weekender sailboat review

Boat Profile

A Stevenson project

From Issue   Small Boats Annual 2021 March 2020

T he Weekender is a plywood gaff-sloop pocket yacht designed by Peter Stevenson and first presented to the public in a two-page article in the March 1981 issue of Popular Science magazine. In the decades that have followed, it has been a very popular design. I was drawn to its classic look and simple construction. Eager to learn how to sail—and to find out if my wife would enjoy sailing too—I was excited about the journey of the build and encouraged by the many helpful examples of other builders who are linked to the Stevenson website.

The Weekender draws 3′ with the rudder deployed; with its blade retracted, the hull draws 1′.

I bought the set of plans and the two companion DVDs. The combination of the 44 printed pages and three-and-a-half hours of video were helpful, entertaining, and, above all, encouraging. The plans are well illustrated with some photos and many nice drawings. There are no full-sized patterns, so each part is drawn right onto the materials. Step-by-step instructions keep the process going in the correct order. As a shipbuilder, I found the instructions clear and straightforward. My granddaughter, who was three years old when we started and nearly seven when we finished, was as eager to build the boat as I was, and we watched the video instructions several times together. Even at her young age, she could recognize the steps we had completed and the ones we had yet to accomplish, a good indication of how easy the plans were to follow. For me, the video clarified the few places in the plans that I was having difficulty understanding. Mike Stevenson, Peter’s son, who took over the business, has assured me that the most recent revision has eliminated some of those sticking points.

The Weekender has a very unusual construction: it is built right-side up with the stem and keel serving as the strongback. The deep keel and its integral stem are made of three laminates of 4/4 pine, fir, or mahogany. The keel, 10″ at its deepest, is rigid enough to support the build. I built a cradle to hold it upright throughout the build. Plywood is joined with butt plates to get the necessary length and width for the bottom panel; the bottom is attached to keel with screws and epoxy. The deck is added and secured at the stem and then temporarily propped up until the transom and three bulkheads are installed. The side panels go on next and they’ll extend above the deck to become part of a toerail. The construction then follows a more common sequence, with the assembly of the cockpit and the cabin. The hull, deck, cockpit, and cabin are sheathed with 6-oz fiberglass and epoxy.

The plans indicate a solid mast, and I built mine as per the instructions; however, a lighter hollow version would be much easier to raise. Details to build the wheel, trailboards, towing bitt, and bowsprit are included. There is also an option included to add a taffrail.

The forward hatch provides access to the storage space in the bow. The block to the right, held upright by a spring, is for the single sheet that controls the jib boom.

M y PT Cruiser has enough power to pull our Weekender. The boat has a somewhat deep keel for a flat-bottomed boat, so bunks are required under chines to support the hull. At the ramp, it’s easiest to float the boat off the trailer; at shallow ramps it can be a bit of a struggle sliding it off, in part because the two batteries I use for the trolling-motor auxiliary power add significantly to the Weekender’s weight. However, the boat can be winched up onto a trailer that’s not fully submerged. It takes as little as 30 minutes after arrival at the ramp to get the rigging in place and have it in the water; the most time-consuming part of launching and loading the boat is almost always the attention it attracts from people watching. When people gather around, the time at the ramp stretches out to a bit more than an hour.

The mast tabernacle is created with two strap hinges—one aft to act as the pivot, and one forward with a loose pin to lock the mast upright—and it works well. The two pairs of shrouds have turnbuckles that are adjusted each time the mast is raised; they remain connected, and only the forestay is removed for lowering the mast.

The 5’ bowsprit is fixed and anchors the forestay at its tip and the jib’s 60″ clubfoot at its middle. The club foot pivots about halfway out on the sprit, and the jib clears the mast when tacking and requires only a single sheet. I have added a downhaul to the jib so that I can both raise and lower the jib going no farther forward than the companionway. I also led the main’s throat and peak halyards to cockpit so I didn’t have to go forward to the mast to drop the sails.

To help keep the mainsail from overwhelming the cockpit when it’s lowered, I added lazyjacks. The plans specify eyebolts and a bit of pipe and metal strapping to make the gooseneck; I instead made an aluminum gooseneck with an extension that allows me to pivot the boom fully vertical and scandalize the mainsail. When coming into harbor, it’s a quick way to douse the mainsail and clear the cockpit for docking. This has proven most helpful especially when sailing alone. I also fabricated an aluminum masthead fitting to help with the rigging and give me a base for an anchor light and a wind-sock vane.

The rudder is in a rudder box that is an integral part of the tiller arm that is connected by lines and pulleys to facilitate a wheel. The rudder must be pivoted and locked up for transport. The wheel keeps the cockpit free of a long tiller that would most certainly use up the limited space. I find it quite handy.

The Weekender carries a total of 120 sq ft of sail. The jib, with its boom and single sheet, is self tending, so tacking is uncomplicated.

U nder sail, the Weekender is like a sports car and very snappy in response on most points of sail. It can sail remarkably close to the wind for a gaff rig, and the self-tending jib makes tacking a snap. Its club foot is an excellent touch to the rigging, making singlehanding very simple. The Weekender can ghost along with hardly any discernible wind, although in light air it can be a bit hard to tack if the boat doesn’t have quite enough way on; the long keel requires some momentum to overcome its resistance to sweeping sideways when tacking. I have found that moving my weight to the downwind side forces the boat to heel, and it will gain speed and increase its ability to turn.

The Weekender is a pretty stable little boat, and ours is made a bit more so by the weight of the batteries for the trolling motor. It is stable when one is standing on the foredeck; however, it is a small boat, so if you step off-center it will move accordingly. But I have never felt that it was going to come out from under me.

The Weekender was initially designed with a centerboard, but the full keel provided good performance to windward and the board and trunk were eliminated from the design, freeing up cabin space.

The hull can take waves better than one might guess for being so close to the water. The flat bottom can slap a bit depending on the angle of approach to the waves, but that same flat bottom can also surf down waves quite well, getting some help from the broach-countering directional stability of the full-length keel. I have found the cockpit to be generally dry with only occasional spray from hitting a larger wave. I prefer fair-weather sailing with our boat. When running dead downwind, wing-on-wing, the boat performs well; it’s a comfortable point of sail for the crew, with the hull sitting pretty much bolt upright.

For auxiliary power, we have a 55-lb-thrust electric trolling motor. While the plans call for a mount made of a 2″ x 10″ chunk of wood through-bolted to the transom, I designed and welded an aluminum bracket. The motor pushes the boat at just the right speed for harbor maneuvers, and provides an occasional boost to make a tack in light air. I have the two batteries on separate switches, but they can be combined for back-up power. I have run out of power only when I forgot to charge one of the batteries.

The cockpit benches include dry storage compartment aft and extensions of the cabin space forward.

The cockpit is not large, but it has enough room for the me and my wife to be comfortable, even when we’re sailing with our granddaughter and our small dog. The cockpit footwell is not self-draining and we have been caught several times in squalls that filled half of the cockpit, so I added a bilge pump under the hinged step at the forward end of the cockpit. The cockpit seats have hatches, and aft sections serve as storage. The curved coaming, shaped from a stack of 4/4 stock, makes a comfortable backrest and keeps water out when the toerail is in the water under sail. I cold-molded my coaming out of 1/8″ x 2″ sapele.

The wheel is more than an affectation. It doesn’t crowd the cockpit as a tiller would.

I added running lights to our Weekender as well as a small LED to illuminate the cockpit for the times when we are out later than expected or after dark at anchor. My wife and I have slept aboard comfortably on several occasions. We rig a boom tent for privacy and rain protection so we can keep the companionway open through a warm night; to clear the berths, we move most of the gear that usually resides in the cabin into the cockpit. The bottom serves as the berth and is flat, save for one transverse butt block, but with foam mattresses it’s not noticeable. The space works best sleeping with heads forward and our feet aft to take advantage of the space under the cockpit benches. Shelves with rails on their sides are a nice feature and are in fact part of the rigid framing.

The bulkhead at the forward end of the cabin allows access to the storage compartment in the bow. Rails on the shelves port and starboard keep gear in place while under sail.

T he designed cabin has sitting headroom if you are of average height—I made our cabin a couple of inches higher than the design, for even more sitting headroom. There is no cabin footwell, so sitting is with legs outstretched on the bottom. There is access through the forward bulkhead to storage space under the foredeck, but it is easiest to use the foredeck hatch for larger items. The storage bin/seat at the companionway has proven to be a great addition for holding safety equipment, and it has also been a good speaker box for our CD player.

The aft end of the cabin provides a place to stow a portable toilet when it’s not in use. At right, one of the spaces under the cockpit benches is visible.

Ken Hauenstein lives in Burlington, Washington, just a few miles from Puget Sound, and is a general contractor who does all manner of work including interior boat remodels. He dreamed of working with boats from an early age and had his first real exposure working in a boat factory building interiors for cabin cruisers. He later worked in various shipyards and ran his own cabinet shop. His last shipyard job ended in 2017 as he made plans to retire. He started HUMMINGBIRD while working there. Since then he has built two dinghies, one wood and one aluminum. He is currently building a large aluminum ketch. He hasn’t set a launch date, and won’t because he finds the work therapeutic and likes to give the details all the attention they deserve.

Weekender Particulars

LOA/19′ 6″ LOD/16′ Beam/6′ Draft/3′ (1′’ with the rudder up) Hull weight/550 lbs Sail area/120 sq ft Crew capacity/Daysailing, up to four; Overnight, two cozily, one easily Auxiliary Power/up to 5 hp outboard or 45-lb thrust electric

Plans ($45) and DVDs ($57) for the Weekender are available from Stevenson Projects .

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Comments (45)

Is there really enough headroom to use the porta-potti in the cabin?

The headroom in the cabin is limited to sitting, so the porta-potti is just stored there. I took the photographs for the review and I had only enough headroom for sitting on the floor cushions.

The cushions in the cabin have a removable section to move the porta-potti into the companionway should the need be dire. We have never used it since we put it in there however.

First, I would congratulate you for the amazing job you have done. I appreciate it as I’m currently building a Weekender for some time. The hull is quite finished now and the next step is the rig. I would be very interested in getting some pictures of the gooseneck and masthead that are looking very practical and better looking than the instructions suggested. J-Guy

I love my Weekender! It is indeed fun, stable and dry. Hoping this season to get a better video than this one from my iPhone.

J-Guy, Here are photos of the gooseneck and masthead fittings.

Who fabricated that for you?

Mark, I fabricated those myself. I was project manager in a shipyard while building HUMMINGBIRD and most of the parts I needed for them came out of the scrap bin. I fit and weld aluminum and steel.

