a yacht daysailer

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Dream daysailers: 13 of the best boats for a great day out on the water

• Toby Hodges
• July 16, 2020

Toby Hodges looks at the best daysailer yachts on the market, from ultra-modern cruisers to classically-styled masterpieces

Modern daysailers

1. saffier se 33 ud.

Saffier Yachts now has eight designs between 21ft and 37ft. The investment and knowhow the Hennevanger brothers have put into the production facility really shows too – the vacuum-infused builds and finish quality are top class.

Saffier builds seaworthy designs , tests all new models thoroughly in the North Sea and ensures its yachts can be sailed easily single-handedly.

Launched in 2014, the Saffier Se 33 is a sporty design but with a practical self-draining cockpit and optional solid sprayhood, which help it handle most weather conditions. It has a fast underwater shape, a generous sailplan and a fixed carbon bowsprit. The extra-large cockpit features 2m benches and a folding transom and there is space enough for four to sleep below.

Saffier’s brand new Se 27 also looks like a seriously fun design and has been averaging speeds in the mid-teens with the kite up, clocking over 20 knots in its early trials this spring.

Prices for the Se 33 start at €114,500 (ex. VAT).

2. Domani S30

The S30, launched in 2018, is Belgian company Domani’s first model – a trailable sportsboat designed to be comfortable, fast and beautiful, says founder Michael Goddaert.

Inspired by Riva’s Aquarama motor boat , it has a large minimalist cockpit, spacious aft sunbed and a classy-looking compact interior. The narrow-beamed S30 weighs only 1,700kg, is offered with a long, two-part carbon rig, and has an electric drive as standard. A Lounge version is being developed which is similar to the Tofinou 9.7 in terms of deck layout.

Price ex. VAT: €88,000.

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3. Black Pepper Code 0.1

Those lucky enough to have sailed at Les Voiles de St Tropez may have seen these neo-classic daysailers from chic brand Black Pepper.

As well as this range of Code-branded daysailers/weekenders, the yard has just launched a new Sam Manuard-designed, scow-bowed IMOCA 60 for Armel Tripon’s Vendée Globe campaign.

The original Code 0, by Marc Lombard, is a high-performance dayboat with a distinctive squared coachroof, which is built light in carbon and epoxy with half its displacement in the keel bulb.

A new Code 0.1 version (pictured) launched last year, and is available in Open and Spirit (performance/regatta) versions.

Price ex. VAT: £148,000.

4. A-Yachts A27 / A33

A-Yachts founder. Michael Gilhofer helped to develop the original B30 (pictured below) and was distributor for B-Yachts in Germany for 17 years. He commissioned the in-demand Lorenzo Argento, who formerly worked with Luca Brenta, to design a new range of luxury daysailers built in Slovenia and finished in Austria.

The first two A-Yachts models (the A27 is pictured above) are focused on performance daysailing, whereas B-Yachts has gone for more cruising comfort below. An exciting new model, the A39, is due for launch in 2021.

Prices ex. VAT: A27 €98,500, A33 €215,000.

5. B-Yachts B30 / B34

The Brenta B30 is the iconic Italian daysailer. A real looker to keep berthed at your Portofino residence, it has a lightweight carbon/epoxy build and a high ballast ratio, for tantalising light airs sailing. B-Yachts is the brand that took the daysailing concept to the limit with the fiendishly indulgent (and very white) B60, which we tested, open-mouthed, back in 2008.

Although stagnant for some years, the company was acquired by Luca Brenta’s cousin Alberto Castiglioni in late 2018. Brenta, along with designer Alessia Lee, has worked up the design for a new B34 model due to launch this year, and they are now working on a B40.

The B30 (above) is now a modern classic, with more than 40 built, but the refreshed company has made some upgrades including a new rudder profile, fixed bowsprit, revised deck gear, a more functional interior and the option for an electric engine. But it’s still got those killer lines.

Prices ex. VAT: B30 €118,000, B34 €190,000.

6. Esse 330

This is the sixth model from Josef Schuchter’s yard on Lake Zurich, which builds fast, stiff and sporty designs. The new 330 is the first Esse that offers the ability for weekend/overnight sailing. Schuchter told us it is designed more for pleasure sailing than racing but has the same performance as the yard’s 990, using a 1m shorter mast and with greater stability and comfort.

Umberto Felci designed the 330 with a self-tacking jib, a carbon deck-stepped mast with no backstay and a high ballast ratio to help ensure it can easily be sailed short-handed. A lifting keel reduces draught to 1.55m and an electric drive is offered.

Price ex. VAT: €134,000.

A plumb stem and square coachroof give an alluring pilot classic style to this Judel/Vrolijk design, but it is the materials from which it is crafted that are most intriguing. Built by Bremen-based Greenboats, the flax (plant) or linen (fibre) is vacuum-infused with bio epoxy and can be given a clearcoat finish to help show off the fibres.

The focus is on weight-saving for this performance daysailer, using recycled PET as the core material. The deck is made from cork, the ropes are made entirely from recycled plastic bottles and the sails are recyclable.

Price ex. VAT, ready to sail: €126,000.

Modern-classic daysailers

8. eagle 38.

The Boersma brothers founded Leonardo Yachts in the northern part of the Netherlands to build top quality gentleman’s daysailers and weekenders.

Its range of gorgeous designs are inspired by the timeless lines and overhangs of the J Class , but with modern appendages.

The new Hoek-designed Eagle 38 is the smallest of a range that now extends to 70ft. It is devised for easy handling, with jib winches in reach of the helmsman/tiller, in a deep self-draining cockpit that can seat six in comfort.

The varnished mahogany interior can sleep three and includes cooking facilities and a neatly hidden toilet.

Price ex. VAT: €177,500.

9. Wally Nano MkII

Wally stunned us with the unveiling of its incomparable Nano in 2009. The Andre Hoek-designed masterpiece certainly elevated the standard of extravagance (and price) for a daysailer. This Wally Nano MkII model released eight years later is a refined version of the achingly cool design, which marries Italian styling with Dutch workmanship and ingenuity.

A pilot cutter-influenced plumb bow, bowsprit and low, squared coachroof set off a retro style, finished by an elegantly overhanging counter. These classic lines meet contemporary construction and attention to detail at Joop Doomernik’s traditional Dragon building yard. The top class composite work includes a keel grid built from 33 layers of carbon. Believe me, the result on the water is a truly intoxicating ride, both upwind and down!

Price ex. VAT: €390,000.

10. Rustler 33

The Stephen Jones design has the elegant lines and overhangs of the Cornish yard’s earlier Rustler 24, but with a comfortable handmade interior that makes it enticing to overnight on too – there is a proper heads compartment including wet hanging area.

With the addition of stanchions, this becomes a Class B offshore yacht. It’s a stiff boat to sail with a deep, dry cockpit, in which it is comfortable to sit, perch on the chunky coaming or stand to handle the tiller.

Rustler says recent clients for the Rustler 33 are ordering them with carbon masts and electric engines.

Price ex. VAT: £165,000.

11. Morris 29

Fusing S&S lines with modern lightweight materials such as carbon and epoxy, the Morris 29 is a quintessential daysailer that’s easy to rig and maintain, a witch to sail and is as handsome as they come.

And there’s a deep, long cockpit and comfortable saloon below to keep any guests content while you hog the tiller. Now built by Hinckley and priced from US$266,500.

12. Alerion 28 / 33

Cleverly marketed as ‘the 90-minute’ getaway, the iconic Alerion daysailer fleet, from 20-33ft, is designed to get people afloat easily and with the most enjoyment possible. Above is the Alerion 33.

Often seen sporting optional Hoyt jib booms, the models are easy and a delight to sail and have inviting and well-finished interiors.

Rarely do beauty, speed and single-handed ease combine this fluidly and successfully. Prices are available on application only.

