Boat Reviews

Stellar 53

by Sail Staff, Posted July 20, 2004

Sparkman & Stephens has a reputation that other design firms would kill for. The list of classic S&S boats reads like a who's who of notable designs of the twentieth century. With the new Stellar 53, S&S carries the tradition into the twenty-first century. Built in New Zealand, the hull features a fine entry, moderate overhangs, and a raised-saloon layout that should serve for speedy and

Morris M29

by Peter Nielsen, Posted May 11, 2009

This pretty little boat was conceived in response to requests from owners of bigger Morrises for a smaller, simpler daysailer. The earlier Morris daysailers—the M36, M42, and M52—were father/son collaborations between Tom and Cuyler Morris, but Tom’s lengthy illness meant the M29 bears Cuyler’s stamp. Hull #1 was completed and launched in the frigid depths of the Maine winter,

Vitters 140

by Sail Staff, Posted June 2, 2005

Last spring Vitters Shipyard launched this 140-foot aluminum sloop designed by Ed Dubois. Built to MCA standards, the yacht is a refinement of other DuBois designs in this size range. The contemporary birch interior by Dick Young Designs is exceptionally well finished. Bulkheads are brushed stainless steel with oiled- teak surrounds, and all the bathrooms have floating teak

MacGregor 26M

by Sail Staff, Posted September 23, 2004

The MacGregor 26M is the latest version of Roger MacGregor's successful MacGregor 26X. This remarkable 26-footer can reportedly log speeds of over 21 knots under power, float in 12 inches of water, and sleep six. It has a galley and an enclosed head. Stability under sail comes from 300 pounds of permanent ballast, 1,150 pounds of easily removable water ballast in the hull, and a narrow

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32

by Bill Springer, Posted June 3, 2004

Remember the days when anchorages were filled with cruising boats in the 20-to-30-foot range and 40-footers were considered big? The Philippe Briand–designed Sun Odyssey 32 may be considered entry-level compared to the multitude of new 40-foot cruising boats—it’s the smallest cruising boat Jeanneau sells here in the States—but I found during a test sail on

Precision_23

by Sail Staff, Posted September 23, 2004

Not all pocket cruisers are water-ballasted. The Jim Taylor-designed Precision 23 achieves stability with fixed ballast and a shallow keel/centerboard configuration. With the board up the minimum draft is just under 2 feet; draft increases to 5 feet, 4 inches with the board down. The Precision also bucks pocket-cruiser convention in that it has a conventional cabin-top and legitimate side decks.

Harmony 42

by Sail Staff, Posted March 29, 2005

In spite of all the advances in boat-building techniques over the years, hull and deck layup on boats over 25 feet has always been a labor-intensive, hands-on process. SCRIMP, resin infusion, and vacuum bagging have gone a long way toward reducing harmful styrene emissions and providing superior resin saturation, but these layup techniques still depend heavily on skilled workers. When Olivier

Shannon Shoalsailer 32

by Sail Staff, Posted September 23, 2004

All variable-draft boats depend on a fully deployed keel for windward performance. Walt Schulz of Shannon Yachts set himself the challenge of designing a 32-foot cruising boat that would sail to windward without drawing more than 30 inches. The result is the Shannon Shoalsailer, and Schulz's beamy design with dual shallow-draft bilge boards reportedly does just that. Schulz says the hull shape is

Cabo Rico 42PH

by Sail Staff, Posted September 22, 2004

The Chuck Paine-designed Cabo Rico 42 has an excellent reputation as a bluewater cruising boat. Its full underwater profile, sturdy good looks, and quality craftsmanship have helped instill confidence in offshore sailors for years, but only if they were willing to brave the elements in the aft cockpit. With the introduction of the Cabo Rico 42PH, offshore sailors can now order a 42 with a

Moorings 4000

by Sail Staff, Posted July 20, 2004

The Moorings's collaboration with American multihull designers Morelli & Melvin and the South African builder Robertson & Caine has resulted in the Moorings 4000 40-foot catamaran. As you would expect from The Moorings, it's an ultra-spacious cruising cat that is available for charter placement as well as via private sales. The large hardtop-protected cockpit features an outside dining area and