21 foot sailboat with cabin

13 Best Beginner Sailboats with Cabin (For Any Budget)

Have you ever thought you couldn't afford a sailboat with a cabin? Think again. In this article, you will find 13 beginner sailboats that will suit your budget. We've considered various factors such as safety, ease of handling, and affordability in our selection. These sailboats offer cabins, providing a much-needed break during extended trips and offer the option of overnight stays.

The best beginner sailboats with cabins are Catalina 22, West Wight Potter 19, Com-Pac 23, Hunter 240, MacGregor 26, Montgomery 17, O'Day 22, Precision 18, San Juan 21, Sea Pearl 21, Sirius 22, Tanzer 22, and Ventura 23. Their prices can range from around $5,000 to $30,000.

Whether you're just dipping your toes into the world of sailing or planning on making it a lifelong passion, our list of beginner sailboats with cabins has something for everyone. This will help you focus on what really matters: enjoying your time at sea and mastering the art of sailing.

• Test-sail a few models so you can get a feel for how each boat handles and performs.
• Check out online forums to find user reviews and insights on each model you won't find anywhere else.
• Choose a sailboat that matches your current skill level, such as a small boat with simple rigging and easy handling.
• Identify how you plan to use your sailboat, whether for weekend cruising or for racing.
• Choose a boat that not only fits your budget but also ensures enough space and comfort for your activities.

On this page:

Best beginner sailboats with cabin, let's decide on a sailboat with cabin, understand your needs when choosing a sailboat with cabin, factors to consider for your sailing needs and experience level.

1. Catalina 22 is a classic sailboat that has been popular for over 50 years

The Catalina 22 is an excellent choice for beginners due to its spacious cabin and easy handling. You can get it for $10,000–$20,000. You will appreciate its versatility and stability, which makes sailing more enjoyable and less intimidating. With a length of 22 feet, it's a great boat for beginners because it's easy to sail and has a comfortable cabin. It weighs 2,500 pounds.

2. West Wight Potter 19 is another good option for beginners

Your confidence will grow while sailing the West Wight Potter 19, a compact and sturdy sailboat. You can get it for $5,000–$15,000. Its compact design and shallow draft make it perfect for navigating tight spaces and shallow waters. It's a small sailboat with a cabin that's easy to handle and can be trailered. It weighs 1,200 pounds.

3. Com-Pac 23 is a larger sailboat that's still easy to handle

A great option for beginners seeking comfort is the Com-Pac 23. You can get it for $20,000–$30,000. This sailboat offers a cozy cabin and ample storage for your sailing adventures. Its stability and performance will undoubtedly enhance your sailing experience. It has a roomy cabin and is a good choice for those who want to spend longer periods of time on the water. It weighs 3,000 pounds.

4. Hunter 240 is a popular sailboat that's great for beginners

The Hunter 240 combines functionality and performance, making it an excellent beginner sailboat. You can get it for $10,000–$20,000. You will appreciate its roomy cabin and user-friendly design, which make sailing a breeze. It has a large cockpit and a comfortable cabin, making it a good choice for day sailing or weekend trips. It weighs 3,500 pounds.

5. MacGregor 26 is a versatile sailboat that can be used for both sailing and powerboating

If versatility is essential for you, the MacGregor 26 fits the bill. You can get it for $10,000–$20,000. This sailboat easily adapts to both sailing and power boating , providing you with a unique and enjoyable experience on the water. It has a roomy cabin and is a good choice for those who want to explore both the water and the land. It weighs 2,250 pounds.

6. Montgomery 17 is a small sailboat with a cabin that's easy to handle and trailer

The Montgomery 17 offers a great sailing experience for those new to the sport. You can get it for $5,000–$15,000. You'll find its compact design and easy maneuverability make it an excellent choice for building your sailing skills. It's a good choice for beginners who want a simple, no-frills sailboat. It weighs 1,000 pounds.

7. O'Day 22 is a classic sailboat that's easy to handle and has a comfortable cabin

Beginners will love the O'Day 22 for its simplicity and accessibility. You can get it for $5,000–$15,000. With a spacious cabin and dependable performance, this sailboat will ensure your sailing journey is smooth and enjoyable. It's a good choice for those who want to spend longer periods of time on the water. It weighs 2,700 pounds.

8. Precision 18 is a small sailboat with a cabin that's easy to handle and trailer

The Precision 18 is designed with beginners in mind. You can get it for $5,000–$15,000. You'll appreciate its manageable size and capability to navigate various sailing conditions with ease. It's a good choice for beginners who want a simple, no-frills sailboat. It weighs 1,150 pounds.

9. San Juan 21 is a popular sailboat that's great for beginners

The San Juan 21 is a fantastic option if you're just starting. You can get it for $5,000–$15,000. Its good performance and stability will allow you to develop your skills with confidence. It has a large cockpit and a comfortable cabin, making it a good choice for day sailing or weekend trips. It weighs 1,900 pounds.

10. Sea Pearl 21 is a unique sailboat that's great for beginners who want to explore shallow waters

You will love sailing the Sea Pearl 21, a beginner-friendly sailboat known for its shallow draft and stability. You can get it for $10,000–$20,000. Its compact design makes it easy to handle and perfect for weekend getaways. It has a shallow draft and a comfortable cabin, making it a good choice for those who want to spend time on the water and on the beach. It weighs 1,200 pounds.

11. Sirius 22 is a versatile sailboat that's easy to handle and has a comfortable cabin

The Sirius 22 has a comfortable cabin and user-friendly layout, which makes it an excellent choice for beginner sailors. You can get it for $5,000–$15,000. You'll enjoy sailing in various conditions thanks to its stability and performance. It's a good choice for those who want to explore both the water and the land. It weighs 2,800 pounds.

12. Tanzer 22 is a classic sailboat that's easy to handle and has a comfortable cabin

If you're looking for a beginner sailboat that's easy to handle, the Tanzer 22 is a great choice. You can get it for $5,000–$15,000. Its functional design and favorable performance make it a popular choice among novice sailors. It's a good choice for those who want to spend longer periods of time on the water. It weighs 2,700 pounds.

13. Ventura 23 is a popular sailboat for beginners that has a roomy cabin

Ventura 23 has a spacious cabin that can accommodate up to four people. You can get it for $10,000–$20,000. It's easy to handle and is a good choice for weekend trips or longer periods of time on the water. Its user-friendly features make it easy for beginners to navigate and enjoy their time on the water. It weighs 4,000 pounds.

When choosing the perfect beginner sailboat with a cabin that suits your budget and needs, consider these factors:

Test sailing on a few models

This allows you to get a feel for how each boat handles and performs. Reach out to dealers or sailing clubs, as they may offer opportunities for you to try out different sailboats. Remember, your comfort and confidence on the water are crucial, so it's essential to choose a boat that feels right for you.

Research on various sailboat models

Invest some time in thorough research on various sailboat models within your budget. This will help you understand their features, strengths, and weaknesses. You can do this by consulting online resources, speaking with experienced sailors, and visiting boat shows.

Reviews from fellow sailors

Don't underestimate the power of reviews from fellow sailors. Reading the real-life experiences of others who have sailed on different boat models can provide valuable insights into their performance, maintenance, and overall satisfaction. Check out online forums, sailing magazines, and customer testimonials to gather a variety of opinions on the sailboats you're considering.

There are numerous online forums and communities dedicated to sailing enthusiasts and beginners where you can ask questions, share experiences, and learn from others who share your passion. In these spaces, you can find valuable advice and recommendations from experienced sailors on the best beginner sailboats for various purposes and budgets.

Some popular sailing forums and communities include:

• Cruisers Forum
• Sailing Anarchy
• SailNet Community
• Yachting and Boating World Forums

By participating in these communities, you'll be able to expand your knowledge, make new friends, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in the sailing world. Just remember to always approach online interactions with a friendly tone and an open-minded attitude, as this will help create a positive and supportive learning environment.

Consider the following factors to help you make the best decision that caters to your preferences and budget:

Sailing experience

As a beginner, it's crucial to choose a sailboat that matches your current skill level . Smaller boats with simple rigging and easy handling, like the Sunfish or Hobie Cats, are great for those who are just starting. As you gain experience, you may transition to larger vessels with more advanced features.

Preferred types of sailing activities

Always think about what type of sailing activities you prefer. Some people enjoy leisurely weekend trips , while others are more interested in racing. For example, the West Wight Potter is an excellent choice for weekend cruising, while the Challenger Trimaran is more performance-oriented for racers. Identifying how you plan to use your sailboat will greatly help you make the best choice for your needs.