13. Friendship 36 / 40

The elegantly timeless look of the Friendship 40, its classic lines, including pronounced tumblehome and wineglass counter, are by Rhode Island’s Ted Fontaine. A Friendship’s deep cockpit and wonderfully inviting and well-appointed interior invite you to sail on through the weekend and beyond.

Fontaine says both the 36 and 40 are still available to order, but at top prices: “The Friendship 40 would be built by Yachting Developments in New Zealand where the moulds are presently stored,” (priced in the region of US $1,350,000).

“And the Friendship 36 is being offered as a cold-moulded wood epoxy built boat that would be built by Rockport Marine in Maine – the yard that built the first 36.”

First published in the June 2020 edition of Yachting World.

Sowohl die langjährigen Erfahrungen in der Entwicklung und dem Handel von Daysailern als auch die neuesten Erkenntnisse im Bootsdesign sind in die Form der neuen a27 eingeflossen. Vor 20 Jahren hat Michael Gilhofer den Markt für Segelboote mit seiner Idee zu einem echten Daysailer revolutioniert, nunmehr fließen in die a27 alle Erfahrungen von über 30 Eignern von Daysailern ein und formen diese ideale Yacht. Der modernste Daysailer aus dem Designstudio Lorenzo Argento YD wurde auf der BOOT 2019 der Öffentlichkeit präsentiert. 

Im Jahr 2021/22 wurde die Modellpalette der schnellen Carbon-Daysailer aus Österreich im Lorenzo Argento Yacht Design deutlich erweitert!

Die a27 gibt es ab sofort in drei neuen Modellvarianten.

pure – für die Puristen unter den Seglern. Weniger ist Mehr! solar – für die komplette Unabhängigkeit. Volle Akkus, immer und überall! performante – für den leistungsorientierten Clubsegler. Schnell und luxuriös!

Das Modell „pure“ bringt die a27 dorthin, wo Daysailing begann: einfachste Handhabung, wenige Systeme, kaum sichtbare Trimmeinrichtungen. Segeln pur! Mit dem Modell „solar“ wird die totale Unabhängigkeit von Landstromanbindungen wahr. Begehbare, im Vorschiff komplett integrierte Solarpaneele ermöglichen ständiges Laden der Antriebs- sowie Versorgungsbatterien und damit Energie auch ohne Steg- oder Hafenplatz. Das Modell „performante“ mit seinem Carbon Mast und Carbon Bugspriet, sowie zusätzlichen, versteckten, aber einfach bedienbaren Regatta-Trimmeinrichtungen, ist die ideale Yacht um bei Wochenendregatten auf Gold- oder Silberjagd („Argento“= ital. „Silber“) zu gehen. Im großzügigsten und bequemsten Cockpit  seiner Klasse kann die Crew den Ausklang  am Wasser entspannt genießen.

Many years of daysailer-design and the most recent developments have formed the shape of the new a27. 20 years ago Michael Gilhofer revolutionized the market for sailboats with his idea for a real daysailer.  The experience of more than 30 owners of daysailers was taken into account for the development of the a27 and to shape this ideal yacht. The ingenious design from Lorenzo Argento YD has been presented at the BOOT 2019.

In 2021/22, the model range of the fast Lorenzo Argento YD carbon daysailer from Austria  has been  expanded significantly!

The a27 is now available in three new models.

pure - for the purists among the sailors. Less is more! solar - for complete independence. Full batteries, always and anywhere! performante - for the performance-oriented club sailor. Fast and luxurious!

The "pure" model brings the a27 back to the basics: simple handling, few systems and barely visible trim. Sailing in its purest form! The "solar" model makes total independence from shore power connections a reality. Walkable solar panels, completely integrated in the bow deck, allow permanent charging of the engine- and supply batteries and thus provides energy even without berth at ports. The model "performante" with its carbon mast and carbon bowsprit, as well as additional, hidden, but easy to operate trim devices, is the ideal yacht wether you’re gunning for gold or seeking silver ("Argento"= ital. "silver") at weekend regattas. In the most spacious and comfortable cockpit of its class, the crew can relax and enjoy the sunset on the water.

Technische Daten/Technical Details: 

Click here to see the a27 in 3D Panoramic View:

A-YACHTS: THE NEXT GENERATION OF DAYSAILERS

A-Yachts are setting the trend for the next generation of day sailing, designed and built-in Austria. Not only are these luxury yachts designed for cruising, they are fast enough to win local regatta’s thanks to excellent handling and exceptional design – the perfect solution for local or coastal waters.

The a27, a33, and a39 all of encompass a well thought out design in collaboration with high-performance partners for the running rigging and sail plan coupled with the clean lines of the carbon hull give these yachts a style and performance edge.

Doyle Sails Austria has partnered with A-Yachts to deliver world-class sails to the people choosing to elevate their sailing experience. Utilising the Doyle Sails premiere Stratis membrane to deliver high quality, performance-orientated sails that are lighter and easier to handle than any other alternative.

Doyle’s design department, which includes local Austrian designer Christian Hagar, applied a sophisticated and thorough approach to the design and engineering of these sails, making use of advanced design software to ensure they are built with optimal performance in mind. The team applies 3D modeling, together with aero and structural analysis to ensure that the sails are not only fit for purpose, but perform outstandingly, straight out of the bag.

Both A-Yachts and Doyle Sails Austria are located on the shores of Lake Wolfgansee, where the hills are alive with the sound of sailboats in Austria’s Salzkammergut resort region or “Lake District”, well known for world-class racing, cruising and scenery.

Doyle Sails Austria is owned and operated by the Raudaschl family and well known for the contribution to the incredible reputation and growth of the sailing region. Florian and Hubert Raudaschl and their team serve more than 30 lakes including the Atter, Traun, Mond, Wolfgangsee (Aber), and Hallstätter.

With over 50 years of experience in sailmaking, Doyle Austria is not only the leading sailmaker in Austria but serves as the main partner when it comes to fitting out whether it is sails, ropework, or rigging. A natural choice for a partner like A-Yachts.

Learn more about A Yachts HERE

Visit Doyle Sails Austria HERE

GET IN TOUCH

Welcome to Leonardo Yachts, home of the modern classic daysailer. In close collaboration with the world’s leading yacht designers, we build tailor made daysailers that are world famous for their elegance, superior comfort and state-of-the-art technology making sailing as easy as pushing a button. Join our family and enter the amazing world of Leonardo Yachts.

Choose what fits you best

NEW Eagle 46

This is what we live by

“As sailors it is a privilege for us to work in the yachting industry and we like nothing more than to create beautiful daysailers. It is a pleasure to partner with owners to make their vision become reality. If you share our passion for sailing, we’d be honoured to help fulfil your aspirations.”

Leonardo Yachts was founded by two brothers, Steven and Melle Boersma. With a grandfather who started building wooden racing dinghies in the 1950s and a father who specialised in the construction of steel motor yachts, Steven and Melle come from a pedigree boatbuilding family. Raised in the northern part of the Netherlands, where much of their youth was spent racing on the famous Frisian lakes, a passion for sailing was born…

Leonardo Yachts has a portfolio of customised modern classic daysailers called the Eagle. Our luxury daysailers embody the Spirit of Tradition combining the sheer beauty and style of classics with modern performance. Not to mention that our daysailers can be sailed single handed. All our daysailers are custom made and completely built by hand. Our daysailers come with lifelong service and ongoing support worldwide that goes above and beyond the call of duty.

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2022 Boat of the Year: Best Pocket Cruiser/Daysailer

• By Cruising World Editors
• December 15, 2021

During and in the four days immediately following the US Sailboat show in Annapolis, Maryland, the  Cruising World  judges inspected and sailed on 27 boats vying for recognition. Learn more about the boats in our  2022 Boat of the Year  »

From the very beginning, nearly 50 years ago, Cruising World has kept an open mind as to exactly what constitutes cruising. For some, it might mean circling the globe under sail alone. For others, lowering the mast and motoring through America’s rivers, lakes and canals to complete a Great Loop fits the bill. Some seek long bluewater passages, others are content to gunkhole along a lakeshore in a shallow-draft vessel, sleeping under the stars on a cockpit bench or tucked under a boom tent should it rain.

