Workstar 17

Workstar 17 was developed as a result of a collaboration between Working Boats UK Ltd. and Humphreys Yacht Design. This concept allows people who have no boat building experience to assemble a Workstar 17 using a complete kit of profiled pieces, epoxy, and FRP tape. The Workstar 17 is an extremely rugged, small, and capable garvey that can be constructed anywhere.

Workstar 17’s design is that of a tough, robust and small workboat. The Prefix System™, of tabs, slots and wedges means the profiled parts pull the hull together as the kit is assembled: no building frame is required. The parts will be bonded together with epoxy fillets around the transoms of the bow and the stern, and along the keel, internally and externally. Workstar 17 is built without mechanical fasteners.

Originally intended as a small workboat, the Workstar 17 plywood/epoxy boatbuilding method was embraced from the start by amateur boatbuilders who had been put off building their own boats by the complexity – and the mystique – and the skills required to build their own boat. The Workstar 17 has also been built by organisations such as the UK Sea Cadets, the City of London School, the Heritage Coast Sailing & Rowing; in replacement workboat aid projects in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Madagascar and Argentina, and used for teaching modern boatbuilding in maritime colleges in the England, Wales, France and Germany. Over 40 Workstar 17s are in use in more than 12 countries.

Workstar 17 has the following features:
• A moderate Vee, refined garvey hull shape
• A watertight, self-draining load deck
• Fore and aft buoyancy compartments
• Ample locker space
• Substantial all-round fendering (optional)
• Seating for 8-12 pax
• Pram-hood shelter (optional)
• Tow post (optional)

Workstar 17 is neither sold as a plan nor a kit. Purchase of the Building Licence releases the Cutting Files in .dxf format to the builder, to have a CNC kit cut from 18mm (3/4″) and 12mm (1/2″) marine plywood. The Sheet Schedule is used to identify and label the parts on each sheet. The boat is then built using the comprehensive and well-illustrated Assembly Manual, Supplements, Video and Construction Drawings. Workstar 17 stickers are sent via mail.
The Workstar 17 Starter Pack is available FOC on application to: [email protected]