Your budget for a sailboat with a cabin

Finding a sailboat within your budget range is essential, but also keep in mind the ongoing costs such as maintenance, mooring fees, insurance, and fuel. With realistic financial planning, you can make a wise investment in a sailboat that suits your needs and avoids future financial issues.

In this section, we will discuss the following important aspects when choosing the best beginner sailboat with a cabin: size and layout, ease of handling, and maintenance and upkeep.

Size and layout of the sailboat

The size of the sailboat is an important consideration, especially if you plan to spend nights on board or have guests join you. Choose a boat that not only fits your budget but also ensures enough space and comfort for your activities. A good starting point might be boats between 22 and 30 feet in length, offering a combination of living space, stability, and sailing capabilities.

Think about the layout of the cabin and the overall interior design. Make sure there are enough berths for everyone staying on board, and consider the placement of the galley, head, and storage areas. Keep in mind that a well-designed layout can make a small space feel larger and more comfortable.

Ease of handling the sailboat

As a beginner, it's crucial to select a sailboat that is easy to handle and maneuver. Tiller steering is a great choice for beginners, as it helps you gain a better understanding of the boat's direction and the wind's force. Look for boats with simple rigging, easy-to-reach controls, and a responsive helm. This will ensure a smoother and more enjoyable learning experience as you build your confidence in sailing.

Maintenance and upkeep of the sailboat

Owning a sailboat comes with the responsibility of regular maintenance to keep it in top shape. Familiarize yourself with the costs and tasks associated with upkeep, such as cleaning, painting, and inspecting critical components. Choose a boat with a proven history of durability and low-cost maintenance, so you don't end up dedicating all your time and money to its upkeep. Fiberglass hulls, for example, tend to be easier to maintain than wooden ones.

Duane Stallings

Who makes the “Ventura 23” that weighs 4000 lbs? I can’t find it anywhere.

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When you first get into sailing, there are a lot of sailboat parts to learn. Scouting for a good guide to all the parts, I couldn't find any, so I wrote one myself.

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11 Small Boats With Cabins You Can Afford (With Pictures)

If you’re looking for a small boat with a cabin, what you’re essentially looking for is either a trawler, a cuddy cabin, or a “cruiser”.

Let’s break down each category and find some great deals for each.

Table of Contents

After we’ve gone over these categories, we’ll also go over a few questions which need to be answered before you decide on a purchase.

What is the most affordable cabin cruiser or a small cabin boat?

There are a variety of cuddy cabins which are both affordable and spunky while out on the water.

You can find older models for sale between $20,000 and $30,000, and which are between 20’ and 25’ in length.

Some of the best options you can find are:

• 20’ Pro-Line Hard Top
• 22’ Sea Hunt 225 Victory
• Sea Ray Sundeck
• Stingray 21’ Cuddy Cabins

What is the best trawling boat?

While you might not be a fisherman at heart, some of the heartiest boats are fishing boats. They have bigger cabins for fisherman to relax after a hard day on the water as well as large storage areas for their gear.

Trawling is a method of fishing where the fisherman drags a net through the water behind them.

Recreational trawlers aren’t actually fishing boats, however. They resemble the vessel’s design, but that’s where the similarities end.

Remember that recreational trawlers use smaller engines than their fishing brethren; one which will only produce approximately 80 hp.

Trawlers have a dedicated following. These boats can be slow cruisers but, at their heart, they weren’t built for speed. After all, they are single-engine boats that can go from 7 knots to 20 knots.

One of the best values when it comes to trawling boats is the Carver c34 .

Here it is:

While it might not be as inexpensive as the other options in this article, at $371,820, you’re getting a smaller (34 feet long) more economical coastal cruiser.

More economical than a lot of the other boats of the same type on the market right now, which can range up to $500,000 – $900,000(!)

If you look for this boat used, you will most likely find it over $100,000 cheaper than the new sticker price.

What is the best boat to buy for a beginner?

The Glastron GS 259 is a 25-foot-long cruiser with a price range of about $77,000.

While the cabin is huge, as is the full galley, and the large dinette, the price also matches the large accommodations.

However, it will be difficult to find such accommodations on a boat of this size. Not only that, it comes recommended for a beginning boater by Lenny Rudow of Boats.com.

You should also check out the Trailcraft boat models .

What is the best cabin cruiser under 30 feet?

At 28 feet, the Bayliner 285 SB is a great cruiser which is still small enough to be towed and stored on your property.

But at the same time, it is still big enough to say overnight if you feel like going on a weekend excursion on your boat.

The price ranges from $96,000.

What is the best cabin cruiser under 25 feet?

A cabin cruiser is a powerboat with overnight accommodations and a galley.

They are generally faster than trawlers and cuddy cabins and can range from 25’ to 100’ in length. There are a number of different types of cruisers, including:

• Aft cabin cruisers
• Convertibles
• Express cruisers
• Motor yachts
• Pocket cruiser

It cuts it close, but the Cutwater 242 Sport Coupe is just over 25’ (at 26’) and can be found for around $100,000.

It also comes in a longer 10’ model and has a double-stepped hull with a deep entry that turns into a moderate keel pad, which shows off its maximum efficiency.

It even has the option of coming with an electric grill built into the transom, and an adjacent sink.

The former is fully removable and can hide under a fully rigged livewell.

All of these small touches add to its appeal.

What if I don’t necessarily need a cabin?

If not having a cabin isn’t a deal breaker, your options for affordable boats just blew wide open:

The 16’2” Bayliner Element

($14,742) with a cruising speed in the mid 20’s can seat four.

The 17’11” Four Winns H180 OB

($24,451) includes a swing away tongue, full-sized walk-across swim platform, and Bluetooth-capable stereo with MP3 port and two speakers.

The 23’1” Larson LX 225S IO

($43,267) comes with a trailer that has disc brakes, a canvas bow, and cockpit covers. It also has an MP3-capable stereo.

Is it better to buy a used boat?

There are plenty of advantages to buying a used boat. The biggest advantage is the price.

While you might find some expensive boats listed on used vessel or vehicle websites, but you will find more reasonably priced used models than not.

Just like a car, a boat depreciates in value when it gets driven off of the lot.

Because of that, a used boat will better hold its value.

Another perk to buying used is the option to buy from a private seller or a dealer.

While there are many different perks, there are also a few disadvantages. One of which is that you never really know what you’re going to end up with.

You might be able to take it out for a ride with the seller but if you don’t have a boat mechanic look at it, you won’t really know what kind of wear and tear it’s been through.

If you do buy a boat used, make sure to inspect:

• The hull for scratches, dents, and marring
• The motor for damage
• The upholstery for worn spots and tears in the vinyl
• Broken levers

Don’t be shy about inspecting as much as you can.

An example of how to save money with a used boat is with the C Dory 23’ Venture Sport which weighs less than 3000 lbs. and has a fuel capacity of 60 gallons.

Fishermen will love how it tracks while you’re trolling, which will let you focus on fishing.

Every day boaters will love how much headroom is in the cabin and how much more pleasant it is to cruise on rough waters.

When you buy it new, it can be upwards to $100,000 but buying it used, instantly cuts the price in half or even as low as $35,000.

If you decide to find yourself a used boat, it would be best to check out some local options.

When is it better to buy a new boat?

A new boat ensures that you’re getting what you want.

The ability for customization is fantastic. From the paint scheme to the engine and turbines to the stereo system, you can fulfill your wish list in one stop.

New boats are both shiny and clean. You’ll rarely have any issues with the engine. You might also have the backing of a manufacturer’s warranty, which isn’t just a great deal of safety when it comes to your finances (in the long run) but is also great peace of mind.

The downside to buying a new boat is the price.

You’ll also have to deal with the depreciation, which starts as soon as you tow it off the lot. While it might cost a little more, look for high quality, trustworthy manufacturers and builders, which could help with the depreciation.

What exactly is a cuddy cabin on a boat?

A cuddy is another term for a small room on a boat. It comes from the 19 th century when they used to be referred to as saloon cabins, which were on the stern of ships.

These days it refers to a small shelter cabin , which has a small berth and head.

Normally, they are not tall enough to stand in but are still popular recreation boats for boaters who don’t quite want to upgrade to a full-size cabin boat.

A lot of fishermen use cuddy boats as their fishing boats because of the price, storage capabilities, and the small stature.

Final Thoughts

When going on a treasure hunt for your future boat, make sure that you have these things before you leave the house:

• An idea of what you are going to use your boat for (watersports, racing, fishing, day trips, cruising, party boat, etc.)
• An initial list of dreamboats you want to test out
• Clear cut boundaries for price and options (AKA a “wish list”)

Remember that it may take a little while to find your dream boat.

