The Hot Rat is a narrow 12ft scow sailboat with a flat bottom, and largeish leg-of-mutton polytarp spritsail, and a long flat run that should have it planing in a moment. The design has a strong resemblance to the Mouse boat. It swallows up just three sheets of quarter-inch ply and is built with internal chine logs. Substantial bouyancy tanks are included to prevent the boat from sinking.