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20 Best Small Sailboats for the Weekender

By Mark Pillsbury
Updated: August 4, 2021

In order to go cruising, most of us require a sailboat with a head, a galley, and bunks. The boat, likely a 30-footer and more often a 40-footer, will have electronics for navigation and entertainment, refrigeration if the trip is longer than a coastal hop, an engine for light wind, and, depending on our appetites for food and fun, perhaps a genset to power our toys and appliances.

To go sailing , however, all we really need is a hull, mast, rudder, and sail. To experience the pure joy of sheeting in and scooting off across a lake, bay, or even the open ocean, there’s nothing better than a small sailboat – we’re talking sailboats under 25 feet. You can literally reach out and touch the water as it flows past. You instantly feel every puff of breeze and sense every change in trim.

Some of the boats in this list are new designs, others are time-tested models from small sailboat manufacturers, but every one is easy to rig, simple to sail, and looks like a whole lot of fun either for a solo outing on a breezy afternoon or to keep family and friends entertained throughout your entire sailing season. This list is made up of all types of sailboats , and if you’re looking for a list of some of the best small sailboats for beginners, you’ll find exactly that here.

Any one of these popular boats could be labeled as a trailerable sailboat, daysailer, or even a weekender sailboat. And while most would be labeled as a one or two person sailboat, some could comfortably fit three or even four people.

Marblehead 22 Daysailer

If you have an eye for elegant lines and your heart goes pitter-patter over just the right amount of overhang beneath a counter transom, the Marblehead 22 daysailer, designed by Doug Zurn and built by Samoset Boatworks in Boothbay, Maine, will definitely raise your pulse. 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. samosetboatworks.com

Catalina 22 Sport

Many a harbor plays host to an active fleet of Catalina 22s, one of the most popular small sailboats over the years, given its basic amenities and retractable keel, which allows it to be easily trailered. 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. It’s clear why the Catalina 22 is one of the best sailboats under 25 feet. catalinayachts.com

With its large, open-transom cockpit and sloop rig, the Hunter 22 makes a comfortable daysailer for family and friends. But 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. marlow-hunter.com

Not sure whether you want to race, cruise or just go out for an afternoon sail? Since 1958, sailors have been having a ball aboard the Uffa Fox/George O’Day-designed Daysailer. Fox, who in the 1950s was on the cutting edge of planning-dinghy design, collaborated with Fall River, Massachusetts boatbuilder O’Day Corp. to build the 16-foot Daysailer, a boat that features a slippery hull and a small cuddy cabin that covers the boat roughly from the mast forward. Thousands of Daysailers were built by various builders, and they can be found used for quite affordable prices. There are active racing fleets around the US, and new Daysailers are still in production today, built by Cape Cod Ship Building. capecodshipbuilding.com

BayRaider from Swallow Boats

Easy to rig and trailer, the BayRaider from England’s Swallow Yachts is a relative newcomer to the small-boat market in the United States. Nearly all of its 19 feet 9 inches is open cockpit, though a spray hood can be added to keep the forward sections dry. The BayRaider is ketch-rigged with a gunter-style mainmast. The topmast and mizzen are both carbon-fiber, which is an option for the mainmast as well. The BayRaider can be sailed with a dry hull in lighter conditions or with 300 pounds of water ballast to increase its stability. With the centerboard and hinged rudder raised, the boat can maneuver in even the thinnest water.

$28,900, (904) 234-8779, swallowyachts.com

Big fun can come in small packages, especially if your vessel of choice happens to be the 12 ½-foot Beetle Cat. Designed by John Beetle and first built in 1921, the wooden shallow draft sailboat is still in production today in Wareham, Massachusetts at the Beetle Boat Shop. With a draft of just 2 feet, the boat is well-suited for shallow bays, but equally at home in open coastal waters. The single gaff-rigged sail provides plenty of power in light air and can be quickly reefed down to handle a blow. In a word, sailing a Beetle Cat is fun. beetlecat.com

West Wight Potter P 19

With berths for four and a workable galley featuring a cooler, a sink, and a stove, West Wight Potter has packed a lot into its 19-foot-long 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. westwightpotter.com

NorseBoat 17.5

Designed for rowing and sailing (a motor mount is optional), the Canadian-built NorseBoat 17.5—one of which was spotted by a CW editor making its way through the Northwest Passage with a two-man crew—features an open cockpit, a carbon-fiber mast, and a curved-gaff rig, with an optional furling headsail set on a sprit. The lapstrake hull is fiberglass; the interior is ply and epoxy. The boat comes standard with two rowing stations and one set of 9-foot oars. The boat is designed with positive flotation and offers good load-carrying capacity, which you could put to use if you added the available canvas work and camping tent. NorseBoats offers a smaller sibling, the 12.5, as well; both are available in kit form.

$19,000, (902) 659-2790, norseboat.com

Montgomery 17

Billed as a trailerable pocket cruiser, the Montgomery 17 is a stout-looking sloop designed by Lyle Hess and built out of fiberglass in Ontario, California, by Montgomery Boats. 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. If you’re in search of a small sailboat with a cabin, the Montgomery 17 has to be on your wish list.

With long overhangs and shiny brightwork, the CW Hood 32 is on the larger end of the daysailer spectrum. Designers Chris Hood and Ben Stoddard made a conscious decision to forego a cabin and head in favor of an open cockpit big enough to bring 4 or 5 friends or family out for an afternoon on the water. The CW Hood 32 is sleek and graceful through the water and quick enough to do some racing, but keeps things simple with a self-tacking jib and controls that can be lead back to a single-handed skipper. A top-furling asymmetrical, electric sail drive and Torqeedo outboard are all optional. The CW Hood 32 makes for a great small family sailboat. cwhoodyachts.com

Sun Cat from Com-Pac

Shallow U.S. East Coast bays and rock-strewn coasts have long been graced by cat boats, whose large, gaff-rigged mainsails proved simple and powerful both on the wind and, better yet, when reaching and running. The 17-foot-4-inch Sun Cat, built by Com-Pac Yachts, updates the classic wooden cat with its fiberglass hull and deck and the easy-to-step Mastender Rigging System, which incorporates a hinged tabernacle to make stepping the mast a one-person job. If you want a personal sailboat ideal for solo sailing, the Sun Can is a great choice. Belowdecks, the twin 6-foot-5-inch berths and many other features and amenities make this cat a willing weekender.

$19,800, (727) 443-4408, com-pacyachts.com

Catalina 16.5

The Catalina 16.5 sits right in the middle of Catalina Yachts’ line of small sailboats, which range from the 12.5 to the 22 Capri and Sport, and it comes in both an easy-to-trailer centerboard model and a shoal-draft fixed-keel configuration. 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. catalinayachts.com

No roundup of best small sailboats (trailerable and fun too) would be complete without a mention of the venerable Hobie 16, which made its debut in Southern California way back in 1969. 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. hobiecat.com

Novice sailors or old salts looking for simplicity could both enjoy sailing the Hunter 15. With a fiberglass hull and deck and foam flotation, the boat is sturdily built. The ample freeboard and wide beam provide stability under way, and the heavy-duty rubrail and kick-up rudder mean that you won’t have to worry when the dock looms or the going grows shallow. Both the 15 and its slightly larger 18-foot sibling come standard with roller-furling jibs.

$6,900/$9,500 (boat-show prices for the 15 and 18 includes trailers), (386) 462-3077, marlow-hunter.com

Super Snark

Under various owners, the Snark brand of sailboats, now built by Meyers Boat Co., has been around since the early 1970s. The Super Snark, at 11 feet, is a simple, easily car-topped daysailer that’s fit out with a lateen rig and sail. Billed as unsinkable, the five boats in the company’s line are built with E.P.S. foam, with the external hull and deck vacuum-formed to the core using an A.B.S. polymer. The Super Snark weighs in at 50 pounds, and with a payload capacity of 310 pounds, the boat can carry two.

$970, (800) 247-6275, meyersboat.com

Norseboat 21.5

Built in Canada, the NorseBoat 21.5 is a rugged looking craft that comes in a couple of configurations: one with an open cockpit and small doghouse, and another with a smaller cockpit and cabin that houses a double berth for two adults and optional quarter berths for the kids. Both carry NorseBoat’s distinctive looking carbon fiber gaff-rigged mast with main and jib (a sprit-set drifter is optional), and come with a ballasted stub keel and centerboard. Because of its lightweight design, the boat can be rowed and is easily trailered.

$36,000 (starting), 902-659-2790, norseboat.com

Flying Scot

Talk about time-tested, the 19-foot Flying Scot has been in production since 1957 and remains a popular design today. Sloop rigged, with a conventional spinnaker for downwind work, the boat is an easily sailed family boat as well as a competitive racer, with over 130 racing fleets across the U.S. Its roomy cockpit can seat six to eight, though the boat is often sailed by a pair or solo. Hull and deck are a fiberglass and balsa core sandwich. With the centerboard up, the boat draws only eight inches. Though intended to be a daysailer, owners have rigged boom tents and berths for overnight trips, and one adventurous Scot sailor cruised his along inland waterways from Philadelphia to New Orleans.

Known primarily for its line of racing dinghys, RS Sailing also builds the 16-foot, 4-inch Venture, which it describes as a cruising and training dinghy. The Venture features a large, self-draining cockpit that will accommodate a family or pack of kids. A furling jib and mainsail with slab reefing come standard with the boat; a gennaker and trapeze kit are options, as is an outboard motor mount and transom swim ladder. The deck and hull are laid up in a fiberglass and Coremat sandwich. The Venture’s designed to be both a good performer under sail, but also stable, making it a good boat for those learning the sport.

$14,900, 203-259-7808, rssailing.com

Topper makes a range of mono- and multihull rotomolded boats, but the model that caught one editor’s eye at Strictly Sail Chicago was the Topaz Taz. At 9 feet, 8 inches LOA and weighing in at 88 pounds, the Taz is not going to take the whole crowd out for the day. But, with the optional mainsail and jib package (main alone is for a single child), the Taz can carry two or three kids or an adult and one child, and would make a fun escape pod when tied behind the big boat and towed to some scenic harbor. The hull features Topper’s Trilam construction, a plastic and foam sandwich that creates a boat that’s stiff, light, and durable, and shouldn’t mind being dragged up on the beach when it’s time for a break.

$2,900 (includes main and jib), 410-286-1960, topazsailboats.com

WindRider WRTango

WRTango, a fast, sturdy, 10-foot trimaran that’s easy to sail, is the newest portable craft from WindRider International. It joins a line that includes the WR16 and WR17 trimarans. The Tango features forward-facing seating, foot-pedal steering, and a low center of gravity that mimics the sensation of sitting in a kayak. It weighs 125 pounds (including the outriggers and carbon-fiber mast), is extremely stable, and has single-sheet sail control. The six-inch draft and kick-up rudder make it great for beaching, while the hull and outriggers are made of rotomolded polyethylene, so it can withstand running into docks and being dragged over rocks.

$3,000, 612-338-2170, windrider.com

More: 21 - 30 ft , Boat Gallery , day sailing , dinghy , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats , under 20 ft
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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 .

Beneteau First 21.0 sloop sailing fast upwind.

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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Sailboat Reviews

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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Small Craft Advisor

Review: Sea Pearl 21

Convenient and capable, the marine concepts sea pearl is a trailersailing jewel..

The eminent L. Francis Herreshoff called his Walrus design a “man’s boat.” A motorsailer, Walrus carried 755-square-feet of sail, two 65-horsepower gasoline engines, and a pot-bellied stove in her saloon. She was ideally suited to the cold-weather expedition.

Her only weakness, especially in the eyes of a venturesome coastal-cruising captain, was her six-foot draft. Herreshoff thought Walrus deserving of an able tender to serve as a secondary cruising boat for exploring shallows; this boat he called Carpenter.

A double-ended 18-footer, Carpenter was designed to carry substantial loads even through rough water. She was also intended to be easily beached—drawing a mere five inches with her centerboard retracted into her flat bottom. So impressed with the Walrus’ tender was Herreshoff that he wrote, “it might become something of a question as to which boat was tending which.”