It can be difficult to cull through all of the choices at the lots or on the internet. Know that the only way to make sure which boat is perfect for you is to take it out for a spin on the water.

If you’re still indecisive, that just means that you can go out and try out as many different boats as you can. This search doesn’t have to be a chore; go out and have fun.

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NorseBoat 21.5

Specifications.

“The boat is awesome.  I have received so many compliments about its appearance in the few days I’ve had it.  More importantly though, it sails really well.  Compared with my other boat ( a MacGregor 26M) the NorseBoat seems light and quick.  It sits lower to the water and we seemed to fly across it on our first sail.  The boat is very responsive to the tiller and points easily and closely to the wind..”  Alex C., Iowa City, IA

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Venture 21 Used-boat Review

The vintage macgregor is a good example of a budget-friendly boat..

Maybe this has happened to you: You’re on a country road, driving to a wedding (or family vacation or business conference), and you pass a sailboat on a trailer with a “For Sale” sign. It’s not a big boat. It’s not a small boat. But it’s just about right for launching a small adventure with your young family, or maybe you’re looking to downsize. You can’t resist stopping for a closer look. Incredibly, the sign reads “$600,” including a nearly new trailer and an old 4-horsepower, two-stroke outboard that “runs like a top.” You write down the number and drive away, thinking: “Somebody is giving away a perfectly good boat.”

Chances are that “steal of a deal” is a Roger MacGregor-designed Venture 21, and if not, it’s probably one of the many copycats riding the trailer-sailer boom that MacGregor’s little boat ignited. The Catalina 22, the Santana 21, and the San Juan 21 are just some of the boats that followed closely in the wake of the Venture 21’s introduction.

The concept for the Venture 21 came out of MacGregor’s master’s thesis in the Stanford University MBA program. The first hull was introduced in 1965, but full-fledged production didn’t begin until 1967. Several thousand hulls later, the last MacGregor 21 (the boat was renamed in 1980) rolled off the line in 1986 at the MacGregor factory in Costa Mesa, Calif. Today, with some 36,000 sailboat hulls behind it, the company builds just one boat, the hybrid sailboat/powerboat MacGregor 26x.

Although MacGregor sold fewer Venture 21s than its successor—the Venture 22, which later became the pop-top Venture 22-2—the 21’s easy trailerability and affordable price helped it maintain its popularity throughout the 1970s. Capitalizing on the fiberglass revolution in boatbuilding, MacGregor’s business-school project sparked a pivotal marketing shift that helped bring recreational sailing to mainstream America.

While the trailer-sailer boom is far behind us, the Venture 21 and its many look-alikes have renewed relevance today. With their discretionary spending sharply cut, younger sailors are taking the Craigslist-route into sailing, scouring the classified ads for boats that don’t require dock space but still have room for a family sail. Meanwhile, many owners of 30-plus-footers are considering downsizing to a boat that doesn’t require mooring fees and a hefty maintenance bill each spring. For better or for worse, in the dim light of a recession, a back-to-basics giveaway boat on the roadside begins to look awfully enticing. For these and other reasons, PS decided to take a closer look at the Venture 21, which, in many ways, is the epitome of “the boat with a price I couldn’t refuse.”

The Venture 21 was designed to be affordable, easy to trailer and launch, and fun to sail, with enough room below for storing gear, napping, or even spending a night at anchor. It was principally aimed at new sailors, but it also appealed to those who wanted to step up from an open daysailer. Its size, sail area, and hull design were tailored for lakes and bays with fickle breezes of less than 15 knots.

Seaworthiness and performance were important considerations but pragmatism and aesthetic appeal were the driving force behind its design features.

Although the boat’s low headroom and Spartan interior would not qualify it as a weekender today, it was initially marketed as a “cruising” sailboat. A sleep-aboard sailboat that could be hauled around the country behind the family station wagon seemed perfectly in tune with the wanderlust of the 1960s.

While the Venture 21 is regarded as one of the first modern trailer-sailers, no single design element stands out as particularly revolutionary or unique. Instead, MacGregor incorporated proven features that would not only appeal to serious sailors, but also would remain consistent with the public perception of what a good boat should be and look like. In the yacht market, the Cruising Club of America boats were still the aesthetic model. Carl Alberg’s popular Ensign, launched by Pearson in 1962, is a good example of a small boat that clung to the CCA philosophy and aesthetic.

The Venture’s heritage is more closely aligned with two daysailers that were enjoying a surge of popularity on the East Coast in the early 1960s: the 17-foot Day Sailer, designed by George O’Day and Uffa Fox in 1958, and, to a lesser degree, the Phillip Rhodes-designed Rhodes 19, first offered by O’Day in 1959. Both were built by the nascent O’Day Group of Fall River, Mass. The similarities in the three boats are most apparent above the waterline. All have a relatively flat sheer line and spoon-like bow overhang (or spoonbow), elements that predate the modern yachting era.

While the Rhodes 19 still carries fairly deep V-sections well aft, making it a capable performer in the chop typical of its New England home waters, the Day Sailer flattens out, particularly at the stern, giving it fast, near-planing speeds off the wind. Fox and O’Day later refined this feature, earning Fox a reputation as the innovator of the planing dinghy. With a modest V-shape and a relatively fine bow, the Venture 21 lies somewhere between the two Rhodes 19 and the Day Sailer.

The Venture’s swing keel gives it 5 feet, 6 inches of draft—even more than its popular big brother, the Venture 25—and retracts to allow the boat to float in about 15 inches of water. (The brochure says 12 inches.)

Although the original design called for a fractional rig with a 22-foot mast, this was later changed to a masthead rig, giving it quite a bit of horsepower for its era. At the peak of its production in the late 1970s, the Venture 21 enjoyed popularity as a racing boat, with fleets springing up on the Gulf Coast, the Great Lakes, and the Northeast, as well as its home waters of Southern California. Although some owners have gone to the trouble of re-routing running rigging, fairing the keel, adding travelers and vangs, and replacing the pinned turnbuckles with threaded turnbuckles, we’d encourage someone inclined toward performance to look at a more modern hull with an active racing fleet.

One of the most notable features is the boat’s 7-foot cockpit, as big as that found in the much larger and heavier Catalina 22. However, unlike the Catalina 22, the San Juan 21, and the successively longer Ventures (V-22, V-23, V-25) that widened the cabintop to provide more interior space, the Venture 21 preserves enough sidedeck for crew to move forward . . . with care. Many V-21s, like the one we sailed, never had lifelines; others have had their lifelines removed. The standard single lifelines—low and poorly supported by widely spaced stanchions—offer a modicum of safety, but these are still less than ideal. In our view, lifelines are not a deal-breaker on a 21-foot daysailer, but if you have small children, a boat that is equipped with lifelines with a supporting pushpit and pulpit would be preferable.

The cockpit has a small lazarette, presumably to store fuel for the small bracket-mounted outboard, but this leads directly to the bilge, a bad idea that presents a potential fire risk. The original boats came equipped with top-grinding winches with short T-tracks for the jib. The boat we sailed had only a single fixed-point for the jib sheet. The end-of-boom mainsheet has a 4:1 purchase that spreads the load to each corner of the stern, a basic setup that limits trim options. Some owners modified the leads and added a mainsheet traveler, although this entails either raising the traveler over the tiller, or moving the sheet forward on the boom; both are compromise solutions.

A modest 18- by 18-inch fiberglass bow hatch allows ventilation down below, as well as a place for sails to be passed down. There is no anchor locker or chain pipe. The boat we sailed had an 8-inch diameter screw-on PVC deck plate that was apparently used as a chain pipe.

Overall, the deck has a functional layout, fine for its primary mission, which is to enjoy some time on the water with very little hassle.

Accommodations

The biggest drawback to the Venture 21’s emphasis on trailerability and a 1960s aesthetic is the lack of headroom below. By keeping the cabintop and topsides profile low, MacGregor produced a boat that, in our view, is better looking than the slab-sided models that followed. However, the end result is a very cramped interior. The VW-camper-inspired pop-top on the Venture 22-2, which came shortly after the Venture 21, offered a compromise that was adopted by a number of boats in this size range. Gradually, the intrinsic appeal of a low profile gave way to market demands. (MacGregor’s current and only model, the M26x, is a classic example of the wedding cake look that eschews traditional aesthetics for the sake of comfort below.)

With two quarter berths and a V-berth, the Venture 21 technically could sleep four, but this sort of arrangement probably would be brief and acrimonious. Although you could pack a lot of gear under the cockpit, actual locker storage is limited. Some ambitious owners have added sinks, small galleys, 12-volt systems, and port-a-potties below, but the boat’s cramped headroom restricts its suitability for more than a few days of cruising. For the 20-something adventurer with aspirations of camp-cruising on one of America’s many inland lakes, it will do just fine, but more than a couple of days aboard a boat this size will be a sure test of any marriage.