When trailing: a) Does one unship the bowsprit so as not to need a trailer with a long front tongue? b) Do the spars stow within the length of the deck or overhang? Thanks in advance

I enjoyed the Weekender article, especially because I have built one of these boats. I hope this photo of my boat on the trailer will help answer Simon’s question. Notice I bolted on a short 2 x 10 forward on the trailer to carry the outboard motor, which is easily carried to the transom prior to launch. This way, potholes on the highway don’t bother me so much. The boat sets up quickly for sailing.The trailer is a bit large for the boat. The wider and lower bass-boat-size trailer gives a better towing experience and it all still fits in my garage.

I have built and sailed a Weekender. I sailed it for four years. I have 30 years of sailing experience, and can tell you this design has some very serious flaws, mostly around safety, that I realized as I sailed it. First, it’s not self righting. At all. If you put it over, you are done. It will not pop back up, and becomes almost impossible to right again without help. And even if you get it back up, it cannot be bailed easily. And this assumes having as much flotation installed as you can! Without flotation, it might very well go under. It has no low ballast, which is a problem in many ways. Also, it has a very difficult time coming about. Very, very difficult time. It has to do with the sail plan, the hull shape, and the full length keel. I modified the keel quite a bit after the first year, adding to the center, and reducing it from the front 1/2, and that helped, but it still had a hard time coming about. This boat should only be sailed in very protected waters in 12 knots or less wind. it is easy to build, easy to trailer, and easy to beach, and looks very salty, but it has very poor sailing characteristics. Go to WoodenBoat’s forums and search for the Weekender. I wished I had before I built it!

I’ve made five Weekenders, two Vacationers, and two Skipjacks, and all have very similar hull forms. We have sailed them in a broad range of conditions and locations. They tack fine, they point better than they probably should, and they just work. I’ve never capsized any of them, although I have felt them being overpowered at times and adjusted accordingly by easing off, reefing, or heading back in. There are all sorts of responses to strong wind, depending on the boat and the days.

I’m sorry that John built one of our Weekenders without really understanding what the boat is and what it is not. Like many pocket cruisers, the Weekender is not a ballasted, self-righting boat. Self-righting isn’t a standard that many sailing dinghy, pod-type boats, open sailing skiffs, dories, or other traditional boats meet.

I just fielded a query from a customer a few days ago about whether to add ballast or not to a Skipjack, our 14’ open-cockpit gaff sloop. He had wanted to add 300 lbs of ballast to the keel of a 240-lb boat. The boat’s structure is not designed for this load, and the addition of ballast that close to the hull bottom and not extended away from it on a keel just wouldn’t be that helpful and wouldn’t make the boat self-righting. If someone doesn’t know how to sail an open dinghy, it’s probably not for them.

I’m sorry John had trouble sailing his Weekender, but we think the design sails well, given the limitations of a low-aspect-ratio gaff rig and a modified dory-type hull form. Over the decades, we have had a far more positive letters, emails, and phone calls about these boats than negative. Even the review here reflects this. We are sensitive to the fact that there are people who don’t have a feel for sailing these types of boats, or perhaps haven’t the range or depth of experience to draw from, and might well be frustrated that tacking a Weekender is not like tacking like a Capri 14 or some similar easy-to-sail machine with a centerboard. We have a section in the plans to help with sailing and tacking, and a good amount of discussion in the video as well.

I am truly sorry to hear, and entirely sympathetic with the unhappiness of having spent a lot of time building a boat only to be disappointed by it, but I don’t think that necessarily indicates a failing of the boat design. The Weekender, like the Vacationer and Skipjack, does tack fine, and it is an unballasted boat that is not self-righting. That’s the nature of the beast, and I’m sorry if it didn’t meet the expectations of a different boat.

I don’t think it’s possible to come up with a perfect design which will please and be all things to everyone. We surely don’t want to even hint that our little Weekender is anything like that. It is what it is: a cute, easy-to-build little sailboat with a classic-boat feel.

Mike Stevenson Stevenson Projects

I’ve had one I built for 19 years. I have had a lot of fun with my little boat, and it’s still happily sailing every summer. I sail her pretty enthusiastically, and have not had any problems. My dinghy-sailing training from when I was a kid prepared me for sailing a small, unballasted boat, so I didn’t suffer from any of the misapprehensions some folk seem to when they expect this boat to behave like a large, ballasted, round-bottomed keelboat- even when they ought to know better considering they built it themselves. It’s a fun little dinghy and is just right for camping with the built-in shelter. It can be rowed with oars or propelled by a trolling motor. It’s great for poking around islands and beaches and campsites.

Hi, Could Keith Shergold help me with the placement of the oar lock location and what would be the best oar length for my Weekender sailboat? Where do you think the best spot for the midship cleat would be? I am also building the trailer for my Weekender, so if you know where the axle placement location is best (noted distance from the back of the cabin bulkhead at seat level). Note there is no other builder nearby to help get the spec. from, so I would appreciate any input. I am stuck at the plywood build finish stage, and need to know where to put the backing in so I can get doing the real scary stuff: fiberglassing. I do not have heat in my garage so I have to wait for a dry sunny day with no or light wind, for the right conditions. So one more question: How much epoxy did you need to ‘glass? This is important to know because I live at the Lake, West Cove, Alberta, Canada, and need to go over an hour to the nearest possible supplier. I do not know at this time who is still open.

I bought the plans 20 years ago and have been sailing fiberglass boats since. I bought the revised plans last month and have the means to follow through this time. MEYG will be sailing in 2021 or 2022 out of Fairport Harbor on Lake Erie. “Life is too short to sail an ugly boat.” ~Anonymous. I don’t plan to take her out in a gale, but I think she will be a great boat for a single handed-sailor.

As I have mentioned before, I’ll put in a plug for water ballast. I like the clear poly water “cubes”, with a handle, as they come in different sizes (1 gal. to 5 gal.) and can be shifted easily as needed. One main advantage is that, in case of a capsize, the ballast has neutral buoyancy, and won’t sink the boat. Of course, water ballast won’t provide the righting moment that lead or iron sash weights will, but this safety factor to me is a strong argument.

At the end of the day, just dump the water out. No need to wrestle heavy ballast around once you’re back on shore.

Let me clarify: I’m not saying you shouldn’t build it. But if you are looking for a boat that seats more than three (and three is tight), is a responsive sailor, and you know you might get caught out in winds over 15 mph from time to time, this is not the boat for you. I decided to build this boat because of the way it looked, and its ease of building, and the fact that you use off-the-shelf parts for most of it. I realized afterword that I wanted a better performing boat. I sold it and bought a Montgomery 15, which is a better fit for me. And I will restate, I have a lot of sailing experience, and have sailed many different sizes and types of boats. This was the first I built. It does have problems coming about from time to time. Not always, but in certain wind conditions. At first I thought it was me, then after sailing other boats and coming back, I realized this design has some tacking problems. Is it a deal breaker? No. I would fall off a bit and try again, and could usually get through the second time. Pros: Easy to build esp. for beginners Easy to launch and trailer with pulpit design Can be beached Looks very salty Cons: Not self-righting or self-bailing Not a performance sailor Keep in protected waters Sail in winds under 12 knots (15 mph) unless you are an experienced sailor and have experienced crew

Here’s the Woodenboat Forum link . Lots of discussion here, and other folks with more experience than me. Same conclusions. Many defenders and detractors. I’m just stating my experience, and wish no ill will. It is easy to build, it looks great, and if you are looking for a boat to get out on a Saturday afternoon in protected waters, this is a great choice. It’s sailing characteristics are okay to good.

Thanks, John!

I appreciate your honest assessments and comments. It’s nice to have balanced forums and genuine information for people to learn from.

Mike Stevenson Projects

John, We have had one occasion in which an odd wind shear hit us during a tack and we rolled far enough to scoop water with the cockpit coamings. My wife got pretty wet. I let go the main sheet and she righted immediately. I have found the two batteries in the fore-peak do add a bit to her righting ability.

Hi Ken, I saw your sailboat pictures. Your side deck and cabin top had round wooden spools. Being new to sailboat building for myself and having none in the area, I was wondering are they fixed turning posts, ratcheting posts, or winches? And what are their designed uses? Your boat looks really nice in the pictures. Just viewing them is enough to make me want to finish my Weekender. Thanks

Gerald, They are actually bronze winches I salvaged from a boat we cut up in the shipyard I used to work at. The side-deck winches I use rarely except to tie things off. The cabin top winch I use to raise the main. It adds a bit more purchase.

Sorry to hear John had such an unpleasant experience with his Weekender.

I built one over the course of 7 years, making only one change to the plans … two 10″ x 18″ lexan panels on either side of the keel just forward of the storage box in the cabin giving me a “glass bottom” sailboat ! Helps the fishing and scalloping a great deal as our area ( Old Homosassa, Fl. 65 miles North of Tampa on the Gulf Coast ) has very ” skinny water”. That is anywhere from 24″ to 48″ unless one is in the river channels or the Gulf. HEART SONG has proven to be a very good sailor even in 20+ knot wind and seas in the Gulf. As always, the performance of a boat is generally equal to the performance of the crew.

As for self righting and being hard to tack ….. first of all … DO NOT cleat off or sit on the mainsheet ! If you get the lee rail in the water let the main out ! As for tacking … you will need to build up some good headway, then put the helm hard over in one quick motion (don’t be timid here). If in light airs it helps to backwind the jib, easily done with a club-foot jib.

What really helps here is to have some multi-hull sailing experience as the Weekender sails more like a “Multi” than a “Mono.” As for not being self-righting and difficult to tack, well the same can be said for one of the most popular afternoon sailboats ever built with over a million sailing worldwide. A design that has introduced thousand to the wonderful world of sailing. It’s called a HOBIE CAT. Our WEEKENDERS are in good company indeed !

Oh man, pictures please!

My wife and I had one of these in 1986 and sailed it on many lakes in Alaska. It was surprising how well it sailed. We were on Lake Louise one time and it was really blowing, we were getting pushed to the other side of the lake and we were getting concerned. I could not get the boat to come about, I finally insisted my wife raise the job and voila we came about and back to the dock. On another trip to Harding Lake we ended up racing a pretty modern ‘glass boat, I had the rail down in the water and water 1/2 way up the on the portholes, we ended up passing the other boat and we were hooked.

Great work! I just finished mine, have had a chance to sail it twice and am lovin’ it. I miss the build though – really enjoyed the process.

I was so excited to find a recent AND positive review on S.P. boats. My Pocket Cruiser is almost done and I am very happy with it. I made a few modifications, but overall it is great. Once I understood the type of boat it is and its positive attributes, it was perfect for my purposes. I am glad to see so many happy reviews. I’ve been planning to put an 86-lb trolling motor on it; I was so excited that a 55 -pounder does the trick.

