BayRaider 17
The BayRaider 17 is a compact and versatile open sailing boat designed by Swallow Yachts in the UK. It combines traditional styling with modern sailing performance, water ballast, shallow draft and a flexible ketch rig.
Denman Marine builds the BayRaider 17 to order at our workshop in Kettering, Tasmania. Unlike the GRP production construction used for many boats in the Swallow Yachts range, our BayRaider 17s are individually built in lightweight timber composite construction using marine plywood, timber, epoxy and fibreglass.
Each boat is built to order, which also allows us to customise suitable aspects of the fit-out, equipment and finish to suit the owner’s requirements.
Specifications
| Length | 17’1″ (5.23 m) |
| Beam | 5’11” (1.8 m) |
| Weight | 290 kg – timber composite |
| Draft – centreboard raised | 8″ (200 mm) |
| Draft – centreboard lowered | 4’4″ (1.32 m) |
| Sail area | 130 sq ft (12.1 m²) |
| Construction | Lightweight timber composite |
| Builder | Denman Marine, Kettering, Tasmania |
| Availability | Completed boats built to order |
Built by Denman Marine in Tasmania
Denman Marine has been the Australasian agent for Swallow Yachts since 2009 and has built many boats to their designs.
Our BayRaider 17s are individually constructed at our purpose-built wooden boatbuilding workshop in Kettering, Tasmania. We build the Swallow Yachts designs exclusively in lightweight timber composite construction rather than GRP.
This allows us to combine the traditional appearance and character of a timber boat with modern materials and construction methods, while also giving us considerably more flexibility during the construction and fit-out of each boat.
Timber Composite Construction
The BayRaider 17 is built using modern timber composite construction, combining marine plywood and solid timber components with epoxy and fibreglass to form a strong and lightweight structure.
The hull and internal structure are assembled from accurately cut timber and plywood components, which are bonded with epoxy and reinforced with fibreglass where required. The completed structure is then faired and protected with modern marine coating systems.
This construction method is quite different from a moulded GRP production boat. Rather than producing each hull from a fixed mould, every Denman Marine BayRaider 17 is individually assembled and finished in our workshop.
Individual construction also gives us greater scope to incorporate suitable changes to the fit-out, detailing and equipment during the build.
Denman Marine builds the BayRaider 17 in timber composite construction only. For enquiries regarding GRP Swallow Yachts boats, please contact Swallow Yachts directly.
Design and Sailing
The BayRaider 17 was developed as a smaller version of the BayRaider 20, retaining many of the features of the larger boat in a more compact and easily managed package.
One of its main features is the water ballast tank beneath the self-draining cockpit floor. The tank can carry approximately 220 kg of water when additional stability is wanted. The ballast can then be emptied when the additional weight is no longer required.
This provides the stability of a substantially heavier boat when the ballast tank is full, while retaining the advantages of a relatively light boat for launching, recovery, trailering and sailing in suitable conditions with the tank empty.
The lifting centreboard reduces draft to approximately 200 mm when raised, making the BayRaider 17 particularly useful for shallow-water sailing, beaching and launching from ramps.
The ketch rig divides the sail area between the mainsail, jib and mizzen. This provides several useful sail combinations and makes it possible to reduce sail progressively as conditions change.
The self-draining cockpit provides a large and practical open space for day sailing, while the combination of water ballast, shallow draft and relatively light construction makes the design particularly well suited to trailer sailing.
Custom-built to Suit Your Requirements
Because each Denman Marine BayRaider 17 is built individually, we can tailor suitable aspects of the boat to the owner’s intended use and requirements.
Depending on the individual build, this can include changes to storage, fit-out, hardware, electrical systems, instrumentation, outboard arrangements, timber detailing, colours and finishes.
We can also discuss other modifications where they are practical and appropriate to the design. Previous Denman Marine-built BayRaider 17s have incorporated owner-requested changes to suit particular sailing and launching requirements.
This gives owners considerably more flexibility than a fixed production specification and allows the finished boat to be tailored around how it will actually be used.
If you have particular requirements in mind, we recommend discussing them with us before construction begins so they can be considered during the planning and build process.
Please note; The BayRaider 17 is not available from Denman Marine as a kit.
Unlike our Chesapeake Light Craft range, the BayRaider 17 is available from us only as a completed boat built by Denman Marine. Each boat is constructed, fitted out and finished at our Kettering workshop.
Enquire About a BayRaider 17
If you are interested in having a BayRaider 17 built, contact us to discuss current build availability, your intended use and any particular requirements you would like incorporated into the boat.