In 1979, fifty years after Herreshoff ’s sketches, George Jeffries and Ron Johnson formed a boatbuilding partnership called Marine Concepts. Their first “concept” was a family boat based on Herreshoff ’s Carpenter. Expanded to 21 feet, their “Sea Pearl” maintained the length-to-beam ratio of the original. Not quite double-ended, the Sea Pearl had a narrow tombstone transom.

Early versions employed a centerboard, but by the eighties leeboards were being offered. The leeboard model excelled in shallow water, since the boards remain somewhat functional while drawing no more than the hull. And the absence of a centerboard trunk meant more room inside the forward cockpit or under the optional canvas cabin. Centerboard Pearls were soon all but obsolete.

Early models were unballasted, but since 1988 most have a hull liner and water ballast tanks that when full add 360 pounds. The unique reefing gooseneck system was added by 1990. Four hundred-nineteen monohull Sea Pearls had been built when we wrote out initial review in 2004 (see issue #25). Marine Concepts remained “in the family,” operating under the watchful eye of owner Jim Leet—Ron Johnson’s brother-in-law. At that time we asked Jim about his typical customer.

“Most of our business comes from 60 to 80-year-olds. The Sea Pearl is so easy to rig and launch that older folks really like them.” Leet sees tremendous potential for his lightweight, rowable, sailable Sea Pearl in another market as well. “I’d also like to get the younger camp-cruise, kayak and canoe crowd. Our boat would be the absolute Cadillac of their market.”

We sailed with owner Drew Squyres aboard his 1991 model, Persuasion, and we asked the real experts—Sea Pearl owners—for their comments.

Note: Before publishing this article we reached out to Marine Concepts and didn’t get a reply. We were told by one Sea Pearl owner (but were not able to confirm) that Marine Concepts has ceased production of new boats, but that Jim Leet is possibly still selling accessories.

PERFORMANCE:

“I have sailed along side a Drascombe and Bay Hen and had to luff both my sails to keep my speed down to theirs. Downwind, the ability to go wing-onwing in air too light to sustain flying a spinnaker cannot be matched.” Steve Churchill, 1993 Silmaril.

“People claim to tack through 90 degrees. I guess you can, if you’re pointing to the max. I prefer to sail about 55 degrees off the wind for a little more speed.” Phil Bacon, 1986 Scout .

“In a light breeze I get 3-4 knots easily. When the wind is over 10 knots, I consistently get 4.5 to 5.5 knots upwind and 6 to 6.5 knots downwind. I’ve surfed occasionally over 7 knots.” John Weiss, 1998 DragonSong.

“The Sea Pearl is a family and recreational cruising boat, not a racing boat comparable to Flying Scots, Lightnings, Thistles, etc. Still, it is quite fast—commonly the fastest boat overall of a group of various trailerable cruisers such as the West Wight Potters, O’Days, Drascombes, Wayfarers, Dovekies, Hen boats, Sanibel, Com Pacs, etc. The 21 does not point well. The cat ketch rig, shallow draft, and leeboards in lieu of a keel or center/daggerboard all work against sailing close to the wind. I have found that about sixty degrees off of the wind is the best I can do in good conditions. In rough seas, achieving even that upwind success requires close attention to such things as weight distribution and tell-tales.” Bill Fite, Moon Shadow.

“Not as fast upwind as some, but often passes boats on a broad reach and downwind. Points fairly well, and sailing close-hauled is fun because it likes that initial heel, but some sloops can certainly out-point her at times. The lug rig has some mysteries I never fully solve, because sometimes I’m amazed how well it does even when close-hauled.” Tom Lyons, 1984 Besito (lug rig).

In a dead calm, we had a chance to test the Sea Pearl’s standard auxiliary propulsion system—9-foot oars. Drew rowed while I manned the tiller—later we switched. We pulled our way quietly through the desolate back bay. Almost any small boat can be made to row, but there’s a clear difference with those in which rowing was a design consideration. The Sea Pearl goes well. She’s too heavy to move like a. rowboat or racing shell, but if I owned her I think I’d frequently leave the outboard at home. I’d be tempted to make her an exercise machine in the morning’s light air and sail home on the afternoon sea breeze.

After rowing to a shallow spot near the dunes we unfurled the sails in an attempt to catch the freshening breeze. Sure enough the Pearl responded. The cat-ketch rig’s 136-feet of sail area was just enough. Light air performance was good.

Sixty minutes later the Santana arrived in force. Our mirror-like reflection on the water was shattered by whitecaps. Drew suggested we fill the tanks. “It’s like giving her a glass of wine,” he said, “the extra ballast relaxes her and takes the edge off.” The Pearl felt more substantial now—especially hard on the weather, clipping the tops off the foamy swells.

We were surprised when the wind built to a sustained 17 knots. Drew demonstrated another Sea Pearl strength—heaving to. Ease the main, harden the mizzen and let go. The boat weather-vaned, drifting slowly backward—the rudder turned sideways and acted as a brake. To reef, Drew lifted the thumb tab on the ingenious rotating gooseneck, unclipped the vang and eased the outhaul. This allowed him to rotate the mast— which spins freely in the mast tube— and roll up sail area. Very simple. Very Sea Pearl.

To keep a balanced rig we reefed using the Sea Pearler’s standard “3/2”— three turns on the main and two on the smaller mizzen. This leaves the Pearl—which can be set to sail with a neutral helm in any conditions—with a slight weather helm for assistance rounding into stronger gusts. To resume sailing Drew simply backed the mainsail, which was right at his fingertips. Obviously, traditional battens won’t fly on these roller-reefing masts but the factory does offer special vertical batten performance sails as an upgrade.

Even under reduced sail the Sea Pearl performed admirably. She was fast and predictable—and pointed fairly well. Owners told us Sea Pearls tack in 90-110 degrees. The truth is somewhere in between; not quite as good as a similar sloop-rigged centerboarder, but not bad.

The split rig is essentially self-tending, that is, her skipper can ignore the sheets on tacks. Push the tiller over, lower the leeward board, and raise the windward board. Optionally, the Pearl can be sailed less efficiently with both boards down as some owners do in short tack situations.

TRAILERING AND LAUNCHING:

“Even my 1982 Saab hauls it at highway speeds with ease. It sits so low on the trailer, it’s stable even in crosswinds . . .I blew a trailer tire at 65 mph and didn’t even know it except for a bit of rumbling noise from the wheel on the pavement” John Weiss, 1998 DragonSong

The lightweight Sea Pearl is one of the few trailerables appreciably lower than her tow vehicle. She also sits low, so the view in the rearview mirror is less impaired. Few boats are easier to tow.

We were ready to participate in the rigging and launching of Drew’s Persuasion, but we didn’t have a chance to do much—Drew had already stepped both masts and rigged in the time it took us to snap a few pictures. Many owners claim to rig and launch in less than 8 minutes—and we believe it.

Launching is even easier. Drew showed us how, with his tilt trailer, the Pearl can be launched without dunking the trailer hubs. That’s right—not just dry automobile hubs—but dry trailer hubs. A gentle push and the boat slid right off. Drew deftly played bow and stern lines to turn his boat toward open water, tied off at the dock, and we were ready to go.

SEAWORTHINESS :

“I had my Pearl out in tropical storm Frederick in 1988 with winds of 45 knots, with sails reefed down to tiny size. We not only didn’t capsize, but made near hull-speed upwind. I had her offshore (along the coast) in 12-foot waves and stayed dry and in complete control.” Steve Churchill, 1993 Silmaril.

“I use ballast tanks whenever I’m alone, or in more than 12 knots or so. In combination with prudent reefing, she keeps right on going.” Phil Bacon, 1986 Scout.

“So far, so good. My boat does NOT have water ballast as many newer models do, but I really don’t want it. My only worry is in a possible breach situation when we are unavoidably crossways to big surf, but I have never rolled the boat or had it knocked down despite some adventurous chances. I do know the 21-foot length is a lot for its somewhat narrow beam and this helps when going upwind in a chop. The boat feels a bit light in big winds but it can take water over the rail without any problem because it just flows back to the cockpit and drains readily” Tom Lyons, 1984 Besito (lug rig).

Who can forget small-boat adventurer, Shane St. Clair’s account of sheeting the mizzen tight and going below to get some sleep in a 40-knot blow near Cape Hatteras. (SCA #13). In total darkness, surrounded by angry seas, St. Clair crawled forward, closed his eyes and left his Sea Pearl to fend for them both.

One look at the 600-pound Pearl, with its minimal freeboard and lack of a fixed cabin, and you’ll appreciate St. Clair’s courage. But Sea Pearls have been employed for a number of ambitious journeys.

She’s not only an able sailer, but also easy to reef and easy to beach—two qualities that add to a small-boat’s seaworthiness and versatility. Many owners laud their boat’s performance in high winds and big seas.

The Sea Pearl is not exempt from the realities of a narrow, relatively light, open boat. It’s possible to swamp or capsize her, and we’re told she can be difficult if not impossible to self-rescue. A few owners prepare for this unlikely possibility by adding more foam flotation to the hull and masts, but we’ve several reports of Sea Pearls bring towed to shore upside down.

Pearls benefit from hearty construction and a basic simplicity. The split rig means both low-aspect sails are easily manageable—neither requires winch or mechanical advantage. And unlike a centerboard, the leeboards are totally open to inspection and unlikely to jam with rocks or sand.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

“I think four can daysail comfortably, but three is great for balance and stretching out. For overnight, one can sleep in the center cockpit and one on the stern platform I made from folding plywood. Three of us have done extended cruising in the Sea of Cortez, but we slept on the beach and set up a full-blown camp. If you treat the Pearl as you would a big backpack, she will hold weeks worth of stuff. Of course, I never took three dozen tortillas and a case of Negra Modello on a backpacking trip.” Drew Squyres, 1991 Persuasion .

“ There’s plenty of room, but a lot of it is in inconvenient shapes or locations. (e.g., stowage racks under side decks are too shallow; space under cockpit is voluminous but hard to access).” John Weiss, 1998 DragonSong.

As a daysailer the Sea Pearl is one of the more accommodating small boats on the market. Six people for an afternoon sail is said to be plenty comfortable. Under-deck storage is good, with most owners customizing the space with storage boxes or duffel bags.

Overnighting aboard below the tonneau cover, optional convertible cabin (3' 6" headroom), or a canopy of stars (limitless headroom) is comfortable enough for two persons—if a bit spartan. Drew Squyres constructed his own aft tent to cover an aft berth made with plywood filler boards. This combination creates a giant caravan suitable for more extended cruises.

There is no designated spot for head or galley. Cruisers typically carry buckets, camp stoves, air mattresses, and other tent-camping gear.

“At 34 years old (the boat, not me), I have replaced some wooden spars (cheap and easy) on the lug rig and repaired a lee board that was losing a lead shoe. Most Sea Pearls have the aluminum marconi rig, which must last forever. (But mine looks cooler and gets under low bridges better!) Virtually everything that can break is fixable with some line and a few minutes of creative rigging.” Tom Lyons, 1984 Besito (lug rig).

We asked owners about all aspects of construction, trying to uncover any pattern of failure or corner-cutting. Owner responses bordered on the mundane. A bent cleat, some faded paint—very little trouble of any consequence. The only significant report we heard related to some leaky ballast tank seams. Potential owners might want to double-check this system.

Marine Concepts cores the Pearl’s double-laminate hull and deck with Klegecell™ (cross-linked PVC), where older models used end-grain balsa. We crawled around Drew’s boat, pushing and pulling, and were impressed with both strength and finish.

Jim Leet tells of one Sea Pearl that fell from its trailer at 70 mph. The owner reportedly picked up the scattered components and sailed that afternoon.

COMPROMISES:

“You can’t throw it on top of your car, and you can’t put a queen-sized bed in it. It’s a perfect compromise between those two.” Drew Squyres, 1991 Persuasion .

“You forgot to ask about shallow-water worthiness. That’s where this boat shines. The Sea Pearl can go just about anywhere a kayak can go. With lee boards barely in the water she can work her way upwind. Stick the boat on a sandbar 5” deep and it still usually floats free as soon as you step onto the sand. For exploring little islands and mangrove lagoons that other sailboats have to steer clear of, the Sea Pearl is wonderful. And it is great for taking shortcuts where other boats must go around. . Who needs channels?” Tom Lyons, 1984 Besito (lug rig).

