Looking for help identifying designer/builder

This boat was abandoned on our mooring buoy in March. Long story, but we eventually got the title transferred into our name, and now... it would seem I have a project. Compiled information seems to suggest that the original owner - who passed away a few years ago - acquired the sunken hull, and built a new cabin onto it. I'm trying to find out anything I can, just to breathe a bit more of a story into it. There is a suggestion, from a brief conversation that a chap had with the old boy years ago had, that the hull is a Bill Crealock design, but that is yet to be confirmed. Further interesting is the hydraulic drive in the keel. It's driven by a 2 cylinder "Suzie" (Klassen Diesel in Vancouver marinized Isuzu engines, but inquiries to them have been fruitless). And then, the rather large skeg, which many suggest will "track really well, but be a pain in the arse to reverse"
Any help/advice/suggestions/information will be greatly appreciated. Particularly the design, which I guess... is why I am here. Cheers

 

That is quite a fascinating propulsion arrangement - do you have any photos of it from the inside of the boat please?

And can you post a photo of her without that blue tarpaulin over the coachroof?

I have no ideas as to who designed her, but she does not look like a 'typical' Bill Crealock design.

 

I am wholly confused as to how that propeller is getting good water. I realize the speeds are low, but even still, it seems like it would be much better with a smaller fin skeg and about 3-5 feet further back, but I am a casual boat lover and just never seen such an arrangement.

 

I'll see about getting some images of the inside.

 

I was thinking very much the same thing... I'm thinking that I may pull the diesel out and install an electric motor with a saildrive type system

 

She looks a bit (just a bit) like an S & S 34 - maybe somebody designed and built her themselves, while thinking of vessels like the S & S 34?

I guess that the hydraulic prop drive is resting on top of the ballast in the keel?
Can it survive being submerged when the bilge fills with water?

 

Personally, I'd prefer the diesel saildrive.

 

+1 - if the diesel engine works, don't get rid of it. You might be able to find a suitable standard saildrive leg that it can be coupled to (although you would probably have to get a new gearbox as well?)

 

When I first looked at the pics yesterday I thought the same thing; "Might be an S&S".
Their is also some resemblance, (above the WL,) to the John Spencer design, Ragtime.

 

No dimensions given but could it be a Spencer 35 ??.
Built in Richmond, BC, Canada by Spencer Boats. Design by John Brandlmayr Ltd
Spencer built several models: 35, 41, 42 44, 53
You can check out Nauticapedia

 

Maybe it was ~30 years ago, Hal Roth and his wife did extensive sailing on a Spencer 35 named "Whisper", and he wrote some books about their various trips.
The powertrain design/setup was quite different, much more conventional. If the boat in the OP is a Spencer 35, than someone went to a lot of trouble to come up with that drive arrangement.

 

Agreed - the power train access looks a bit difficult. I believe Spencer used Isuzu engines but the drive was conventional shaft.

 

Don't think it's a Spencer, the 35 is a full keel boat and the the 31 has a spade rudder and much sleeker molded house and deck. The Skeg on this boat is pretty distinctive and might be the key to her identity.....An overall length and beam dimension will help to identify......