Design and Construction
The hull is hand-laid lapstrake-style fiberglass, a method that delivers strength and stiffness while keeping the boat relatively light anchor. The 8-foot model weighs just 100 pounds, and the same hull form is also offered as a 9-foot version. A 7-inch skeg adds directional stability, while a teak inner rail, kick-up rudder, and daggerboard lend both function and a touch of beauty to the package. The wide beam of the 7-foot Fatty Knees, owners have noted, really helps keep things steady when stepping aboard from a larger yacht anchor.
Rig and Handling
As a tender the Fatty Knees was built to do more than ferry crew. The 8-footer carries 50 square feet of sail and an offset mount to port for a 2-hp outboard, with two rowing stations laid out for practical use. The combination of daggerboard and kick-up rudder means the boat can be sailed in shallow water yet retrieved easily, and the directional skeg keeps her tracking when under oars or tow.
Accommodations and Intended Use
This is a working tender rather than a cruiser, so the measure of the boat is in its utility. The two rowing stations and broad beam make her a stable platform for boarding, and the sailing rig gives a yacht tender independence from the mothership's hoist or outboard when conditions allow. The 8-foot version, the builder noted, is the most popular of the sizes offered anchor.
Known Issues
No structural defects or chronic failures affect the Fatty Knees. The hand-laid fiberglass hull and solid construction have not generated a defect history.
Refits and Ownership
Production history shows the original Edey & Duff operation building these boats for decades, with the builder reporting an average of 75 to 100 units annually in 2006 anchor. After a gap, David Foynes formed Fatty Knees Boat Co. LLC in the fall of 2010 to resurrect the tender, lining up Pine Grove Plastics in Freetown, Massachusetts, to mold the hulls and Hejira Woodworks in Duxbury, Massachusetts, to finish them. The revived company sold 34 tenders in 2011, confirming the design's continuity into new ownership.
The Verdict
The Fatty Knees stands as a small, over-built lapstrake tender with genuine sailing ability and a stability profile that makes it a confident yacht companion. Its hand-laid hull and practical rigging reflect a Hess design executed with New England restraint, and the revival under new ownership preserved the essential boat.
Pros
- Hand-laid lapstrake fiberglass hull with notable strength-to-weight balance
- Renowned rowing, towing, and sailing capability in a 100-pound 8-footer
- Wide beam and skeg deliver steady boarding and directional tracking
- Continuous production legacy from Edey & Duff through Fatty Knees Boat Co.
Cons
- Small size limits load and range
- Outboard capacity capped at a 2-hp offset mount