We’ve touched on some compromises already. The Sea Pearl is essentially open, so the boat and her crew are more exposed than they might be on a cabin cruiser, and accommodations are comparatively rudimentary. Some sailors—and especially non-sailors—are put off by the Pearl’s initial tenderness, although she stiffens up considerably once heeled. The Sea Pearl is nearly defined by its cat-ketch rig and leeboards, which are both compromises—trading certain virtues for others—but we think the net results are positive.

MODIFICATIONS:

“I bought an aftermarket rudder for about $400 in hopes of getting extra lift for perhaps a bit of extra speed or higher pointing. Every penny of that cost was a waste, as I have found absolutely no evident advantage to the rudder, which I later learned was simply a Com Pac 16 rudder. I also eventually replaced my original sails with the horizontally-battened sails which have added roach and sail area, and therefore make the boat slightly faster in light air. Once I have to reef, however, anyone with standard sails can put up as much sail I do.” Bill Fite, Moon Shadow.

Several owners we spoke with who have older boats have retrofitted them with ballast tanks. Additional flotation, side motor-mounts and custom storage bins were common mods. Owner Kevin Mart was more ambitious, having built a beautiful new deck of mahogany and teak.

“A bit pricey at first glance, but worth every penny! There may be cheaper boats, but I doubt there are any with the Sea Pearl’s quality and versatility.” John Weiss, 1998 DragonSong .

“I suppose I could have bought two clunky 24-foot Chlorox bottles, complete with bunks, galley and head, for the same price. I think the Sea Pearl, at $4-5k for a good used one is a better deal” Phil Bacon, 1986 Scout .

“If you want a built-in cabin where you can keep your bunk made, this boat isn’t for you. It is a good-sized day-sailor and readily used for camping, but not in easy comfort at all times. You will get wet when sailing in the rain. Fun to sail, but not on auto-pilot while you mix martinis. It is a lively boat and you stay close to the water.” Tom Lyons, 1984 Besito (lug rig).

Sea Pearls are custom built and the options list is long. Even central components like the gunnel rub-rail are offered three ways. Vinyl is standard—teak, aluminum, and the “heavy teak classic” are optional upgrades. The base boat sailaway price is $11,295. Pearls appear to hold their value remarkably well. Few used models are found for less than $5,000.

The Sea Pearl has a noteworthy pedigree and is both attractive and capable. She even has an avid owner’s group with whom to share the excitement. But nothing makes her so appealing as her simplicity. Like Marine Concepts’ Jim Leet told us: You can arrive at the launch ramp parking lot the same time as an owner with a different trailerboat, and you’ll be two miles off shore by time the other boat is rigged. In a world where time seems to be an increasingly precious commodity, the Sea Pearl allows us to hurry up and relax.

ONE OWNER’S OPINION

We asked well-known Everglades Challenge veteran and Sea Pearler, Bill Fite, if he would offer a list of the design’s pros and cons.

• The SP 21 is simple. Its rugged fiberglass construction makes it easy to maintain. The masts are free-standing, and the sails furl around the masts for easy reefing and storage. There is a sheet for each sail, and a pennant each for raising and lowering the leeboards and the rudder. The leeboards avoid the through-hull penetrations (and potential problems) that come with centerboards and dagger boards. Once in place, the excellent camper top can be put up or down in seconds.

• At less than 1000 lbs, the SP 21 is easy to trailer, launch, and recover.

• The hull is a beautiful design that helps make the boat reasonably dry and remarkably seaworthy in coastal and bay waters, even in severe chop.

• The SP 21 is surprisingly fast for a recreational family boat not designed for racing, especially on close reaches to broad reaches and on runs.

• The divided sail plan of main and mizzen allows easy balancing of sails as well as quick and effective heaving to—a potentially valuable safety measure.

• The collapsible Sunbrella camper top is brilliantly designed and constructed to provide virtually complete protection from weather and insects.

• Beside sailing well, the Sea Pearl is easily rowed for a 21 foot sailboat, and easily motored with an electric or small gasoline outboard (the Honda 4-stroke 2 hp is a favorite).

• The extreme shoal draft (6 inches) of the Sea Pearl opens many shallow areas for gunkholing or riding out a thunderstorm at anchor, and emergency beaching.

• Use of the water ballast tanks can add stability and a reassuring heavier feel to the boat in high winds and chop.

• The 21 is tender. Despite strong final stability, it can be difficult to right if capsized, and can “turtle” readily without rapid employment of flotation such as an inflated boat roller.

• The boat does not point well due to the lack of a jib, centerboard, or keel. Tacking about 60 degrees off of the wind is about the best the boat can do.

• Sleeping two adults within the camper top is cramped. Removing baggage to the rear cockpit to make room, and sleeping head to foot is common in expeditionary races or challenges.

•The boat is slightly bow down in the water during even solo rowing. Placing heavy baggage in the rear cockpit before rowing long distances can help improve rowing efficiency.

• The SP 21 is self bailing only at rest, as the weight of the helmsman puts the drain hole below the water line when underway.

• The rear cockpit is small, and the relatively low seating position with little backrest is uncomfortable for some (extending legs to place feet against the opposite seat improves comfort).

• The narrow canoe-like transom of the SP 21 makes it less stable running in high winds. Surfing down swells at 12 or more knots is common, but more exciting than one would wish. It is important to take advantage of the SP 21’s easy reefing options early.

• The narrow stern makes outboard motor access difficult for some using the standard rudder mount.

Ready for more?

Home » Blog » Buy a boat » 5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world

By Author Fiona McGlynn

Posted on Last updated: April 19, 2023

A small sailboat can take you big places

Small sailboats are the ticket to going cruising NOW — not when you retire, save up enough money, or find the “perfect” bluewater cruising boat. In fact, it’s the first principle in Lin and Larry Pardey’s cruising philosophy: “Go small, go simple, go now.”

Small yachts can be affordable, simple, and seaworthy . However, you won’t see many of them in today’s cruising grounds. In three years and 13,000 nautical miles of bluewater cruising, I could count the number of under 30-foot sailboats I’ve seen on one hand (all of them were skippered by people in their 20s and 30s).

Today’s anchorages are full of 40, 50, and 60-foot-plus ocean sailboats, but that’s not to say you can’t sail the world in a small sailboat. Just look at Alessandro di Benedetto who in 2010 broke the record for the smallest boat to sail around the world non-stop in his 21-foot Mini 6.5 .

So long as you don’t mind forgoing a few comforts, you can sail around the world on a small budget .

What makes a good blue water sailboat

While you might not think a small sailboat is up to the task of going long distances, some of the best bluewater sailboats are under 40 feet.

However, if you’re thinking about buying a boat for offshore cruising, there are a few things to know about what makes a small boat offshore capable .

Smaller equals slower

Don’t expect to be sailing at high speeds in a pocket cruiser. Smaller displacement monohulls are always going to be slower than larger displacement monohulls (see the video below to learn why smaller boats are slower). Therefore a smaller cruiser is going to take longer on a given passage, making them more vulnerable to changes in weather.

A few feet can make a big difference over a week-long passage. On the last leg of our Pacific Ocean crossing, our 35-foot sailboat narrowly avoid a storm that our buddy boat, a 28-foot sailboat, couldn’t. Our friend was only a knot slower but it meant he had to heave to for a miserable three days.

Small but sturdy

If a pocket cruiser encounters bad weather, they will be less able to outrun or avoid it. For this reason, many of the blue water sailboats in this list are heavily built and designed to take a beating.

Yacht design has changed dramatically over the last 50 years. Today, new boats are designed to be light and fast. The small sailboats in our list are 30-plus year-old designs and were built in a time when weather forecasts were less accurate and harder to come by.

Back in the day, boat were constructed with thicker fiberglass hulls than you see in modern builds. Rigs, keels, rudders, hulls and decks – everything about these small cruising sailboats was designed to stand up to strong winds and big waves. Some of the boats in this post have skeg-hung rudders and most of them are full keel boats.

The pros and cons of pocket cruiser sailboats

Pocket cruiser sailboats present certain advantages and disadvantages.

More affordable

Their smaller size makes them affordable bluewater sailboats. You can often find great deals on pocket cruisers and sometimes you can even get them for free.

You’ll also save money on retrofits and repairs because small cruising sailboats need smaller boat parts (which cost a lot less) . For example, you can get away with smaller sails, ground tackle, winches, and lighter lines than on a bigger boat.

Moorage, haul-outs, and marine services are often billed by foot of boat length . A small sailboat makes traveling the world , far more affordable!

When something major breaks (like an engine) it will be less costly to repair or replace than it would be on a bigger boat.

Less time consuming

Smaller boats tend to have simpler systems which means you’ll spend less time fixing and paying to maintain those systems. For example, most small yachts don’t have showers, watermakers , hot water, and electric anchor windlasses.

On the flip side, you’ll spend more time collecting water (the low-tech way) . On a small sailboat, this means bucket baths, catching fresh water in your sails, and hand-bombing your anchor. Though less convenient, this simplicity can save you years of preparation and saving to go sailing.

Oh, and did I mention that you’ll become a complete water meiser? Conserving water aboard becomes pretty important when you have to blue-jug every drop of it from town back to your boat.

Easier to sail

Lastly, smaller boats can be physically easier to sail , just think of the difference between raising a sail on a 25-foot boat versus a 50-foot boat! You can more easily single-hand or short-hand a small sailboat. For that reason, some of the best solo blue water sailboats are quite petite.

As mentioned above small boats are slow boats and will arrive in port, sometimes days (and even weeks) behind their faster counterparts on long offshore crossings.

Consider this scenario: two boats crossed the Atlantic on a 4,000 nautical mile route. The small boat averaged four miles an hour, while the big boat averaged seven miles an hour. If both started at the same time, the small boat will have completed the crossing two weeks after the larger sailboat!

Less spacious

Living on a boat can be challenging — living on a small sailboat, even more so! Small cruising boats don’t provide much in the way of living space and creature comforts.

Not only will you have to downsize when you move onto a boat you’ll also have to get pretty creative when it comes to boat storage.

It also makes it more difficult to accommodate crew for long periods which means there are fewer people to share work and night shifts.

If you plan on sailing with your dog , it might put a small boat right out of the question (depending on the size of your four-legged crew member).

Less comfortable

It’s not just the living situation that is less comfortable, the sailing can be pretty uncomfortable too! Pocket cruisers tend to be a far less comfortable ride than larger boats as they are more easily tossed about in big ocean swell.

Here are our 5 favorite small blue water sailboats for sailing around the world

When we sailed across the Pacific these were some of the best small sailboats that we saw. Their owners loved them and we hope you will too!

The boats in this list are under 30 feet. If you’re looking for something slightly larger, you might want to check out our post on the best bluewater sailboats under 40 feet .

Note: Price ranges are based on SailboatListings.com and YachtWorld.com listings for Aug. 2018

Albin Vega 27($7-22K USD)

The Albin Vega has earned a reputation as a bluewater cruiser through adventurous sailors like Matt Rutherford, who in 2012 completed a 309-day solo nonstop circumnavigation of the Americas via Cape Horn and the Northwest Passage (see his story in the documentary Red Dot on the Ocean ).

Hull Type: Long fin keel
Hull Material: GRP (fibreglass)
Length Overall:27′ 1″ / 8.25m
Waterline Length:23′ 0″ / 7.01m
Beam:8′ 1″ / 2.46m
Draft:3′ 8″ / 1.12m
Rig Type: Masthead sloop rig
Displacement:5,070lb / 2,300kg
Designer:Per Brohall
Builder:Albin Marine AB (Swed.)
Year First Built:1965
Year Last Built:1979
Number Built:3,450

Cape Dory 28 ($10-32K USD)

This small cruising sailboat is cute and classic as she is rugged and roomy. With at least one known circumnavigation and plenty of shorter bluewater voyages, the Cape Dory 28 has proven herself offshore capable.

