Salle Rover
2004, Crocker K/CB Day Sailor, 20’
Salle Rover
Sam Crocker’s design work was highly regarded by his peers, and by those who built, brokered, maintained, or cruised his yachts. The yawl Sallee Rover, drawn in 1953, shows why this is so.
Crocker has recombined a remarkable assemblage of elements here into one small boat, but the result is so superbly proportioned that no one item overpowers the overall design. Joel White, who built the sloop version of this boat, aptly describes the hull, with its shallow draft and broad beam, as a cross between a catboat and a Muscongus Bay sloop.
She has a very strong sheer, extended at the ends by her steeved bowsprit and boomkin; a big outboard rudder; a clipper bow; and a round-fronted cabin trunk which combines with a high coaming carried well aft. But for all the traditional detailing, the sail plan is a modern Marconi rig of manageable size, in both the yawl and sloop versions. Here, too, it is a credit to Crocker’s skill that he could set those sails on this hull and still keep it all in character
Sallee Rover’s scantlings are substantial for so small a vessel. Her keel, for example, is 7 x 9″ oak; other structural members are sized accordingly.
Crocker used the hull itself (particularly the heavy backbone) to ballast this boat, and thereby simplified construction by eliminating a ballast keel.
Her down-low weight and wide body, plus some inside ballast and the sensible sail plan, make this a stiff boat in strong winds.
Her cockpit is self-bailing and the footwell is jogged, thus adding space and making good use of the coaming, cabin, and afterdeck for assorted seating under sail or at anchor. There are no below-deck accommodations shown, other than two transom berths with lockers under, and a platform for stowage forward of the mast—but the little cabin provides an airy and adequate shelter for camp-cruising.
She’s special, Sallee Rover—a small wonder. She’s the craft chosen to demonstrate, and celebrate, the anatomy of a wooden boat in a series of perspective drawings by Sam Manning for the 10th anniversary issue of WoodenBoat magazine (WoodenBoat No. 60).
Asking Price: $15,000
Location: New Castle, Maine
Hull, Deck and Cabin Construction
Keel / centerboard underwater configuration with transom hung rudder.
Traditional plank-on-frame wooden boat construction
White oak stem, keelson, floors, fames and other structural members
White Oak frames with Cedar planking.
Fir bow sprit, boom kin, deck beams and carlins
Decks and cabin top are marine plywood overlaid with fiberglass cloth
Color Scheme and Finishes
Buff Tan painted decks , cabin top, cabin top hatch slide, cockpit coaming tops, cockpit seat tops, toe rails, taff rail, bow sprit and boomkin.
White painted cabin sides, cockpit coaming sides and cockpit seating fronts
White painted sheer stripe
Dark Green topsides, transom and rudder (above waterline)
Red anti-fouling painted bottom, centerboard and rudder (below waterline)
Deck, Cockpit and Cabin Top Hardware and Features (aft to fore)
Furthest aft is Sitka Spruce boomkin with stainless steel wire martingales and backstay tang
Polished stainless steel stern chocks port and starboard on taff rail
Bronze rod main sheet traveler on center line just forward of taff rail
Carved wooden sheet and dock line cleats on side decks port and starboard outboard of aft end of cockpit
Main sheet fair lead and Harken cam cleat on center line just aft of cockpit well
Carved wooden main sheet cleat on center line at aft end of cockpit well
Self-bailing cockpit well with cockpit coamings extending aft from house sides
Engine access hatch in cockpit sole.
Carved wooden headsail cleats port and starboard on outboard sides of cockpit coamings
Dorade boxes with cowl vents port and starboard at forward corners of cockpit.
Raised cabin with sliding companionway hatch and drop boards.
Fixed oval port lights in cabin sides port and starboard.
Bronze chain plates port and starboard
Mast partner on center line just forward of cabin.
Bronze rod jib club traveler on center line forward mast partner
Wood and bronze samson post on centerline forward or jib club traveler
Furthest forward is Sitka Spruce bow sprit with stainless steel wire martingales bronze head stay fitting
Spars and Rigging
Fractionally rigged, Marconi sloop rig configuration
Keel stepped mast
Bronze chain plates, head stay fitting and back stay tang
Single-spreader Sitka Spruce, hollow box construction mast with jumper strut.
Buff painted fish on mast
Stainless steel wire standing rigging (shrouds and stays) with bronze turnbuckle adjusters
Solid constructed Sitka Spruce boom and jib club with buff painted finish.
Bronze mainsail traveler and jib club traveler
Bronze goose neck fitting and luff sail track on mast
Bronze goose neck fitting, main sheet bales, foot sail track and adjustable outhaul on boom
Halyard cleats port and starboard on mast.
Sails and Canvas
Doyle white Dacron main sail
Doyle white Dacron genoa
Doyle white Dacron jib
Main sail cover
Auxiliary Propulsion and Fuel Systems
Palmer PW27, 8HP @ 2800 RPM
Throttle and transmission controls located under engine hatch
Fuel: Gasoline
Fuel Capacity: 15 Gallons
Fuel Tank Material: Aluminum
Bronze propellor shaft
Prop shaft diameter
Traditional packing-gland type stuffing box
Fixed 2-blade propellor
Electrical Systems and Equipment
Single battery for engine starting and bilge pump
No other electrical systems
Ground Tackle
Danforth anchor with appropriate chain and rode
Dewatering Equipment
Rule 500 GPH Electric / automatic bilge pump
Safety Equipment
Type I Adult PFD’s, (3ea)
Additional Equipment
Ritchie Helm Compass
Dock Lines (2ea)
Fenders (2ea)
Jack Stands
Winter cover / tarp