Hello, Dennis,

I look forward to seeing your P.C. when you get it launched! I have a soft spot for that boat, as I did most of the design work on that one. It has a very different feel from the dory-type hulls: The beamier cat-boat-inspired hull is really mellow and relaxing! Peter and I were once sailing the prototype in shallow water and didn’t realize we’d caught one of the lee-boards in the mud! We were happily talking away, just enjoying the gentle slap of the water and the light breeze, and then one of us said “Hey! I don’t think we’re moving anymore!” We laughed and pulled the board up and jibed around out of the shoal, but it really was a funny, mellow moment! I hope you have great fun with yours! Mike Stevenson Projects

Are those the battery boxes I see in the forepeak? I suppose it would make sense to try to balance out the weight of two adults in the cockpit.

I know in our Weekenders, we put the batteries up forward. The boat likes a bit of weight up forward to balance things, as you noted. I hate the longer wire runs, but larger gauge wires and 24v motors help minimize the losses. Mike Stevenson Projects

Yes, those are the battery boxes. My thinking, in addition to what has already been mentioned, was that the extra weight at the base of the mast would help work against the leverage in those moments when you may have held the main sheet a little too long and to tight. As I mentioned earlier, it has proven to pull her back in tight circumstances.

I recognize a lot of the names posting, and give you my support. I am building a Vacationer, a few hours a day, and am within a few weeks of painting the hull. The amount of time it takes to build depends on the level of finish on the boat. I am looking forward to being able to sail mine.

I’ve been sailing my Weekender for ten years now and have made many modifications to it. I wouldn’t change the basic boat at all now that I have a fairly good idea about how to sail it. I thought about ballast, but no way. I have done a capsize test with my Weekender and can tell you that mine pops right up with a little push on the keel. I’ve got a ton of floatation in mine and she floated pretty high when I took her over. I have also found that she will sail pretty well on her side if I don’t get nervous.

I crossed the Straits of Mackinac in twenty knots of breeze with no drama at all. I typically sail in winds in the high teens gusting well over 20 with the only downside being my old hands get tired. After ten years of learning to sail, she has never gone over on me and unless I have a stroke at the tiller I doubt that she ever will.

All around, best boat I can imagine.

Al, I can’t tell you how much my father would have loved to read your note. He was always very personally affected by letters and emails and photos our builders sent in, which makes sense: A big part of why he designed things was to create fun for people. The original books he wrote about wooden toys came about because he just wanted to make some toys for me. That started a legacy of projects which just keeps going, and I’m very proud and thankful to be a part of it and to keep it rolling along!

I love your adventurous sailing nature! Thank you so much for sharing your fun and spirit with us all!

This is very encouraging. Here in Brazil I met a guy with a Weekender, he said it was one of the best small boats he had ever owned

Mike, DUCKIE is my first boat build and even after building a number of wooden boats, she is still my ideal. What I mean about best all around boat is that she is by far the easiest boat to live with for this old man. I can manhandle her on her trailer, pull her with a Toyota Corolla, and handle all the wind I care to go out in. Set up and take down are the easiest that I have experienced, except for all the attention she gets at the ramp. Well, she did win her class at the Port Aransas show, so there’s that. She takes off like a scalded cat after a tack, which really turns my crank. She is way faster than most think she should be. On occasion, I have seriously perturbed skippers on bigger, supposedly faster boats by passing them and then waiting for them, good times. Describing her as a dirt bike on water is pretty apt. Her light-air ability is the best in my fleet. I could go on all day. Bottom line, learn how to sail a gaffer and take advantage of a sharp chine, and most will understand what I’m saying.

Al, I hear ya!! (and not just creator-bias: I have felt that kick in the pants when one tacks and Off We GO!)

All the best, and stay safe up thataway!

Very much enjoyed the article and all the discussions. She is a handsome little boat that I am sure is quite pleasurable to sail. I have a gaff-rigged Eastport pinky ketch and a Sedgwick Sailing peapod that I designed, based on the Washington County peapod shown in Chapelle’s book. She is 13’ 6”, reduced from 15’ 3” with a long straight keel. She tracks like she is on rails and accelerated rapidly. In response to the various comments regarding tacking, I have found that technique is key. Head up very slowly and just before you come up into the wind, kick the tiller over and voila! Never fails. There is no doubt you can have as much fun with a small boat as a big one. I’ve had a blast sailing with the Small Reach Regatta in Maine for the past few years. The Weekender would be a welcome participant. I always look forward to the monthly submissions. Thanks for sharing.

Yep, that sounds like great fun! I’d love to join you one of these years, if the Fates allow. I very much agree with you (not surprisingly!): The lightweight gaffer is a Fun Machine, and one only has to look at the shots of the sandbaggers of decades past to see the seriously-exciting-looking fun they seem to have been having!

All the best from the West Coast — Stay safe, all!

Great project! I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. We should thank Peter for his talent for combining simplicity, reasonable seaworthiness, and beauty. I’ve already finished building my boat and I’m looking forward to going on a serious voyage.

I built my Weekender back in 2000 and completed her around 2005. Loved the building process and sailing her. I was truly amazed at just how well she handles and tracts. The gaff sail rig truly maximizes the sail area. Looking forward to building another one some day. And Mike, when I do I’ll order another set of plans from you. Great boat!

Beautiful workmanship! I especially love the character of the shipyard-leftovers and self-fabricated parts! How well suited would you say the sailing is to the area? Any modifications you’d make if you got to start all over again (besides the very sensible lights, headroom, etc. that you mentioned in the article)? I’m looking to build my first boat soon and I think I’m on the same water as you, Ken. Would definitely look forward to building a Weekender!

As a avid carpenter I am surprised at the absence of glassing after so much work into such a beautiful craft – I am envisioning a whole lot of screw joints coming ” disjointed ” as they eventually become wet and damp – What would be the offset to elevating the cabin roof another foot? Even at 2021-22 prices would anyone want a stiffer (rot-resistant) stem when putting this sprite under the stress of beaching, trailering, or keeling in a 25-knot wind? And ad yuears to her life? Well worth the mahogany or joined oak that she deserves. Comments welcome, especially those that have plied this beaut 10 years or better.

I have sailed my Weekender for over ten years now and can vouch for the toughness of the boat in all regards. I once sailed her up the rough concrete landing at a marina under full sail in twenty knots with no damage at all. I had a plastic shoe on the keel, but it was only scratched a bit. There was an avid crowd of witnesses at the time, and they were shocked to see me laughing and shoving her back in the water. If the landing is crowded, I always beach the boat out of the way to wait my turn, and over the years, my boat is like new. My keel is made of ACX 3/4 inch plywood which has stayed straight and un-degraded.

I glassed the entire outside, but left the interior for paint. I painted the interior very carefully to ensure that it would stand up to a dunking. As long as water doesn’t stand around inside she is okay.

I also added two inches to the height of the cabin, and I don’t think I would add more because I don’t want to ruin the look of the boat. I have noticed that the designers once built a Weekender with a pop up, or removable top. Not the worst idea if sitting upright is important. If I am going to spend any time in the cabin, I simply pile all my junk against the forward bulkhead and recline against that. I have also learned the drawbacks of too much windage, which the cabin is the primary culprit therein. You will notice it.

I`ve read this article about the Weekender Sailboat now twice. This is a very good description about the Weekender and I can really agree in all Points. I built one and yes it’s a joy to sail. I also raise the cabin height double than the original. It’s much comfortable. There is one Thing where I’m not so happy. The foredeck is drawn flat and the water can not flow overboard. Unfortunately I recognized it too late. In that time I was not so experienced in boatbuilding. Another thing was hard to learn the imperial measurements.

I present my Building Story on the Stevenson website. I hope you can enjoy

So thank you for this nice article to read.

With Kind regards from Germany!

Michael Beckmann

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Welcome to the Wonderful World of Weekenders!

The Weekender has been our most popular boat design for many years, and we understand why: It has a Classic Style, based loosely on the amazginly pretty Friendship Sloops of New England, and the Weekender is a perfect size for "simply messing about in boats"! It's small enough to be easy to handle, to build, and to store, yet it's still roomy enough to stay overnight in (or just take a nap on a nice afternoon in your driveway, as we've done more than a few times!)

Over Forty Years ago we first brought out this design amnd it has remained one of our most popular boats — And we quite agree with our builders: It's our favorite, too!

Read On to learn more about this Amazing Boat!

NOW AVAILABLE AS DIGITAL PLANS and VIDEO!!

For many years people have been asking us to bring out a digital version of the Weekender plans for download. Well, the Weekender plans have just been completely gone through (updated drawings, new Plans Addenda for improvements, and new additions to the text!) and we are now offering Immediate Digital Download of the plans!

AND...We Now Have the whole of the 3 1/2-hour Weekender Home Boatbuilding Course available as downloadable or streaming video!

Just as the plans needed to move to a more modern format, so too did the Weekender Boatbuilding Video. We shifted forward from VHS tapes to DVDs, and now on to online video files which you can stream or download to a tablet or laptop for use in the workshop!

Order the Weekender Plans, the Video Series, or BOTH below, and scroll down this page to learn LOTS more about the Weekender!

The Weekender in Small Boats Magazine!

Read the article they published about our weekender design.

Click Here to go to the Pocket Yacht Model Page.

Printed plans are available on a limited basis: Contact us for more information. (The DIGITAL ones are better!)

If you would prefer the video on DVD, rather than online video, please Click Here.

Click Here for more information.

Click Here to start exploring the photo galleries!

Copyright 2024 Stevenson Projects LLC

9 Best Trailerable Sailboats

Sailing is an excellent activity for the weekends, especially in remote mountain lakes or sheltered waterways. The United States is full of small isolated waterways, inland lakes, and rivers—which make the perfect environment for an adventure in a small sailboat .

Unfortunately, many people are put off by the idea of owning a sailboat due to the associated docking and maintenance fees. Weekend sailors often don’t want to pay for a long-term slip, and there’s no question that the added expense can be a pain.

Luckily, you don’t have to permanently dock a sailboat to enjoy this great pastime.

Instead of docking a large boat, you can purchase a small trailerable sailboat. A trailerable sailboat is a perfect option for part-time sailors and people with busy lives. Trailer sailors are some of the most popular boats in the country, and they’re not limited to light winds and calm seas. Many trailerable sailboats have made some impressive passages both offshore and coastal. In this article, we’ll go over some of the top new and used trailerable sailboats that you can purchase today. 

Table of contents

Best Trailerable Sailboats

1) west wight potter 15.

{{boat-info="/boats/west-wight-potter-15"}}

The West Wight Potter 15 is perhaps one of the most capable 15-foot sailboats around. This neat little vessel is as seaworthy as it is easy to handle, and it’s a great choice for all kinds of cruising adventures.