Hull Type: Full Keel
Length Overall:28′ 09″ / 8.56m
Waterline Length:22′ 50″ / 6.86m
Beam:8’ 11” / 2.72m
Draft:4’ 3” / 1.32m
Rig Type:Masthead Sloop
Displacement:9,300lb / 4,218kg
Sail Area/Displacement Ratio:52
Displacement/Length Ratio:49
Designer: Carl Alberg
Builder: Cape Dory Yachts (USA)
Year First Built:1974
Year Last Built:1988
Number Built: 388

Dufour 29 ($7-23K)

As small bluewater sailboats go, the Dufour 29 is a lot of boat for your buck. We know of at least one that sailed across the Pacific last year. Designed as a cruiser racer she’s both fun to sail and adventure-ready. Like many Dufour sailboats from this era, she comes equipped with fiberglass molded wine bottle holders. Leave it to the French to think of everything!

Hull Type: Fin with skeg-hung rudder
Length Overall:29′ 4″ / 8.94m
Waterline Length:25′ 1″ / 7.64m
Beam:9′ 8″ / 2.95m
Draft:5′ 3″ / 1.60m
Displacement:7,250lb / 3,289kg
Designer:Michael Dufour
Builder:Dufour (France)
Year First Built:1975
Year Last Built:1984

Vancouver 28 ($15-34K)

A sensible small boat with a “go-anywhere” attitude, this pocket cruiser was designed with ocean sailors in mind. One of the best cruising sailboats under 40 feet, the Vancouver 28 is great sailing in a small package.

Hull Type:Full keel with transom hung rudder
Length Overall: 28′ 0″ / 8.53m
Waterline Length:22’ 11” / 6.99m
Beam:8’ 8” / 2.64m
Draft:4’ 4” / 1.32m
Rig Type: Cutter rig
Displacement:8,960lb / 4,064 kg
Designer: Robert B Harris
Builder: Pheon Yachts Ltd. /Northshore Yachts Ltd.
Year First Built:1986
Last Year Built: 2007
Number Built: 67

Westsail 28 ($30-35K)

Described in the 1975 marketing as “a hearty little cruiser”, the Westsail 28 was designed for those who were ready to embrace the cruising life. Perfect for a solo sailor or a cozy cruising couple!

Hull Type: Full keel with transom hung rudder
Hull Material:GRP (fibreglass)
Length Overall:28′ 3” / 8.61m
Waterline Length:23’ 6” / 7.16m
Beam:9’ 7” / 2.92m
Displacement:13,500lb / 6,124kg
Designer: Herb David
Builder: Westsail Corp. (USA)
Number Built:78

Feeling inspired? Check out the “go small” philosophy of this 21-year-old who set sail in a CS 27.

Fiona McGlynn is an award-winning boating writer who created Waterborne as a place to learn about living aboard and traveling the world by sailboat. She has written for boating magazines including BoatUS, SAIL, Cruising World, and Good Old Boat. She’s also a contributing editor at Good Old Boat and BoatUS Magazine. In 2017, Fiona and her husband completed a 3-year, 13,000-mile voyage from Vancouver to Mexico to Australia on their 35-foot sailboat.

Saturday 1st of September 2018

Very useful list, but incomplete - as it would necessarily be, considering the number of seaworthy smaller boats that are around.

In particular, you missed/omitted the Westerly "Centaur" and its follow-on model, the "Griffon". 26 feet LOA, bilge-keelers, weighing something over 6000 pounds, usually fitted with a diesel inboard.

OK, these are British designs, and not that common in the US, but still they do exist, they're built like tanks, and it's rumored that at least one Centaur has circumnavigated.

Friday 31st of August 2018

This is a helpful list, thank you. I don't think most people would consider a 28' boat a pocket cruiser, though!

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Best Bluewater Sailboats Under 24 Feet

Last Updated by

Jacob Collier

December 28, 2023

Looking for a sailboat but don't want to bear the high costs? The best bluewater sailboats under 24 feet are trailerable and require low maintenance.

Many sailing enthusiasts cannot afford a large boat due to the docking fee and maintenance costs. Fortunately, bluewater sailboats under 24 feet, also known as pocket sailboats, are affordable small yachts that are trailerable to your choice of destination, so you don't have to bear the unnecessary docking fee.

The best bluewater sailboats under 24 feet are the Pacific Seacraft Dana 24, Norseboat 21.5, Catalina 22 Sport, Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20, and West Wight Potter 19. These sailboats have ample space for a couple and even a moderately-sized family along with all the amenities you may need.

A roomy cabin, galley, and settees are necessary to go cruising in the bluewater. However, sailboats are a cheaper and more convenient way to enjoy the shallow waters as all you require for sailing is a hull, rudder, mast, and sail. The sailboats on this list make your sailing experience even better with accommodations such as bedding.

We are a bunch of sailing enthusiasts and spend most of our weekends trailing our pocket sailboats, traveling to various offshore destinations. With years of knowledge, we have drafted a list of the best bluewater sailboats under 24 feet and discussed them in detail, so you can make an informed decision before buying your sailboat.

Table of contents

‍ Our Top Picks

West wight potter 19.

The West Wight Potter 19 is one of the most popular sailboats and has been at the top for over three decades. This sailboat is manufactured in California by International Marine, known for making reliable and robust sailboats.

Over the years, the West Wight 19 has seen significant changes in its design, making the boat easy to sail and increasing the storage space while keeping the design compact and available.

The 19-footer is the smallest sailboat on this list, but it doesn’t keep the boat from offering accommodations to make your experience comfortable.

Small sailboats are more about sailing instead of cruising with luxury. However, the Potter 19 offers several luxurious amenities.

The four berths allow you to camp in for a couple of days instead of spending only a day out on the water. Each berth is around six and a half feet long, with two settees and a v-berth.

The storage space under each berth and the ample walking space in between provide enough room for a small family to spend quality time. A small sink, stove, and mobile head increase the boat's functionality and ease the voyage.

The West Wight Potter 19 is far from disappointing when it comes to its sailing chops. Due to its lightweight build, you don't need a powerful truck to trail this sailboat to your preferred destination.

The hull and deck are fiberglass, which keeps the boat steady against rough water. A high freeboard keeps the cockpit and the deck dry.

The West White Potter 19's design is ideal for lake, river, and coastal sailing. However, this boat is up for the challenges as an individual has sailed from California to Hawaii, making history for the Potter 19.

You can buy West White Potter 19 from Sailboat Listings for $6,900.

Specifications

Hull Type: Lifting keel
LOA: 18.9 ft.
LWL: 16.9 ft.
Beam: 7.5 ft.
Displacement: 1225 lbs.
Ballast: 370 lbs.
Sail Area: 115 sq. ft.
First built: 1979
Developer: International Marine (USA)
Designer: Herb Stewart

Catalina 22 Sport

The Catalina 22 Sport has quickly become a hot cake sailboat since the Sport version of the 22 feet hull was recently released. A retractable lead keel in the upgraded version makes it easier to haul the boat.

Other than that, the vinyl seating, a chrome fence, and a more dynamic frame give the boat a sporty yet exclusive look, putting it above its close competitors. That is why the Catalina 22 Sport has become a common sight at harbors across the state.

The update maintains the superior quality of the original Catalina yacht with a robust built, easy and comfortable sailing, and several accommodation features. The hull is made from hand-laid fiberglass bonded with a hull liner.

Beautiful single-piece fiberglass makes the deck a sight for sore eyes. It is treated with non-slippery material to keep the passengers safe from injuries.

A complete standing rig with an upgraded stern rail with controls keeps the boat sailing steadily. But the absolute joy of sailing this beautiful sailboat lies in an exclusive cockpit design. Raised contoured coamings keep the cockpit high and dry.

This boat is not just all about the looks and easy sailing. As mentioned earlier, it also has a roomy cabin with accommodations that can allow you to spend a couple of days on the boat. Two full-length berths measuring over six and a half feet are comfortable for full-grown people to sleep peacefully.

The V berth makes a bed for two where children can rest. Even though the Catalina 22 sport has enough space for a family of four to walk around without stepping on each other's toes, it is ideal for a couple to get away for a refreshing couple of days.

The best thing about Catalina releasing a newer model is that it boasts a 12 Volt electrical panel. You can keep electrical appliances working for a comfortable sailing experience.

Besides that, Catalina offers several optional features to enhance your experience on the 22-footer. These include a mast carrier at the front and rear, fabric cushion upgrade, headsail furling gear, and more.

Since the Catalina 22 Sport is made on order, you can contact dealers from YachtWorld to get the price of this boat.

Hull Type: Fin w/spade rudder
LOA: 23.62 ft.
LWL: 19.32 ft.
Beam: 8.67 ft.
Displacement: 2,380 lbs.
Ballast: 550 lbs.
Sail Area: 110 sq. ft.
First built: 2004
Last built: -
Developer: Catalina Yachts
Designer: Gary Douglas

Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20

The Pacific Seacraft Flicka is the most convenient and trailerable sailboat on our list, with an overall length of 20 feet. If you like a minimalist lifestyle and want the same in your bluewater pocket sailboat, this one's for you.

A functional galley with a sink and a counter and a small sink, toilet, and shower provides you with the basic amenities you and a couple of your friends and family need for a few days offshore.

There's more to the accommodation you can expect from this 20-footer sailboat. This boat has four berths, including a v-berth, so sleeping comfortably or stretching your legs occasionally is not an issue. A pop-up dining table and a chart table within the cabin make eating and other activities doable.

Nevertheless, most people underestimate the Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20’s ability to handle offshore rigidity, and they are often surprised at what this boat has to offer. A full-ballast keel, hull shape, manageable rig, and a self-draining cockpit ensure satisfactory offshore performance by the littlest contender.

Moreover, we find its outstanding standing headspace one of the boat's best features. Unlike other pocket sailboats, the Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 has a six ft. headspace. You don't have to duck every time to save your head from banging against the roof.

The Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20's size and its minimalistic yet fulfilling features are why this boat is in high demand. With only 400 of them ever made, you will have to dig deeper and longer to find one worth buying. Due to this, the price of this boat is also slightly higher.

You can buy the Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 from YachtWorld for $29,900.

Hull Type: Long keel
LOA: 24 ft.
LWL: 18.75 ft.
Beam: 8 ft.
Displacement: 6,000 lbs.
Ballast: 1,750 lbs.
Sail Area: 261.89 sq. ft.
Fuel: 12 gallons
Fresh Water: 20 gallons
Engine: Yanmar
First built: 1974
Last built: 1994
Developer: Pacific Seacraft
Designer: Bruce Bingham

Pacific Seacraft Dana 24

The Pacific Seacraft Dana 24 is the best overall sailboat on our list. This one is the larger of the two Pacific Seacraft sailboats mentioned. It has an overall length of 24 feet but provides you with loads of amenities.

According to the features listed, the boat might seem insufficient for an overnight sail on the water. Once you are on the boat, it won't occur to you that you are on a sailboat that is just 24 feet long.

While only four feet longer than the Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20, it adds enough space to make the cabin roomier and another berth for one more person. Not only that, the extra length provides more space to the galley.

You have increased movement and work it better. However, the length still keeps the sailboat maintaining the qualities of a smaller sailboat, allowing you easy maintenance and mobility.

Despite being larger, Pacific Seacraft Dana 20 is faster than the smaller one. As surprising as it may sound, this is because this boat's engine is more powerful and helps the hull sail faster. A high bow flare and freeboard ensure the deck remains dry unless high tides take charge.

It is ideal for a pair, especially couples who do not look for much except spending quality days offshore with the basic amenities on hand.

The Dana 24 were sold as kits and bare hulls. No one knows how many of these sailboats exist and how many of those are factory assembled. Due to this, you might also find slight differences in the build from unit to unit.

You can get the Pacific Seacraft Dana 24 from YachtWorld for $49,000.

LOA: 27.25 ft.
LWL: 21.42 ft.
Beam: 8.85 ft.
Displacement: 8,000 lbs.
Ballast: 3,200 lbs.
Sail Area: 361.22 sq. ft.
Fuel: 18 gallons
Fresh Water 40 gallons
First built: 1948
Last built: 2007
Designer: W.I.B Crealock

Norseboat 21.5

Do you prefer an open sailboat with a rugged design to keep your sailing experience raw? Get your hands on the Open Cockpit Norseboat 21.5. This boat has no cabin.

