Free PDRacer Boat Plans
The Required Hull Shape
With almost every other sailboat class, the way it works is you buy a set of plans that the class sells, and then build that exact boat (or buy one). Their class rules are setup so that all the boats are as identical as they can enforce, so that the only unique part of the boat ends up being the paint job.
The Puddle Duck Racer is the opposite: There are no required plans, only a hull shape that we all conform to as specified by the Class Rules. Duckers are encouraged to learn how to design and configure their boat, then you build a duck the way YOU want to, and connect with other duckers to go play or race them the way YOU think is fun. Even though we have hundreds of boats on the water, no two of them are the same. If you change your mind about the configuration, you can modify your boat, or simply build a new hull and transfer your parts and hull number over to the new hull.
Since our class pushes everyone to learn how and create their own configuration of THEIR boat, we have a group of the brightest, most creative innovators. And that is the reason you continually hear about puddle duckers improvising their way out of any problem, often with just the materials in the near vicinity, and helping other sailors. Ask around and you will see what I am talking about. What the average person thinks is a problem, looks like an engineering challenge to a ducker.
If you can't figure out how to build a duck from this website and other freely available materials, here are my suggestions for getting help: Contacting Other Duckers Also make sure to keep in mind how others helped you build your duck, so when the time comes you can help another new ducker build theirs. That way you pay it forward.
End Airboxes
The most popular configuration of the PDRacer is the "End Airboxes", called that because the flotation airboxes are built into the ends. The nice thing about this configuration is that it has a lot of interior room for passengers, drink cooler and your dog. She is very simple and quick to build, you can build her with 2 weekends worth of work, and go sailing on the 3rd weekend.
The drawback of the design, is that if you knock her over on her side, after reboarding you have a few gallons of water to bail out. For pictures of this, see the emergency flotation page. This configuration is best for recreational use.
Full Length Side Airboxes
The second most popular configuration, she has air boxes that extend the full length of the sides. The advantage of this configuration, is that if you knock the boat over during a race and then right it, there is almost no water left in the cockpit. See the emergency flotation page.
The side decks also provide a great seat for when you are hiking out. The disadvantage of this configuration, is that it reduces the amount of inside cockpit space, so there will be less room for people to sit inside the boat. This configuration is better for hard core racing.
As you can see from this photo, there isn't much to her and she is almost exactly like the end airbox design above, except the airboxes are on the sides. Just as simple to build too. Just make 4 of our hull panels and attach a bottom, then deck over the top. Some people even cut out all 4 panels at the same time.
Examples of Puddle Ducks
Cabin Overnight CruiserCool Paint Jobs
Board Boats (very short hull)
Grout - Join 2 together
Space Saving Hulls
Swoopy Ducks
Teardrop Trailers to carry PDRacers
Shorty's Simple 18 PDRacer Plans
The Simple 18 is the easiest type of pdracer to build, and is the most popular starting point to design your duck, however most duckers build 16" high hulls instead of 18" high, and make many modifications to suit their personal needs.simple18.gif - 1 page plan
simple18.txt - 7 pages of text building instructions
How to build the Simple 18 (Building BucketEars)
How to make a hull shorter than 18"
Design Your Duck
Calculate Size Of Airboxes
Free Plans From Other Duckers
Dave Gray - Dangerous DuckJohn Kowitz - Ranger - A Texas 200 Duck
Scott Widmier - Expedition PDRacer for Everglades Challenge Race
Shorty - Loaner Boat Design for 2006 World Championships
Tim Cleary - full length side airbox
Tom Mauer - Water Dancer
Free Puddle Duck Plans From Professional Designers
Jim Michalak - Catbox PDRacer (plans here)John Welsford - The Kiwi PDR (plans here)
Ken Simpson - Modular Take Apart PDRacer (plans here)
Related Articles
Free Plans for Other BoatsBooks About Boat Building
OZ Racer (not class legal)
Please note: Some plans may have incorrect dimensions and other problems. Please review the class rules so you will know what is (and is not) class legal - especially the hull shape.
