Absecon 21

The hull of the Absecon 21 has the sweeping, unbroken sheer that will be much simpler to build than the broken sheer that is typical of the Carolina style boats. She has a good amount of flare forward which transitions to tumblehome back aft. Her bow is designed to gain buoyancy quickly and not plunge down to her sheer before lifting in a head sea. While her topsides look traditional, her bottom is a modern convex V with a fine entry and 18.5 degrees of deadrise at the transom. Wide molded in chine flats are angled down to throw water out and away from the boat. Spray strakes on the bottom are also angled down and positioned to throw the water off further aft, where it is much less likely to be blown into the boat on a windy day.

Her deck layout is a traditional small center console design. An anchor locker is all the way forward, accessed through a door in the anchor locker bulkhead. Just aft of the bow she has wrap around seating with storage below the seats. The cockpit sole runs all the way forward to the anchor locker bulkhead, so these seats can be omitted if you’d like a flush deck forward. You will have to add a small stiffener to the hull sides though, as the seats are structural. The seats can also be extended across the boat if you’d prefer a raised casting deck with additional storage below. The storage areas below the seats can be drained overboard or right onto the deck. Below the sole there are two large storage areas on centerline. There is room just forward of the console for a cooler with a cushion on top.

Included in the plans is a simple leaning post with room below for a cooler or baitwell. Aft of the leaning post there is a storage locker in the sole with the batteries and the fuel filter, with space for a washdown or baitwell pump. Over 35″ (890mm) aft of the leaning post is the motor well. It features a fold down face in order to allow the motor to tilt all the way forward. Of note, the boat has been designed to not use a bracket or trim tabs and does not require them.

The Absecon 21 was designed to run well with a single outboard engine in the 150-225 hp range. With an estimate a top speed of 44 knots with a 225 and with a 150 she will still run 35 knots. Her fuel system is designed to meet the latest EPA  standards and holds 60 usable gallons of fuel. Range should be over 200 miles at a cruise speed in the low to mid 20’s. The aluminum fuel tank is on centerline and over the center of gravity. It sits on 3/8″ thick neoprene strips and has welded on brackets for fastening it to the stringers. This design does not require you to paint, foam, or glass down the tank. There is a soft patch in the sole above the tank for inspection or removal. The tank is designed with clean out ports so you can clean the tank with minimal hassel.

To insure the Absecon 21 is light and strong, she was designed using a strip plank composite structure. Examples of such construction can be found on Ballotte’s under construction Absecon 21.  She is built over a form constructed from inexpensive particle board, mdf or plywood. Her hull is planked with 3/8″ thick x 3/4″-1″ strips of red or white cedar glued together with epoxy. After planking, the hull is faired and covered in two layers of 1208 double bias (+45/-45) fiberglass set in epoxy. It is then faired again and painted before being flipped. Once right side up, you remove the temporary framing, smooth the inside and lay in another layer of 1208 double bias. The stringers and frames are 1/2″ Douglas Fir marine plywood, tabbed in with 1208 fiberglass. The 3/4″ plywood cockpit sole is glued to the stringers and frames as well as tabbed to the hull side all around. The sole is self bailing with drains drilled through the transom.

The plan set for the Absecon 21 is very thorough and includes 21 pages of drawings and full size patterns printed on plastic film for the mold frames. A metric version is available for customers outside the USA.

We also offer kits for the Absecon 21, further expanded in the tab above. If you are interested in a kit please view the above tab and contact us so we can discuss current market values and CNC shops that work best for your location and situation.

The Absecon 21 was designed to appeal to the fisherman who needs a boat that can fish large bodies of water with confidence. Whether you are fishing in large bays or sounds, one of the Great Lakes or out in the ocean, the Absecon 21 is a boat you can count on to get you to the fish!