Boats

FastCat 305 Vector-K

by Sail Staff, Posted February 25, 2005

Who says cruising catamarans must be over 40 feet long to have accommodations? The FastCat 305 Vector-K is one of several new cruising catamarans that are now being imported by African Cats US. It's only 30 feet long, but its 18-foot beam frees up sufficient interior space to house three cabins and a comfortable six-seater saloon with wrap-around exterior views. Freeboard is

X-35

by Sail Staff, Posted May 3, 2005

Danish builder X-Yachts is set to debut its new X-35 One Design later this year, but don’t be fooled by the "One Design" label. It's more than just a 35-foot one-design racer. Like lots of new launches these days, it's designed to be sporty, easy to sail, and comfortable belowdecks.Strict one-design rules have been established to foster fleet development for those who want to race, but the

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.

Sunreef 60

by Sail Staff, Posted January 18, 2006

After completing a 74-foot catamaran intended principally for luxury charters, designers Van Peteghem and Prevost were asked by Sunreef to design a smaller catamaran that would appeal to private owners. With four units—two in aluminum and two in composite laminates— already under construction at the builder’s yard in Gdansk, Poland, there is little doubt that this concept has struck a responsive

Hunter 49

by Bill Springer, Posted September 5, 2006

A 49-foot cruiser with lots of bells and whistlesBy Bill SpringerHead designer Glenn Henderson has redesigned the entire Hunter line since he arrived in 1998, and now, starting with the new Hunter 49, he’s in the process of refining his redesigns. I jumped aboard hull #1 with Hunter’s chief tester, Steve Pettingill, on a 180-mile passage from St. Augustine,

Southerly 46RS

by Sail Staff, Posted September 29, 2006

Northshore Yachts has led the way in developing swing-keel designs that sail well in all conditions. Their newest and largest model is this new 46-footer designed by Jason Ker in conjunction with the Northshore design team. The yacht’s key feature is a cast-iron grounding plate that ties into a web of frames and longitudinal stringers to create a strong and light structure that supports the keel.

Dixon 130

by Sail Staff, Posted October 5, 2006

This Bill Dixon–designed 130-foot ketch was launched after a three-year build at the Royal Huisman yard. Conceived as a contemporary cruiser for the owner and his family and friends, its interior, featuring French walnut, was created by Dick Young Design. During sailing trials Antares was able to reach 14 knots in moderate conditions.

King 40

by Bill Springer, Posted April 15, 2008

The King 40 is designed to be a true dual-purpose cruiser/racer, effective at racing offshore and around the cans as well as comfortable enough for family cruising. The deck plan was developed to allow plenty of room for a racing crew, but there are also comfortable places to sit in cruising mode. The lead bulb/narrow chord keel and high-aspect rudder should combine to provide

Elan 410

by Sail Staff, Posted August 8, 2008

Since even cruising sailors see the benefit of a little extra speed, the people at Elan have taken a logical step with their restyled Performance series. The Elan 410 is touted to be quick (especially in light wind) and comfortable. To do that, a tall rig allows for maximum sail area when the wind is light, but is easily reefed when the wind gets into the high 20s. As with

Island Packet 460

by Sail Staff, Posted December 11, 2008

You’ve got to tip your cap to the folks at Island Packet. They know their market. If you’re looking for a lightweight, fin-keel cruising boat with a sporty feel and a big cockpit, there are many to choose from. But if you’re looking for a new solid, moderate-displacement, full-keel cruising boat that will look after you, chances are an Island Packet will be one of the few boats on your very short