This 17′ wood hull hydroplane was built by the seller in a three-year project culminating in 2025. The boat is powered by a Chrysler Marine 230ci inline-six that was rebuilt during the build, and it drives a single bronze propeller through a forward/reverse transmission. The topsides and deck are covered in varnished Sapele with a white bootstripe and black bottom paint. Features include an aft cockpit, leather upholstery, flush stainless-steel hardware, forward and aft flag holders, a 20-gallon fuel tank, and dual bilge pumps. Redhead is offered at no reserve with a Zieman tandem-axle trailer, a custom burgee, a paddle, life jackets, leather-wrapped dock lines and fenders, and California titles in the owner’s name for the boat and the trailer.

The 16.5′ stepped hydroplaning hull is based on the “Rocket” model, which was designed by American naval architect William D. Jackson in the 1940s. This example was built by the seller using a cold-molded construction method with West System epoxy resin. The bottom is built with two layers of Aquatek Meranti marine plywood and finished with Pettit Black Widow bottom paint while the topsides, transom, and deck are covered with a layer of varnished Sapele. Features include Sapele frames and ribs, a 20-gallon fuel tank, flush stainless-steel and chrome hardware, a bronze rudder, and automatic bilge pumps with manual overrides fitted fore and aft.

Additional photos of the hull while under construction are presented in the gallery below.

The aft cockpit houses a bench seat upholstered in Sandstone leather.

The port helm is equipped with a wood-rimmed steering wheel along with a column-mounted hand throttle and a bronze lever-style shifter. The Stewart Warner gauges were refurbished by Clawson Classic Instrumentation of Anacortes, Washington, and instrumentation consists of a tachometer, an ammeter, and readouts for water temperature and oil pressure. The seller estimates 25 hours of runtime since the completion of the build, but the boat is not equipped with an hour meter and total operating hours are therefore unknown.

The 230ci Chrysler Marine Ace Special M46S was rebuilt by the seller with work that included resurfacing the head, honing the cylinders, and replacing the pistons, rings, bearings, seals, and gaskets. Other replacement components include the oil pump, generator, starter, and the 12-volt AGM battery. Photos taken during the engine rebuild are presented in the gallery below. The oil was changed in preparation for the sale.

The engine turns a three-blade bronze propeller through a forward-reverse transmission.

The Zieman tandem-axle trailer is equipped with 15″ steel wheels, carpeted bunks, step plates, a manual winch, a tongue jack, and surge brakes. Work under current ownership included replacing the brakes, safety chains, winch strap, bunks, and cylinders.

A custom burgee, a paddle, life jackets, a flag, and leather-wrapped dock lines and fenders are included in the sale.

Photos taken throughout the build can be viewed in the gallery.