The West Wight Potter 15 is a 15-foot sloop with an aluminum mast and tiller. This tiny boat also features a small cabin, which has ideal sleeping accommodations for a cruising couple. The cabin itself is spartan compared to its larger relatives, but it’s the perfect design for the minimalist cruiser.

This small sailboat is easily trailerable and can be stored in some garages with relative ease. The West Wight Potter 15 is ideal for inland and coastal waters and sets up (and takes down) fast with minimal fuss. Don’t let the small design fool you—this craft is surprisingly seaworthy.

The West Wight Potter 15 has an impressive cruising record, including a trip from England to Sweden in the brutal North Atlantic. The West Wight Potter 15 can be purchased new from International Marine, and thousands of craft are in circulation already.

2) West Wight Potter 19

{{boat-info="/boats/west-wight-potter-19"}}

We thought it fitting to include the Potter 15’s big brother, the West Wight Potter 19, on this list of the best trailerable sailboats . West Wight Potter boats are well known for their robust design and easy handling, and the Potter 19 is no exception.

The West Wight Potter 19 boasts the seaworthiness and ease-of-handling offered by its little brother, with the benefit of greater sailing comfort and cabin accommodations. This 19-foot sailboat is constructed of fiberglass. The hull contains a liberal amount of positive flotation, which makes the boat practically unsinkable.

The cabin features generous accommodations for a boat of its size, featuring space for a vee-berth, a small stove, a sink, and a portable head. Additionally, the West Wight Potter 19’s cabin can be wired for electricity from the factory, further increasing the level of comfort in this capable trailer sailor.

Like its smaller alternative, the West Wight Potter 19 has a history of some impressive cruises. An individual sailed this craft thousands of nautical miles from California to Hawaii —a single-handed voyage usually reserved for boats twice its size.

That’s not to say that the Potter 19 is a purpose-built long-haul sailboat. This design is ideal for larger lakes, rivers, and coastal cruising. However, the design has demonstrated toughness and seaworthiness rarely found in smaller boats.

The Potter 19, like the Potter 15, is a centerboard craft. This sailboat is available new from International Marine and offers a wide range of options packages and upgrades.

3) Newport 27

{{boat-info="/boats/capital-yachts-newport-27"}}

The Newport 27 is a massive step-up in size and amenities compared to the other boats on this list so far. This comfortable trailerable sailboat originated in 1971—at the height of the fiberglass boat boom. The Newport 27 measures 27-feet in length and feature a flush-deck design similar to the famous Cal 20.

This sailboat, despite its trailerable size and weight, features surprisingly good handling characteristics and generous accommodations. A full 6-feet of standing headroom is available in the cabin, making this boat exceedingly comfortable for longer journeys.

This sailboat is an excellent choice for the trailer sailing sailor who dreams of longer journeys but spends much of the time just hopping around local ports.

Despite its modest size and weight, the design of this small sailboat is proven. Many people sail them long distances and enjoy the quick handling characteristics of its design.

The Newport 27 is a true pocket cruiser, if not slightly larger than most. The Newport 27 isn’t produced anymore, but there is a healthy second-hand market for the boat.

4) Cape Dory 28

{{boat-info="/boats/cape-dory-28"}}

The Cape Dory 28 is a legendary Carl Alberg design known for its commodious living spaces and well-rounded performance both offshore and inland. This spacious little cruiser has the styling and capability of many larger boats, featuring traditional styling and generous amounts of varnished teak and brass. This cozy boat is a great choice for traditionalist sailors.

The Cape Dory 28 features a proven, simple, and robust rig, and it functions gracefully in a variety of conditions. While a 28’ sailboat is hardly considered trailerable by many, it can certainly be hauled-out and transported with relative ease. This is the kind of sailboat that’s just as happy in the boatyard or a permanent mooring.

The Cape Dory 28 offers attractive features for long-haul voyages, plus ease-of-handling and quickness that is necessary for tighter coastal waters. The Cape Dory 28 is ideal for salt-water cruising, though it’s a bit large for small lakes and narrow rivers.

This is certainly not a shoal-draft cruiser—with a draft of 4-feet, it's primarily at home in the water. 

5) Islander 24

{{boat-info="/boats/islander-24"}}

The Islander 24 is a common fiberglass classic that makes an ideal trailer sailing setup. This 24-foot fiberglass boat features a robust design and ease-of-maintenance rarely found on boats with similar capabilities.

The design has been around for over 40 years, and it’s served weekender and cruising sailor alike. The Islander 24 is a well-rounded cruising vessel with a spacious cabin for two (or more). The cabin features a forward vee berth, space for a head, and tables for a sink, stove, or navigation.

The boat is single-handed with ease, and the rig is simple enough to be stowed without too much hassle. The Islander 24 is a relatively common trailer sailor, though many owners leave it in the water.

A vessel of this size is ideal for cruising coastal waters, though some sailors have attempted longer voyages in this vessel. The Islander 24 is available on the used market all over the country. 

6) Contessa 26

{{boat-info="/boats/contessa-26"}}

The Contessa 26 is an excellent classic trailerable sailboat. Don’t let its modest size fool you—this cruising craft has a long-standing reputation for seaworthiness. The Contessa 26 is a fiberglass boat that debuted in 1965 and has since earned a bit of a cult following.

These rather innocuous looking crafts are as fun and capable as they are easy to handle. The boat features a spacious cabin, comfortable cockpit, and plenty of available cruising upgrades. The rig is well-built and resembles the rig of a much larger boat.

The Contessa 26 is an ideal pocket cruising setup for a moderately experienced sailor. The vessel has a narrow beam, which contributes to heeling. The boat is known to heel rather violently, but it stiffens up shortly after and becomes a joy to sail.

A boat like this knows its capabilities and is sure to impress anyone. The Contessa 26 is a safe, hardy, and comfortable cruising boat for minimalists, and one of the best tailorable sailboats in the mid to large-size category.

This boat is a little harder to come by than many other vessels on this list, as around 300 were built. However, if you’re lucky enough to locate one on the used market, it’s definitely worth considering. Contessa built a fine boat, and the Contessa 26 meets the standard with confidence.

7) Hunter 27 

{{boat-info="/boats/hunter-27"}}

If you’ve made it this far down the list, you’re probably surprised that the Hunter 27 hasn’t come up yet. This famous little boat has quite a reputation and happens to be one of the most popular modern trailerable cruisers available.

The Hunter 27 isn’t a traditionalist’s dream, but it offers the modern amenities and capabilities you’d expect from Hunter. This capable little sailboat has the handling characteristics of a truly seaworthy boat and manages well in all kinds of conditions.

The Hunter 27 has a reputation for amazing durability, and the design is sound from keel to masthead. Now, let’s get into some of the features that make the Hunter 27 a very attractive option. The Hunter 27 is a purpose-built small cruising vessel, but the accommodations appear to be a shrunken version of a boat 10 feet longer.

Down below, the Hunter 27 features a full galley, head, a full standing shower, berths, and generous storage space. The Hunter 27 is a truly livable trailer sailor, featuring accommodations that make it suitable for extended cruising or even living aboard. The salon features over 6 feet of standing headroom, with plenty of seating and counter space throughout.

The rig is sturdy and easy to handle. And remember, the Hunter 27 is still a trailer sailor. The boat features a shoal draft of under 4-feet and a displacement of less than 8,000 pounds. The Hunter 27 is available used, and this boat is still produced and available brand-new by Marlow-Hunter. 

{{boat-info="/boats/cal-20"}}

How could we forget the little Cal 20? We didn’t—and it’s certainly worth including the famous Trans-Pac underdog on this list. The Cal 20 is reminiscent of the glory days of fiberglass sailing in the 1960s and 1970s.

This flush-deck racer is a fantastic trailer cruiser for anyone wanting big-boat handling and speed in a compact package. The accommodations on this boat leave something to be desired, but many people find them cozy and acceptable.

The cabin features sitting headroom and a berth, along with small tables for a stove or sink. The Cal 20 has a history of impressive voyages and was a popular choice for daring sailors on long offshore journeys. However, the boat is designed to be quick, safe, and fun on inland passages and coastal cruises.

The Cal 20 is common on the used market and makes a great entry-level cabin sailboat. The Cal 20 features an enormous cockpit, making it ideal for a day on the bay with friends or family.

The boat is easy to handle, and upgrades abound. The Cal 20 is a great little sailboat with a fun history and a massive fan base. This stout little yacht makes an excellent weekender too, and the cabin makes overnighting comfortable. 

9) Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20

{{boat-info="/boats/pacific-seacraft-flicka-20"}}

One of the most legendary small trailerable cruisers is the full-keel Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20. A limited number of these boats were produced by Pacific Seacraft during the 20th century, and they have a reputation for incredible seaworthiness and long-range voyaging.

These sailboats have the hull shape of boats twice their size, with a long, deep, full keel running the length of the hull. The boat can handle some serious offshore cruising and features the capabilities of other full-keel sailboats.

The Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 is an amazing find on the used market, as owners tend to cling to them due to their incredible characteristics. There aren’t many trailerable offshore cruisers available, which is because it’s not easy to design a small boat with offshore capabilities.

However, Pacific Seacraft did just that and built one incredible trailer sailor. This vessel is not really designed for shallow lakes and rivers.

The Flicka 20 is known to be a truly seaworthy ocean-going sailboat, which happens to be small enough to fit on an average-sized boat trailer.

Wherever you choose to sail, a trailerable sailboat is often a great choice. The boats listed here are by no means the only options—in fact, there are dozens of excellent trailerable sailboat models on the market. If you enjoy sailing but want to avoid the hassle of a permanent mooring, or if you travel to sail, a trailer sailor is a great choice.

Many sailors pick trailerable sailboats to sail multiple oceans. Many people would agree that it’s a lot more practical to haul your boat from the Pacific to the Atlantic, especially when the alternative option is the Panama Canal .

A trailerable sailboat can give you access to a multitude of sailing adventures—the lake one weekend, the coast the next, and perhaps an offshore voyage or island hopping in the delta.

And with this list of the best trailerable sailboats, you can find the boat that fits your needs (and your budget) and hit the water in no time.

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Daniel Wade

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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My Cruiser Life Magazine

7 Best Trailerable Sailboats for Cruising

Many sailors balk at the idea of leaving their boat in the water at a marina. Slip fees are expensive, and maintenance bills get bigger the longer you leave a boat in the water. However, if you want a boat under 30 feet long, there are trailerable sailboats that will fit the bill.

Like any boat purchase, you’ll need to analyze precisely what kind of trailer sailer you want. Will a simple weekend sailboat suffice, or do you really need the best trailerable cruising sailboat you can find? 

Here’s a look at some of the pros and cons of the best trailerable sailboat. Plus, we’ll look at how to compare them for your purposes.