And likewise, since the inception of our Boat of the Year contest a quarter century ago, we’ve asked our independent team of judges to evaluate a wide range of boats and measure them against their stated design brief. It’s not every year that our experts have the opportunity to inspect a category of nifty, smooth-sailing vessels under 30 feet, but for 2022, there was a trio of modestly sized smart, cool boats to put through their paces. The only problem? Each model was designed and built with a vastly different purpose (and sailor) in mind. 

The Tartan 245 was originally conceived as a training boat for sailing schools. J/Boat’s J/9 is an unabashed daysailer, meant to provide exciting spins around the harbor, even under mainsail alone. And, the Beneteau First 27 is fine-tuned to deliver performance, and definitely lives at the racier end of the spectrum. 

The judge’s task? Decide which nominee came closest to fulfilling its stated purpose.

Let’s begin with the J/9 . It’s simple. It’s fun. It’s a totally enjoyable, stress-free sailing experience that can be easily handled by any sailor looking to enjoy a breezy afternoon. And that’s just what the crew at J/Boats was striving for with their new 28-foot daysailer. 

In promotional materials, the company asks, “Is this the most comfortable cockpit ever?” And the answer, after sailing the boat on a blue-sky Annapolis day, would have to be yes. There is plenty of room for a couple of couples to sit comfortably. But the tiller and its extension also allow a singlehander to sit forward and easily reach the jib sheets, led to winches on the low-profile cabin top. Aft, there is even a small swim platform and ladder for when the time comes to douse sails and enjoy a dip on a hot afternoon.

Described from the get-go as a “daysailor,” a small cabin has room for an open V-berth, a couple of settees, a head, and space for a small portable cookstove and cooler. 

Underway in 10 knots or so of breeze, the boat was quite well mannered, even with the jib furled. Judge Tim Murphy notes, “The design writ started off with it being a mainsail-only boat, and then it ended up having a headsail too. But it’s really mainsail-driven. And the big drawing point is the huge cockpit. We sailed the boat under main alone, and sure enough, you could go out for an afternoon with just the main and have a time for yourself. The cockpit is perfect. It really is the strongest part of the boat.”

With the Tartan 245 , longtime Tartan naval architect Tim Jackett, who’s now practically synonymous with the brand, was originally asked to design an easily handled, simply laid-out 24-footer that would be ideal for sailing lessons. 

What he came up with is a delightful little boat that does all that and more. Longtime aficionados of the Carl Alberg-designed Ensign will recognize several features from that classic daysailer (the sailor who commissioned the 245 had a soft spot for Ensigns). The long and spacious cockpit, the tiller steering and the handy cuddy cabin are all perfect. What separates the designs is the Tartan’s lifting keel, which makes it versatile and trailerable. 

If the J/9’s focus is on simple sailing, the Tartan’s aim is to give students the ability to tweak sails and rig to their hearts’ content in order to learn big-boat handling and racing skills. Numerous control lines are led into the cockpit from the base of the mast, and aft, there is a beefy backstay adjuster.

The boat that the judges sailed in Annapolis was a demo boat for a local sailing school, and was stripped out inside, except for a cushion for the V-berth. But the owner’s plans included towing the boat back to his home in Florida, where he’s contemplating loading aboard a port-a-potty, cooler and stove, and possibly sailing it across to the Bahamas. Outfitted as such, it would be a sporty little vessel for exploring shallow-water venues between the cays.

With two boats that so closely hit the bullseyes described in their design briefs, there was one boat left to assess, and in the end, the Beneteau First 27 turned in a performance that insured it would sail away with the pocket-cruiser hardware.

Built in Slovenia and, before undergoing a branding and systems revamping by Beneteau, this sharp, tidy “sport cruiser” was known as the Seascape 27. By any name, it delivers thrilling performance in a compact, well-reasoned package. 

While the Seascape 27 was originally conceived as a major player in the ever-expanding world of doublehanded offshore racing— CW ’s sister publication, Sailing World , tested and rewarded that boat—the cruisier version was reintroduced this year with several tweaks and the new moniker: First 27. And as a racer/cruiser, it boasts all the amenities necessary for weekend and coastal voyaging: a serviceable head, galley and berths, and a Yanmar diesel. In other words, a couple could easily liveaboard, rather than camp, for short periods of time, but they could also expect to be serious podium contenders should those outings involve a regatta.

In the end, it was the little things that swayed the judges. “The fit-and-finish for the price point is at a different level,” judge Gerry Douglas said. “The equipment level was higher.”

• More: beneteau , Boat of the Year , Boat of the Year 2022 , J/Boats , Sailboats , tartan yachts
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Saffier SL 46 first look: a daysailer ready for fun sailing

• March 19, 2024

This is new ground for Saffier, but it looks to be a top-quality yacht for proper cruising and fun sailing, if the numbers and Saffier’s track record are anything to go by. 

Dutch yard Saffier has a reputation for stylish, quick daysailers. While their origins lie in their smaller 6.5m and 8m cabin boats, the yard has seen real growth in its SE range, standing for Saffier Elegance.

These boats are highly refined daysailers that merely nod to the possibility of staying on board overnight if required.

This spaciousness is achieved by pushing the helm forward into the boat’s centre for fun sailing .

The Med version has moveable benches and an open transom. Photo: Yachting Monthly

The SE 27 and SE 33 have been around for a while now, and have impressed with lively performance, while being easy to single hand.

Other cruising yachts in the range include the newer  SE 24 Lite , which offers a sportier experience.

The  SE 37 Lounge  does just that, too, with a vast cockpit and a very comfortable lounge below, with enough space to boil a kettle or pop champagne. The SL 46 ( Saffier Luxury ) is Saffier’s first foray into large cruising yachts.

While the boat retains the distinctive helm position ahead of the mainsheet and large lounging area aft, the SL 46 is much more on a par with other performance cruisers this size.

S tyling is distinctly modern, using clean, minimal lines and ‘luxury materials’ to  create ‘wow factor’ amid a sensible layout. 

Article continues below…

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The Med and North daysailers

The boat comes in two variants – Med and North in recognition of where most of their clients are likely to cruise.

The big difference between the two daysailers is the wide open transom with easy access to the water of the Med version.

On the North version, the aft deck has been raised to create a tender garage beneath cushioned lounging space.

The performance promises to be lively for these cruising yachts.

Vacuum- infused vinylester resin over a Divinycell core has kept the weight under 11 tonnes with a 30% ballast ratio in a 2.2m cast iron keel and a lead bulb for a lower centre of gravity. 

Signature Saffier Styling

Below decks, there’s  a spacious galley, large saloon with chart table, and what looks like good amounts of stowage. 

An owner’s cabin forward is huge, and includes a dressing table and sink, though no heads, sharing instead the aft heads with the two double cabins.

Below, there’s a sensible cruising layout with modern styling. Photo: Yachting Monthly

This is new ground for Saffier, but it looks to be  a top-quality yacht for proper cruising and fun sailing, if the numbers and Saffier’s track record are anything to go by.

Saffier SL 46 specifications

LOA: 14.90m / 48ft 11in HULL LENGTH:  13.75m / 45ft 1in LWL: 13.75m / 45ft 1in BEAM: 4.45 / 14ft 7in DRAUGHT: 2.20m / 7ft 3in (Race 2.60m / 8ft 6in) SAIL AREA:  118m2 / 1,249 sq ft BALLAST:  3,200kg / 7,055 Lbs DISPLACEMENT: 10,900kg / 24,031 Lbs PRICE:  base €580,000 ex VAT (ca. £498,600) CONTACT: Saffier Yachts Website

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The Daysailers of Daydreams

From the alerion express 28 to the wallynano, practical sailor examines the trend toward bigger, more expensive daysailers, and rates them according to style, construction, and performance..