Construction

During the Venture 21’s 15-year production run, from 1965-1980, the materials and construction methods used for its deck, rig, structural components, and keel went through several changes. Construction of the hull itself, however, remained virtually unchanged. The hull was hand laid up with woven roven and mat. The layup schedule was a single unit of alternating mat and woven roven. Owners do report flexing in some spots, although we noted none on the boat we tested. The early boats are fairly resin rich, so hull thickness is not necessarily a reflection of strength.

The earliest Ventures had a stick-built interior, with bulkheads and bunks made of resin-coated cuts of plywood that were laminated in place. These earlier versions make it easier for owners to modify or rebuild an interior, and this is almost an inevitable project, given plywood’s propensity to rot and delaminate.

By the mid-1970s, MacGregor switched to a molded liner, which accelerated production and eliminated issues of rot, but added about 200 pounds to the total weight. Large sections of the boat are enclosed and filled with foam—a touted safety feature—but it is nonsense to consider the boat unsinkable, as some websites and blog posts suggest.

About 50 V-21s featured lead keels. The poured lead was anchored to a steel beam, and the entire construction sheathed in fiberglass. This process was not only expensive, but it also presented significant corrosion problems, as water eventually migrated into the fiberglass-encased keel.

Most models have solid iron keels; corrosion, however, is still a problem with these keels, but they can be removed, ground-down, faired, and sealed with an epoxy barrier coat to provide many more years of service. This is the biggest “problem” with the Venture 21, and any buyer should take a close look at the keel and the related components.

The original deck was plywood core, but this was later changed to balsa. In either case, rot is a potential problem (particularly in areas of the owner-installed deck hardware), but none of the 14 owners of Venture 21s who participated in our survey reported significant problems with deck rot.

The hull-to-deck joint was initially a bolted and adhesive-bonded shoebox joint, in which the lip of the deck flange fits over the hull just like a shoebox lid. This was later modified to an outward turning flange joint, with the hull lip turning outward to present a horizontal bonding surface for the deck. In both cases, the joint was bonded with a polyurethane adhesive sealant such as 3M 5200, bolted together, and then covered with an extruded aluminum and vinyl rubrail. Neither joint is as rugged as an inward-turning flange, but this is method is typical for a boat of this size.

Early versions of the Venture 21 were fractional rigs, but the majority were masthead rigs with overlapping jibs. An off-center backstay and upper and lower shrouds add support to the 22-foot mast. Early boats, like the 1969 model that we test sailed, did not have spreaders on the upper shrouds. In windy areas, where mast pumping is a noticeable problem, retrofitting spreaders—or looking for a more suitable boat—would be a good idea. The chainplates are through-bolted to the hull, eliminating the typically rot-prone attachment to plywood bulkheads found in some larger boats of this vintage. The original turnbuckles are the fixed-adjustment type that allow 1/8-inch adjustment intervals, making it hard to tune the rig at sea, but impossible to over-tighten, a common novice error.

The two biggest problems cited in our owners’ survey were the hand-crank keel winch and the keel-retaining bolt. Although the keel winches on later MacGregor models are braked mechanisms that will not spin freely under load, the one on the Venture 21 is a common ratchet-type trailer winch. If it is let go under load, the handle can whip around dangerously. Many owners have replaced this with a braked winch—a good idea, although these winches will require more maintenance. The keel-retaining bolt is a 3/8-inch diameter bolt that is slipped through a hole in the centerboard trunk and a corresponding hole in the keel. It is used to lock the keel in place when sailing in deep water, preventing the keel from flopping back into the hull should the boat capsize or surf down the face of a wave. The retaining bolts are commonly bent during a grounding, and any boat with a bent one should be inspected closely around the hull and keel trunk for other signs of damage.

Overall, the construction is light, but adequate for the boat’s designed purposes. If the deck isn’t too rotten, and the swing keel and keel box aren’t shot, most any other potential problem on the Venture 21 is easily remedied by someone who is handy and has the time.

Performance

During its heyday, the Venture 21 was promoted for it speed. MacGregor touted its position as the first of the “hot retracting keel boats” and the “fastest of its type,” with “planing speeds at over 16 miles per hour.” In this age of ultra-light monohulls and multihulls with eye-popping sail area (see PS, September 2009 and May 2010), this sort of hype seems quaint, but if you compare the Venture 21 to other boats of its era, it is clearly no slouch (See “Venture 21 in Context,” page 11). Its sail area/displacement ratio puts it ahead of several contenders, and its hull form—as mentioned—does give it an ability to hit double-digit speeds in the right hands.

The boat we test sailed was handicapped by ancient sails and an outboard that could not be fully tilted out of the water. Although the boat had a masthead rig, the headsail was a fractional working jib. A 140-percent genoa, found on many boats, would have added about 25 percent to the total sail area. To windward, the boat tacked smartly through 90 degrees, although we’d expect a boat with good sails to point higher. The boat was initially tender on the wind, but once the full effect of the 400-pound keel exerted its influence, the boat settled into a comfortable heel. Despite the deep bellies in her sails, the boat handled gusts surprisingly well, and by adjusting the swing keel’s depth, testers could easily achieve a balanced helm. Off the wind in 12 to 15 knots of breeze, we were able to sustain speeds of 7 knots under working sails alone with the keel almost fully retracted. While not wind-in-your hair sailing by today’s standards, it meets our definition of fun.

Conclusions

After spending some time aboard the Venture 21, we were reminded how much and how little has changed since the boat was introduced more than 40 years ago. Most comparable modern “weekenders” with big cockpits and modest cabins, like the Precision 21 or Catalina Capris 22, offer much more in terms of safety, systems (limited as they are), and modern conveniences. And entry-level daysailers like the thermo-molded Hunter 216 offer more in terms of performance options, such as a sprit for the asymmetrical sail and rigging conveniences like a hydraulic lifting keel. If true small-boat performance with a potential for one-design racing is what you’re after, then a boat like the J/22 presents a more sensible choice.

While overall construction quality has improved over the past 40 years, most daysailer hulls (the Hunter 216 and the balsa-cored J/22 excepted) are still solid fiberglass and laid up by hand, an economical and forgiving method. Many daysailers with cabins are actually much heavier than the lightly built V-21, but they also have much better finish quality.

The bottom line with the Venture 21 is the bottom line. If you hunt around long enough, you are likely to pick up a sailaway boat with a trailer and outboard for less than $3,000­—about the cost of a new trailer. The boat we sailed sold for far less, including the trailer and 4-horsepower Evinrude. If you are really patient, you can probably find a fixer-upper that someone will give to if you promise to drag it off their property.

Is this 40-year-old, mass-produced boat still a viable option for the entry-level sailor, or someone looking to downsize? No question about it. The Venture 21 is not a boat we’d recommend for someone with offshore aspirations or in places like San Francisco Bay where heavy air and a stiff chop would render it wet, slow, and uncomfortable. However, if you plan some coastal or lake adventures and are limited by a 2,000-pound tow capacity and a recession-era budget, then the Venture 21 definitely deserves a look.

There is one key caveat: Because it is easy to underestimate the amount of work required to revive barn-found boat, we would strongly urge looking for a Venture 21 that is in sailaway condition, rather than a project boat. Dealing with the iron keel alone can be a time-consuming project, and despite the boat’s interesting history, this adds little or no to resale value. On the good side, however, should you decide to embark on the restoration of a Venture 21, you will not be alone. Plenty have done it before, and given the boat’s irresistibly low price tag, more will surely follow in their wake.

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What kind of Trailer did your boat have. Mine (1972) is a 4″ welded C Channel, Is this a factory style trailer or somebody’s back yard built. It has the right v notches for the C/B etc.

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7 Small Sailboats for Everyday Cruising

• By Cruising World
• Updated: July 29, 2019

Not everyone needs a 30-foot sailboat equipped with bunks, a galley and head to go off cruising. In fact, all we really need is a hull, mast, rudder, and sail. There is nothing better than the thrill of a small sailboat or daysailer slipping through the waters of a lake, bay or even the open ocean.

Whether it’s simplicity to rig, ease of trailering or a manageable size that you’re looking for, these small sailboats are perfect for the cruising enthusiast who wants the thrill of the sea without the commitment of a 30-footer. And some of these sailboats come with cabins. This roundup of the best daysailers goes to show that sometimes big things come in small packages.