Table of Contents

Best trailerable sailboats, easy to launch trailerable sailboats, quick setup time, towing weight, catalina 22/25 “pop-top”, com-pac horizon cat for classic coastal cruising, marshall sanderling — small, portable, classy, west wight potter 19 — the tiny go-anywhere sailboat, seaward 26rk with retractable lead keel, corsair f-24 trimaran – sporty sailing, macgregor 26m — maximum speed meets maximum living space, long-range cruising boats, 7 best trailerable boats – a recap, what’s the best trailerable sailboat for a cruise, trailerable sailboats faqs.

• Catalina 22/25
• Com-Pac Horizon Cat
• Marshall Sanderling
• West Wight Potter 19
• Seaward 26RK
• Corsair F-24 Trimaran
• MacGregor 26M

We’ll get into more detail about each brand in my post today, so hang tight!

What Is a Trailerable Sailboat, Exactly?

For this article, the priorities for a trailerable sailboat are:

• Easy to launch
• Require minimum setup to launch and store
• Lightweight enough to be towed by the average vehicle

Before you can really classify a sailboat as trailerable, you need to evaluate and narrow your search criteria. Truthfully, 50-plus-foot ocean-going sailboats are regularly put on trailers. But that’s done commercially, on a big rig, with special permits for oversized loads, and even led cars.  

That probably isn’t what most people mean when they think of a trailerable sailboat. But what is the priority here, the trailerable part or the sailboat part? Compromises are going to have to be made somewhere. 

If you’re looking at the 20-foot-and-under sailboat crowd, finding a trailerable example should not be hard. Most sailboats this size are designed for trailers anyway since they aren’t the sort of boats people want to pay to leave in a slip year-round.

Things get more interesting when you look at the 20 to 30-foot boats. In this class, there are stout ocean-going cruisers with deep keels and lightweight centerboard trailer sailboats designed from the get-go to be trailered by the average car or SUV. The differences between these boats are night and day.

Sailboats often have a hard time at boat ramps. First, deep keels mean that the trailer must extend farther into the water than the average boat ramp allows. This means the ramp needs to go back far enough, and the trailer tongue needs to be long enough not to swamp the car. 

If you have a boat like this, you’ll need to find the right boat ramps. Unfortunately, not all ramps are created equally. If your boat draws more than two or three feet on the trailer, you’re going to be limited to steep, paved, and high-quality boat ramps. Unfortunately, those aren’t standard features, so your cruising grounds are going to be limited.

Usually, ramps aren’t built steeply because they are often slippery. Your tow vehicle will need excellent traction and torque to pull your fully loaded boat out of a steep ramp. The steeper the ramp, the more trouble you’ll have. 

The alternative to finding steep ramps is to use a trailer tongue extender. This lets you get the trailer into deeper water without swamping the tow vehicle. But it also means that the ramp needs to extend deep enough. Many ramps end abruptly. Allowing your trailer to sink off the edge is an excellent way to get stuck or pop a tire.

Pick a boat as easy to launch and retrieve as a similarly sized powerboat to remove all of these boat ramp problems. The soft chines of most sailboats will always require a little more water, but a swing keel and the hinged rudder raised mean that the boat can sit low on the trailer bunks. That way, you only need one or two feet of water to launch, an easy feat at nearly every boat ramp you can find.

The next consideration for a sailboat to be portable enough to call it “trailerable” is the amount of time it takes to step the mast and get it ready to cruise. 

To accomplish this, you need a mast that can be stepped by a two-person team–maximum. Ideally, it will have some tabernacle hardware to enable one person to do the task for solo sailing.

There is an entire family of pocket cruisers that could ideally fit on trailers. But you won’t find the Fickas or the Falmouth cutters on my list, simply because they aren’t easy to launch or easy to rig. But, of course, they’re also too heavy for most vehicles to tow, which leads us to the final point of excluding them this trailable pocket cruiser’s list.

One of the most significant financial burdens the trailer sailer faces is their tow vehicle. You are all set if you already drive a two-ton dually diesel pickup truck. But if your daily driver is an SUV or light pickup, you need to think long and hard about the math of the towing equation. 

Whatever boat you buy cannot exceed the towing rating limits of your tow vehicle. If you don’t have a tow vehicle, you’ll need to buy one. This will double or triple the cost of getting a trailer sailer in most cases. For the same money, you may want to look at a boat that stays in the water at a traditional boat slip. For the cost of a trailer sailer and a tow vehicle, you can probably step into a nice boat that is larger and more comfortable than any towable.

If you have a tow vehicle, you need a light enough vessel for it to tow. Most modern SUVs tow less than 2,500 pounds. Anything more than 5,000 will require a full-size pickup. Remember that the tow weight isn’t just the boat’s displacement—it’s the empty hull weight, plus the weight of the trailer and any extra gear you need to pack into the boat. 

Finding a vessel that fits these limitations on weight isn’t easy. If the manufacturer’s goal is to make it towable, immediate limits are placed on the materials they can use. This means less seaworthiness since boats are built light and thin. As far as stability goes, lead keels are generally out, and water ballast systems or centerboards might be used instead. It doesn’t mean these boats aren’t safe and fun, but they aren’t designed for rough conditions, crossing oceans, or living on in the water full-time .

7 Best Trailerable Cruising Sailboats

There are more trailerable sailboats out there than you might imagine. Here’s a look at seven popular options of all shapes and sizes to give you a taste of what you might want to take to sea.

The boats here are selected for their storage and living space. With these boats and a little outfitting, you can spend weeks gunk-holing in the Chesapeake Bay or island hopping the Bahamas. If you broaden your scope to include daysailers with no cabin space, there are countless more options.

One of the worst parts of a small trailerable sailboat or pocket cruiser is the lack of stand-up headroom. One clever solution that you’ll find on some weekend sailboat types is the pop-top. 

The pop-top is simply an area around the companionway hatch that extends upward on struts. So when you’re at the dock or anchor, you get standing headroom down below—at least right inside the pop-top.

You can build a canvas enclosure for your pop-top to use it in all weather. A pop-top makes your boat feel much larger than it is and allows you to move freely to cook or get changed down below or even do a nice boat bed area. 

Later models of the Catalina Sport 22 and Capri 22s lacked this cool pop-top feature, so if you want it, you’ll need to seek out an older model on the used market.

Com-Pac has been building small sailboats since the early 1970s. They currently sell two lines, each with various-sized boats. All are well built, and a majority of their boats are trailerable. 

Most interesting at the Com-Pac traditional catboats . The rigging is more straightforward than modern sloops, with only one large mainsail. Com-Pac boats come with a unique quick-rig system to make getting on the water fast and simple.

The Horizon Cat Coastal Cruising has a displacement of 2,500 pounds with a 2’2″ draft when the board is up. She has a separate head forward and space to lounge either topside or down below. The smaller Sun Cat has slightly few amenities but shaves off a few feet and pounds, making it easier to tow and it is one of these amazing small sailboats. Com-Pacs features stub keels, so their centerboard and hinged rudder do not take up space in the cabin.

On the sloop rig side, the Com-Pac 23 comes in a 3,000-pound traditional sailboat or a very interesting pilothouse. Both are incredibly livable for their size , with shallow two-foot-long fixed keels and high-quality construction.

Another option if you like catboats is the Marshall Sanderling. This salty 18-footer oozes traditional charm , all while being easy to sail and easier to tow. And while she has wooden boat lines, she has a modern laminated fiberglass hull.

The Sanderling has a 2,200-pound displacement, so tow weights will be around 3,000 pounds. At only 18-feet, she’s on the small side for cruising. The cuddy cabin has no galley, and the portable toilet is not enclosed. But that small size means a simple boat that’s easy to maintain and take anywhere. 

An electric motor package is an exciting option on this weekend sailboat!

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You can’t mention tiny trailer sailers without touching on the famous West Wight Potter . These 15 and 19-foot pocket cruisers have earned a worldwide reputation as the ultimate go-anywhere coastal cruiser.

The West Wight Potter 19 offers the most living space for staying aboard and cruising. So even though its dimensions are diminutive, this little boat packs a lot in. There’s a single burner hotplate and sink and a porta-potty tucked under a cushion. Yes, it’s tight—but the company claims the little boat can sleep five people. Any more than two will feel pretty crowded, however.

The boat comes standard with a mast-raising system that a single person can manage alone. It has a daggerboard for a shallow draft of a half-foot when the board is up. The total towing weight is around 1,500 pounds, which means nearly any car can tow a West Wight Potter.

This little-known trailer sailer is produced at the same Florida factory that makes Island Packet Yachts. That should give you a little bit of an idea of what sort of boat it is—trailerable, yes, but also high-quality, beautiful, and built for cruising. In other words, it’s one of the nicest all round pocket cruisers and it feels like a much larger boat.

The Seaward is easily the saltiest boat on this list . It’s beefy and seaworthy. Instead of a lightweight centerboard, Seaward fits the RK with a bulb-shaped retracting keel. Other big-boat items include a Yanmar diesel inboard motor and an enclosed head. The spacious cabin of the boat features a double berth and is ready for salt water cruising.

According to sailboatdata.com , the tow weight of the 26RK is 6,000 pounds. With the keel up, the draft is 1.25 feet.

Multihull sailors need not feel left out from the trailer sailer club and the pocket cruiser. Beyond the ubiquitous beach Hobie Cat, there are not many options for catamarans. But trimarans are uniquely suited to be towed.

Why? For one thing, performance oriented boats like trimarans are based on it being built light. There is no ballast—a trimaran’s stability comes from its two outer hulls. Additionally, the living space is entirely housed in the central hull–the outer floats are small and sometimes foldable. Finally, there are no keels on tris, so they are extremely shallow draft and perfect for trailering.

If you’re looking for adrenaline-pumping sporty and fun sailing, it’s impossible to beat what a trimaran will offer. Let’s not beat around the bush—most of the trailer sailers on this list have hull speeds around five knots. The Corsair has no such limits, routinely sailing at 15 knots or more .

The new Corsair 880 trimaran has an unloaded weight of 3,659 pounds. It is trailerable behind a big SUV or small pickup and is probably the most fun sailing option that is trailerable at all.

An even more portable option is the older Corsair F-24. It has a light displacement of under 2,000 pounds—so nearly any SUV can tow it.

MacGregor owns the market on trailerable motor sailers since they more or less created the product to fit the bill. The MacGregor 26 is not like other boats. The design combines a planing powerboat with a centerboard sailboat. Imagine scooting along at 20 knots or more when the wind is down or enjoying a sporty sail on a breezy day–in the same boat.

The entire boat is built from the ground up for towing and long-range sailing. So if you want a big sailboat that you can tow behind pretty much any SUV, the MacGregor has to be on your list. 