A daysailer was once simple and small, an entry-level passport to the sport. In the new millennium, however, that has changed. Simplicity may still be a watchword, but the boats have grown into what could be called trophy boats. Hinckley Co.s latest daysail boat is 42 feet long. Morris Yachts is marketing a boat that stretches 53 feet as a daysailer. Ted Fontaine at Friendship Yachts already has built one that size. And these are only a few of the daysail boats with minimal accommodations, big cockpits, and over-size price tags that are filling up the fleet. In all, more than a dozen elegant daysailers have made it to market. This article compares an even dozen: the Alerion Express 28, 33, and 38 (Pearson Composites); e33 (e Sailing Yachts, Robbie Doyle and Jeremy Wurmfeld); the B-38 (Luca Brenta); Bruckmann 42 (Bruckmann Yachts); Crosscurrent 33 (Maxi Dolphin); the Friendship 40 (Ted Fontaine); Harbor 25 (W.D. Schock); Hinckley 42 (Hinckley Yachts), J-100 and J-124 (JBoats), Morris 36 (Morris Yachts), Sabre Spirit (Sabre Yachts), and the wallynano (Wally Yachts).

                                                       ****

By Ralph Naranjo

Lacking the time and opportunity to pursue racing and cruising the way that we used to, many of us have taken to daysailing. A daysailer was once simple and small, an entry-level passport to the sport. In the new millennium, however, that has changed. Simplicity may still be a watchword, but the boats have grown. Hinckley Co.s latest “DS” is 42 feet long. Morris Yachts is marketing a boat that stretches 53 feet as a daysailer. Ted Fontaine at Friendship already has built one that size. And these are only a few of the boats with minimal accommodations, big cockpits, and over-size pricetags filling up the fleet.

In all, more than a dozen “elegant daysailers” have made it to market. They have been well-received. Some say they represent the only real growth in new boat sales. Boosters claim they “address the kind of sailing that we actually do.” Cynics call them “a triumph of smoke and mirrors, branding, and snob appeal.”

Photo courtesy of Alerion Express

The dollars involved-up to $800,000 “base price”-made us wonder what they have to do with the average Practical Sailor reader. We tried to ignore the buzz the daysailer resurgence created at boat shows and in the glossy mags. Ultimately, it all boils down to this: These boats, like any other, get their “character” from their “characteristics.” Style, performance, control, comfort, and quality are key ingredients whether youre talking about a Sunfish or a Brenta 38. We focus here on todays “elegant daysailers” mostly to find out whats happening in this sphere and if we should pay attention.

The beginnings

Todays day boats harken back at least as far as 1912. Thats when Nathanael Herreshoff designed the 26-foot Alerion for his personal use. Like the boats of today, it provided nothing but the basics in terms of accommodation. Likewise, it was comfortable to sit in, sprightly under sail, and very pretty to behold.

The original is enshrined in the Mystic (Conn.) Seaport museum, but Garry Hoyt, always in search of a brighter idea, joined forces with designer Carl Schumacher around 1993 to produce a modern version. The Alerion Express 28 is true to the timeless look of the model, but made of modern materials and given a modern (though hardly unknown to Capt. Nat) fin keel and spade rudder. Advertised as “the prettiest girl at the dance,” over 400 hulls have been sold to date.

After developing more Alerions (20, 33, and 38), Hoyt left builder Pearson Composites, and a fleet of competitors appeared on the horizon.

President Jeff Johnstone of J-Boats recalls the 1992 U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Md., when a J-35 and the new J-105 were displayed side by side. Visitors could be heard wondering out loud, “Are the cruising amenities on the 35 worth the $50,000 price difference?”

“Today, especially if you live where you sail, people are realizing that they don’t need all the cruising stuff,” says Johnstone. “After all, if youve got a galley, somebodys got to cook.” We look at two J-Boats (J-100 and J-124) in the performance daysailer race.

The Hinckley Co. of Southwest Harbor, Maine, began building lobster boats in 1928. With sailing exemplars like the Bermuda 40 and Southwester 42, it achieved prominence in the yacht-building world. When it returned to the lobsterboat archetype with its Picnic boat in the mid 1990s, the full-circle was spectacular.

“People told us we were crazy building half-million-dollar 36-footers that slept just two,” says Sales Director John Correa. But style, luxury, and innovation (combining water-jet propulsion with joy-stick control) made the Picnic boat a legendary success (over 300 sold). Employing the same designer (Bruce King) and a somewhat similar approach, Hinckley recently introduced its DS 42, marketing it as a sailing Picnic boat.

The Friendship 40 was another boat inspired by the Picnic boat phenomena. “When I left Hinckley to start my own business,” explains designer Fontaine, “that Picnic-boat-with-sails idea, a boat that didnt depend on a commitment to racing or cruising, made sense. Since then, Ive taken my own tack, refined my ideas, found a builder, and sold more than a dozen. The Friendship sloop was the original lobsterboat. My Friendship 40 builds on that inspiration. But she has full headroom.”

courtesy of Alerion Express

Most American builders have, like Hoyt, chosen to base daysailers on traditional models. From Europe, however, come entries that are decidedly futuristic. Milanese designer Luca Brenta is best known for offshore megayachts ( Ghost , his various Wallys, and Swans custom Brenta 76), but hes also pursued another theme since he opened his office in 1986: His “B project” is a “quest to maximize pure pleasure under sail for all those aboard.” Teak decks, sofa seating, skin-tight sheeting angles, dual wheels, hydraulic sail controls, and more are part of his B-38. So, too, is styling that makes it a Ferrari among Model-Ts.

Also from Italy comes Maxi Dolphins Crosscurrent 33 and Andre Hoeks 36-foot Wallynano. To date, the innate conservatism of the American market has coupled with the declining dollar to keep these imports from having a major impact here.

Morris Yachts was doing well building quality cruisers when a wooden 1930s vintage 34-footer named Poppy was consigned to the yard for restoration. Designed by Sparkman & Stephens, the boat was resurrected to the point where it became the “boat of the fleet” at S&Ss 75th anniversary, a reunion that included such icons as Bolero , Dorade , Stormy Weather , and other classics. When Morris Yachts founder Tom Morris (who passed away in December) came upon an updated version of Poppy in the S&S files, he and his son, Cuyler, president of Morris Yachts, set out building traditional weekenders with sitting headroom, belowdecks sheeting, and no lifelines. They sell for “about $350,000” and are closing in on number 30.

The Harbor 25 from W.D. Schock, the e33 from sailmaker Robbie Doyle and Jeremy Wurmfeld, the Bruckmann 42 from Doug Zurn and Mark Bruckmann, and Jim Taylors Sabre Spirit round out our sample field. The last three show clearly that builders and designers of various backgrounds are being drawn into this daysailer movement.

Boats conceived without regard to handicap rules can achieve better speed. Similarly, daysailers offer a freedom from headroom, interior volume, and payload constraints. That enables their creators to concentrate on making them look good. Style becomes paramount. Lots of “pretty girls” have arrived at the dance.

Taste is subjective; beauty is in the beholders eye. For this survey of aesthetics, weve leaned upon the words of L. Francis Herreshoff, as written in his classic “The Commonsense of Yacht Design”: “Beauty is an attribute which delights the eye and the mind; delicacy of outline, harmony of proportion. The sole interest held by the eye in a straight line is in bending it. A curve to be interesting must be continually changing. Curves of a fixed radius are predictable. The reverse curve is vastly more interesting.”

Guided by these principles and a lack of commonsense, we rated and compared the looks of these beautiful boats. Highest on our list came the Alerion Express 28. Perhaps its our romantic preference for hull lines “sculpted” via carved half-model (as were those of Capt. Nat), but the limits, proportions, and resonances evident in the Alerion Express 28 seem just right. Its smaller and larger near-sisters seem less exquisite. Prejudice and snobbism could be causing us to prefer Schumachers “original” over the updates, but to us, theres a difference.

