The basic design that the yard generally builds is a welded steel constructed single chine monohull with a full length bar or boxed keel. Most metal fabricating is two dimensional using electric arc welding. The single screw hulls have a skeg shoe and gudgeon supporting the base of the rudderstock The twin screw hulls have propeller struts with spade rudders. Transverse bulkheads provide the hull with the "one compartment" standard of stability which means the vessel will remain afloat with one compartment flooded. The ferries generally have a generous beam with a shallow draft hull. The offshore boats have a decreased beam with increased draft.

Up until the recent phasing out of the two cycle Detroit Diesel engine, these were the most widely used engines in Blount boats. These affordable, durable, and exceptionally reliable engines were a good match for Blount's displacement hull workboats. Caterpillar and Cummins diesels are also common. On occasion owners have requested Lugger, Duetz, Morse Fairbanks, and Mercedes engines.

Welded half pipe or channel steel keel coolers generally provide for the engine/gear cooling process. The Blount keel cooler design, a welded integral part of the hull, has proven to be very durable and maintenance friendly. Engine exhaust is generally dry with piping going through a silencer exiting either through the hull well above the waterline or overhead through a stack. Since a keel cooled engine with dry exhaust does not introduce any salt water into the cooling process, this design requires the least maintenance while providing the longest service life. The fuel tanks are welded metal integral with the hull, direct fill, bottom draw. Electrolysis is controlled by use of sacrificial anode zincs.

The construction methods make for a very sturdy vessel, designed for decades of service. Hull bottom plating is generally 5/16" thick. Hull plating from the chine to the gunwale or main deck is1/4". Keel plating is 3/4" to 1 1/2". Some of the vessels that have special demands have heavier plating and increased framing. All hull welding is continuous. All underwater appendixes are heavily constructed and create minimal flow resistance. These hulls are suitable for operation in light to moderate ice breaking. The ferries and oil supply vessels are provided with generous steel rubrails welded at the main deck level. The tugs in addition to rubber fendering have a belt of extra thick steel around the hull at the sheer line.

Passenger & Auto Ferries
This category is the largest number of boats Blount has designed and built. The majority of these ferries are steel hulled displacement boats. Most have a high "hull efficiency" requiring minimal engine horsepower to propel the hull to its designed hull speed. This makes for a fuel efficient vessel with low overall operating costs. Many of Blount's well known 65 foot ferries consume as little as l0 g.p.h. of fuel, while operating in the commuter boat mode. These boats are generally very beamy and have a high passenger and/or vehicle capacity.

The first passenger/vehicle ferry was hull #08 the 'Yankee Clipper." This 65' open deck, doubled ended ferry with a beam of 34' has a vehicle capacity of nine autos. With the wheelhouse and small passenger cabin offset to the port side, tractor-trailer rigs and other tall deck loads can be carried. In 1960, the Puerto Rico Ports Authority purchased their first 65' Blount Ferry. To date, they have had a total of 21 ferries built. The largest is hull #291 the 155' "Cayo Norte."

The first planning hull ferry. hull #129 the 65' "Quaiapen", was built in 1967. This narrow vessel has a unique bulbous fin type bow and a semi foil hull design, obtaining speeds over 20 knots. In 1972, the first of the three 75' sisterboats were built to carry passenger between Bay Shore, Long Island and Fire Island, NY. These high-speed steel hulls with aluminum superstructures have atop speed of 27 knots and cruise loaded (with 300 passengers) at 22 kts. A 75' passenger/vehicle/cargo vessel the "Vagabond" (hull #226) was built in 1979 to transport most anything the barrier island needs. A steel hull was chosen for all vessels so they can continue service on the six-mile crossing when the bay occasionally freezes over.