Depending on the model, the 26-foot-long boats have incredibly light dry weights of between 1,650 and 2,350 pounds. Considering the massive volume of the roomy cabin, the ability to tow such a large vessel opens up an entire world of opportunities for owners. 

It’s not all good news, of course. MacGregor owners love their boats, but they are built light and are not ideally suited for offshore cruising or rough weather. But in bays and for coastal sailing on nice days, few boats can get as much use as a MacGregor. 

The motorboat capability of the 26M and 26X might not appeal to hardcore sailors, but for those looking to maximize their use of the boat depending on the weather, their mood, or location, it makes a lot of sense. 

MacGregor shut down in 2015, but the daughter and son-in-law of the original owners took over production and renamed the boat the Tattoo 26 . The company will soon release a smaller version, the Tattoo 22 .

If the 26 is a bit big to make your list of best trailerable small sailboats, consider the smaller Powersailer 19. It’s nearly identical to the 26, just smaller and lighter.

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What Do You Want Your Trailer Sailer To Do?

After you’ve settled on how you will tow and launch your trailer sailer, now it’s time to dream about what you want it to do. Where will it take you? 

The beauty of a towable boat is that you can travel anywhere. A boat in the water might take weeks or months to move a few hundred miles. But if you can attach it to your car and do 65 mph on the interstate, you could sail on the Pacific on Monday, the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, and the Atlantic on Friday.

We can divide our trailerable sailboats into three groups – daysailers, weekenders, and cruisers.

These are designed with open cockpits and no space to sleep. This is a majority of the sub-22-foot boats on the market. They are designed to be launched, play for the day, and return to the ramp or dock.

A weekender will have rudimentary sleeping facilities. Think of it as a floating tent—it’s not a five-star hotel, but you can sleep under the stars or get out of the rain. Conceivably you could stay aboard indefinitely, but it doesn’t have much room for gear. So most people are ready to get off after a day or two. 

A cruising boat has sleeping, cooking, and toilet facilities built-in. These might be small and simple, but in any quantity, they mean you can disconnect from shore for a long time. Unfortunately, squeezing all of this into a tow-friendly package isn’t easy, and very few boats do it well. 

The best trailer sailor for your adventures will depend on many factors. Like any boat, whatever you decide on will be a compromise – boats always are. But there are plenty of choices out there, no matter what size your tow vehicle is and no matter what sailing adventures you have in mind.

What size sailboat is trailerable?

Even large yachts are routinely transported by towing across land, so the question is more of how big a sailboat can you tow? Your tow vehicle will be the limiting factor. The upper limit for most large SUVs and trucks is usually a sailboat around 26 feet long.

Sailboats are generally very heavily built, with ballast and lead keels. Sailboats specifically made to be trailer sailers are lighter. They may use drainable water ballast tanks instead of fixed ballast and have fewer fixtures and amenities.

To find the best trailer sailer, you need to balance the total tow weight, the ease of rig setup at the boat ramp, and the boat’s draft. Shallow draft boats with centerboards are the easiest to launch and retrieve.

Is a Hunter 27 trailerable?

No. The Hunter 27 is a one of those fixed-keel larger boats built from 1974 to 1984. The boat’s displacement is 7,000 pounds, not including trailer and gear. That alone makes it too heavy to tow by all but the beefiest diesel trucks. 

Furthermore, the fixed keels had drafts between 3.25 and 5 feet, all of which are too much for most boat ramps. In short, the standard Hunter Marine 27 is too big to tow for most people.

On the other hand, Hunter has made several good trailer sailers over the years. For example, the Hunter 240 and 260 were explicitly designed for trailering. They have drainable water ballast and shallow keel/centerboard drafts less than two feet. 

Is a Catalina 22 trailerable?

Yes, the Catalina 22 is easily trailerable and makes a wonderful weekend sailboat. In fact, there were over 15,000 Catalina 22s made and sold over the years. 

The boat’s displacement is 2,250 pounds, which means your total tow weight with trailer and gear will be under 3,000 pounds. This is within the capabilities of most mid to full-size SUVs and light trucks. Be sure to check your vehicle’s towing capacity, of course.

The centerboard on the Catalina 22 is another factor in its easy towing. With the board up, the boat draws only two feet. This makes it easy to float off the trailer at nearly any boat ramp. You should avoid fixed keel versions of the 22 for towing unless you have access to extra deep ramps. 

Matt has been boating around Florida for over 25 years in everything from small powerboats to large cruising catamarans. He currently lives aboard a 38-foot Cabo Rico sailboat with his wife Lucy and adventure dog Chelsea. Together, they cruise between winters in The Bahamas and summers in the Chesapeake Bay.

Can someone tell me why no other manufacturer makes pop tops? Those who have them, love them. Makes sense for head space with a trailerable boat too. Catalina stopped making them decades ago, yet people still swear by them. So, why isn’t there any newer models?