We gave equally high marks to the B-38. Totally different than the AE 28, it appealed through unity, integrity, and boldness. Says Eric Hall of Hall Spars: “I see lots of boats, and she is one of the few that made me fall in love. “

The Crosscurrent is also sexy, but its relatively low-aspect rig makes it seem squatty. The tumblehome transom and counter stern on the Friendship 40 not only echo the Friendship sloop but appeal on their own. The boats tall rig and low freeboard are a bit upsetting, but her ports, coamings, and house profile are masterful.

The Morris 36 is the queen of moderate. Stem and stern angle are restrained, its sheer has spring without slouch, and its house stops short of cluttering the skyline.

Pretty as they are, the next boats fall one tier, in our view: The bigger Morrises are endier than the 36, just a touch ungainly. Though we liked the jaunty, semi-hollow bow on the Bruckmann 42, the after part of the boat seemed overlong and a bit too low.

Robbie Doyle, founder and president of Doyle Sailmakers, calls his e33 “an Etchells on steroids,” but theres nothing ugly or bloated about the boat. If anything, its looks are a bit understated.

Crisp and balanced, the Sabre Spirit surprises by providing four bunks and full headroom in a boat that doesn’t stand out from the others.

The J-100 and J-124 have a distinct resemblance to the rest of the J-family. Its a sharp look, a look to be proud of, but not that expressive or unique.

Last on our style sheet come the Hinckley, the Harbor 25, and the Wally. Built by W.D. Schock, the Harbor is pleasant, unassuming, almost bland. It comes at the bottom because it doesn’t try to impress visually. The Hinckley and the Wallynano, on the other hand, try too hard. Faux-painting a carbon-fiber spar to look like spruce (as Hinckley does) recalls the wood-panel station wagons of the 70s. The luxuriant curves that distinguish Kings Picnic boats and mega-yachts look, to us, silly and extravagant on the daysailer. Given its minimal waterline and over-done overhangs, we find the Hinckley DS42 awkward rather than appealing.

Among the Europeans, vision and design intensity shine through in the B-38. The Wallynano, on the other hand, seems mixed up. Its “retro” reference to an outdated archetype combined with a cluster of clashing stylistic elements and conflicting purposes leaves us bewildered rather than bewitched.

Performance

Sailing performance isn’t as subjective as style, but neither is it a function of simple numbers. Though some look a bit like sportboats, delivering maximum speed isn’t what these daysailers are about. Rather, they all promise to be “lively and rewarding” without resorting to extra sails or crew. By sailing them, analyzing their designs, and gathering available intelligence, we tried to determine which candidates keep that promise best.

The B-38 looks like a rocket ship. Its sail area/displacement ratio of 31.4 is the highest in sight. With a beam of just 8 feet and a high ballast-displacement ratio, this formula for sailing-fast, flat, and under control -makes it the “high performance” option and puts it atop our performance rankings.

The Crosscurrent 33 relies more on beam and a low center of effort for its stability. Conceived by its builders at Maxi Dolphin as a day racer, it is robust enough to earn Class A (ocean certified) status but, laboring under a Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF) rating of 40, it proved sluggish, finishing last in its class at Key West Race Week. Gifted now with a PHRF 72, it has proven more competitive.

For the majority of these boats, racing isn’t the objective. Still, competition is the laboratory where performance gets refined. Explaining the genesis of the J-100 and J-124, Johnstone says, “It all begins with an easily driven hull. Going all the way back to the J-24 (over 5,400 sold), that was the key. With a slippery shape, you can afford a moderate sailplan. Working with a rating is, after all, determining how little measured sail area you need. Hull shape, weight placement, deck layout, raceboat design is intense.” Their longer waterlines, planing surfaces, and deep racing background earn the Js a spot behind the B-38, but ahead of the rest in the pecking order.

Photos (from top) by Billy Black

The e33 is Doyles first design. “Ive been campaigning an Etchells 22 for some time. [Hes finished in the money in the last three world championships.] Why can’t I bundle the fun of sailing dinghies in a boat for us “old guys” who don’t want to wake up sore after a regatta?” says Doyle. With S&S graduate Wurmfeld, Doyle developed “a narrow boat with a big bulb and controllable (no winches) units of sail.”

Wed heard the boat had “too much main” for average sailors, but while sailing it, we found that its 2,500-plus-pound deep keel kept it quite forgiving. Dodging through Marbleheads mooring field, it handled much like a dinghy ( Practical Sailor , November 2008).

The Sabre Spirit, despite weighing 3,400 pounds more than the e33, is nimble, too. Rather than a big-roach main like the e33, it has a taller, pointier, triangle controlled by a backstay. Says designer Jim Taylor, “We think the average sailor appreciates being able to get the most from the main without being an Olympian. Certainly with the small jibs on these boats, the mains become critical.” Sabre calls the boat a “weekender”-less racy than a dinghy, perhaps, but snappy nonetheless.

Sail area/displacement (horsepower/weight) calculations demand a grain of salt. They derive from figures that can be skewed, and reflect but few of the many factors that determine performance. Still, its significant that the remaining daysailers have similar SA/D ratios. With the exception of the Friendship 40, they are all very much alike.

Fontaine worked for years with sailmaker and designer Ted Hood; the F40 is a wide, whale-bodied, keel-centerboarder with a generous rig and hefty displacement reminiscent of the boats that Hood designed and campaigned. The rest are moderate-to-light displacement hulls with proportionate overhangs, narrow beams, separated rudders, and deep fins with bulbs. That directs the focus to ballast/displacement. The more the boats overall weight is used to produce stability, the better it can carry sail. Thats why the Harbor 25 (0.45) and Bruckmann 42 (0.46) look good. Alerions lesser numbers (0.38 and below) help explain why weve sometimes found them cranky in strong winds (over 18 knots, true).

We can confirm that the M-36 is slippery enough to headreach farther and faster than most modern racers weve sailed. We also have seen it soundly trounced upwind by a modern 35-foot racer-cruiser.

Two boats could not be more different than the Friendship and the Hinckley. So far, they have met in day races four times in all kinds of breeze. At last check, the score was 2-2. Go figure.

The aim here is to make it easier to go sailing. Crew weight used to be needed to balance the rig. With deep bulb keels, thats no longer true.

Getting rid of big headsails is great. Hoyts patented wishboom does a fine job-especially off the wind-on the Alerions, the Js, and the Harbor. The Bruckmann and Sabre Spirit are self-tacking by virtue of a single sheet led from a car on the foredeck track to a point high on the forward side of the mast. Morris uses basically the same geometry, but has the sheet disappear inside the spar and return to the cockpit invisibly. Hinckley, Brenta, Crosscurrent, and Doyle use a pair of sheets to control a non-overlapping jib that lives on a roller furler. The end result: No one fights a big genny, anyone can tack the boat singlehanded, and, unfortunately, line chafe is now out of sight and out of mind.

courtesy of Bruckmann Yachts; by Onne van der Wal

Sailing in 6 to 10 knots of breeze, we miss the power of the big sail somewhat, but attention paid to the main pays off in good acceleration even in low-pressure puffs. High-roach mains (e33, Alerion, Brenta, and Crosscurrent) have been proven on multihulls and sailboards to be more efficient than pointy-headed planforms. Having more of their sail power located in the controllable mainsail makes all of these boats easier to sail.

A keen eye toward comfort helps explain why todays trophy boats are so big and why they offer so little-a minimum of 4 feet-in shoal draft capability. Ballast displacement ratios count for a lot when it comes to keeping the boat upright.

In addition, the daysailers are drier than the little boats they replace. “I will always prefer the narrow boat in a seaway,” said Olin Stephens. Morris has capitalized on the S&S heritage with excellent seakeeping boats.