Simple sailboat design with settees on the side and enough storage room for a couple of passengers to enjoy a voyage across the lake or cruise near the coast.

But that's not all. The Norseboat 21.5 also comes in a cabin design that offers enhanced comfort. Whichever version you prefer, this boat offers a rugged design with carbon-fiber material instead of fiberglass, making it stronger than most sailboats.

However, you will have to compromise on the beauty part. Still, the boat provides a steady sailing experience with all the necessities you might require.

The Norseboat 21.5 sits lower near the water, and with a simple handling sloop rig and fully battened mainsail, it sails light and quick against the light wind. The boat is highly responsive to the tiller, requiring minimum effort from you to put it in the right direction.

Both versions of Norseboat 21.5 are lightweight, making them easy to haul and trail. You won't need a large truck to trail this boat to your favorite spot.

A mid-sized vehicle will do the job. On the other hand, their build maintains a strong presence uplifting their seaworthiness while a foil-shaped stub keel maintains stability.

You can buy the Norseboat 21.5 directly from Norseboat .

LOA: 21.8 ft.
LWL: 19 ft.
Beam: 7.1 ft.
Displacement: 1,750 lbs.
Ballast: 275 lbs.
Sail Area: 197.2 sq. ft.
Developer: NorseBoat Limited (CAN)
Designer: Kevin Jeffrey/Mark Fitzgerald

Easy handling, low cost of maintenance, minimalistic designs, basic amenities, all while going offshore — these are the main selling points of pocket sailboats. All the boats mentioned above will serve you well if you are looking for the best bluewater pocket sailboats. Choose wisely!

Best Bluewater Pocket Sailboats

Best Bluewater Sailboats Under $100k

Born into a family of sailing enthusiasts, words like “ballast” and “jibing” were often a part of dinner conversations. These days Jacob sails a Hallberg-Rassy 44, having covered almost 6000 NM. While he’s made several voyages, his favorite one is the trip from California to Hawaii as it was his first fully independent voyage.

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13 Popular Trailerable Sailboats with Lifting Keels

Trailerable boats come in a wide range of styles, sizes and capabilities. Dinghies and small sport boats are easy to trailer and even car top, but what if you're looking for something you can take some place, and maybe spend a weekend on board?

One good way to open a lot of shallow cruising grounds and gunkholes and to make your trailering life easier is to add a lifting or swing keel to the boat. With drafts under a foot on some models, these boats will give you a lot less trouble with overpasses, wires and launching.

While this isn't an exhaustive list, these thirteen popular boats will give you an idea of the range of trailerable boats with lifting keels you can find on the market. Some are older and no longer built, and you can find some of them at the boat shows and ready for purchase new today. Whether you're looking for a day sailer or a weekender for a couple to gunkhole along the coast, here are some great boats to consider.

Catalina 22 Sport

Com Pac Eclipse

Flying Scot

Islander 24

MacGregor 26

Montgomery 17, norseboat 17.5.

Seaward 26 RK
West Wight Potter 15/19

Most of these builders have several boat models, and several them have specialized in pocket cruisers, trailerable boats, and smaller hulls. Remember the specific model listed may be a good sample of their work, but check their entire lineup for something closest to what you want.

13 Biggest Trailerable Sailboats: Cheap But Good

Also - not all these boats are still in production, though they you can find them for sail used. Links are to the builder where possible, or to information pages to learn more if the builder is no longer around. Because we're looking at smaller boats, they won't likely be listed on brokerage sites, so you'll need to search for them on places like Craigslist, class association sites, and smaller regional boat sales sites and for sale boards.

First introduced in 1970, the Catalina 22 has been one of the most popular trailerable boats since its inception, though the Mk II update added a few inches of beam and couldn't race the Mk1 boats under one design class rules. The 22 Sport updates the classic original, while returning to the specifications for class legal racing out of the box with the original 22. It has a retractable lead keel, or an fixed keel option, and has berths below for up to four people. It's an easy weekender to launch and sail, with ready made fleets for fun, competitive racing.

Find the specs here

Com-Pac specializes in small, compact trailerable sailboats. The Eclipse is a solid example of their sloop-rigged boats. With a 21 foot overall length, 7'4" beam, and a 2,200 lbs displacement, it will tow easily with a modest vehicle. Down below, you'll find a double v-berth and space for cooking and food preparation. This converts to sleeping space with two additional quarter berths.

When looking for a trailerable pocket cruiser, look at the entire Com-Pac line.

Over five hundred CS 22 hulls were built in their production run in the early 70s, and this sturdy little cruiser is still a popular boat if you can find one on the used market. They conceived it as a lightweight, trailerable cruiser. It has a stubby externally ballasted keel with centerboard for added stability and pointing.

Though small, the interior has sleeping accommodations for four, a small galley, and a space for a portable toilet, making it a suitable choice for short expeditions and weekending. Though scarce today, the CS 22 is a good example of compact design that helped set the standard for later pocket cruisers.

The Flying Scot is a day sailer, and a popular design with over a hundred racing fleets around the U.S. It's an older design, having been in production for over fifty years, but this 19 foot sloop will still get a small group out on the water for a day of sailing and fun. Although it doesn't have an interior, clever and adventurous sailors have rigged up boom tents and other means to spend the night on their boats. Options on new boats include space for motor mounts, swim platforms, and higher end racing packages, and there is a strong market for parts and equipment.

The Hunter 22 is an updated replacement for the retired Hunter 216, another popular trailerable boat. The boat can be configured in a cruising setup with a V-berth and portable toilet, or a performance package with a sprit and asymmetrical spinnaker. For the size, it's a good value mini-cruiser with good performance and enough comfort to keep a small crew for a weekend. Depending how you configure your Hunter 22, it can run the gamut from comfy pocket cruiser to sporty day sailer.

Note: Hunter Marine changed names to Marlow-Hunter, though there is an enormous base of used boats with the Hunter brand.

There are several varieties of the MacGregor 26 beyond the base boat, including the 26D (1986-89), 26S (1990-95), 26X (1995-2003) and 26M (2002-2013). MacGregor boats have proven very popular trailerable boats, selling over 38,000 boats during the company's lifetime.

The Mac 26 differs from many small sailboats by two things - water ballast for stability, and the ability to take what is, by small sailboat standards, a massive outboard engine. A seventy horsepower engine on a 26' sailboat can make it hit planing speeds under power. This popular boat is a compromise - the water ballast, hull design, and smallish rig make it a somewhat underpowered sailboat, but it will sail. But if there is no wind, the Mac owners will still beat everyone back to the bar even while towing a water skier.

Their blend of form, function and design have made them controversial boats with experienced sailors, but there is no doubt the MacGregor 26 has gotten thousands of new boats on the water and built a loyal following for one of the most popular trailerable boats ever sold.

After the closure of MacGregor yachts, the Tattoo 26 was developed from the Mac 26 and is almost identical in performance capabilities and design.

Built at first with a fixed keel with an optional centerboard, orders for the keel/centerboard version outstripped the original and more centerboard versions were built. If you're looking for one, make sure it's the right version.

Lyle Hess and Jerry Montgomery designed the Montgomery 17 as a cruising capable, trailerable boat. The lapstrake fiberglass hull deflects spray and chop, and the 1,550 lb boat gives a stiff, dry sail. The cuddy cabin below has comfortable space for two adults, space for a portable toilet, and ample storage for gear and supplies. A four-part tackle rig makes raising the deck stepped a snap.

NorseBoats specializes in lighter day sailers and trailerable boats with a classic look but modern build and design concepts. Marketed as the "Swiss army knife" of boats, any of their offerings meet the criteria for an easy to trailer and handle boat with a shallow draft. The 17.5 can take a small outboard, has two rowing stations, and comes with a carbon fiber, rotating mast for easy setup and break down and solid performance under sail.

The larger NorseBoat 21.5 has an optional cabin version, with more sheltered space for sleeping and living than the open version.

The venture is a sixteen foot day sailer, and a modern design which can be sailed by up to eight people. The Venture has options for fixed keel, a centerboard, or a ballasted centerboard. As a forgiving design, it's a popular boat for inexperienced sailors and sail training, but still has enough power to be interesting and fun for skilled sailors as well. The RS Venture Connect features a lifting keel.

RS Sailing develops and sells many performance oriented small dinghies and day sailors aimed at a range of sailing skill and applications, from sail training dinghies to high performance racing skiffs.

Hand built with carbon fiber and vinylester resin over balsa core, this little boat is lighter than expected, but still sails well with options for a fixed keel or centerboard. At 16'10" overall, a 6'9" beam, and 1,300 lbs it's an easy boat to handle. But down below it's got a V-berth sized for adults and seating for two down below. The lapstrake designed hull deflects water and spray for a drier, more comfortable ride.

The smaller Sage 15 is another option for a lightweight boat using the same modern materials and techniques in a classically styled package.

The Seaward 26RK is the successor to Nick Hakes’ Seaward 25, with an edge to more comfort and better performance in a similar price to the last generation yacht. The result is the 26RK with more waterline, more buoyancy aft, and a lifting keel.

One of the larger boats on this list, the Seaward 26 RK, is still easy to move over land with a trailered weight under 6,000 pounds. The boat alone displaces 3,800 pounds, with 1,200 lbs. of that in retractable ballast with a bulb on the bottom. The keel lifts with an electric motor and is simple to operate. The cockpit is comfortable for four and has options for wheel or tiller steering.

Down below you'll find four six-foot berths and seating for four. Interior configurations include options for an enclosed head and v-berth, and a two-burner stove in a small galley.

Seaward Sailboats began sharing construction facilities with Island Packet Yachts and are sold through the same dealer network.

For over fifty years, the West Wight Potter has been a compact, trailerable option for a weekender and vacation boat. The fifteen and nineteen foot models have been fixtures at boat shows and in harbors, and sailors have even crossed oceans in these doughty little boats. The fifteen displaces only 475 pounds, with 165 pounds of ballast in the lifting keel. It's self righting and self bailing, with added foam for stability and floatation. The 19 is heavier at 1,225 pounds with 370 pounds of ballast, but the extra volume adds two more quarter berths, more headroom, space below, and more waterline.

With a kick up rudder and retracting keel, these little cruisers can be beached or taken in shallow waters. They designed the hull for stability and reduce spray for a dry and comfortable sail. Factory options include several creature comforts, sail options, and even trailers. With over 2,600 West Wight Potter 15s built and 1600 of the nineteen footer, there's a ready market of these pocket cruisers for sale.

While the big boats get the glory and high profile spots at the shows, smaller trailerable boats are what most people can buy. The corners of the shows where you see the West Wight Potters and Com-pacs to be just as exciting to me as the main docks filled with forty and fifty footers, because these smaller boats invoke a different adventure. An attainable adventure, for so many more people.

There's an array of smaller boats you can store in your garage or backyard and take out for everything from a casual day sail to a long summer vacation. This list gives you a flavor of what's out there in the trailerable boat market, but it's up to you to decide where you want to go and how you want to get here.

The article is headed by a photo of a S2 7.9 but that boat did not make your list. IMO the best trailer boat .

You may also like, what is a swing or lifting keel 14 pros and cons explained.

If you need to know what a swing keel is, like me, this article is for you. I'm trying to decide what keel type is right for me, so I dove into the swing keel.

Sailboat Keel Types: Illustrated Guide (Bilge, Fin, Full)

Centerboard (Swing Keel) vs. Fixed Keel: Pros and Cons

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Class Contact Information

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Class Email

Class Website

One-Design Class Type: Keelboat

Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Both

Approximately how many class members do you have? 30

Photo Credit:unknown

Photo Credit: Julie Skaff

About Victory 21

The Victory is a 21 foot long, one design, all fiberglass keelboat with graceful lines. It was designed by naval architect Ted Carpenter in the Fall of 1959. In 1970, starting with Hull #150, production rights were transferred to Frank Butler of Catalina Yachts. Currently, the Victory is most actively raced in California with competitors mainly coming from the Fresno and San Diego areas using just Main Sail and 110’s though spinnakers and 150% genoas are also recognized as class legal sails. The three major invitational regattas each year for the Victory 21’s include: the High Sierra Regatta held at Huntington Lake sponsored by the Fresno Yacht Club (FYC), the SCYA Midwinters held at the Mission Bay Yacht Club (MBYC) and our National Championships which rotate between Huntington Lake (FYC), Mission Bay (MBYC), and San Diego Bay (Convair Sailing Club). All class events are governed by the class rules established by NAVSO (last updated in 1987)–the National Association of Victory Sloop Owners.