Marblehead 22 Daysailer

Traditional-looking above the waterline and modern beneath, the cold-molded hull sports a deep bulb keel and a Hall Spars carbon-fiber mast with a wishbone rig and square-top main. The 11-foot-9-inch cockpit can seat a crowd, and a small cuddy forward will let you stow your friends’ gear for the day.

Catalina 22 Sport

Recently, the company introduced the Catalina 22 Sport, an updated design that can compete with the older 22s. The boat features a retractable lead keel; a cabin that can sleep four, with a forward hatch for ventilation; and a fractional rig with a mainsail and a roller-furling jib. Lifelines, a swim ladder, and an engine are options, as are cloth cushions; vinyl cushions are standard. The large cockpit will seat a crowd or let a mom-and-pop crew stretch out and enjoy their sail.

With its cuddy cabin, twin bunks, optional electrical system, opening screened ports, and portable toilet, a parent and child or a couple could comfortably slip away for an overnight or weekend. Add in the optional performance package, which includes an asymmetric spinnaker, a pole, and a mainsheet traveler, and you could be off to the races. The boat features a laminated fiberglass hull and deck, molded-in nonskid, and a hydraulic lifting centerboard. Mount a small outboard on the stern bracket, and you’re set to go.

West Wight Potter P 19

First launched in 1971, this is a line of boats that’s attracted a true following among trailer-sailors. The P 19’s fully retractable keel means that you can pull up just about anywhere and go exploring. Closed-cell foam fore and aft makes the boat unsinkable, and thanks to its hard chine, the boat is reportedly quite stable under way.

Montgomery 17

With a keel and centerboard, the boat draws just under 2 feet with the board up and can be easily beached when you’re gunkholing. In the cuddy cabin you’ll find sitting headroom, a pair of bunks, a portable toilet, optional shore and DC power, and an impressive amount of storage space. The deck-stepped mast can be easily raised using a four-part tackle. The builder reports taking his own boat on trips across the Golfo de California and on visits to California’s coastal islands. Montgomery makes 15-foot and 23-foot models, as well.

Catalina 16.5

With the fiberglass board up, the 17-foot-2-inch boat draws just 5 inches of water; with the board down, the 4-foot-5-inch draft suggests good windward performance. Hull and deck are hand-laminated fiberglass. The roomy cockpit is self-bailing, and the bow harbors a good-sized storage area with a waterproof hatch.

The company has introduced many other multihulls since, but more than 100,000 of the 16s have been launched, a remarkable figure. The Hobie’s asymmetric fiberglass-and-foam hulls eliminate the need for daggerboards, and with its kick-up rudders, the 16 can be sailed right up to the beach. Its large trampoline offers lots of space to move about or a good place to plant one’s feet when hanging off the double trapezes with a hull flying. The boat comes with a main and a jib; a spinnaker, douse kit, trailer, and beach dolly are optional features.

• More: 21 - 30 ft , Boat Gallery , monohull , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats , under 20 ft , used boat guide
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In response to Catalina 22 owners’ requests for a production boat that more accurately reflects the original dimensions and weight of this popular one design boat, Catalina Yachts is now building the Catalina 22 Sport.

Catalina Yachts aims to encourage more family racing with the thousands of first generation 22s by offering an alternative to finding an older boat, and restoring it just to be competitive in the dozens of established Catalina 22 fleets.

Like the first Catalina 22, the 22 Sport is easy to trailer, and a great boat to step up from dinghy sailing to a pocket cruiser/race, offering the quality and value Catalina owners have come to expect since 1970.

GENERAL DIMENSIONS

Length Overall (including rudder): 23′ 10″

Length of Hull: 21′ 6″

Length at Waterline: 19’ 4″

Beam: 7′ 8″

Distance from Waterline to Masthead: 28′ 6″

Draft Keel Down: 5′ 0″

Draft Keel Up: 1′ 8″

Ballast: 500 lbs

Basic Weight: 2,250 lbs

RIG MEASUREMENTS

Total with 100% Foretriangle: 206ft 2

ENGINE & CONTROLS

Recommended: 4-10 HP Outboard

Optional: Primary Lewmar #15, Self Tailing

Optional Cabin Top: #7Optional: Lewmar Evo #7 NST

Cabin Top: Lewmar Evo #7 NST

Battery Qty – 1 Group 24

TANKS & CAPACITIES

Fuel (Optional Portable):  6 gal

Holding / Black Water: Portable Head

All specifications are approximate and subject to change without notice.

Actual equipment also subject to change without notice.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Construction.

• Hull of Hand-laid Fiberglass with Hull Liner bonded to the Hull
• One Piece Fiberglass Deck with Molded-In Non-Skid Surfaces and Fiberglass Deck Liner
• Lead Ballast Fiberglass Retractable Keel
• Five Year Gel Coat Blister Protection * ( 2 )
• Five Year Hull Structure Warranty * ( 3 )

SPARS & RIGGING

• Complete Standing and Running Rigging
• Anodized Aluminum Mast and Boom
• Low Stretch Halyards
• Internal Halyards

SAIL HANDLING & EQUIPMENT

• Stern Rail Mounted Traveler with Controls
• Boom Vang, Adjustable
• Winch Handle
• Genoa Tracks and Blocks on Adjustable Cars
• ( 2 ) Primary Winches
• Pre-stretched Dacron Sheets & Running Rigging

DECK HARDWARE

• Comfortable Cockpit with Contoured Coamings
• Cockpit Seat Locker
• Fuel Storage Locker
• Mooring Cleats, Fore and Aft
• Waterline Stripe, Midwatch Blue
• Midwatch Blue and Silver Sheer Stripes
• Stainless Steel Bow Pulpit
• Stainless Steel Stern Pulpit
• Manual Bilge Pump with Thru Deck Handle
• Opening Forward Hatch
• Large Self Bailing Cockpit
• Molded In Non-Skid Surfaces
• Fiberglass Composite Fixed Rudder w/ Varnished Wood Tiller
• Fiberglass Hull, White
• Trailer Bow Eye
• Heavy Duty Rub Rail
• Stainless Steel Mast Step
• Adjustable Outboard Motor Bracket
• Stainless Steel Hand Rails on Cabin Top
• Outboard Bracket
• Teak Interior Trim
• Storage Lockers under Berths
• Overhead Lighting
• Molded Headliner, Low Glare Texture
• Fiberglass Hull Liner
• White Vinyl Interior Cushions with Blue Piping
• Large Removable Ice Chest

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

• 12 Volt Electrical System with Control Panel
• Battery, 12 Volt
• 12 Volt Lighting Throughout
• Navigation Lights to International Rules
• Cabin Lights
• Steaming on Mast

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT

• Kick-Up Rudder
• Mast Carrier Front and Rear of Boat
• Stern Boarding Ladder
• Stanchions and Lifelines with Pelican Hooks
• Canvas Package ( Captains Navy ) Mainsail Cover, Tiller Cover, ( 2 ) Winch Covers
• Self-Tailing Winches
• Headsail Furling Gear
• Whisker Pole
• Mainsail w/Battens
• 135% Genoa with Sheets
• 135% Furling Genoa with UV Panels and Sheets
• 150% Genoa with Sheets
• 150% Furling Genoa with UV Panels and Sheets
• Cockpit Cushions, White Vinyl with Blue Piping
• Self Contained Head with Privacy Curtain
• Galvanized Trailer for Retractable Keel, Tongue Extension, Surge Disc Brakes, Tongue Jack
• Interior Fabric Cushion Upgrade

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12 Best Cuddy Cabin Boat Brands and Why They Still Sell

22nd nov 2023 by lenny rudow.

The best cuddy cabin boats deliver a wider range of options out on the water, whether you want to weekend aboard, find some shelter during a rainstorm, or maybe just take a nap during a slow spell on a fishing trip. Yet many people have transitioned to open day boats like bowriders and center consoles. Often they cite a lack of time as the reason why overnighting is no longer a top option, and it’s certainly true that having a cabin to sleep in doesn’t do you much good if you don’t have the time to stay aboard. Others note that having a cuddy cabin eats into deck space. Yet still, many brands continue to make—and sell—plenty of cuddy cabin boats. Why? Because the best cuddy cabin boat brands in each of these categories offer models that keep all of your boating options open, and then some.

Written By: Lenny Rudow

With over three decades of experience in marine journalism, Lenny Rudow has contributed to dozens of boating and fishing publications and websites. Rudow lives in Annapolis, Maryland, and is currently Angler in Chief at Rudow’s FishTalk ; he is a past president of Boating Writers International (BWI), a graduate of the Westlawn School of Yacht Design, and has won numerous BWI and OWAA writing awards.

