1958 Classic Willis Rossiter Picnic Cruiser9m

Designer: Willis Rossiter
Builder: Willis Rossiter / Dark Harbor Boat Yard (Islesboro, Maine)
Year Built: 1958
LOD: 31’, 0”
Beam: 9’, 2”
Draft: 3’, 6”
Propulsion: 2007, Crusader“Captain’s Choice”, V-8 gasoline, 5.7liter (350 cubic inch) engine with multi-port fuel injection.
Transmission: Borg Warner “Velvet Drive” model 10-18-008 hydraulic gear with 2:1reduction gear.
Fuel Capacity: 60 Gallons total in 2 stainless steel tanks
Cruising Speed: 12-13 knots (10GPH @ 12 knots)
Max Speed: 16+ knots

General: Hull is a typical small wooden lobster boat of built-down construction type with the unique features of a reverse-curved (clipper) stem, and the construction aft eliminating the stern post.
Planking: Cedar carvel planking, caulked seam, approx. thickness 1”
Frames: Steam bent oak, 1.25 X 1.25”, spaced 11” C-C.

Fastenings: Bronze screw. Ceiling fastening and shear clamp bolting is steel.
Shear Clamp: Oak, bolted to frames and deck beams
Floor timbers: Oak, approx. depth is 9”, placed at every other frame, 1 3/8” thickness
Stem: Oak
Shaft log: Oak
Transom: Planked over vertical Oak frames and margin with interior ceiling
Structural keel: Oak, with oak gripe timber, stem, logged-up deadwood aft,with oak horn timber.
Waterline:There is a spray rail at the waterline that runs aft from the stem to near the aft end of the canopy. Above the spray rail there is a thin sheathing plank about ½” thick X 6” wide, which was probably put on as ice sheathing when the boat was used as a launch running from Lincolnville to Islesboro. Aft of spray rail there is a thin .75” thick X 1.25” wide batten running all the way aft to the stern. Above the batten by about 10” there is a quarter guard running forward to end near the aft end of the spray rail. The spray rail’s purpose is mainly to throw the bow wave out and away from the hull, and partly to help lift the bow as the boat starts going faster. The quarter guard is there to protect the hull when the boat is coming alongside a dock or float.

Douglas Fir over Oak frames
Painted Tufflex non-skid deck covering
Toe Rails: Painted Oak
Cast bronze docking quarter cleats and mid-ships cleats
Samson post forward
Cast bronze chocks forward Bronze ½ oval cockpit coaming and taff rail tops

Sides: Painted plank cabin sides and ends screwed to carlins and corner posts
Sawn timber coach roof beams
Marine plywood coach roof top Painted Tufflex non-skid cabin top covering
Dorade vent center line aft
Full length teak hand rails port and starboard
Hinged door companionway with slide-out overhead
Fixed windows
Marine plywood bulkhead at the after end of the cabin trunk.
New port lights 2022

Canopy is an enlarged “lobster boat” type canopy / wheelhouse with a windshield forward, fully glazed side windows and an open back with canvas and isinglass enclosure curtains. Wheelhouse top and sides are of marine plywood with sawn timber framing.
All windows are fixed in place with the exception of the window directly in front of helm station which opens for ventilation
Dorade vent
Teak hand rails port and starboard on house top
Teak grab rails port and starboard at aft end of house.
New side windows 2019

Painted Oak cockpit coamings
Sheathed hull interior Marine plywood cockpit sole over sawn oak frames
Self-bailing cockpit with two scuppers through the stern, approx. 1” X 2” each.
Small circular fiberglass hatch above the rudder shaft.
Steel hatch just aft of engine for access to stuffing box.
Large sound insulated engine hatch
Large teak bench seat aft

Very simple interior consisting on two settee berths in a V-configuration allowing for sleeping accommodations for two on the occasional over night cruise.
A Porta-pottie type marine head is carried for necessities.

Description: Single screw, single engine
Engine Year: 2007Make: CrusaderModel: “Captain’s Choice”Engine Description: V8 gasoline engine which is a marine conversion of a General Motors 5.7liter (350 cubic inch) engine with multi-port fuel injection.
Cooling system: Freshwater cooled by heat exchanger
Groco raw water filter
Controls: Dual lever Teleflex cable control
Instrumentation: Tachometer, oil pressure, engine temperature and voltage gauges
Reverse Gear: Borg Warner “Velvet Drive” model 10-18-008 hydraulic gear with 2:1reduction gear.
Shaft: Stainless steel shaft
Stuffing box: Internal, fixed
Flex coupling: Engine mounts
Stern bearing: Neoprene water lubricated bearing
Propeller: 4-blade bronze propeller
Fuel Tanks: (2) welded stainless steel tanks, approximately 30 gallons each
Fuel Tank Location: Outboard of engine, above platform deck
Tank fill: Outboard
Tank vent: Outboard
Shut off valves: ball valve
Feed lines: Neoprene, type A1
Fuel filters: spin on primary and secondary
Exhaust System: Wet exhaust: Iron water cooled manifold with water injection, Neoprene steam hose to tailpipe
Engine Ventilation: Forced draft. DC axial vane blower, draws from lowest point of bilge.

6-Spoke varnished wood steering wheel
Mechanical gear and drag link
Cast bronze rudder blade
1” Bronze rudder post
Upper and lower rudder bearings

12-Volt ship’s system
Two (2) heavy duty marine batteries
Cole-Hersee 4-position battery selector switch
Blue Seas circuit panel
Battery charging by engine alternator and Ganz solar panel

Wilfred O. White and Sons helm compass
Icom IC-M4028 VHF radio
Raymarine C80 Radar
Raymarine C80 GPS Chartplotter
West Marine Blue Tooth enabled / Sirius radio

Type II PFD/s (7ea) in storage bags
Life ring
Navigational lighting
DHR hand operated spotlight
Ongaro horn

Large Danforth anchor with chain and rode
Windline Marine stainless steel bow anchor roller

Ultra Safety Systems high water alarm
Rule electric / automatic bilge pump
Thirsty Mate manual bilge pump

Dock lines (4ea)
Fenders (4ea)
Telescoping aluminum boat hook
Rope and plastic tread swim / boarding ladder
Gull sweep
AFI electric windshield wipers at helm and passenger windows