Boats Produced: approximately 700

Class boat builder(s):

Catalina Yachts, though I have not heard of any new Victory 21’s being produced since the 1980’s.

Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 450

Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:

The Victory 21 is primarily sailed in Central and Southern California. There used to be strong fleets also in Santa Barbara, California; Berkeley, California; Dallas, Texas and Oklahoma.

Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? Yes

How many people sail as a crew including the helm? 2

Ideal combined weight of range of crew: 400

Portsmouth Yardstick Rating: 276 for both spinnaker and genoa based upon our last PHRF certificate from 2000

Boat Designed in 1959

Length (feet/inches): 21′

Beam: 6’3.33″

Weight of rigged boat without sails: 1,200 lbs including the 500 lbs. keel with an optional 200 lb. lead bubble on the keel

Draft: 3′ .33″

Mast Height: 23′ 6.5″

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San Juan 21 Sailboat

San Juan 21 Sailboat Boats for sale

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Model San Juan 21

Category Daysailer Sailboats

Length 21.0

Posted Over 1 Month

The San Juan 21 sailboat is in fair condition, it comes with it's own custom trailer with a 2in ball hitch. Inside the fiberglass interior there are two quarter berths, and a small V-berth. Large cockpit for its size, this boat was designed to be a fast, fun, trailerable daysailor that was worked well with the small lakes in New Mexico.Includes:regular mainsailsjib sailscabin cushions with re-upholstered coversAsking for $1,700 but am willing to negotiate. If you are interested please email me and we can set up a place to meet to look over the boat.

1980 San Juan 21

Orlando, Florida

Make San Juan

1980 San Juan 21 1980 San Juan Mark II sailboat with a 2006 Nissan 5HP outboard. Price also includes a trailer with guide posts and a mounted spare tire. Package includes a Bimini top, Waters Sails performance Jib & Main in good condition. This boat has been immaculately restored: New bulkheads, with epoxy coating and urethane finish; new interior cushions and hull liner; Lexan replacement windows with refurbished frames, teak framed bug screen at companionway and hatch, new companionway hatch cover, new deck core at chain plates area; new wiring at fuse/switches; smoked Plexiglas hatch; Keel well window/cover; new hardware and winches; New teak at all locations with epoxy coating/vanish; Glassed in fuel tank shelve in lazarette; New tabernacle; New motor mount and lift bracket; New 6:1 vang; new soft traveler system; new internal boom outhaul; new sheets/cleats bridge at companionway; 4:1 back stay tensioner/safety cable, New battery; New tires and wheels; and porto-potti. Truly a beautiful boat and ready to sail!

SAILBOAT San Juan 21 MKII

Fairhope, Alabama

Model San Juan 21 MKII

Recent work on boat includes:re-seated bow pulpitNew outboard bracketre-sealed windowsre-worked deckingnewly painted bottom newly waxed and buffedNew crank for swing keel boat drafts: 1.5’ with keel up4’ with keel down Included with boat:swing keelkick up rudderNew VHF radioFive sails in older condition (main, jib, 2 genoa & spinnaker)whisker polebumperssmall inflatable dhingyladderAnchorOlder auto pillotgalvanized trailervarious items in toolbaox

21' CLARK SAN JUAN SAILBOAT- SLEEPS 4 + includes trailer (MAMARONECK, NY) 10543

Mamaroneck, New York

Model SAN JUAN

CAN EASILY BE VIEWED IN A BOAT YARD IN MAMRONECK, NEW YORK 10543. (if purchased, must be moved by the end of this month- with a few extra days if needed). The AMAZING Clark San Juan 21 is very easy to sail. Read all about it in the wikipedia link and do a Google/Bing/Yahoo search. Lots of info avail.Good first boat, a family boat, or a racing boat. The San Juan 21 continues to be a popular racer and enjoys many active racing fleets across the country.Beautiful and simple classic 1976 design.Rigging: Sloop, CutterBeam: 7 feetFixed-keelSteering: TillerHull: FiberglassSleeps four+ Clean titles for boat & trailer,. Boat is registered in New York until 2017+ Boat is in good/fair condition, normal wear, ready to sail. BUT needs a good cleaning. And if you want, the bottom could be painted. The wood hatch door could be replaced. Some dings on the keel. There are some small cracks in the roof that could be properly repaired. (very common in the San Juan). + Includes the original owners manual and everything in the photos (lots of extras)+ All standing and running rigging+ 4 sails: Large mainsail, Jib, a 110% working jib, a 135% genoa+ Sail Bags+ Good anchor+ Lots of PFD/life vests+ Reupholstered cabin cushions + Rudder+ Sail Cover+ FREE trailer GO TO YOUTUBE FOR VIDEOS of a San Juan 21 sailing: Google: San Juan Sailboats and Clark Boat Company - San Juan 21 ...GOOGLE: San Juan 21 Association Web SiteGOOGLE: San Juan 21 Fleet 1CHECK wikipedia photosCHECK WIKIPEDIA:The San Juan 21 blends a combination of performance and ease of sailing.[1] They are very easy to set up and can be put in the water in as little as 25 minutes. With the swing keel, they ride low on the trailer and can be launched and retrieved from any ramp. A handful of fixed-keel variants were produced, including a small number of shoal keel models. It is believed that fewer than 300 fixed-keel boats were produced, and even fewer of the shoal-keel boats (believed to be less than 20). Clark experimented with the fixed-keel design predominantly in the production plant located near Seattle, Washington.They handle much like big dinghies, yet with the 400-lb. keel, they are self-righting. This is not of much concern, as capsizing a San Juan 21 is not easy. Initially tender, the San Juan 21 heels to 15 degrees rather easily but firms up there, and once past 40 degrees, the helmsman has to make a rather big mistake to get it to go more. Once past 50 degrees or so, the sturdy little boat will round up and head into the wind.The San Juan 21 is a pleasure to sail for both novices and experienced racers. Due to its light weight (1400 lbs Class Weight), it accelerates briskly in puffs and will literally sail rings around most bigger boats in light to moderate winds. There are several one-design class fleets located at various lakes across the country with active racing schedules all summer. While designed more with performance in mind, the boat is comfortable for weekend cruising for two adults with two small children. It has space for a camping toilet and ample storage for other essentials.They are also easy to single-hand, with the fractional rig's small jib and large main.The sail inventory consists of a large mainsail, a small 110% working jib, a 135% genoa, and a spinnaker. Being a one-design class, rules limit the sails to be made from Dacron and the spinnaker from nylon. This keeps costs down.

21' CLARK SAN JUAN SAILBOAT + 8' dingy + 6 HP motor + trailer in MAMARONECK, NY

CAN EASILY BE VIEWED IN MAMRONECK, NEW YORK 10543. (if purchased, must be moved by the end of this month). You get EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO HIT THE WATER: 21' Sailboat AND an 8' Sandpiper dingy ($350 value) AND a like new 6 hp four-stroke Tohatsu (Mercury) long shaft outboard ($850 value), AND a Dry Dock trailer AND dingy motor: Tohatsu 2 1/4hp (needs minor repair). The AMAZING Clark San Juan 21 is very easy to sail. Read all about it in the wikipedia link and do a Google/Bing/Yahoo search. Lots of info avail.Good first boat, a family boat, or a racing boat. The San Juan 21 continues to be a popular racer and enjoys many active racing fleets across the country.Beautiful and simple classic 1976 design.Rigging: Sloop, CutterBeam: 7 feetFixed-keelSteering: TillerHull: FiberglassSleeps four+ Clean titles for boat & trailer,. Boat is registered in New York until 2017+ Boat is in good/fair condition, normal wear, ready to sail. BUT needs a good cleaning. And if you want, the bottom could be painted. The wood hatch door could be replaced. There are some small problem areas in the roof that could be properly repaired. (very common in the San Juan). BUT THE BOAT DOES NOT LEAK (top or bottom)+ Includes the original owners manual and everything in the photos (lots of extras)+ All standing and running rigging+ 4 sails: Large mainsail, Jib, a 110% working jib, a 135% genoa+ Sail Bags+ Good anchor+ Lots of PFD/life vests+ Reupholstered cabin cushions + Rudder+ Sail Cover+ FREE trailer ($500+ value)GO TO YOUTUBE FOR VIDEOS of a San Juan 21 sailing: Google: San Juan Sailboats and Clark Boat Company - San Juan 21 ...GOOGLE: San Juan 21 Association Web SiteGOOGLE: San Juan 21 Fleet 1CHECK wikipedia photosCHECK WIKIPEDIA:The San Juan 21 blends a combination of performance and ease of sailing.[1] They are very easy to set up and can be put in the water in as little as 25 minutes. With the swing keel, they ride low on the trailer and can be launched and retrieved from any ramp. A handful of fixed-keel variants were produced, including a small number of shoal keel models. It is believed that fewer than 300 fixed-keel boats were produced, and even fewer of the shoal-keel boats (believed to be less than 20). Clark experimented with the fixed-keel design predominantly in the production plant located near Seattle, Washington.They handle much like big dinghies, yet with the 400-lb. keel, they are self-righting. This is not of much concern, as capsizing a San Juan 21 is not easy. Initially tender, the San Juan 21 heels to 15 degrees rather easily but firms up there, and once past 40 degrees, the helmsman has to make a rather big mistake to get it to go more. Once past 50 degrees or so, the sturdy little boat will round up and head into the wind.The San Juan 21 is a pleasure to sail for both novices and experienced racers. Due to its light weight (1400 lbs Class Weight), it accelerates briskly in puffs and will literally sail rings around most bigger boats in light to moderate winds. There are several one-design class fleets located at various lakes across the country with active racing schedules all summer. While designed more with performance in mind, the boat is comfortable for weekend cruising for two adults with two small children. It has space for a camping toilet and ample storage for other essentials.They are also easy to single-hand, with the fractional rig's small jib and large main.The sail inventory consists of a large mainsail, a small 110% working jib, a 135% genoa, and a spinnaker. Being a one-design class, rules limit the sails to be made from Dacron and the spinnaker from nylon. This keeps costs down.

21' CLARK SAN JUAN SAILBOAT. Sleeps 4. FREE TRAILER. Larchmont NY

New York, New York

MUST BE PICKED UP IN LARCHMONT, NEW YORK 10538 You get EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO HIT THE WATER: 21' Sailboat AND an 8' Sandpiper dingy ($350 value) and like new 6 hp four-stroke Tohatsu (Mercury) long shaft outboard ($850 value) and dingy motor: Tohatsu 2 1/4hp (needs repair). The AMAZING Clark San Juan 21 is very easy to sail. Read all about it in the wikipedia link and do a Google/Bing/Yahoo search. Lots of info avail.Good first boat, a family boat, or a racing boat. The San Juan 21 continues to be a popular racer and enjoys many active racing fleets across the country.Beautiful and simple classic 1976 design.Rigging: Sloop, CutterBeam: 7 feetFixed-keelSteering: TillerHull: FiberglassSleeps four+ Clean titles for boat & trailer,. Boat is registered in New York until 2017+ Boat is in good/fair condition, normal wear, ready to sail. BUT needs a good cleaning. And if you want, the bottom could be painted. The wood hatch door could be replaced. There are some small problem areas in the roof that could be properly repaired. (very common in the San Juan). BUT THE BOAT DOES NOT LEAK (top or bottom)+ Includes the original owners manual and everything in the photos (lots of extras)+ All standing and running rigging+ 4 sails: Large mainsail, Jib, a 110% working jib, a 135% genoa+ Sail Bags+ Good anchor+ Lots of PFD/life vests+ Reupholstered cabin cushions + Rudder+ Sail Cover+ FREE trailer ($500+ value)GO TO YOUTUBE FOR VIDEOS of a San Juan 21 sailing: Google: San Juan Sailboats and Clark Boat Company - San Juan 21 ...GOOGLE: San Juan 21 Association Web SiteGOOGLE: San Juan 21 Fleet 1CHECK wikipedia photosCHECK WIKIPEDIA:The San Juan 21 blends a combination of performance and ease of sailing.[1] They are very easy to set up and can be put in the water in as little as 25 minutes. With the swing keel, they ride low on the trailer and can be launched and retrieved from any ramp. A handful of fixed-keel variants were produced, including a small number of shoal keel models. It is believed that fewer than 300 fixed-keel boats were produced, and even fewer of the shoal-keel boats (believed to be less than 20). Clark experimented with the fixed-keel design predominantly in the production plant located near Seattle, Washington.They handle much like big dinghies, yet with the 400-lb. keel, they are self-righting. This is not of much concern, as capsizing a San Juan 21 is not easy. Initially tender, the San Juan 21 heels to 15 degrees rather easily but firms up there, and once past 40 degrees, the helmsman has to make a rather big mistake to get it to go more. Once past 50 degrees or so, the sturdy little boat will round up and head into the wind.The San Juan 21 is a pleasure to sail for both novices and experienced racers. Due to its light weight (1400 lbs Class Weight), it accelerates briskly in puffs and will literally sail rings around most bigger boats in light to moderate winds. There are several one-design class fleets located at various lakes across the country with active racing schedules all summer. While designed more with performance in mind, the boat is comfortable for weekend cruising for two adults with two small children. It has space for a camping toilet and ample storage for other essentials.They are also easy to single-hand, with the fractional rig's small jib and large main.The sail inventory consists of a large mainsail, a small 110% working jib, a 135% genoa, and a spinnaker. Being a one-design class, rules limit the sails to be made from Dacron and the spinnaker from nylon. This keeps costs down.

