 400hp outboards

Max Speed: 45 kts

Construction: Cold-Molded Wood Composite

Hot on the heels of Marcy, the 32ft express cruiser we launched in 2021, a client approached us with the idea of building a larger boat built on a similar concept but with increased cruising accommodations.

This design is part Downeast aesthetic, part outboard express, and a great illustration of what is possible within a custom design process. This particular boat will be destined for Florida, so a spacious climate-controlled wheelhouse is a must.

“The crew at Brooklin Boat Yard is intellectually honest. My project was delivered on time, and the quality is incredible. I couldn’t be happier.”

Harvey Jones, Outlier

62’ Cruising Sloop 2019

While in Tasmania for the wooden boat show, Eric Blake, one of our project managers, had the opportunity to spend some time cruising aboard a lovely little motor sailor. What particularly got his attention was how comfortable this small, but heavy boat was in the big seas and high winds off the coast of Tasmania. This design was not commissioned by a particular customer, but represents a concept for a handsomely rugged offshore cruiser unlike anything else on the market today. Our focus is typically on pushing displacement as low as possible to maximize performance and minimize loads. This is a great way to go in coastal areas, but when exploring some of the more rugged parts of the world it's hard to beat the seakeeping and carrying capacity that comes with displacement.

We developed two arrangement concepts based on the same parent hull shape. A pilothouse arrangement with the galley up melds inside and outside spaces, allowing for "above deck" living whatever the weather. The deck-saloon arrangement keeps the raised pilothouse space and above-deck nav station, but brings the galley and living spaces down into the cozy interior. The hefty displacement provides lots of elbow room down below, generous space for tankage, and spacious locker spaces for cruising gear.

The Design Process

The on-site design office plays an integral part in every build. In addition to creating our own designs, we provide support for build projects from the drawing board of other designers. Depending on the project, our build support services can include detailed design and shop drawings, structural design, interior design, weight analysis and tracking, 3D modeling, etc. Having these capabilities on-site allows a seamless integration of modern design methods and CNC technology with hands-on craftsmanship.

The design process starts with establishing the wants and needs of the client. This phase typically consists of one or two informal meetings to answer basic questions and establish a design brief that outlines how the yacht will be used.

Based on that brief we will sketch a preliminary concept. This is typically a simple 2D sketch of an outboard profile and arrangement, something real to help guide the design process and narrow in on a design that captures the client’s vision. This is an iterative process, and typically involves several rounds of sketches and meetings to refine the concept. 

Once we have a preliminary concept, the real design work begins. The design process is often referred to as a spiral – starting with broad brushstrokes, we create and refine 3D shapes, engineer structures, lay out systems, optimize the sailplan and powering, and run weight and balance analysis. Along the way, we continue to meet with the client and incorporate their feedback into our design process. Every element of a yacht is interrelated, so this isn’t a linear process. Every change to one area has a follow-on effect elsewhere in the design, so it takes many passes around the design spiral to produce a complete, cohesive design. This phase is called the preliminary design phase. At the end of it, we have a set of drawings and specifications needed to put together a complete bid package.

Working with the project managers, our design office creates a build proposal detailing costs and a timeline for construction. Once a build contract is signed, the fun really begins as a new yacht begins to take shape. We work side-by-side with the build crew as we delve into the next level of detail in the design- creating detailed shop drawings, tracking weights, and refining details to make sure that every single part of the yacht is absolutely perfect.

The day a yacht is complete and ready for launch is a big deal at Brooklin Boat Yard. The whole crew, including family, friends, and most of the Brooklin community, comes down to the yard to celebrate. The owner and family typically say a few words, then for the first time the new yacht comes alive in the environment for which she was built. Following extensive sea trials to make sure everything is working just right, the yacht is finally delivered to her new owner. The dream has become reality.

72’ Cruising Sloop

The concept we made for a 60' offshore cruising yacht caught the eye of a potential customer, and he asked us to develop a larger version of that design geared towards his particular use profile. This handsome craft brings together modern performance and interior spaces with a timelessly classic aesthetic.

“I’ve built several custom boats over the years, but building Tink with Brooklin Boat Yard was by far the best experience yet. They’re just really nice guys and completely open to new ideas. They’re very accommodating and they truly listen.”

