North Haven 24: A Pocket Lobster-Boat-Inspired Cruiser by Sam Devlin

Boat designer Sam Devlin, raised on the West Coast, draws inspiration from the heavy, seaworthy fishing boats that worked offshore and braved long ocean fetches. Yet Devlin has long admired the low, graceful sheer lines and nimble handling of traditional Maine lobster boats. Combining those two influences, he created the North Haven 24: a compact, elegant craft that channels the look and practicality of a lobster boat while remaining light, efficient and versatile for modern recreational use.

The North Haven 24 began as a rework of an earlier Devlin design, the Sea Chaser, at the suggestion of retired boating editor and Maine resident Chris Cornell. Cornell envisioned a “pocket lobster boat” — a smaller vessel with the aesthetic and handling of a traditional lobster boat but suited to day cruising, island-hopping and nearshore work. Devlin adapted the Sea Chaser hull and refined the lines to produce a 24-foot design that feels right at home in Penobscot Bay and other coastal waters.

Construction uses the stitch-and-glue method with koume marine plywood and epoxy resin. Devlin specifies an epoxy-sheathed exterior reinforced with 6-ounce fiberglass cloth and an additional layer of Dynel or Xynole polyester cloth set in epoxy. Interior surfaces are similarly saturated with epoxy. The result is a hull that Devlin describes as strong, lightweight, quiet and warm to the touch. Because epoxy-sealed wood has inherent buoyancy, the construction gives the North Haven 24 a high margin of reserve flotation.

This building approach delivers several practical advantages: stiffness and durability with minimal weight, easier maintenance and straightforward, economical repair options. Owners can finish the boat with single-part paints or two-part linear polyurethanes; those who prefer a more traditional look can oil or varnish the trim for a classic wood-finished appearance. Devlin emphasizes that the design is approachable for both professional builders and skilled amateurs, and the boat is trailerable for convenient transport and storage.

Power is provided by a single outboard in the 90- to 150-hp range. With that power, Devlin estimates cruise speeds of roughly 20 to 25 knots, making the North Haven 24 well suited to island-hopping, inshore cruising and quick runs between harbors. The hull’s shallow draft further enhances access to shoal waters and protected anchorages common around islands and coastal communities.

The layout balances practical fishing-boat sensibilities with comfortable cruising amenities. An open cockpit can accommodate folding deck chairs, kayaks or gear, and it’s wide and secure enough to be a favorite spot for pets or children. A semi-enclosed pilothouse and a trunk cabin with sitting headroom provide shelter from wind and spray; optional drop curtains allow the pilothouse to be fully enclosed for cooler weather or rough conditions. A forward cabin heater option makes the North Haven 24 usable as a three-season boat in the Northeast or a four-season platform on the milder West Coast.

Functionally, the North Haven 24 is versatile: a day cruiser for families, a practical tender for island residences, a light-duty fishing boat, or an accessible build project for amateur boatbuilders. Its modest size and trailerability make it attractive for owners who want a classic lobster-boat aesthetic without the expense and complexity of a larger vessel. Devlin envisions the North Haven 24 fitting naturally alongside larger lobster boats in coastal harbors — elegant, tough and unmistakably in the same family.

In short, the North Haven 24 is a thoughtfully designed pocket lobster boat that blends traditional lines with modern stitch-and-glue construction. It offers a practical combination of seaworthiness, efficiency and classic styling that suits coastal cruising, island runs and everyday boating. Devlin hopes to one day see a few North Haven 24s tied up in Stonington Harbor on Deer Isle, Maine, hanging comfortably with their larger cousins — a small boat that nevertheless belongs among true coastal workboats. — Pim Van Hemmen