1978 Sailboat Clark Boat Comany San Juan 21 Feet Trailer Included 4 HP Motor

Decatur, Georgia

Make Clark Boat Comany

Model San Juan

The boat includes trailer. Had it for the last 7 years. I sailed it mostly at Lake Lanier, but also took it sailing in Florida. Kept it out of the water during winter, and I wasn’t sailing it every year. Due to new job which I accept ~2 years ago, I no longer have time to sail, and therefore decided to sell the boat.Easy to maintain. Easy to sail. Rates 252 PHRF. Includes 4hp outboard motor. Includes electronics such as VHF radio, inside/outside lights, inside fan, depth & speed system powered by gel cell battery - however, they were not used for the last few years. Excellent trailer, Galv wheels and Spare. Main tires are high load rated. This trailer is set for cross country travel.Make: San Juan Model Year: 1978 Length Overall (LOA): 20’6’’ Length of Waterline (LOW): 17’ Number of berths: 4 Beam: 7’ Draft: 4’ Draft with swing keep up: 12’’ Displacement: 1,250 lbs Ballast: 400 lbs Sail Area: 190 main & 100% Jib Number of Hatches: 1 Hull construction: fiberglass Keel type: swing Steering: tiller Winches: 2 No 6 Lewmar Categorees: keelboats Includes: - 2 main sails - 1 spinnaker - 3 jib/genoa/storm-jib - outboard motor - trailer with working lights; and extra spare tire - about 50 of jibsheet journal publications (dedicated to San Juan boats) from late 1990 to 1997. - trailer’s certificate of title in state of North Carolina - fire extinguisher

1975 Catalina 22 Pop Top Sailboat and Trailer - Project

Martinsville, Indiana

Make Catalina

Length 22.0

1975 Catalina 22 Pop Top Project Sailboat and Trailer The Catalina 22 is a popular sailboat produced by Catalina Yachts. Its hull measures 21 foot 6 inches (6.55 m), which is rounded up to 22 feet (6.7 m) for use in the model's name. First produced in 1968, it is one of the longest continuously produced sailboats in the world...Over 15000! Parts, videos and know-how are abound on the net 2005 last time previous owner had boat in water. I have never had boat in the water or was able to work on her. 2005 was the last time I was inside the cabin before preparing this listing for ebay. She has been closed up for ten years and is dirty in and out. I sprayed Windex in a few areas inside and dirt just wiped off with no scrubbing. Water, at one time, intruded around the forward hatch. Has complete set of interior cushions in gold plaid pattern. Most are in surprising good condition. NO SMELLS. One has a 1.5x1.5 inch hole in fabric that isn't seen when in place. 1 or 2 have an area of cracking vinyl. In all the noted exceptions, I don't think they would be seen or stop you from sailing PREVIOUS OWNER'S DESCRIPTION: '75 Catalina 22 pop top w/trailer • fair condition - Project boat • Swing Keel • Pop top • Sail Inventory: 2 mains, Jib (Marked San Juan works w/Cat 22s) and 150 Furling I think all are usable • Scupper upgrade in transom • Ablative paint on hull and keel • Never in salt water • Needs good cleaning • I know of no problems with the swing keel • No known leaks around keel pin • Comes with 2 Rudders. Usable but not perfect • Port side blemish in the gel coat • One pop top support needs to be re-bedded • Front hatch needs the frame reinstalled and sealed • Soft spot forward of hatch • Crack in cabin threshold but does not affect anything much • Cracks and crazing in the deck gelcoat that need filling • One stanchion base needs to be re-bedded • Small dent/crack in mast near stays, like pinched on one side at the spreaders. When raising the mast, one of the stays was caught and pulled the spreader forward. See photo. A pontoon boat repair guy told me that a braze could patch for about $25 • Needs halyards but I would get all new running rigging • Replace Hatch Boards or just cut a Plywood Hatch • Standing rigging, I am no judge but it worked when last used and it has been out of the elements since. • The forestay also has a quick-release lever purchased from Catalina Direct, along with quick-release pins for quicker and easier mast- raising and lowering. Those parts are, of course, stainless steel. • Will also include a sliding galley out of a 1984 Cat 22. It slides under the cockpit starboard seating when not in use. It has a faucet, sink, water fresh water holding tank, a drawer and a place for a small portable propane stove. I was going to sell it separately on ebay. They normally go from 150-200. TRAILER • Trailer in good shape, but could use some paint• Has 10 ft extension• Has surge brake system used for two trips since it was installed• Has Buddy Bearings• New load range 'C' tires were put on in Spring of 2010. 63 Miles total mileage as boat was towed from one of our rental homes to our house in Martinsville. No cracks or aging seen.• Extra duty bunks BTW: Good used trailers for sailboats are hard to come by. Have clear titles for boat and trailer. I have described everything I know about her to the best of my ability but I am no sailor. Somethings may be better and others may be worse. She is a project boat and sold as is. This is for local Pickup in Martinsville, Indiana (Just south of Indianapolis) An immediate non-refundable PayPal deposit of $200 is required upon purchase. Balance due in CASH when picked up. No checks or money orders of any kind. Pickup within 7 business days of end of listing. This is not an auction. Will be happy to answer questions Thanks for looking and your interest

1975 Northwest Northwest 21

Tillamook, Oregon

1975 Northwest Northwest 21,Northwest 21 sailboat 2'draft keel up, 4' keel down. Great boat for cruising, lots of teak on the inside and just enough on the outside. One owner since 1977, many summers in the San Juan Islands. Sleeps 4 comfortably, enclosed head, wood stove, alcohol cooking stove, main, genoa, jib and spinnaker. This is the finest example around, well loved and used by our family for almost 30 years. Boat is setup for an outboard, but the outboard is not included in the sale. Price is $8500, or best offer. $8500, 5038428100

Fun Family Sail Boat on Lake Dillon

Frisco, Colorado

San Juan 21 sailboat for sale - price includes 2016 Frisco Marina Doc Fee of $1273. Boat comes with trailer, motor, 2 mains, Genoa, jib and spinnaker. Also includes accessories such as life jackets, whisker pole and much more. Set up for racing as well as casual sailing on beautiful Lake Dillon. Owners will be glad to help new boat owners learn how to sail as well. VERY EASY TO TRAVEL WITH AND LAUNCH AND LOAD. Has a retractable keel. Fun boat for the whole family. Call Candy 970-485-3000 [email protected]

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AQUARIUS 21 Detailed Review

https://images.harbormoor.com/originals/2c958ddb-236f-4227-87f3-e07d564ab655

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of AQUARIUS 21. Built by Coastal Recreation Inc. and designed by Peter Barrett, the boat was first built in 1969. It has a hull type of Keel/Cbrd. and LOA is 6.4. Its sail area/displacement ratio 17.04. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on undefined.

AQUARIUS 21 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about AQUARIUS 21 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, rig and sail specs, contributions, who designed the aquarius 21.

AQUARIUS 21 was designed by Peter Barrett.

Who builds AQUARIUS 21?

AQUARIUS 21 is built by Coastal Recreation Inc..

When was AQUARIUS 21 first built?

AQUARIUS 21 was first built in 1969.

How long is AQUARIUS 21?

AQUARIUS 21 is 5.56 m in length.

What is mast height on AQUARIUS 21?

AQUARIUS 21 has a mast height of 5.94 m.

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Enjoy the same layout as the 21 OBX with the possibility of sterndrive power. When you choose Regal, you get the freedom to match your style with your preferred power.

Layout And Seating

Social seating.

Connect and engage with Social Seating, providing versatile seating arrangements that encourage conversation and shared experiences.

Spacious Bow Seating

Complete with two luxurious loungers, the bow of the Regal 21 OBX offers a generous space to take in scenic views.

Relax in style on the Sunpad, a spacious and comfortable area for sunbathing and enjoying the sun-drenched moments on your boat.

Handcrafted Upholstery

Unparalleled craftsmanship and unforgettable style. Elevate your boating experience with Regal's exquisite diamond-stitched upholstery, stainless accents, and expanded seating. Indulge in luxurious comfort and make lasting memories in utmost style.

Differentiating Advantage

Wraparound swim platform with ladder.

The 21 OBX features a spacious and low-to-the-water swim platform that gets you close to the water's edge, and a ladder is tucked under a fiberglass cover so it doesn't sacrifice your swim platform space.

ONE-PIECE CURVED WINDSHIELD

The 21 OBX features incredible visibility thanks to large single-piece curved windshields.

Standard Fusion Audio with Bluetooth

Enjoy premium sound with Bluetooth connectivity throughout the cockpit of your 2000 ES.

Storage with Gas Rams

Stay organized and ready for adventure with hands-free, ample storage solutions. From the lazarette to the sunpad storage, dash storage, and cockpit cooler, the Regal 21 OBX keeps your gear in check and your lifestyle well-equipped. Embrace clutter-free excursions and make every moment on the water count.

Hull Bottom

Build your custom regal boat.

21 OBX SPECIFICATIONS

Standard Features

Cockpit features.

Bow Anchor Locker

A dedicated bow anchor locker will keep you from dragging a wet anchor through the boat.

Courtesy Blue LED Lights

Standard blue LED cockpit lights not only provide ambient light to ensure you and your guests can safely maneuver around the boat but also make a statement at the dock.

Fiberglass Cockpit Liner

While lighter and stronger, this liner ensures that all water will flow to the appropriate drain and not be absorbed.

Fiberglass Hatches

Many manufacturers use starboard instead of fiberglass. However, on a Regal, the Resin Transfer Molded fiberglass hatches are equally finished and perfectly color-matched.

Fusion Marine Sound - 6 Cockpit Speakers

The best sound begins with the best equipment. This system comes with six 200-watt cockpit speakers with an IP65 waterproof rating.

Fusion Stereo Bluetooth

Get the best sound out of the best equipment wirelessly.

Lazarette Storage

With this massive storage space, there's no need to be selective when packing for your perfect day on the water!

Lockable Glove Box

The lockable glove block is a perfect spot to store your valuables while at the dock.

Oversized Bow Seating

Enjoy more room to stretch out and soak up the sun.

Premium Upholstery

Enjoy premium hand-stitched Pebble Beach or Titanium upholstery throughout your 21 OBX.

RTM Hatches

Resin Transfer Molded fiberglass hatches are equally finished on both sides and provide for superior strength.

Removable Cockpit Cooler

A removable 25 quart Igloo cooler can be found in the cockpit to handle even the thirstiest crews.