Fontaine has sailed the Friendship from Maine to the Caribbean. Doyle took the e33 on last summers Eastern Yacht Club cruise. In a universe where flat-bottomed, shallow-draft auxiliaries are the norm, these boats (with the obvious exception of the Italian imports) can be comfortable at sea.

Because its where sailors spend their time, cockpits have grown and luxuriated. You may bang your shins or be forced to sit below, but in the cockpit, youre king. Only the B-38 offers couches, but no maker here scrimps on cockpit comfort.

Although the usual owner of some of these boats isn’t the kind to paint his own antifouling, we can’t help but grouse about exterior wood flourishes that seem only to elevate the conspicuous consumption quotient.

courtesy of Friendship Yachts; courtesy of manufacturers

They may be retro in terms of aesthetics, but the trophy daysailers are up-to-the-instant in terms of boatbuilding.

From scrimp resin-infusion through vacuum-bagging and mixed-laminate composites, the hulls are high-tech. Getting the weight out of the structure and into the keel is the norm. Virtually all the boats have carbon-fiber masts (stiffer, easier to tune, and lighter). Velocity prediction, computer modeling and fairing, even programs to calculate sheet loads have helped engineer “products” very well.

In terms of construction, the Sabre Spirit stands out in this field as one of the better values.

Conclusions

Our first reaction was a paralytic form of sticker shock. Looking closer did not make the obscenity vanish, but weve adjusted a bit.

In an age of Wall Street bailouts, McMansions, and Manny Ramirez, millions get thrown around pretty easily. A boat you can enjoy, even love, can make the big dollars seem less far-fetched. Many of these trophy boats are lovable. For the most part, theyre gorgeous, well-made, and lots of fun to sail.

Choosing among them, we favor the genuine (like the Herreshoff-inspired Alerion) for looks and the competition-forged (Js and e33) for performance. We can’t help but fantasize about the B-38, identify with the down-to-earth mission of the Sabre Spirit, and hope that the Harbor 25 is extraordinary enough to confirm its spot as the bargain. We hate to dismiss the Bruckmann and the Crosscurrent as “me-too” imitations, but we found little that made them distinctive.

Popular boats like the Morrises and Hinckley daysailers don’t, in our opinion, justify their big tickets. However, owning an “elegant head-turner” is something many sailors are willing to pay for.

Ultimately, these daysailers seem to point toward a simplicity and ruggedness that replaces the “second home” mentality in favor of “the joy of sailing.” That much we can appreciate.

• Carl Alberg and the C lassic Daysailer
• Practical Sailor Value Guide: Trophy Daysailers

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Modern classic.

Sailing Simplicity at its Finest

Long time single handed sailors love the M36 because within 5 minutes they can be off the dock and sailing. Beginners are equally as enthralled because the M36 is simple to sail, simple to learn on and immediately rewarding with her straightforward sail handling and control lines that are lead under deck to electric winches at the helmsman’s fingertips. In addition, all instruments are intelligently arrayed to quickly provide all the information you need.

More Than a Daysailer

Take her overnight! The elegantly appointed optional V-berth, standard fridge and enclosed head make her far more versatile than a mere daysailer. The M36 also has a deep, safe and comfortable cockpit which accommodates six adults allowing you to safely entertain your guests.

Beautifully Appointed Interior

No detail inside her cabin is overlooked. Large safety glass windows and a huge foredeck hatch flood the interior with natural light. The Herreshoff style interior is finished elegantly with white bulkheads, solid cherry trim and marvelously varnished hull sheathing. Twin port and starboard settees are ergonomically designed for comfortable lounging (or sleeping), and well placed reading lights invite you to enjoy the morning paper or catch up on some afternoon reading. Generous storage can be found in the forepeak. An alternative layout converts the forepeak space into a beautiful and functional V-Berth for overnight stays.

Remarkably Simple to Dock

The M36 does exactly what you tell her to do. She backs straight (no prop walk), turns on a dime and docks like a pro. In short, she maneuvers under power as responsively as she does under sail making her a pleasure to both sail and to bring back to port. Even the fenders are just a ‘clip’ away; pad eyes and stainless steel rub rails are placed on deck for ‘clip-on’ polar-fleece-covered fenders. What could be easier!

Perfectly Engineered

At Morris Yachts we’re not just boat builders; we’re sailors and boat owners too. Perhaps this is the reason the M36 is so intuitively designed with the owner in mind. Often overlooked by other builders, access to the engine, through-hulls and electrical systems is superb.

As with all sailing boats built by Morris Yachts, the M36 offers peace of mind. You are onboard one of the most seaworthy boats in the world. Setting the industry standard, Morris Yachts’ level of engineering, fit and finish sets the benchmark by which other builders measure themselves. Morris craftsmen and engineers demand only the finest equipment and use the most modern techniques and technology during the boat building process, proving that the beauty of a Morris is not only skin deep but integrated throughout all facets of the vessel.

Images and media on this page may represent optional equipment or previous specifications. Specifications and equipment are subject to change.

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8 Best Daysailers Under 21 Feet – Buying Guide

SAFFIER SE 33 UD

It’s a sunny day, and you want to take a spin around the harbor. What better way to do that than launching a daysailer?

These sailboats are traditionally smaller than a cruise ship or yacht, but considerably bigger than kayaks , catamarans, inflatable dinghies , and other smaller boats. Owning an open sailboat shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg, but expect to spend some top dollar.

Here are 8 best daysailers that are 21 feet or under.

CATALINA 16.5

Let’s kick things off with the Catalina 16.5 sailboat. It might come as a surprise to find a Catalina boat listed among the best daysailers under 20 feet because the name is more known for bigger cruiser yachts. But there are a whole lot of small boats built by Catalina, too.

The Catalina 16.5 is one of the most versatile hand-laminated fiberglass sloops from this designer and can be purchased with the option of a 4-feet 5-inch shoal-draft keel or a centerboard that draws 5-inch with the board up.

Consider choosing the lead-keel option if you want to park it on a mooring or at the dock. It is built to remain stable in such conditions. On the flip side, getting the centerboard version is most suitable if you want to store the boat on a trailer.

Catalina builds all their boats with a self-bailing cockpit, and the 16.5 is no different. It comes with a huge self-bailing cockpit. There is a waterproof hatch and a stowage space forward of the boat. The boat also comes with standard hiking straps and a tiller extension if you want to step on to the side deck for some spray in your face and good visibility forward.

You can get out on the water with around ten grand or more. Check out current listings for Catalina 16.5 .

 Boats  →

Teaching your kids or anyone to sail requires a low-maintenance and very steady boat. This is where the Hunter 15 shines. It is a perfect knockabout sailboat that can take a lot of rough beating without breaking, thanks to its high freeboard and fiberglass construction.

The boat has a wide beam that ensures she’s steady no matter what. Crew-weight shifts or sudden crazy jibes that may happen along the way won’t do a thing to this boat. And even the most fearful and unsteady learner won’t fall out of it. It will take a tremendous effort to capsize this beautiful boat, making it one of the best daysailers any daysailer (or intending daysailer) would want to have.

But stability and durability are not the only pluses for the Hunter 15. It has a self-bailing cockpit that allows any water that gets into the boat to exit quickly. There is room enough to comfortably accommodate up to four people.

Getting a durable and high-performance sailboat that will cruise smoothly on the water is one thing; finding convenient storage is an entirely different ballgame. Thankfully, you don’t have to spend extra cash when it comes to this boat. The sailboat can fit into your garage while sitting on a trailer. And here’s another good thing with Hunter 15; you don’t have to worry about varnishing wood afterward.

But perhaps the best part of the Hunter 15 is that it is a very affordable boat. Although sailboats don’t come cheap, you don’t have to break the bank to own one of the beauties.

Prices for a new one range from around $10k, and you can find used ones for less. Check out the listings of Hunter 15 and other equally excellent models of the Hunter sailboat.