More from: Lenny Rudow

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Design Review: Beneteau First 21.0

We recently came across this review of our learn-to-sail boat, the Beneteau First 21.0 .  It’s sometimes called the First 210.  Many Europeans call it the Baby Ben .

It’s the smallest sailboat made by the largest (and oldest) sailboat manufacturer in the world.  It’s two and a half editions, or generations, or models old depending on how one defines that.  Started with the First 21.0; became the First 20.  (Boat didn’t shrink.)  Then, Beneteau and ASA (American Sailing Association) teamed up to produce a slightly modified version – that’s the “half” to which I refer – called the ASA Trainer or First 22.  (Again, the boat didn’t grow.)  The chief difference on this one is that they made a smaller cabin and larger cockpit.

But, all versions have these things in common:

• Hull.  (Boat body)  The size and shape are the same.
• Keel.  (The fin that stops the boat from going sideways and from flipping over.)
• Rudders.  (Steering fins.)  Yes, plural.  There are two.
• Rig.  The spars (poles that hold the sails up, out, etc), and basic sailplan, are the same except for the squared-off top of the mainsail on the newer boats.

Bob Perry, a highly esteemed naval architect and author, with a regular column on design in Sailing magazine, penned this article some time ago. Here are his words, and some pics we saw fit to slip in…

Perry on Design: the Beneteau First 21.0.

(Bob’s prose appears below in quotes.  Any editorial notes I couldn’t resist are indented in parentheses as I’ve done here.)

“Let’s go small and look at a trailerable boat. This one is from the board of Group Finot and built by Beneteau. It is a very different approach, abandoning tradition and going after speed and convenience with modern design features.

“The benefit of this type of boat is the ability to move easily to exotic or semi-exotic locations for regattas. The 210 will make a great daysailer or a camp-style cruiser. While trailerable sailboats are seldom examples of refined design, the First 210 shows design innovation aimed at sparkling performance and eye appeal. This boat is also unsinkable.

“With an LOA of 21 feet, the First 210 shows a modern, round bilge hull form with a very broad transom to give it dinghylike proportions. Look carefully at the plan view, deck layout or interior. Note the location of maximum beam. In most modern designs the maximum beam is located at or around station six. If you use the same system of establishing stations and break the 210’s DWL into 10 segments, you will find the max beam around station nine! There is even a curious little hook in the deck line right at station nine. The result of this shape is extreme maximization of the small volume available in 21 feet and a wide platform aft to optimize the righting moment effect of crew weight.

(We’ve always called this boat a big dinghy with a keel on it.  A dinghy is a sailboat that can flip over and requires the crew’s weight on the rail to hold it down.  The Beneteau First 21.0 is very sensitive to crew weight, and reacts immediately to changes – but it won’t flip over if the crew fails to react.  That makes it ideal for learning and training.)

“The extremely high-aspect-ratio centerboard ( ed. note: it’s a ballasted swing keel, not a centerboard or centerboard keel) is housed in an odd shaped nacelle below the hull for a board-up draft of 2 feet, 3 inches. Almost every appendage is a candidate for “ellipticalization” these days, and I find it interesting that the designers have ended this board in a sharp point. In profile, the rudder looks ridiculously small until you realize that there are in fact two rudders. They are canted outboard at 15 degrees. With this extreme distribution of beam aft a normal rudder would pull almost clear of the water at high degrees of heel. With the two rudders, when the boat is heeled one of the rudders will still be at an effective working angle with the water. This is a slick way of reducing the required draft of the rudders. Note that the draft of the twin rudders is the same as the draft of the board housing. The rudders are linked through the member at the top of the open transom.

(The design was great by itself, but what puts it over the top is the twin rudders.  Sailboats lean to the side naturally, as shown in the pic above. The more they lean, however, the less effective their rudder (steering fin) becomes.  It loses its bite on the water, so it has to be held to one side to go straight.  This creates drag and further reduces its effectiveness.  But the twin rudders on the First 21.0, each one angled outward, become straight when the boat heels a normal amount, and when the boat heels too much, the rudder angle isn’t bad. This makes for a forgiving feel that allows students to learn from mistakes rather than be confused or overwhelmed by them.  And that makes them better able to sail any boat afterward.)

“There are no overhangs on this little packet. The bow profile shows a hint of concavity to allow some flare into the forward sections. There is also a tiny amount of tumblehome in the midsection with a moderate BWL.

“The shrouds are taken to the deck edge allowing a small jib to be sheeted inside. The mainsheet sheets to a single attachment point on the cockpit sole. All halyards lead aft to jammers within easy reach of the helm. The spar is deck stepped with a hinged step. The interior is a one piece GRP molding with small sink and one burner stove. The portable head is under the V-berth. The small interior space is divided by a trunk that carries that top of the swing keel. A hinged leaf table is attached to this trunk. The four berths are all adult sized.

“On deck, the swim ladder and outboard bracket fit neatly between the twin rudders. The two cockpit lockers contain a space specifically for the outboard fuel tank. The bubblelike desk is striking and set off by a varnished mahogany toerail.

“The First 210 appears to combine careful styling with performance and safety. The general approach to this design is similar to the Mini-Transatlantic Class, but the boat is not as radical in proportions as a true mini-transat racer. Beneteau’s tooling of molded parts is as good as any in the business and their approach to finish and style is perhaps the best in the business. These aspects combine to ensure that the little 210 will be a standout.”

(“Mini-transat” refers to the Mini 6.5 class boat: 6.5 meters, basically the same as the first 21.0.  It’s a serious racer.  How serious?  They are raced singlehanded across the Atlantic – with spinnaker.  No shit. They have twin rudders like the Beneteaus.  This class is also raced doublehanded for some regattas.)

We love this boat, and while they’re fewer and farther between, and much more expensive to buy than the boats more commonly used in sailing schools (J-24’s and Sonars come to mind), they’re worth it as they just work better for teaching.

“Don’t take our word for it!”  Everyone says they have the best boat.  But this is the only design ever endorsed for sailing instruction by a national sail training or sailing school organization such as ASA or US Sailing.

Here are a couple of related links…

• Bob Perry’s web site
• Mini 6.5 class web site (Mini Transat)

8 thoughts on “Design Review: Beneteau First 21.0”

This is a great article. I’m a newb and in Japan looking at a “Baby Ben ” for sale. Before this article I thought it was special , now I’m in love

I doubt you’ll be sorry if you get one! They’re super versatile. Some of our new Club members this past season had a lot of time on J/24’s and 105’s prior to joining us, and they fell in love with the Baby Ben by comparison to the J/24. The First 21 is a pedigree design that happens to be comfortable, ergonomic and also very forgiving. Good luck! Send us a pic if you get one.

The Beneteau First 21.0 is definitely a nice boat. It would be interesting to know why Europeans call it “Baby Ben.” I would be grateful if you could tell me!

For a long time, it was the smallest Beneteau made. They now make one or two models smaller than it. So, the family grows…

Is it safe to dry out on the mud? I would like to use in the Solent but many anchorage’s dry out.

Hi Graham: While we’ve seen plenty of photos of boats adry on the Solent, etc, we’ve not experienced that for ourselves. The 21 has a retractable keel, and if left to its own devices, the hull will lower down to the trailing edge of the keel if the keel is supported on the bottom. If not, it will sink down into the mud and the hull will rest on it. The hull is wide and relatively flat further aft, so that would keep the boat level. However, the rudders on the older models (if not all) do not retract. If they rested on firmer substrate, they could be damaged. So, the net-net? Dunno! But, if the bottom is soft, you should be fine.

Any idea where to get the outboard engine vertical track mount? I really just need the part that slides up and down that the outboard mounts to. Thanks!

I MIGHT have an extra – DM me through the site’s contact page and I’ll keep in touch with you about it!