Jack Lefort, Tink

61’ Cruising Motor Yacht 2017

When a longtime sailor considers transitioning to a motoryacht, the design brief is always unique. In this case, speed took a back seat to comfort, both at dock and underway. The design brief originally called for a very traditional early 1900s aesthetic, inspired by the Elco cruisers and Lake Union Dreamboats. As the design developed, the owner pushed us to think outside the box and worked with us to develop a truly unique look that ticked all the boxes of his use profile. The arrangement is simple, but carefully refined. A low target cruise speed allowed for a spacious semi-displacement hull with lots of room for machinery, tankage, and generous spaces above and below decks. One example of a carefully thought out detail is the crew accommodations. Many small motoryachts are sold without thought to future crew needs, or with a completely separate and cramped hole for a paid hand. This owner had enough experience with how he used his boats to know that he would want a part-time captain, but didn't want the captain to have to settle for second-class accommodations. We developed an arrangement that combined accommodations that allow for seperation and privacy for the owner and his family while providing comfortable accommodations for a captain. All while allowing the space to be dual-use for guests when the captain was not on board.

24’ Saltwater Runabout 2015

The Albury Runabouts are a classic example of form meeting function. Designed for a gentle ride in the often choppy water of the Bahamas, the original Albury Runabouts earned a reputation for being a practical, simple, and efficient little boat. A long time Brooklin Boat Yard customer commissioned us to design a boat that captured the rugged efficiency of the Albury in a design with a little more space for his family and a more stylized aesthetic. This design captures the spirit of the Albury with a more refined hull shape and aesthetic. Construction has been optimized to make the most of the simplicity and ruggedness of modern cold-molded construction. While in the concept stage, this design caught the eye of a boatbuilder in South Carolina, who commissioned us to provide a set of drawings for him to build from. This design is available as a complete design package for commercial or home builders.

“I’ve worked with Brooklin Boat Yard since 2013, and the best way to put it is… they’re just really great people. They work to find solutions we haven’t found yet. What makes them different is they’ve got a real commitment to the project, and they are respectful of budgets. They’re a joy to work with.”

Skip Mattos, Harken

39’ Express Cruiser 2017

This design started when a customer approached us about finishing off a molded FRP lobster-boat hull. We developed a few preliminary designes based on a number of different hulls, but as the design brief developed it quickly became apparent that a custom hull would best fit this customer's needs. The target use consisted mostly of cruising with his wife in the Bahamas, so shallow draught was a paramount consideration. We melded an efficient modern planing hull shape and tunnel with the above-water aesthetics of a Maine lobsteryacht to meet all of his requirements. The arrangement combines equally generous spaces for several guests on a day trip with comfortable cruising for a couple for weeks at a time.

“They make you feel like family. I expected to see an aging group of old master craftsmen. For sure the master craftsmen are there, but a younger group of dedicated craftsmen are there, too. And they seem to love working there. The project manager on our boat was so good I told him I would offer him a job in my company if he was ever interested. His response was, ‘You couldn’t pay me enough to even think about it.’ Building the boat was as much fun as sailing it is.”

Ron Zarrella, Blackfish

Runabout Cruiser 2018

Many of our design clients commission designs from the Brooklin Boat Yard design office after learning about our capabilities through other projects. Such was the case with this design. After working with us as an owner's advisor for a few rebuilds of classic runabouts, this owner turned to the BBY design office when it came to design his own "dream boat". Based on the aesthetic of classic gold-cup racers, this triple cockpit runabout was designed to be the ultimate "family runabout" for the lakes of upstate New York.

85’ Classic Motor Yacht 2021

Superyacht design has come a long way in the last century. Systems that couldn't be dreamed of just a few years ago are commonplace today. Crew expectations and regulatory requirements couldn't be more different. Even the way owner's and their families use their yachts has evolved into a completely different use profile. The one thing that hasn't changed is the eye-catching beauty of a properly proportioned classic aesthetic. We were tasked with designing a motor yacht that integrated a fully modern use profile, complete with water toys and all the rest, into a timeless aesthetic.

“I was thoroughly pleased with our custom boatbuilding experience at Brooklin Boatyard. The crew, led by Brian Larkin, were easy to work with and willing to try new things as well as recommend solutions based on their extensive past projects. Our project included some challenging metal work and the fabrication exceeded our expectations. I look forward to our next project together.”

Matthew Smith, Naval Architect

100’ Spirit of Tradition Schooner 2019

This concept was drawn up for a customer interested in building a yacht competitive with some of the most eye-catching classic and modern--classic yachts both in performance and visual appeal. Imagine this beautful craft powering through the ocean swells off St Barths! Based on the expertise of the sailmakers at Doyle Sails, we generated a few conceptual sailplans that would make the most of modern sail developments within a classic yacht framework.

Eggemoggin 47+

The first Eggemoggin 47+, Tink, was launched in Spring of 2022.

This design is the latest iteration of the popular Eggemoggin 47, four of which were built before the launch of Tink in 2022.

This version of the popular racing daysailer is faster, easier to sail, and more comfortable than its predecessors.

1/3 of our customers build more than one boat with us.