Rosborough RF-18 Returns: A New Levy 18 Finds a Home in Pleasant Bay

Readers of Soundings are famously knowledgeable, and the magazine’s staff often joke that our audience sometimes seems to know as much or more about boats than we do. That relationship — a steady exchange of information and enthusiasm — is one of the great rewards of working on this title. Every issue brings new lessons and reminders from the people who make boating their life.

While preparing the feature on the Rosborough RF-246 in this issue, I remembered that Rosborough also built a smaller Downeast-style cruiser years ago but couldn’t immediately recall the model name. A timely email from subscriber Heidi Gallo of Cape Cod solved the mystery: she and her husband, Alan, recently took delivery of a Rosborough RF-18 — or rather, a newly built boat based on that hull pattern.

The couple’s story is a tidy example of how practical needs, regional conditions and persistence lead to good boat matches. After retiring from careers in aquaculture, Heidi and Alan wanted to move up from the 17-foot Carolina Skiff they used for oyster and clam work. Their priorities were specific: a trailerable Downeast-style boat with a small cabin, outboard power, and — most crucial for their location — a very shallow draft. They moor in Pleasant Bay in Orleans, Massachusetts, where beautiful scenery comes with expanses of very shallow water and tidal flats.

Research turned up the RF-18, noted for its shallow 9-inch draft and traditional Downeast lines. Rosborough originally built the model in Nova Scotia, but when the company sold molds years ago the RF-18 vanished from production, and used examples were scarce. Rather than settle for a compromise, the Gallos pursued a different route.

On a Downeast forum, Heidi found a post by Luke Levy of Sober Island Boat Works in Nova Scotia. Levy had acquired the RF-18 molds and was building new boats based on that hull, calling his version the Levy 18. The Gallos commissioned one; construction began in late 2020 and, after Covid-related delays, was completed in May 2022.

They named the boat Jake II and have spent the seasons since exploring the areas that prompted their search in the first place. The boat’s shallow draft lets them slip into skinny water and tuck in at islands and coves around the bay. On calm days they cruise the south end of Cape Cod and into Nantucket Sound, mindful that while the hull can likely handle rougher conditions, their usual preference is for protected water and comfortable outings.

Heidi reports they are very pleased with the result. Their Jake II is reportedly the first Levy-built hull fitted with a pilothouse, and they hope more builders and buyers will appreciate this compact Downeast design. For owners like the Gallos, the combination of trailerability, a snug cabin and a shallow draft creates a versatile small cruiser that works as a practical workboat, a weekend escape and a comfortable local cruiser.

From my perspective, the exchange is a reminder of how readers enrich the magazine. Heidi’s email not only answered my own question about a well-remembered model but also highlighted a small builder working quietly and effectively outside the mainstream. It’s gratifying to learn about people who preserve and adapt good hull designs, and about boaters who thoughtfully choose rigs that match their local conditions.

Rosborough’s story is part of the broader context: the RF-246, introduced in 1987 by Bob Rosborough in Nova Scotia, became one of the early “pocket trawlers” in production boating. After roughly 25 years and some 500 boats, Rosborough sold the molds to Eastern Boats in Milton, New Hampshire, where that model continues in production. The RF-18’s revival through Levy’s work shows how classic lines and practical features can find new life through skilled small builders and determined owners.

Jeanne Craig, [email protected]

This article was originally published in the June 2024 issue.