MacGregor put pop tops on many of its trailerables

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by It didn’t take long before I landed upon the Weekender by . I fell in love with her romantic lines, and her plans came with a how-to-build video. The hook was set deep, and I ordered the plans. The Weekender is a wonderful boat as designed, but I just couldn’t leave well-enough alone. I got looking at the plans and decided the cockpit was too small for my bride and I. (We’re both over 6’ tall.) Concurrently I discovered an ad in WoodenBoat for the . Something in my brain snapped, and I decided to remove the cabin from the Weekender, run the seats forward, and make her an open boat. There was some precedent for this. Bob Butler, who had already built two Weekenders, built a third Weekender as an open boat, and created my . Since the Weekender has no centerboard case (it has a keelson that runs the length of the boat), and is flat bottomed, the flat sole makes every inch of the layout usable. If I had known anything about boat design, I would have been worried that I was weakening the hull be removing the cabin and its corresponding bulkhead. But ignorance was bliss, and I proceeded, unencumbered by the thought process. As it turns out, the seats added plenty of stiffness to the hull. I’ve since had her out in serious chop, and she’s held together like a champ. It turns out that the regular Weekender and my open version use the same amount and type of plywood. The cockpit coaming is ¼” marine ply, just like the plans specify for the cabin sides. After seven months of building we named her Surprise and launched her on June 5, 2000. The boat turned out to be a great daysailer. She goes from trailer to water in about 15 minutes, unless curious passersby want to know all about her. Raising the folding mast is a snap since I can walk right up to the mast without having to get on the deck. She comfortably sails four adults, giving us plenty of room to sprawl in the 10’ cockpit. She is exactly what I had hoped for. Although the elimination of the cabin was the most radical departure from the plans there were other minor deviations, all designed to make our sailing experience more enjoyable. If you want to see more, check out . There you’ll also find pictures of the beautiful Weekender Julie K, built by Dave Richards of Rochester, MN. Boat Tests , MOTOR BOATS , News Nimbus W9: the weekender/ commuter on test Mattia D'Ambrosio October 7, 2022 Nimbus W9: the all-season weekender Nimbus has always offered excellent, multi-purpose boats, and this time it seems to have outdone itself. With the W9, the Scandinavian yard offers a compact weekender that still provides all the comforts for a day trip and, why not, for a few more days. In fact, this 9-metre boat, in the “full canopy” version tested by us, is an invitation to stay on board and enjoy every moment, from sunrise to sunset and during the night with the right equipment. Nimbus W9X Sea Trial When I went around the boat to remove the fenders, I didn’t have the slightest difficulty thanks to the presence of the handrails, positioned in such a way as to be reached without too many problems even by those who are a little taller than average. Thanks to the ultra convenient Zip Wake, we adjust the boat trim and we are ready to start our test and, above all, have fun. Yes, because this particular model is powered by a Mercury 300 outboard, which promises excellent performance and fuel efficiency. If, at this point, you are a little hesitant, let me reassure you: the top speed we managed to achieve (remembering that the boat was fully loaded) was 39.1 knots. I didn’t want to believe the perfection of this hull, ‘it must have had a weak point’, I thought to myself. I decided to take it as a challenge, warned those on board to hold on, and began to make some timid turns to see how the W9 reacted. Not content, I turn all the rudder to the left, then all the way to the right and create a perfect 8 on the water. Nothing, no matter how much I wanted to take the boat to the limit, it remained flawless, always gliding smoothly even tacking and counter-turning suddenly at high speeds. What’s more, the others on board were quietly talking and laughing during all these manoeuvres. So I decide, with a big smile on my face, to give up, slowly stop the boat and hand over the controls to a colleague. Back in place, I take out my notebook and write down my first impressions while driving: fun, comfortable and safe. The Nimbus W9 in detail The stern section house an L-shaped sofa with a folding coffee table, which offers space for several people, also thanks to the small sofa behind the steering position. Here, there is a very important point to be made: when folded, the coffee table leaves a handle exposed, which is useful as a handrail. To the left, we find a small kitchen, perfect for preparing the necessities for a weekend away. In the bow, accessible via the starboard side passage, there is a large sundeck. Below deck, a comfortable cabin with its private head. Conclusions The Nimbus W9 is the perfect solution for those who want to enjoy their boat all year round. Thanks to the ingenious design of the “full canopy” version, you will also be able to stay protected when you need to and open everything up when it is hot. In short, if you are looking for a commuter, but don’t want ‘just’ a commuter, the Nimbus W9  is the ideal boat for you. RPM Speed in kn L/h 600 2.3 2.5 1000 3.7 5 1500 5.4 8.1 2000 6.8 13.5 2500 8 18.5 3000 9.3 26.4 3500 12 35.2 4000 15.2 43 4500 20.2 58.9 5000 32.6 71.2 5500 37.4 89.3 5720 39.1 90.3 Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Language switcher Browse categories. You might be interested in Mizar 3, the wireless sensor that makes shipyards’ lives easier Halma Rib debuts in Genoa, with new RIBs on display at Marina Porto Antico Prestige F5.7, the perfect family yacht: spacious, high-performance, dreamlike Selva Marine launches the 300 XSR, the perfect Mediterranean-oriented outboard © 2021 – THE INTERNATIONAL YACHTING MEDIA Designed by BLive Communication ABOUT YACHTINGNEWS.COM Yachting News is an interactive multimedia magazine dedicated to the world of boating. The International Yachting Media is the worlds most widely read boating magazines network. Whit its portal It broadcast its original contents in five languages and in more than 200 countries developing 950,000 views a week. Our web portals are the main source of information for yacht and boat owners, the place where they can find anything about their boating passion. THEINTERNATIONALYACHTINGMEDIA.COM  | SUPERYACHTS.NEWS | YACHT DIGEST VIRTUAL BOAT SHOW |  TUTTTOBARCHE |  TOUSLESBATEAUX |  TODOSLOSBARCOS BOATING NEWS FREE APP Subscribe For Latest Updates Sign up to receive the best of Yachting News, sea trials, boat review and world premieres . The only ADVERTISING FREE newsletter Yachting Monthly Digital edition Sunbeam 29.1 first look: stylish weekender Theo Stocker January 8, 2024 The Sunbeam 29.1 looks like she will be a pretty lively performer and is more akin to a weekender than out-and-out cruiser Product Overview We covered the Sunbeam 32.1 recently, and hot on its heels is a smaller sibling, the Sunbeam 29.1, as this long-running Austrian yard updates is range of ultra-modern, stylish weekenders. The yard believes there is more of a market in luxurious dayboats and weekenders than basic small cruising yachts. It takes many of its cues from the 32.1 and aims for much the same concept – that of being a boat that’s easy to sail, with decent sailing performance and large, open spaces for sailing and socialising despite its diminutive size. To achieve this, Sunbeam has stripped out much of the cruising clobber it believes its customers don’t want, so boat owners can step aboard and sail with minimal faff. All lines are led aft to the coamings under the novel coachroof cowlings to just forward of the helm – unusually this boat has tiller steering driving twin rudders positioned well outboard – leaving space at the forward end of the cockpit for guests to relax and sit back. The bathing platform is the fixed open end of the cockpit, rather than the electric slide-out flush platform of her bigger sister, but there’s still plenty of space for easy access to the water with a fold-out bathing ladder stowed under a panel in the deck. Compact galley and heads below deck. Below decks, she reflects the brand’s new minimalist aesthetic. The small galley and the full heads are optional, but I’d imagine few will want to be without them. There isn’t space for an aft double berth in this boat, so accommodation is restricted to the triangular double at the forward end of the saloon – perfectly adequate for a couple for a day or two. Huge coachroof windows and two large hatches let in lots of light, though gone are the radical hull windows of the 32.1. Despite the open-plan layout below, the full GRP frame and stringers have been laminated into the hull, as have joinery and bulkheads. The dimensions of the boat – one centimetre under 9m long and 2.49m wide, and with a displacement of 2,000kg – mean that she is road-trailable, thanks in part to her electric-hydraulic lifting keel which gives her a draught of just 85cm when raised, and a full 1.85m when lowered. With 35% of her weight in the keel (700kg) and a sailplan that promises a generous 47m2 of canvas upwind, plus a Code Zero or gennaker flown from the bowsprit downwind, this boat should be a pretty lively performer, though not a race boat per se. Standard auxiliary propulsion will be a 4kW electric pod drive with 8.2kWh batteries. The Sunbeam 29.1 is due to debut at Boot Düsseldorf in January 2024. Sunbeam 29.1 specifications LOA: 8.99m / 29ft 6in Hull length: 8.99 / 29ft 6in LWL: 7.90 / 25ft 11in Beam: 2.49 / 8ft 2in Draught: 0.85m (2ft 9in) – 1.85m (6ft 1in) Sail area: 47m2 / 506 sq ft Displacement: 2,000kg / 4,409 lbs Ballast: 700kg / 1,543 lbs Price: From €124,900 Contact: www.sunbeam-yachts.com Enjoyed reading this? A subscription to Yachting Monthly magazine costs around 40% less than the cover price . Print and digital editions are available through Magazines Direct – where you can also find the latest deals . YM is packed with information to help you get the most from your time on the water. Take your seamanship to the next level with tips, advice and skills from our experts Impartial in-depth reviews of the latest yachts and equipment Cruising guides to help you reach those dream destinations Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram. Review of Weekender Basic specs.. The hull is made of wood. The Weekender is equipped with a long keel. A full keel provide a better directional stability than a similar boat with a fin keel; on the other hand, better directional stability means also that the boat is more difficult to handle in a harbour with less space. The keel is made of lead. Compared with iron, lead has the advantage of being 44% heavier, which allows a smaller keel and hence less water resistance and higher speed. The boat can enter most marinas as the draft is just about 1.70 - 1.80 meter (5.58 - 5.88 ft) dependent on the load. See immersion rate below. The boat is typically equipped with a Gray Marine Sea Scout gasoline engine at 30 hp (22 kW). Calculated max speed is about 5.3 knots. Sailing characteristics This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats. What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)? The capsize screening value for Weekender is 1.50, indicating that this boat could - if evaluated by this formula alone - be accepted to participate in ocean races. What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed? The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 7.0 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed. The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Weekender is about 159 kg/cm, alternatively 895 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 159 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 895 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch. Sailing statistics This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points. What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)? What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)? What is Displacement Length Ratio? Maintenance When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 19m 2 (204 ft 2 ). Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need. If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful. Usage Length Diameter Jib sheet 10.7 m (35.0 feet) 14 mm (0.55 inch) Genoa sheet 10.7 m (35.0 feet) 14 mm (0.55 inch) Mainsheet 26.7 m (87.5 feet) 14 mm (0.55 inch) Spinnaker sheet 23.5 m (77.0 feet) 14 mm (0.55 inch) This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat. Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done. We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Weekender it would be a great help. If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve. Stevenson Weekender The following notes and photos were submitted by mark as part of his nomination for the 2016 Hal Harper award… The following notes and photos were submitted by mark as part of his nomination for the 2016 Hal Harper award conducted annually by the NSW Wooden Boat Association. The Stevenson Weekender is a boat that borrows some good ideas from the golden age of working sail, as well as some new wrinkles from space-age materials. It's a project that combines the best of both worlds - the classic lines of the sea-wise sloops of the turn of the century - and the quick-to-build, lightweight, low maintenance of modern materials. What would one of the old master boat designers do with modern tools and materials? That was the question that the first Weekender set out to answer when the boat plans were featured in Popular Science magazine over 30 years ago in 1981. To date over 100,000 plans have been sold with the majority being built. A real testament to the cleverness of construction. Marks Weekender Hull Completed The result is an extremely rigid, self-aligning structure that pulls itself straight as it is built. This worked great for reducing building time, but it also had some other bonuses. Working with my son and friend the total build time from the purchase of plans to the first sail was 13 months. Inside, there's over six feet of sleeping room for two. The reason for the extra room inside is the absence of a centre board trunk that usually sits square in the middle of where you want to be. The extra room is what really makes the Weekender a pocket yacht, as two people can take it on a camping trip and still have a light, compact boat that's easy to trailer. To get a sense of the relative sizes of the Weekender I built a paper model first. Marks Weekender Interior Completed Hull-building was just like building a plywood box. After assembling the keel, we cut out the deck, bottom, and bulkhead parts, assembled the deck and hull bottom, screwed the bottom down onto the keel, then fitted the bulkheads and deck down in place. If we kept the centre lines of the parts lined up, there's no way the boat could come out lop-sided. And once the side panels are screwed to the edges of the deck and bottom, the whole box-section becomes extremely rigid. Inside, parts like seat-bottoms and shelves doubled as side-framing. You'll find a lot of parts on the Weekender doing double-duty. That's what keeps it light. (see construction order below) The shallow full-length keel and the hard chine of the hull bottom bit into the water and keep the boat sailing well into the wind. The Weekender's shape has a lot in common with one of the most seaworthy boats on the water, the Grand Banks Dory (with an added keelson and bowsprit). So she can handle some pretty nasty waves without making a big deal about it, and she's a nice, dry boat in the cockpit as well. Although the whole boat can be built from standard lumberyard stock and hardware, using common hand tools, mine was built with marine grade plywood, mahogany and Bote-Cote epoxy