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21 Foot Cuddy Cabin Boats for sale

2014 Bayliner 642 Overnighter

Leesburg, Florida

Make Bayliner

Model 642 Overnighter

Category Cuddy Cabin Boats

Posted Over 1 Month

Per the owner, the vessel has been fully serviced, was bought in 2015, and has roughly 250 total hours logged. Overall it seems to be in a tidy, well-kept, and well-preserved condition for a 2014 vessel. 2 FANS IN BEDROOM STEREO AMPLIPHIER STORED IN BARN (OUT OF WATER) ENGINE 2014 6 PASSENGERS AUTOMATIC ENGINE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, PLUS BEDROOM. MARINE RADIO AND ANTENNAE DUAL BATTERY PLUS SPLITTER LIFE PRESERVER KIT Stock #394418 2014 Bayliner Overnightner 642 cuddy cabin, Mercruiser! At a 21'4" length on an 8'5" beam, the 642 Overnighter is designed with lightweight construction to facilitate easier trailering and on-water athletic maneuverability. At the helm, the captain's sterndrive power is supplied by a 220-horsepower MerCruiser 4.3L MPI with Alpha One outdrive. Standard instrumentation includes the speedometer, tachometer, depth sounder, fuel gauge, oil pressure, temperature, and trim gauges. Two-thirds of the bench seat & the entire sun pad are hinged as one piece for easy engine inspection & maintenance, as well as additional engine compartment storage. The large L-shaped lounge stretches from the passenger helm down the port side. For peace of mind, the cockpit is self-draining. The passenger helm console has two cupholders and a top-loading large cooler. The standard 120-watt AM/FM stereo with audio input for iPod and MP3 is located on the front side of the helm. A full-width transom sun pad allows for comfortable lounging above the large integrated swim platform equipped with a flip-down telescoping boarding ladder and stainless steel ski-tow eye. A high curved walk-thru windshield with side wings provides weather protection for passengers while a sliding cabin door contains mold-in steps for easy access to the foredeck. In more European fashion, the bow rails are not joined at the bow leaving about a foot of clearance for easier anchoring and line handling. 2 FANS IN BEDROOM STEREO AMPLIPHIER STORED IN BARN (OUT OF WATER) ENGINE 2014 6 PASSENGERS AUTOMATIC ENGINE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, PLUS BEDROOM. MARINE RADIO AND ANTENNAE DUAL BATTERY PLUS SPLITTER LIFE PRESERVER KIT Moving towards the bow, a spacious and convertible V-berth cabin is designed to sleep two adults. This cuddy is completely fiberglass-lined, including the ceiling for ease of maintenance. It easily transforms into a cozy sleeping area for overnight stays. Call TODAY to schedule a visit! Reason for selling is no longer use.

Sylvan 21 foot

Valencia, Pennsylvania

Make Sylvan

Model Off Shore

21 foot sylvan , in good condition. Water pump and battery's replaced last season. Set up for walleye fishing on Lake Erie. Includes down riggers , planner system , 6 rods with line counter reels , hummingbird locator w/ GPS, marine radio & all safety gear. Bimi top , and storage cover. Great deal, boat starts , runs and fishes with no problems ! Please contact me if you have any questions.

1999 Seaswirl 21 foot cuddy cabin hardtop 175 Johnson outboard

Wantagh, New York

Make Seaswirl

Model 21 Foot Cuddy Cabin Hardtop 175 Johnson Outboard

Category Walkaround Boats

Original owner of this boat . . . comes with a 2 year old new 2017 galvanized trailer, adjustable swivel seats, two New Batteries, power steering, new fuel lines and hoses, hydraulic steering. power winless winch anchor, Rocket Launchers, Fiberglass hardtop .

21 foot boat with cuddy cabin invader with outboard

Fresno, California

invader boat

1987 Sylvan 21 Ft Cuudy Cabin 165 Mercruiser

Anderson, South Carolina

Model Cuddy Cabin

Length 21.0

I am selling a 1987 Sylvan 21 FT cuddy cabin boat and dual axel trailer. I purchased this boat last year as a project and I am now being relocated due to my job. I have put in a new battery, new foot grease, new plugs and wires, new shifter cable, oil has been changed. The motor is a 165 Mercruiser, it runs good. It does need a gimbal bearing replacement and I have looked at the part online and found a kit that has the bearing on Amazon.com for $80.00 I do wish I had more time to make this boat really shine but I don't. If you have any questions feel free to send me messages and I will answer as best as I can. I thank you for your winning bid. I wish this to be a great auction.

Cuddy cabin boat

Galt, California

1990 Maxum sport cuddy cabin boat. It is 21 foot long and has a very economical four-cylinder engine. It is an L Drive and since ownership has been serviced regularly and recently by Lodi Marine. It seats seven and sleeps two but needs one cushion, The upholstery is in decent condition. It has a full cover, fishfinder, Bimini top, anchor, basic lifejackets for five adults and single axle trailer with new tires and new lights. We keep it in our shop and we have the title and current registration for boat and trailer. It's a nice family and fishing boat the only reason we are looking to sell it is because we're looking for a larger one. We use this on average once a week at local rivers or lakes so if you'd like schedule a viewing please email me so we can have it ready. E-mail me for more photos. Thank you.

21-Foot 1988 Bayliner, OMC Stern Drive

Aurora, Illinois

Model 2150 Trophy

WHILE I STILL HAVE TOW VEHICLE, WILL BRING TO YOU (REASONABLE DISTANCE) FOR "GAS MONEY." Acquired in early 2014 from my dad's cousin. I don't have time to use it enough to justify keeping it. Original 5.0 liter engine was replaced with a 5.7 liter remanufactured Jasper engine at some point. I had to replace the coupler (joins the engine to the stern drive, had to pull stern drive and lift engine out to do this), one major repair you won't ever have to worry about. Completely cleaned carburetor, replaced plugs and oil, tuned up, and have used for almost two full seasons now. Runs like a champ. Two working depthfinders, one brand new that I just installed. A section of the keel is a bit banged up from an ill-advised "beaching" I made in 2014, but boat is perfectly seaworthy. Just finished using it in Michigan, on vacation, for a week. Water pump impeller changed at beginning of last season. Engine oil and stern drive oil changed at the beginning and end of last season and beginning of this season. New prop hub and 4-blade prop gives it a great "hole shot" even though it is a fishing boat configuration. It has blue bimini top (shown in one of the pictures) and gray camper top with side and back curtains, all in good condition, just missing a snap or two here and there. You also get the gray trailering / storage cover shown in the picture on the trailer. It is stored in Aurora, Illinois but I am willing to bring to and launch in Burnham Harbor (Chicago, right by Soldier Field) so you can take for a "spin" if you are seriously considering purchase. Will also consider selling engine and stern drive (the two together as a package, leaving me with just the hull and trailer to deal with the disposal cost of) if there is anyone interested in those, either to use or just for parts. Tons of gear (for skiing, tubing, and fishing, including a manual downrigger, a couple of electric downriggers I haven't gotten to work yet, and some custom 6-8' "salmon" rods) I will sell with the boat or separately depending on whether you want "the whole package" and we can agree on price.

Invader 21ft Cuddy Cabin, Nice!

Elizabeth, West Virginia

1988 Invader - Clean, running, and ready to go for Summer fun!!! 5.7 V8 OMC. Invader Cuddy Cabin 21 foot. In good condition, 8 passenger max. Hummingbird Fish Finder, stereo, cd player, drink holders, two boat covers, wood deck with ladder. Extra skins for seats. Approx 430 hours. Comes with Tee Nee trailer also. Has always been fully winterized and kept out of the weather during winter months. Great boat, only selling because we purchased a larger one.

2004 Wellcraft 22 foot WalkAround Cuddy Cabin

Oviedo, Florida

Make Wellcraft

Model 22 Foot WalkAround Cuddy Cabin

2004 Wellcraft 22 foot WalkAround Cuddy Cabin, New Low Price ; OWNER ANXIOUS. $19,500 OBO A very clean Cuddy 200HP OX66 YamahaFuel injected with ONLY 220 HOURS All records for upkeep and maintenance NEW full canvas (sunbrella) with NEW 'windows' and Bimini. This is the FISHING VERSION with 100-quart live well with light, rod holders, Walk around design with bow pulpit and large bow rail. Large V-berth with all NEW cushions and Sunbrella upholstery. Great mechanical condition, motor has good/even compression on all cylinders, good to excellent gelcoat. SPECIFICATIONS: LOA with bow pulpit:22'10", Hull length 21'2" Beam:8'2",Dry Weight: 3220lbs,Fuel capacity: 99gals, Fresh water tank: 20gals,Bait tank:22gals, FEATURES AND OPTIONS:NEW Aft Pump with macerator; NEW Oil Pump and Screen, NEW Full Canvas, GPS Map 541S, Compass,NEW Bimini Top, Swim platform w/Ladder,Stainless Steel Prop, Tilt Wheel, Two Aft Jump Seats, Porta Potti (never used), Stereo AM/FM/CD with 4 speakers, Raw Water Washdown, Dual Batteries with Switch, VHF radio, Trim tabs hydraulic with indicator, Storage Tackle Center with 6 drawers. Pressure wash system, Dock lights, Outboard Power Tilt/Trim, Full cover, Two anchors with chains and lines, docking lines, Bumpers, Coast Guard aprovedLife preservers, and Emergency Kit, Trailer Tie downs, TANDEM TRAILER; Aluminum Step plates (4), Spare Tire (Never Used), with Carrier, Surge Brake System (new In '13), Tires in great condition with minimal miles on them, New Brakes replaced 6/'16

