Ken Hankinson

Ken Hankinson was a prolific American naval architect renowned for his accessible, performance-oriented boat designs tailored for amateur builders, emphasizing plywood and fiberglass construction for sailboats, powerboats, and runabouts. Mentoring under Glen L. Witt, he authored instructional books on boatbuilding and pioneered early adoption of foam-core and carbon fiber techniques in the 1980s. His portfolio, including the Ensenada 25 racer and Tahoe 19 mahogany skiff, empowered thousands of DIY enthusiasts worldwide through detailed plans sold via Glen-L Marine and his own Hankinson Associates (est. 1987). Hankinson's clear, step-by-step blueprints minimized builder confusion, fostering a legacy of custom-crafted vessels that blended speed, stability, and craftsmanship focused on empowering home workshops.