I do believe the 1st boat in the pictures was the Wooden Boat magazine design winner from some year's past for "a fuel-efficient power cruiser". Details escape me (date, in particular), but do believe it was a Reul Parker design.
Result of the competition was a number of light, skinny, minimalist "cruisers" that bear little relevance to the purported focus of this forum. All required that you practice bleeding before embarking on a "cruise", as accommodations were, at best, limited. Advanced camping skills required. And benign weather conditions and flat water.
That being said, this style of powerboat does have application (witnessed by at least one of Reul's designs actually being built and floating in the picture). And this one did achieve impressive fuel economy (>4 nmg, as I recall) when lightly loaded.
Not my cup of tea, but YMMV.
Pete