[1][2][3] The design was built by Watkins Yachts in Clearwater, Florida, United States from 1975 to 1981, with over 100 examples completed.
The design's moulds were eventually abandoned behind the old plant building when the company was wound up in 1989.
[1][3][4][5] The Watkins 17 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of hand-laid 24 oz rove fiberglass, with wood trim.
It has a fractional sloop rig with aluminum spars made by Kenyan, a small, storage cuddy cabin, a spooned plumb stem, a vertical transom, a transom-hung rudder made from Philippine mahogany controlled by tiller and a centerboard keel.
[6] Most of the Watkins 17s built were sold to a local Florida sailing club for use as one design racers.