Removable Transom Cooler

Standard with the 21 OBX comes a removable 25 quart Igloo transom cooler to keep refreshments cool all day.

A multi-position backrest gives you the freedom to face forward or lounge aft.

Stainless Drink Holders

Regal's stainless drink holders will last longer than the competitors' plastic ones.

StoreMore Bow Lockers

Lift the bow seating backrests, and the StoreMore bow lockers ensure that you will have plenty of space to store all of your belongings.

Whether rafted up, beached or anchored, the full size sunpad is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Transom Walk-Thru

The transom walk-thru makes boarding safe and keeps the upholstery clean.

Trash Receptacle

A trash receptacle comes standard on every Regal.

Versatile Cockpit Layout

The 21 OBX's versatile cockpit layout features Regal's multi-postion Social Seat, a transom walk-thru, spacious sunpad, and enough storage space for all of your guests.

Helm Features

12 Volt Accessory Plug

A 12-volt accessory plug is ready at the helm when you need it.

5-Position Tilt Steering Wheel

The standard tilting steering wheel adjusts to the preference of every captain.

Digital Depth Sounder

The digital depth sounder with shallow water alarm will help you keep your boat in a safe depth.

A helm seat wouldn't be complete without wrap around molding, a flip up bolster, stainless steel accents, & lumbar support.

In-Dash Storage

Keep your valuables locked away in the dash storage compartment.

Water Resistant Switches

No need to fear hosing your boat down.

Hull & Deck Features

Composite Stringers

Featuring all composite stringers to make the boat stronger and lighter.

Electric Horn with Stainless Cover

The horn with stainless cover is a perfect example of how Regal combines form with function.

Fast Vent Fuel Fitting

Regal uses stainless whereas others use plastic.

FasTrac Hull Design

FasTrac Hull gives more control on the water with up to 26% faster speeds and 30% better fuel efficiency.

In-Mold Gelcoat Boot Stripe

This superior gel finish will last longer than taped-on vinyl graphics.

Limited Lifetime Hull Warranty

Regal offers a Limited Lifetime Hull Warranty.

MarineTred Non-Skid

Diamond MarineTred is incorporated into the mold for a superior finish. It's less abrasive and easier to clean.

Navigation Lights

When it comes to boating at night, Regal has you covered with standard navigation lights.

6" Stainless Cleats

Regal Boats feature stainless cleats throughout the boat.

Stainless 3-Rung Transom Ladder

The telescoping ladder is hidden under a fiberglass ladder cover.

Stainless Deck Hardware

Regals feature upgraded 316-grade stainless hardware.

Stainless Rub Rail

Regal's stainless rub rail not only looks good but also offers added protection.

Stainless Steel Bow Scuff Plate with Lifting Eye

The stainless bow scuff plate protects the gelcoat from trailer chocks and provides for a lifting eye.

Stainless Transom Ladder with Fiberglass Cover

The 3-rung swim platform ladder is recessed beneath a fiberglass hatch, keeping it safely tucked away when not in use.

Transom Brake and Turn Lights

Regals feature transom brake lights in case your trailer lights fail.

Vinyl Ester Barrier Coating

The additional layer of resin coating provides superior protection against hull blistering.

A wider beam of 8' 6", means more space while you're out on the water.

Wraparound Swim Platform

The low-to-the-water swim platform wraps around the outboards.

Windshield & Canvas Features

Aluminum windshield header.

The aluminum windshield header is as sleek as it is strong.

The Bimini top features Sunbrella canvas and stainless bows for a solid mount without a tower.

Black Aluminum Windshield Header

Standard only with the dynamic ESX package, a strong and sporty black windshield header adds to the look of your boat.

Stainless Steel Windshield Stanchions

Custom one-piece, stainless windshield stanchions provide more strength and durability than two-piece pop-riveted or ball and socket stanchions.

Sunshade for Tower

The Sunshade for Tower features Sunbrella canvas and stainless bows for a solid mount to your tower.

Tinted, Tempered and Curved Windshield

When you buy a Regal, you know you are buying an un-compromised product. Regals feature a stylish one-piece windshield.

Technical & Systems Features

Automatic bilge pump.

The automatic bilge pump takes action before you even realize what is wrong.

Battery Switch

The standard battery switch will add longevity to the life of your battery.

NMMA, ABYC, USCG & CE Certified

Regal makes sure that it meets the highest standards of safety in the industry.

Power Assisted Steering

There is nothing like fingertip control created by the power steering.

Weather Resistant Deutsch Connectors

On a Regal, you'll find Deutsch connectors for superior protection and durability.

Performance Reports

21 OBX Performance Report - Yamaha 200 V-Max PDF

21 obx performance report - yamaha 200 y200xb, 2000 es-21 obx owner's manual.

IMAGES

Sirius 21-foot sailboat
Precision 21 Sailboat
Magnificent Classic 21 Feet Sailboat For Sale
Rigging, Launching & Sailing a 21 foot trailer Yacht single handed
2004 Precision 21 Sailboat for sale. View price, photos and Buy 2004
JAGUAR 21 FOOT SAILING BOAT”ONLY VIEWING FROM 29TH MAY THIS WEEKEND

VIDEO

166 NM from IJmuiden to Dover
Boats2812
Sail Boats
sailing boat
This is my sailing boat, bought hull and will finish it myself
New sailboat! I have a lot of short videos to post to update to current situation

COMMENTS

21 Foot Sailboat Boats for sale
Model 22. Category Daysailer Sailboats. Length 22.0. Posted Over 1 Month. 1975 Catalina 22 Pop Top Project Sailboat and Trailer The Catalina 22 is a popular sailboat produced by Catalina Yachts. Its hull measures 21 foot 6 inches (6.55 m), which is rounded up to 22 feet (6.7 m) for use in the model's name.
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The first fiberglass auxiliary sailboats were built in the late 1950s; for the record, the first was the 40-foot Philip Rhodes-designed Bounty II (1956),... Hunter 27 Sailboats 21-30ft March 19, 2016
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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. ... Norseboat 21.5. Norseboat 21.5
CLIPPER MARINE 21
21.33 ft / 6.50 m: E: ... Like the LWL, it will vary with the weights of fuel, water, stores and equipment. A boat's actual draft is usually somewhat more than the original designed or advertised draft. For boats with adjustable keels (centerboards, daggerboards, lifting and swing keels), Draft (max) is with the board down. ...
Design Review: Beneteau First 21.0
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. Keel fully retracted, a First 21.0 on its trailer and ready to roll.
Venture 21 Used-boat Review
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 ...
Review: Sea Pearl 21
• Beside sailing well, the Sea Pearl is easily rowed for a 21 foot sailboat, and easily motored with an electric or small gasoline outboard (the Honda 4-stroke 2 hp is a favorite). • The extreme shoal draft (6 inches) of the Sea Pearl opens many shallow areas for gunkholing or riding out a thunderstorm at anchor, and emergency beaching.
5 best small sailboats for sailing around the world
Vancouver 28. Photo credit: YachtFathom.co.uk. A sensible small boat with a "go-anywhere" attitude, this pocket cruiser was designed with ocean sailors in mind. One of the best cruising sailboats under 40 feet, the Vancouver 28 is great sailing in a small package. Hull Type:Full keel with transom hung rudder.
Best Bluewater Sailboats Under 24 Feet
The best bluewater sailboats under 24 feet are the Pacific Seacraft Dana 24, Norseboat 21.5, Catalina 22 Sport, Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20, and West Wight Potter 19. These sailboats have ample space for a couple and even a moderately-sized family along with all the amenities you may need. A roomy cabin, galley, and settees are necessary to go ...
13 Popular Trailerable Sailboats with Lifting Keels
Com-Pac specializes in small, compact trailerable sailboats. The Eclipse is a solid example of their sloop-rigged boats. With a 21 foot overall length, 7'4" beam, and a 2,200 lbs displacement, it will tow easily with a modest vehicle. Down below, you'll find a double v-berth and space for cooking and food preparation.
21 foot Sailboats for Sale
Find 21 foot Sailboats for Sale on Oodle Classifieds. Join millions of people using Oodle to find unique used boats for sale, fishing boat listings, jetski classifieds, motor boats, power boats, and sailboats. ... 637-XXXX(866) 637-XXXX 1234of4 View full size images 1983 Mainsailer 21' Sailboat Located in Hammondsport, NY - Has Trailer Stock ...
Victory 21
The Victory is a 21 foot long, one design, all fiberglass keelboat with graceful lines. It was designed by naval architect Ted Carpenter in the Fall of 1959. In 1970, starting with Hull #150, production rights were transferred to Frank Butler of Catalina Yachts. Currently, the Victory is most actively raced in California with competitors mainly ...
NORTHWEST 21
21.00 ft / 6.40 m: LWL: ... Like the LWL, it will vary with the weights of fuel, water, stores and equipment. A boat's actual draft is usually somewhat more than the original designed or advertised draft. For boats with adjustable keels (centerboards, daggerboards, lifting and swing keels), Draft (max) is with the board down. ...
San Juan 21 Sailboat Boats for sale
Its hull measures 21 foot 6 inches (6.55 m), which is rounded up to 22 feet (6.7 m) for use in the model's name. First produced in 1968, it is one of the longest continuously produced sailboats in the world...Over 15000! ... San Juan 21 sailboat for sale - price includes 2016 Frisco Marina Doc Fee of $1273. Boat comes with trailer, motor, 2 ...
AQUARIUS 21: Reviews, Specifications, Built, Engine
Built by Coastal Recreation Inc. and designed by Peter Barrett, the boat was first built in 1969. It has a hull type of Keel/Cbrd. and LOA is 6.4. Its sail area/displacement ratio 17.04. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on undefined. AQUARIUS 21 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation ...
21 OBX
Storage with Gas Rams. Stay organized and ready for adventure with hands-free, ample storage solutions. From the lazarette to the sunpad storage, dash storage, and cockpit cooler, the Regal 21 OBX keeps your gear in check and your lifestyle well-equipped. Embrace clutter-free excursions and make every moment on the water count. 1 of 17. VIEW ALL.
Element E21
Explore this 21-foot deck boat featuring a side console, deck, and open bow layout making very it family-friendly. This fiberglass boat is great for watersports or cruising. HOME. BOATS CRUISING BOATS. Deck Boats. Deck boats provide maximum space to enjoy while cruising and also offer functionality for recreational water sports. M15. 15' 2" ...
MACGREGOR 21
21.00 ft / 6.40 m: LWL: ... Like the LWL, it will vary with the weights of fuel, water, stores and equipment. A boat's actual draft is usually somewhat more than the original designed or advertised draft. For boats with adjustable keels (centerboards, daggerboards, lifting and swing keels), Draft (max) is with the board down. ...
VENTURE 21
21.83 ft / 6.65 m: E: ... Like the LWL, it will vary with the weights of fuel, water, stores and equipment. A boat's actual draft is usually somewhat more than the original designed or advertised draft. For boats with adjustable keels (centerboards, daggerboards, lifting and swing keels), Draft (max) is with the board down. ...
AQUARIUS 21
21.00 ft / 6.40 m: LWL: ... Like the LWL, it will vary with the weights of fuel, water, stores and equipment. A boat's actual draft is usually somewhat more than the original designed or advertised draft. For boats with adjustable keels (centerboards, daggerboards, lifting and swing keels), Draft (max) is with the board down. ...
GULF COAST 21
GULF COAST 21. Save to Favorites . Beta Marine. BOTH. US IMPERIAL. METRIC. Sailboat Specifications Definitions Hull Type: Swing Keel: Rigging Type: Masthead Sloop: LOA: 20.50 ft / 6.25 m: LWL: ... Camden, Maine, 1997), states that a boat with a BN of less than 1.3 will be slow in light winds. A boat with a BN of 1.6 or greater is a boat that ...
SAN JUAN 21
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.
VICTORY 21
The VICTORY 21 was first manufactured by Henry R. McCune (later the builder of the YORKTOWN sailboats) as a one-design class boat. Some 126 boats were built before the operation was sold to Wesco Marine in 1964. Another model called the AURORA 21 had the same hull but with a larger cabin. Changes to the original design made by Wesco included ...

20 Best Small Sailboats for the Weekender

Marblehead 22 Daysailer

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