21ft "Pretty Marsh" Wooden Runabout | Custom Build Consultation Deposit

The 21ft Pretty Marsh Runabout is a refined Downeast-inspired wooden speedboat designed by Doug Hylan. Drawing from Maine's traditional coastal craft, this 21-foot runabout blends seaworthy hull form with elegant sheer lines and a practical cockpit layout. The design reflects Hylan's signature approach-combining working-boat heritage with recreational performance and timeless wooden aesthetics. Our workshop faithfully recreates this distinguished design using premium marine materials-including Western Red Cedar, Mahogany, Teak, and fiberglass reinforcement sealed with marine-grade epoxy and finished with System Three marine spar varnish. Each vessel is handcrafted using traditional wooden construction methods, ensuring structural integrity while preserving authentic craftsmanship. Clean deck detailing, a well-balanced helm position, and carefully finished interior elements highlight meticulous build quality. Typical construction time ranges from 5-7 months depending on configuration and customization. Clients may tailor engine configuration (inboard or outboard), cockpit seating arrangement, dashboard layout, hardware finish, upholstery selection, and deck accents-creating a fully bespoke classic runabout suited to personal cruising style. General Specifications: - Designer: Doug Hylan - Length Overall (LOA): 21ft - Beam: 7.3ft - Draft: 13 1/2″ - Displacement: 2800lbs - Propulsion: 80-200 hp inboard or outboard engine This wooden boat crafted by us is built from woodenboat.com plans, with full credit given to the original designers. For each custom commission, we acquire the appropriate plans and construct the vessel to order-offering both full-size boats and finely detailed scale models. Disclaimer: 21' Pretty Marsh Runabout is a design by Doug Hylan. Wooden Boat USA is not affiliated with or endorsed by Doug Hylan in any way. Contact us to explore specifications, customization options, and build schedules for your 21 Pretty Marsh Runabout. The 21' Pretty Marsh Runabout was designed by Doug Hylan as a modern interpretation of Maine's traditional Downeast working boats. Drawing inspiration from the lobster boats and inshore utility craft that have operated for generations along the New England coast, Hylan refined their seaworthy hull forms into an elegant recreational runabout. The design preserves hallmark features such as a flared bow, moderate draft, and balanced sheer-elements historically valued for their ability to handle variable coastal conditions. Created during the late 20th-century resurgence of interest in custom wooden boatbuilding, the Pretty Marsh Runabout reflects a broader movement that sought to reconnect modern boating with regional craftsmanship. Rather than replicating high-speed mahogany racers of the mid-century era, Hylan focused on practical performance, fuel efficiency, and everyday usability-qualities long associated with Maine's boatbuilding heritage. The 21-foot length was carefully chosen to provide generous cockpit space while maintaining trailerability and ease of ownership. Today, the 21' Pretty Marsh Runabout stands as a respected example of contemporary classic design. It bridges tradition and modern recreation, honoring the functional roots of Downeast boats while adapting them for comfortable day cruising. As part of Doug Hylan's portfolio of thoughtfully proportioned wooden craft, it continues to embody the enduring values of New England maritime design-simplicity, seaworthiness, and timeless wooden elegance.