Lorraine Hacker Designed 16ft Custom Built Wooden Boat

The Lorraine 16ft is a refined and performance-oriented runabout designed by J. Hacker, embodying the sleek proportions and purposeful engineering characteristic of early American powerboats. At 16 feet in length, Lorraine delivers an ideal balance between compact agility and confident open-water handling.

Originally configured with a 3-cylinder, 2-stroke Pierce-Budd engine producing approximately 25 horsepower, she was paired with a twin-blade 16″ propeller with 22″ pitch-reportedly achieving speeds of up to 30 mph. Her hull form reflects this performance intent, with clean entry lines forward and a smooth, efficient run aft.

With a maximum beam of 56 inches (just over 4.5 feet), Lorraine maintains a narrow, fast profile while still offering sufficient cockpit space for recreational cruising. Buyers planning to install similarly sized engines may request custom engine bed configurations at no additional cost, ensuring proper fitment and shaft alignment.

All structural components are carefully developed from the original design, allowing for straightforward assembly and faithful reproduction of this classic hull.

Principal Dimensions

• Length Overall (LOA): 16ft

• Maximum Beam: 56 in (4ft 8 in approx.)

• Engine (original spec): 3-cyl 2-stroke, ~25 hp

• Propeller: 16″ diameter × 22″ pitch

• Top Speed (reported): ~30 mph

This flexibility allows builders to adapt the design while maintaining hull geometry and structural integrity.

This wooden boat crafted by us is built from Classic Wooden Plan, with full credit given to the original designers. For each custom commission, we acquire the appropriate plans and construct the boat to order-offering both full-size vessels and finely detailed scale models. Lorraine reflects the period when small-displacement engines and lightweight wooden hulls defined accessible performance boating.

Designed during a time when innovation in marine propulsion was rapidly evolving, this 16-foot Hacker design demonstrates how modest horsepower could be transformed into impressive speed through efficient hull shaping and careful weight distribution.

Her narrow beam, balanced sheer, and purposeful transom geometry reveal a focus on hydrodynamic efficiency rather than excess-making Lorraine a classic example of early performance-minded recreational craft.

Today, she stands as a testament to thoughtful engineering, compact power, and timeless wooden boat aesthetics.