Daydreaming About Raised-Deck Classics

…And the Story of One Little Weston Farmer Outboard Cruiser

Over the past few weeks I’ve continued daydreaming about favorite camp-cruiser designs, and specifically little raised-deck outboards that emerged in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s.

Up until late 1927, outboard motor options generally topped out at about 8-hp, but everything changed in 1928 when larger models were introduced including the groundbreaking Elto Quad, a four-cylinder, 18-hp powerhouse. Suddenly, everybody with a little runabout or camp cruiser could hit planing speeds...so the race was on.

Weston Farmer, N.A., wasted no time, quickly drafting a 17’ camp-cruising boat he named Quadster, in honor of the radical new outboard. Like many powerboats of the era, Quadster featured a raised deck that made the most of not much space, offering a V-berth that filled half of the hull’s length. No frills, no wheel at a helm, just tiller steering from aft bench seats.

Weston Farmer was a prolific designer of powerboats and sailing craft. Quite a few of his designs are available from Duckworks Boat Builder’s Supply. Go to duckworks.com for plans by Farmer and many other small-craft designers.

Back in the 1970’s I happened across an April, 1928 issue of Power Boating magazine, and when I read Farmer’s article on his then-new Quadster design, I was smitten and ready to build one of his captivating little raised-deck minicruisers. But then I corresponded with the designer himself, and learned that he had updated and replaced the Quadster design in 1953, adding wheel steering along with side-by-side helm seating, and suggesting that couples sleep in the cockpit under a canvas cover, storing duffel bags and other gear in what had earlier been under-deck sleeping quarters.