33' Hylan/Brendze Cruiser (2018) - EASTWARD

EASTWARD’s owner was inspired by Doug Hylan’s trailerable 28′ MARSH HEN design, which appeared in Woodenboat Magazine some years back. A life-long sailor of the designs of John Alden, L. F. Herreshoff, Murray Peterson, Fenwick Williams, Ray Hunt and others, he was guided by Herreshoff’s advice that, “Simplicity afloat is the surest guarantee of happiness.”

Remembering the Marsh Hen design when it was time for a powerboat, he asked Doug about the possibility of a longer version, while maintaining the 8’6” maximum beam required for over-the-road towing. Doug was about to set out for the Bahamas for the winter but agreed to draw the larger hull. The rest of the design would be up to EASTWARD’S future owner, who had professional yacht design and building experience of his own.

EASTWARD’s hull was built that winter in Newport, RI. During the construction, her owner worked with Ezra Smith, NA, to draw the rest of the design. Construction was then completed by Tom Townsend and crew at his shop in Mystic, CT., winning 1st Prize for “Best Powerboat, New Construction”, at Mystic Seaport that Spring.

Since then, her owner has summered aboard and cruised the New England coast in quiet, comfortable simplicity. He reports that she is indeed a dream-come-true.

EASTWARD’s hull is descended from the easily-driven powerboat designs of early 20th Century naval architect, William Hand, and later massaged into the fuel efficient HANDYBILLY model attributed to Harry Bryan.

EASTWARD’s layout and accommodations are as follows:

Way forward, there is an open, airy, easily accessed forepeak, designed for dry storage of clothes and gear. (All groundtackle is stowed in and handled from the cockpit.) The rest of the cabin is a larger version of the classic, L.Francis Herreshoff “ROZINANTE” cabin layout, with an expansive, comfortable double-berth (stowage under.) There is a “Cubic Mini” wood-burning stove to port and a sling chair, opposite, for reading and enjoying the fire. (see: The Compleat Cruiser by L.F. Herreshoff) EASTWARD’s cockpit is spacious and laid out for ease of handling with integrated hydraulic/auto-pilot steering and RayMarine Navigation System to starboard. There is a well-found galley to port, which becomes a comfortable seat when not in use. The self-draining cockpit is long with comfortable bench-seating running fore and aft, with well-ventilated, dry stowage, under. The cockpit seating is designed to sleep up to 4 guests comfortably for overnight cruising and accommodate up to 8 comfortably for food, drink and a good gam at a teak dining table that retracts flat and out of sight as part of the laid-teak cockpit sole when not in use. The table can also be left up while running, if so desired. The cockpit can easily accommodate 10 people comfortably for a day trip. The steering station, galley and 2/3rds of the cockpit are covered by a solid canopy, which supports the radar dome, antennas and flush-mounted solar panel. There is also comfortable seating either side of the engine box, aft. The entire arrangement can be made weather-tight with fitted, removable canvas-work or left open in good weather with fitted, removable mosquito-netting, as required. Power is a very quiet 115HP, 4-stoke, Yamaha outboard in an enclosed well, aft. Quiet conversation is easy at EASTWARD’S cruising speed of 8-10kts., with a top speed of 15Kts. Fuel consumption is 1 to 1.5Gals/Hr. at cruising speed. EASTWARD’s has a “C-Head” composting toilet, which is secured to the cockpit sole, just forward of the engine box and doubles as an extra seat when stowed, incognito, under its custom-fitted canvas cover. The head can be easily moved below for more private use, if so desired. EASTWARD carries 50 gallons of gasoline and 48 gallons of fresh water in custom, stainless steel tanks under the cockpit sole.