Ready for some painless daysailing? Renowned designer, Chuck Paine, has something classy and beautiful for you. The Paine 14 (obviously named after the designer) is a trailerable sailboat with exceptional performance and purposely styled after the traditional Herresholf 12 1/2 boat, except for its size. Paine 14 is a lot smaller in all aspects, which accounts for its considerable lightness.

It is fitted with a modern spade rudder and fin keel, giving the boat more agility and speed as she sails. And even with a lead-ballast keel almost her total weight, this sweet, small vessel maintains stability at top speed.

But why is a boat with an old-time appeal be listed among the best daysailers? Simple. It is a blend of the classic old and modern performance. Indeed, it is constructed from cold-molded wood with varnished gunnels and transom, but don’t be fooled by that century-old look.

Chuck Paine worked some modern magic into this cute beauty with the inclusion of a carbon mast and an extremely easy way to attach sails to it. Setting up sail is quick and simple, and you can get it done and over with in only a couple of minutes.

The boat can be gaff-rigged, or you can use a Marconi rig. Got a standard car? That’s all you need to trailer this light sailboat, and you are good to go.

Check here for Paine 14 listings .

 Chuckpaine  →

If you want a sailboat that will get your adrenaline pumping and bring out the competitive sailor in you, perhaps you should take a look at the Laser .

The 13-feet 10-inch Laser boat is not included on the list of the best daysailers for nothing. It is raced both as club races and as an international sailing category, featuring in world-class competitions, including the Olympic sailing championships.

However, you don’t have to take part in a competition to enjoy sailing this boat. And you definitely don’t need it for exercising. The Laser is a great choice even if you simply want to enjoy plain smooth sailing just for fun.

The Laser boat has an incredibly lightweight build with fiberglass and a powerful sail. It is an excellent choice for a single cruiser and works well for two adults, too. Be warned, though. It can easily capsize because it is lightweight, but it will also recover just as fast, too!

The boat is easy to transport, launch, and store, thanks to its kick-up rudder. Laser Performance built this model to have a single sail, two-part mast design, with a daggerboard.

This sailboat is very affordable. Prices start from $7k for new boats, and you can find used ones for far less than that. Check here for Laser boat listings .

You can’t go wrong with a design that has been in existence for over five decades and with more than one hundred thousand boats launched since it debuted in Southern California. The Hobie 16 is a long-lasting design that has stood the test of time and attracts quite a following.

This sailboat weighs only 320 pounds, so it is conveniently trailerable. It has ample room to accommodate a crew of four without straining it. The hulks are built from asymmetric fiberglass sandwich and come with kick-up rudders. This gives you the option of sailing all the way to the beach.

The Hobie 16 is designed to have great speed, thanks to its abundant high-speed gear. But that’s not all. It is also equipped with a spinnaker, a trailer, and a douse kit. The main and jib offer a wide sail area of more than 200 square feet.

Both adults and kids will enjoy having lots of fun in this spacious sailboat, especially in the summer. Little wonder it is one of the very best daysailers available on the market.

The Hobie 16 is a high-performance boat with starting prices for new ones in the $12K range. You can find used ones at a little less. But if you want a simpler, smaller, and more affordable option, take a look at the Hobie Cat Wave . It is not a high-performance design, but it offers loads of fun, too. It comes with roto-molded hulls and fitted with a boomless mainsail. This smaller version costs almost half the price of the 16’s, which is a pretty good bargain.

NORSEBOAT 17.5

Looking for one of the best daysailers that will stand out from any crowd? The Norseboat 17.5 might just be the perfect sailboat for you. Dubbed as the “Swiss Army Knife of Boats,” this one-of-a-kind sailboat can be sailed or rowed.

But wouldn’t it take a lot of effort to row this boat? No. Not with the boat’s sheer. The fiberglass hull has lots of sheer – a deliberate and apt design to make rowing easy-breezy. So, even if there’s no wind, you can still have fun rowing while getting some exercise in the process. And if the wind is strong enough, you can relax and let the jib and mainsail do their thing.

The Norseboat 17.5 is the perfect choice for daysailers searching for a high-performance boat that comes with beautiful traditional lines. But even if you are a sea kayaker who is looking to move up, or a cruising sailor seeking to downsize a bit, you’ll find this legendary pedigree to be a good fit for you.

Some of its features include a fully battened mainsail, pivoting carbon mast, shallow draft, furling headsail, and a signature curved headboard. The lightweight boat comes with two rowing stations and performs excellently well, whether wind-powered or rowed. Plus, it has plenty of room to stow stuff.

The boat’s light weight makes transportation easy. All you need is a mid-sized car, and you can easily tow it. Storage is equally hassle-free, as the sailboat can fit into any standard garage.

Check out the current listings for Norseboat 17.5 .

 Norseboat  →

Traditional daysailers are small sailboats that you can take for a quick spin around the harbor. They lack accommodation primarily because they are not designed for spending the night (it’s even in the name!). But all that has changed over the years, and that distinction is almost non-existent with modern designs such as the Fareast 18 .

The boat is a Simonis Voogd design with incredibly high performance, high speed, low maintenance, and comes at a comparatively affordable price. The mainsail has a fully battened square-top and an asymmetrical spinnaker. This is an excellent choice for buoy racing with enough room for a crew of six to compete.

While you typically will not spend the night in a daysailer, there’s nothing wrong with taking a short break below deck. The boat can comfortably sleep up to three just in case you decide to spend the night on the water.

Fareast 18 design features a foam-core hull/vacuum-infused fiberglass, a carbon-structured contemporary bulb keel, and vacuum-infused foils. This high-tech boat is small enough to be rigged and launched by a single sailor.

Even with only one foot of water, this boat will float with the keel retracted and the rudder off. And it is quite easy to trailer this boat.

Check for the current price of new Fareast 18 boats .

 Fareast  →

If you are in the market for a top-class daysailer, you might as well take a look at the Saffier Se 33 UD . Hennevanger brothers, the designers, threw in a lot of know-how and investment to bring this dream boat to reality. The production facility shows in the vacuum-infused build and quality finish of the boat.

Saffier has a collection of models that range between 21 feet and 37 feet, with each boat thoroughly tested to ensure seaworthiness. Considering the size of these boats, one will naturally assume they will be difficult to sail. But that’s not the case with these boats. Even the largest models can be sailed single-handedly and quite easily.

The Se 33 UD was launched in 2014 and done a sporty design. It sails smoothly in all weather conditions, thanks to its solid sprayhood. The sailboat features a practical self-draining cockpit to expel any water that gets into the boat. Included in the cockpit are a folding transform and two-meter benches. The boat is spacious enough for a crew of four, and you can even take a quick nap below.

This top-class boat is an excellent choice if you have deep pockets. Starting prices are in the range of $150k for new boats. You can also check out the new Se 27 model if you want something that is serious fun. The new models can clock up to 20 knots.

For more on pricing, you can check out listings on these boats.

How to Choose the Best Daysailers – Buying Guide

With well over a hundred different daysailers on the market, it can be daunting to pick just one. Here’s what to look for when deciding on which open sailboat to buy for yourself or family use.

Ease of Sail

How a boat behaves when the wind blows up can make it easy or difficult to sail. A lot of modern sailboats are incredibly fast and are great for racing, but can be quite tricky to handle.

You want to look for an open boat that is tamer and stable. This is the perfect choice for a family day sailing boat, especially if you want to encourage kids to learn to sail. Look for a boat that is heavy enough to remain stable regardless of the crew’s acrobatics. It should be easy to rig, launch, and sail, even by a single person.

Reliability

While it is okay to take proper care of your boat, it is equally important to choose a boat that is easy to maintain. Go for boats with hulls designed to a beating without breaking down. Pay attention to the sails, too. Select one with tough sails that won’t easily blow out of shape after just one season of sailing.

Choose a Daysailer with Safety Features

Whether you will be sailing alone or with your family, safety should come first. Pick a boat that can cope with trouble in any condition or weather, and both on rivers or open waters. Look for a sailboat with positive foam floatation. Even if the hull gets filled with water or is punctured, the boat shouldn’t sink.

