Patience, a Prototype for the M27 Based on a Pre-War Design

By James Moores, Sunnyland Chapter

Patience is a prototype for the M27, influenced by the timeless style, grace and beauty of pre-war design and the many great boat builders of a bygone era. Reading an old yachting magazine from the 1930s, I came across an article by John Wells, a boat designer from that time, who designed yachts for many famous yacht yards. His philosophy was to design a yacht that is beautiful, then do the science to make it perform.

If you’re a lover of classic yachts, then you understand what I’m talking about. It’s not about the size the yacht, it’s about the quality of the design, the grace of the styling that enables it to effortlessly slice the water with the minimum drag. The M27 is not a remake of an antique boat, but is inspired by and a tip of the hat to the greatest designers and boat builders in America. She went through many design iterations, refining, refining and refining again until we settled on 27-feet as the magical length.

Using the piercing and planing technology, she is perfectly balanced, extremely maneuverable and extremely quick using only a 200 hp turbo charged Volvo diesel and one to one transmission. The M27 proves herself very well, quietly planing across the water, leaving little to no wake. 

The full crew who helped to make Patience possible: Left to right: Jim Moores (the self-professed dreamer), Alan Stewart and Graham Byrnes (of B&B Marine Yacht Design), Anna, Zuev, (painter, and finisher), John Nelosky and Olev Zuev (the boat builders).

Building the M27 was a team effort. B&B Yacht Designs in Bayboro, North Carolina, turned our dream into blueprints and cut the boat’s framework using a CNC machine. The first design missed the mark, so we went back to the drawing board. The second design closely resembled our vision. Alan Stewart and Graham Byrnes showed immense patience as we balanced art and science. 

We tested the boat over 20 times in an Orca 3-D design program, making small adjustments each time. We developed three variations, each with its own performance focus. Despite the options, I kept returning to the original idea: An M27 built of wood using the cold-molded technique. Boat building proved challenging. Starting at Moores Marine Yacht Center, we began construction in the carpentry shop, but the project stalled when the yard changed ownership. I built a new shop and completed the boat there.

Amidst this design, build and the building of a new yacht center, we also tackled two museum projects and repaired several Chris-Crafts. Determined to see the M27 through, however, I declared it was time to finish or abandon the project. Former colleagues rallied to help, working part-time to complete the boat. 

After much patience of everyone involved, the M27 will make her debut at the 2024 Sunnyland Antique and Classic Boat Show in Tavares, Florida.