23 FOOT SEASWIRL

Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania

Make STRIPER

Model SEA SWIRL

Length 23.0

Seaswirl Striper 5.0 V8 Inboard/Outboard Motor Walk Around Fresh Water Coolant 23 Ft Wash Down Hard Top with Canvas sides Swim platform Trim Tabs Dual Batteries Garmin GPS & Garmin Fish Finder Ship to Shore Radio Mid land Sterio radio with CD Player Cuddy Porta-Pottey Sink and Stove Load-Right Trailer w/ 32 New Rollers ( Fiberglass ) 21.5 Boat Electric Winch with Surge Brakes 2 Props, Stainless and Aluminum Rocket Tube Rod Holders on top and back Live Well 89 Gal Tank Well Maintained

1994 Crownline 210 CCR Cuddy Cabin Cruiser

Charlotte, North Carolina

This amazing 21 foot, single owner, low hours, well maintained boat package comes with an upgraded V8 5.7L 350 Mercruiser Alpha One inboard / outboard, shore package, extra storage, table and stand (for cabin or deck), oscillating cabin fan, dual batteries and dual battery switch, AM/FM/CD four speaker stereo, cabin sun roof, bow anchor storage box, hide-a-way Bimini top and full wrap around enclosure, fish finder with depth and temperature, sink, electric & gas stove, ice box, enclosed port-a-potty, dual bilge pumps, extra prop & prop tool, combo skis, wake board, three person tube, tow ropes, fenders, life vests, anchor with rope & chain, tandem axle trailer with brakes, new tires, spare tire and hitch lock. This sport cruiser is in great shape, she does not look her age, stored under a roof with a boat cover installed. Owners, operators and maintenance manuals included. Must see to appreciate.

1978 Campion 21 Foot Cruiser

Ellensburg, Washington

1978 Campion 21 Foot Cruiser,Super Clean! 1978 Campian (21ft) w/trailer and 75 h.p. Johnson o.b. Sleeps 2 with Porto potty, Danforth anchor and 200 ft. of rode.*NEW double seats*NEW down rigger*2 NEW pole holders*NEW Steering System*NEW Boat Cover also!Has canvas cuddy cabin, with curtains and a freshly painted hull. All of this for only $2950.00!!! (obo)Delivery with a fee for Seattle area. (Can deliver to Yakima or surrounding area with no charge.) $2950, 5099628120

21' Penn Yan Cuddy Cabin Tunnel Drive 302 Ford Powered Speed Boat

Worcester, Massachusetts

Penn Yan Tunnel Drive. The 21 foot powered speed boat has a blue interior, and an excellent condition Magic Tilt trailer with 2 brand new tires and rims. It comes with an extra set of tires mounted on matching 6 lug rims that are in excellent condition. A bimini top is included. The trailer alone is worth 1500 dollars. The boat has a new starter, control cables and a full tank of gas. The bronze prop and SS shaft look as good as new. The boat motor is a Ford 302 ci with 215 HP and is stuck. This can be deliverd to the New England area.

1989 Invader 21 Deep V Cuddy

Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Private Seller (847) 609-1106 Photos Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 Photo 4 Photo 5 Photo 6 Photo 7 Photo 8 Photo 9 Photo 10 Close Request Information * Name First Name * Email Telephone (optional) Best Time to Contact Anytime Morning Mid-day Evening Question/Comments (optional) Shop Safely: Protect Your Money. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use. Contact Seller 1989 Invader 21 Deep V Cuddy, 1986 Invader Boats, 21' foot Deep V, cuddy cabin. Volvo Penta Aquamatic 280. Chevy 350, 8 cylinder, 260HP, Only used boat 1 or 2 times over the past 6 years so time to let it go. Excellent on big water or river. Set up for walleye / salmon fishing or just pleasure cruising. Engine and outdrive have been meticulously maintained for the past 13 years and I am the second owner. Boat is very water tight. Runs and starts extremely well. Engine extremely smooth at all speeds. Newer dual batteries with switch. Top speed around 40mph. Engine is very easy to maintain and winterize. Included with boat is a dual axle tandem trailer with new tires and bearing buddies. Other items included with boat: Uniden VHF / Weather radio with new antenna, spare prop, modified trolling plate, spare trim unit, Bennett trim tabs, Bottom Line tournament 480 fishfinder with speed and temp sensor, Scentry gas vapor detector, teak swim platform, 2 fire extinguishers, various rod holders, life jackets and other miscellaneous items. Interior does show signs of wear but in overall good condition. This is a very solid, good running boat that can provide years of dependable boating or big water fishing pleasure. Boat has never sat in the water for an extended period of time - always trailered. Fiberglass gelcoat color has faded, but with a good wax / gelcoat restorer, boat can look like new. Price reduced from $5500 to $4,100 or best offer. Willing to negotiate. Priced below blue book value.Must sell - Make an offer $4100, 8476091106 Be sure: Get a boat history report|Finance this boat|Get an insurance quote|

1971 Fjord HT Daycruiser HT 21

Norwalk, Connecticut

Model HT Daycruiser

Everything works I put a one minute video for you on youtube called "1971 Fjord HT Daycruiser engine." It needs a tune-up but runs well. The interior pictures are from 2 springs ago, I used these interior pictures because they came out nice and all the cushions and interior is the same condition now as 2 years ago. The video and exterior pictures were taken Nov 11, 2014. The boat was not used this year, hence the reason it idles a little rough. The trailer is strong and in good condition and used locally, I am not sure if the trailer could go to California, the bearings should be replaced if there is a long journey. The marina where I kept the trailer told me that again, the trailer is in good shape. 1971 Fjord 21 foot Day-Cruiser, the finest 21 foot powerboat ever made. Norwegian construction of the highest quality this boat will reward the captain-owner for years to come. I have owed “Saudade” for over forty years and I still get discovery moments in value and performance. The unique feature of this vessel is a floating floor that provides a ride reserved for much larger craft. My wife and I would have so much fun talking with other transient boaters and listen to the complaints of lost tooth fillings and stiff backs. This boat has been everywhere, Montauk, Block Island, New Jersey and just about every port on Long Island Sound and in really bad weather. One late September I pulled into the New Harbor at Block Island after navigating fifteen foot sea’s only to be screamed at by the Harbor Master for being so crazy. I’ve been caught in worse weather than that day and I can attest to the fact that the boat is very sea worthy. I painted over the gelcoat as this is a forty year old boat but it is still pretty. It’s time for me to pass this boat. It is forty three years old and will serve another forty three years. Included, Garmin GPS, Hummingbird, AM/FM CD radio, anchor. Whoever buys this boat wins.

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DIY 21 foot Cabin Cruiser (from scratch/no plans)

Discussion in ' Boatbuilding ' started by steviepage101 , Oct 9, 2015 .

steviepage101 New Member

Watch the video of the boat process here > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j-_LhAdhuI My friend and I built a 21 foot cabin cruiser completely from scratch, using wood strictly from home depot. We spent roughly 45 days and $750 on the project. Say what you want about our technique and professionalism, but in the end we produced a nice product. too bad the engine we borrowed didn't work and we couldn't take it out on the bay.  

Tripoli New Member

Nice work guys Beautiful to see creative young ppl! Greetings from Germany  

Dave T Senior Member

I congratulate you on building a boat without plans or a whole lot of boat building experience. This is the way I built my own boat. My main concerns would be the caulking between the planks and I would have offset the butt joints as much as possible and added a second layer of planking overlapping all seams. The biggest test of this boat will be how it holds up. Looks like you had a lot of fun building it and it floats. Dave T ( A Boat a Motor and a Trailer)  

gonzo Senior Member

She floats. That's the main thing  

TANSL Senior Member

gonzo said: ↑ She floats. That's the main thing Click to expand...

Envy brings the ugly in people  

Superatis hostibus regium est abstinere.  

Mr Efficiency Senior Member

I wouldn't go out to Alcatraz on that boat, nor would just about anyone else here, I suspect. It would have been far better to make a proper boat, if that makes me sound like a party-pooper, too bad !  

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I hope nobody thinks that envy muddies my brain when I say that, Mr Efficiency, I agree with what you say.  

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• Sailboat Guide

San Juan 21

San Juan 21 is a 20 ′ 6 ″ / 6.3 m monohull sailboat designed by Don Clark and built by Clark Boat Company between 1970 and 1977.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Clark Boat Co. had previously built a number of One-Design Dinghy’s, but this was the first ‘SAN JUAN’ and a huge success. Designed displacement was 1250 lbs. but it was found that most ended up at 1400 lbs. Thanks to Samuel Tricky for providing corrected information for this and number of other boats in this category.

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