But because you cannot completely rule out manufacturing errors, even the best daysailers with safety designs can still capsize. However, you should look out for one with a “self-rescue” feature. In other words, choose a boat that rides very high even when it capsizes, so that the weight of her crew will quickly get her to recover without external help.

High Performance

Safety and stability are great, but that shouldn’t translate to a dull boat. You want a sailboat that provides safety as much as it offers some level of fun and exciting challenge even with your family on board.

Ample Space

Daysailers are typically small sailboats, but they should provide enough room to suit your purpose. Whether you want to sail with your family or a few friends, choose a boat that can comfortably accommodate the entire crew.

While not a requirement, a few modern designs include overnight abilities. Consider choosing these types if you spend a lot of time in the open water, even if you are primarily using an open daysailer. You never know when you will be tempted to spend the night cruising in the open water.

About Chris

Outdoors, I’m in my element, especially in the water. I know the importance of being geared up for anything. I do the deep digital dive, researching gear, boats and knowhow and love keeping my readership at the helm of their passions.

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Spirit of Tradition Yachts Designed In Maine

Home » News » SWD News & Stories » 5 Qualities for the Perfect Daysailer 

5 Qualities for the Perfect Daysailer 

Posted on July 18, 2023 and filed under SWD News & Stories

When it comes to the quality of sailing life, bigger is not always better.  What really counts is getting time on the water, comfort, convenience, and having fun.  And for many, the daysailer provides the perfect panacea to the landlocked blues. Unlike many of the larger boats we design, daysailers provide a lot of advantages when it comes to maintenance, ease-of-operations, and access to smaller bodies of water including lakes, near-shore waterways, and shallow bays.

37 Sport Classique | Photo Credit: Alison Langley

Daysailers are known for their simplicity and ease of use — generally single-masted and have a simple rigging system, making these small boats relatively uncomplicated to operate and maneuver. Daysailers usually have an open cockpit layout, allowing a small crew, or individual, to comfortably sit and sail the boat.

Despite the smaller relative size, there is no shortage of creativity, functionality, amenities, and style that can be incorporated into a great daysailer design.

We’re breaking down the top five qualities we like to consider and emphasize in a great daysailer design.

Versatility: 

The perfect daysailer excels in versatility to accommodate a range of sailing activities. It should feel equally suited for leisurely cruising or competitive racing and have the ability to accommodate different crew sizes. For leisure sailing, the boat should provide comfort and relaxation, with ample seating in a spacious cockpit. An efficient interior is important with good layout throughout the cabin: a galley, and head below deck provide crew comfort for daytrips and open the option for overnight adventures.

Racing capability can be enhanced by incorporating a well-balanced sail plan with features like adjustable rigging. We optimize hull shape to maximize speed and maneuverability– this focuses good speed for an enjoyable and simple day sail.

The daysailer should also have the flexibility to adapt to various crew sizes, allowing for both solo sailing and larger groups.

Featured Boat: 37 Sport Classique

Signature 24 | Photo Credit Matt Murphy

The 37 Sport Classique traces its inspiration to 19th-century inshore craft like sandbaggers and sloop-boats. The W-37 Sport Classique features a carefully laid-out and efficient deck plan that showcases spare, elegant joinery. When the comfortable upholstered couches are removed and stowed below, she’ll transform from a luxurious daysailer into a racing machine, with her crew well outboard on the sculpted teak side decks. Adrenaline-pumping performance of today, the glorious ambience of yesterday.

There are a number of reasons that weight is an important consideration in daysailer design.  A lighter boat has an advantage in light air conditions, requiring less power to achieve boat-speed where heavier boats struggle. This provides competitive advantages on the race course and more excitement on lightair days around the lake.

A lightweight construction facilitates easy trailering, reducing the need for specialized equipment and making it more accessible and hassle-free to launch, travel, and store.

Most importantly, a lighter boat is easier to sail: less weight means less sail is required, and loads on sheets and halyards are reduced.

Featured Boat: Signature 24

The Signature 24 is a comfortable, convenient, and sporty daysailer. She features a simple, modern rig with square-top mainsail, zero-emission electric drive, classic lines mixed with modern performance and seating for six adults. Her weight and draft make her trailerable and her mast stepped in the cockpit makes her easily rigged at a launch ramp.

Ease of Operation: 

Ease of operation is a priority for a good daysailer design. Ensuring that sailors of different skill levels can handle the boat with confidence and minimal effort equates to more time on the water and more enjoyment. User-friendly features include intuitive controls, responsive steering,

Tendress | Photo Credit: Alison Langley

and simple rigging systems. The sail controls should be well-designed and easily adjustable, allowing for efficient trimming and sail shape adjustments. Quick rigging and derigging makes the impromptu sunset cruise or weekend adventure a breeze. Keeping it simple is not stupid.

Featured Boat: Tendress

Tendress combines classic good looks, lightweight wood-composite construction, modern rig, and underbody in a delightful new package. Her displacement of less than 8,000 pounds gives her lively performance with a big-boat feel. All lines lead to the cockpit for effortless single-handing. Tendress’ long cockpit with sculpted teak seats will comfortably accommodate a crowd for a sunset cruise. Her traditional cuddy cabin contains amenities for overnighting, while the varnished wood coaming and custom-shaped sheerstrake harken back to the Herreshoff era.

When it comes to amenities there is a broad spectrum of options and thinking about intended use is important.

Well-thought-out amenities can really enhance the onboard experience and time spent aboard. A small head is a desirable feature for longer trips, providing convenience and comfort. Storage compartments should be strategically placed throughout the boat to accommodate gear, provisions, and personal belongings. An enclosed cockpit with ample headroom can be achieved through a hardtop dodger protecting sailors from inclement weather while providing excellent visibility. Additionally, a lightly appointed galley with basic cooking facilities, such as a stove and sink, allows for the preparation of simple meals and refreshments during extended sailing adventures.

The Super Day Sailer | Rendering: Stephens Waring Design

Featured Boat: The Super Daysailer

The most notable to the design is the partially enclosed cockpit via all glass surround and hardtop dodger — a centerpiece and the focus towards delivering an absolute hassle free creature-comfort experience on the water. Down below, a simple day-sailing accommodation for the occasional overnight cruise: a lightly appointed galley, an enclosed head and comfortable vee-berth configuration.

Performance:

Whether racing large yachts or simple daysailers, speed and performance are always high in the list. A well-designed hull shape, optimized for efficiency and stability, contributes to superior sailing performance. The sail plan, including the main sail, jib, and potentially a spinnaker or gennaker, should be carefully calibrated to provide an optimal balance between power and ease of handling. The rigging system should allow for easy adjustments, enabling sailors to fine-tune the sails for different wind conditions.

The boat’s handling characteristics, such as responsiveness to helm inputs and ease of tacking and gybing, significantly influence the overall sailing experience.

Featured Boat: Ginger

Ginger is pure dayboat; her minimal cuddy encloses roomy storage bins and a marine head. She’s ultra-light with clean lines and a powerful rig that promises high average speeds in all conditions, with planing speeds in the mid-to-high teens off the wind. Ginger’s cockpit is ergonomically designed and ideally suited for either casual day sailing or racing with a full crew. Her low freeboard enhances the feeling of speed, while her low, sculpted superstructure is a visual feast from all angles.

Ginger | Photo Credit: Alison Langley

The simple rig with no backstays and square-head mainsail is controlled with below-deck lines and an electric hydraulic system for push-button convenience.

Finding the perfect daysailer ultimately is determined by what will get you on the water the most.  Whether the priority is ease-of-operation, transportability, comfort, or performance, the right boat is the one that brings the most joy to captain and crew.

Other Great Related Articles:

Rosie:  A Sweet Spirit of Tradition Daysailer

Signature Series 38

Marine Engineering 111:  Why is my cockpit eh…a cockpit

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