and fibreglass. The set up of the Weekender takes just a few minutes, and all we have to do to pack the boat away for trailering after a sail is to unhook the forestay, lay the mast back down over the lowered mainsail, and stuff the jib down into the forward hatch. Not a sail or line has to be removed. Set up, ready to sail The salty old gaff-head sail rig also turned out to have a lot of advantages. With the mainsail held on three sides by spars, it's easy to control the shape of the sail while underway. A Weekender under sail Stephenson’s Weekender Sailboat Specifications L.O.A.: 19'6" L.O.D.: 16' BEAM: 6' DRAFT: 3' (1' w/RUDDER UP) HULL WEIGHT: 550LBS SAIL AREA: 120 SQ.FT. SLEEPS TWO COSILY, ONE EASILY CREW; TWO AUXILARY POWER BY A 5HP OUTBOARD Who is Pete Stevenson and how did he go about designing the Weekender So how did an American surfer dude like Pete Stevenson become a boat designer in the first place? “Surfing's a good way to build an instinct for how solid shapes will be affected by water movement,” he said. “You're right there in the water, up close and personal, experiencing every way the fluid bounces off the shape and pushes it.” But his first attempt at boat design was a total disaster. He built an outrigger from one sheet of plywood and a chopped down telephone pole. Fortunately, he wasn’t on board when the whole thing disintegrated. “A couple of thugs paddled over and demanded to take the first test ride. We had no choice but swim in and watch what was supposed to be our fun. But then a thin white line of soup on the horizon announced what we used to call a "clean-up wave.” We watched with ill concealed glee as the big guys took gas in the rinse cycle. The remaining parts were so heavy we left them for bonfire fodder. We learned about ‘building light’ from that.” The next attempt was more successful, although it was simply the result of playful experimentation. “A number of guys would gather to down beers and argue about boat design. During one of these sessions I amused myself by seeing if I could cut out cardboard and tape together a little flat-sheet version of a Greek fishing Caique. I'd cut out the keel with stern and stem posts attached. Then I cut the double ended bottom, taped it to the keel, and cut and taped the sides together. The model looked pretty reasonable, although floppy in its taped together state. “Then when I pushed the decking with its centre cockpit down in between the sides, the thing suddenly went rigid. We threw it around like a football it was so strong.” Pete realized that with the right design, a strong boat could be built from very light materials without sacrificing rigidity. The result, after some more experimentation, was his first sailboat. Commercial success soon followed. “We built a 16-foot version and Monk Farnham, the venerable editor of Boating Magazine got wind of it and wanted to run it as DIY article. I told him I didn't know the first thing about drawing plans, so he said, ‘Well then I'll just send your dimensions over to Sparkman and Stephens and they can whip up some plans.’” “When I got a copy of the plans I was stumped. I wouldn't be able to build my own boat from these plans because they were set up for experienced shipwrights who knew which part to start with. From there on we started devising our own step-by-step plans, with information available on a ‘need to know’ basis. No fair looking ahead, you'll just get confused. Once you've done step four, step five will make sense to you.” What emerged, almost by accident, was a good looking boat that was easy to build and accompanied by user-friendly instructions. It was a winning combination—and arrived at just the right time. There was a strong interest in do-it-yourself projects at the time and national magazines were clamouring for novice-friendly woodworking projects. But most boat designers were not creating boats appropriate for inexperienced builders. “The craftsmen were all anxious to show off their expert fine finish, their exotic joinery, and their floor-standing tools on the parquet shop floor,” Pete said. Pete lacked these pretensions. He couldn’t look intimidating even if he tried. “When the representative of the plywood association got wind of us and stopped by for a look-see, I was pretty embarrassed at his first questions.” “‘So, where's your shop?’ he asked.” “ ‘Well, I do the cutting mostly out on the back porch. Sometimes I assemble things in the living room.’" “He just grunted.” “‘Let's take a look at your tools.’ I had a circular saw, a power jigsaw, a 3/8" (variable speed!) drill, and a Yankee screwdriver.” “What I didn't realize then was that this was just what he was looking for. Somebody with no shop, no particular fine-finish skills, and some ideas.” Pete’s big break came when his plans were published in—of all places—Family Circle magazine. The editor was a “boat nut,” Pete said, and approached him with an intriguing question: “‘You think you could get up a simple, cheap sailboat people could actually build?’ We did. At night, during the four a.m. sit-ups that freelancers stay in shape with, I'd wonder, ‘What moron would waste time creating a sailboat for a women's magazine?’” But this article produced a flood of orders. About 22,000 sets of plans were sold. Delighted with this success, the editor asked for more. “‘What other boats you got?’ the editor demanded. The next one sold 29,000 sets. Other magazines got on the bandwagon and pretty soon we were doing a series of pocket yachts for Popular Science. The first was the Weekender” The Weekender remains highly popular and can be found sailing around the world. But over the past quarter century, a great many new designers have entered the market, many focusing on the needs of inexperienced builders. For novice builders there’s an embarrassment of riches. So what accounts for the enduring success of this boat? Many people simply like how his boats look. They’re often called pretty or, more frequently “cute.” Pete accepts these comments with alacrity. “I'm a believer in looks when it comes to boats. They say, "If you can walk away from your boat without looking back, you've got the wrong boat.” But there’s more to it than that. What makes a Stevenson boat an enduring favourite, I believe, is that Pete has tapped into the fantasy of sailing. His designs capture the spirit of classic boats and the golden age of sail, something Pete freely acknowledges. “If our boats have a traditional kind of look and appeal, it's because … these pocket yachts of ours are based on forms that were worked out by real sailors at the pinnacle of working sail. The hull of the Weekender below deck is nothing but a Chesapeake Skipjack, The topsides are taken from a Friendship Sloop for its beauty and versatile function.” Pete’s real genius, however, was finding a way to transform these vintage lines into easy to assemble plywood panels. Like an artist making a quick sketch of a landscape, his designs embody the visual essence of a skipjack or sloop—without requiring builders to actually build something as complex as a “real” skipjack or sloop. Even first-time builders with a few simple tools get to enjoy the feel and fantasy of a traditional craft simply by building a plywood box. Not surprisingly, this nautical slight of hand makes Stevenson’s designs vulnerable to criticism by those who prefer to build traditional boats in traditional ways. Forums populated by builders more skilled than I have discussed whether or not the Weekender is, in fact, a “real” boat. Critics argue that Stevenson boats are heavy on romance but don’t offer much in terms of performance. Pete admits that performance is sometimes compromised. “Trade-offs, I think they're called,” he said. But all boats are a product of compromise and it’s not fair to criticize any boat for being one thing and not another. The real question is, What need is the designer satisfying? For Pete Stevenson, it’s clear that his primary goal was to design a good looking boat that just about anyone could build. On this score, he has succeeded. Even critics concede that lots of people buy Stevenson’s plans, that a large number of boats are eventually completed, and that most builders are proud and pleased with their results. Cabin of a typical Weekender Pete heard from a Sea Scout troop from Canada that took two Weekenders down the St. Lawrence. “And we heard from an Australian couple who spent two summers vacationing on their Weekender without getting a divorce.” In the end, I think that kind of “I don’t have to prove anything to anybody” sense of adventure captures why I was first attracted to the Weekender and, by extension, its designer. I can’t speak for all his builders, but I believe that Stevenson has tapped into the zeitgeist of guys like me who believe that boat building is about a great deal more than sailing. Pete’s boats capture that youthful yearning, give it a romantic shape, and make it accessible to anyone with a small garage and a circular saw. Project Gallery Yachting World Digital Edition Dream daysailers: 13 of the best boats for a great day out on the water Toby Hodges July 16, 2020 Toby Hodges looks at the best daysailer yachts on the market, from ultra-modern cruisers to classically-styled masterpieces Modern daysailers 1. saffier se 33 ud. Saffier Yachts now has eight designs between 21ft and 37ft. The investment and knowhow the Hennevanger brothers have put into the production facility really shows too – the vacuum-infused builds and finish quality are top class. Saffier builds seaworthy designs , tests all new models thoroughly in the North Sea and ensures its yachts can be sailed easily single-handedly. Launched in 2014, the Saffier Se 33 is a sporty design but with a practical self-draining cockpit and optional solid sprayhood, which help it handle most weather conditions. It has a fast underwater shape, a generous sailplan and a fixed carbon bowsprit. The extra-large cockpit features 2m benches and a folding transom and there is space enough for four to sleep below. Saffier’s brand new Se 27 also looks like a seriously fun design and has been averaging speeds in the mid-teens with the kite up, clocking over 20 knots in its early trials this spring. Prices for the Se 33 start at €114,500 (ex. VAT). 2. Domani S30 The S30, launched in 2018, is Belgian company Domani’s first model – a trailable sportsboat designed to be comfortable, fast and beautiful, says founder Michael Goddaert. Inspired by Riva’s Aquarama motor boat , it has a large minimalist cockpit, spacious aft sunbed and a classy-looking compact interior. The narrow-beamed S30 weighs only 1,700kg, is offered with a long, two-part carbon rig, and has an electric drive as standard. A Lounge version is being developed which is similar to the Tofinou 9.7 in terms of deck layout. Price ex. VAT: €88,000. Article continues below… Tofinou 9.7 review: This Peugeot-designed daysailer is a thing of great beauty There are some too-rare boats that turn every head, and everything about them attracts your attention. The new Tofinou 9.7… Saffier SE37 Lounge test: A veritable supercar of the seas Looking for a pair of trainers for fashion, road and cross-country running? They don’t exist. Or a bilge keeler that… 3. Black Pepper Code 0.1 Those lucky enough to have sailed at Les Voiles de St Tropez may have seen these neo-classic daysailers from chic brand Black Pepper. As well as this range of Code-branded daysailers/weekenders, the yard has just launched a new Sam Manuard-designed, scow-bowed IMOCA 60 for Armel Tripon’s Vendée Globe campaign. The original Code 0, by Marc Lombard, is a high-performance dayboat with a distinctive squared coachroof, which is built light in carbon and epoxy with half its displacement in the keel bulb. A new Code 0.1 version (pictured) launched last year, and is available in Open and Spirit (performance/regatta) versions. Price ex. VAT: £148,000. 4. A-Yachts A27 / A33 A-Yachts founder. Michael Gilhofer helped to develop the original B30 (pictured below) and was distributor for B-Yachts in Germany for 17 years. He commissioned the in-demand Lorenzo Argento, who formerly worked with Luca Brenta, to design a new range of luxury daysailers built in Slovenia and finished in Austria. The first two A-Yachts models (the A27 is pictured above) are focused on performance daysailing, whereas B-Yachts has gone for more cruising comfort below. An exciting new model, the A39, is due for launch in 2021. Prices ex. VAT: A27 €98,500, A33 €215,000. 5. B-Yachts B30 / B34 The Brenta B30 is the iconic Italian daysailer. A real looker to keep berthed at your Portofino residence, it has a lightweight carbon/epoxy build and a high ballast ratio, for tantalising light airs sailing. B-Yachts is the brand that took the daysailing concept to the limit with the fiendishly indulgent (and very white) B60, which we tested, open-mouthed, back in 2008. Although stagnant for some years, the company was acquired by Luca Brenta’s cousin Alberto Castiglioni in late 2018. Brenta, along with designer Alessia Lee, has worked up the design for a new B34 model due to launch this year, and they are now working on a B40. The B30 (above) is now a modern classic, with more than 40 built, but the refreshed company has made some upgrades including a new rudder profile, fixed bowsprit, revised deck gear, a more functional interior and the option for an electric engine. But it’s still got those killer lines. Prices ex. VAT: B30 €118,000, B34 €190,000. 6. Esse 330 This is the sixth model from Josef Schuchter’s yard on Lake Zurich, which builds fast, stiff and sporty designs. The new 330 is the first Esse that offers the ability for weekend/overnight sailing. Schuchter told us it is designed more for pleasure sailing than racing but has the same performance as the yard’s 990, using a 1m shorter mast and with greater stability and comfort. Umberto Felci designed the 330 with a self-tacking jib, a carbon deck-stepped mast with no backstay and a high ballast ratio to help ensure it can easily be sailed short-handed. A lifting keel reduces draught to 1.55m and an electric drive is offered. Price ex. VAT: €134,000. A plumb stem and square coachroof give an alluring pilot classic style to this Judel/Vrolijk design, but it is the materials from which it is crafted that are most intriguing. Built by Bremen-based Greenboats, the flax (plant) or linen (fibre) is vacuum-infused with bio epoxy and can be given a clearcoat finish to help show off the fibres. The focus is on weight-saving for this performance daysailer, using recycled PET as the core material. The deck is made from cork, the ropes are made entirely from recycled plastic bottles and the sails are recyclable. Price ex. VAT, ready to sail: €126,000. Modern-classic daysailers 8. eagle 38. The Boersma brothers founded Leonardo Yachts in the northern part of the Netherlands to build top quality gentleman’s daysailers and weekenders. Its range of gorgeous designs are inspired by the timeless lines and overhangs of the J Class , but with modern appendages. The new Hoek-designed Eagle 38 is the smallest of a range that now extends to 70ft. It is devised for easy handling, with jib winches in reach of the helmsman/tiller, in a deep self-draining cockpit that can seat six in comfort. The varnished mahogany interior can sleep three and includes cooking facilities and a neatly hidden toilet. Price ex. VAT: €177,500. 9. Wally Nano MkII Wally stunned us with the unveiling of its incomparable Nano in 2009. The Andre Hoek-designed masterpiece certainly elevated the standard of extravagance (and price) for a daysailer. This Wally Nano MkII model released eight years later is a refined version of the achingly cool design, which marries Italian styling with Dutch workmanship and ingenuity. A pilot cutter-influenced plumb bow, bowsprit and low, squared coachroof set off a retro style, finished by an elegantly overhanging counter. These classic lines meet contemporary construction and attention to detail at Joop Doomernik’s traditional Dragon building yard. The top class composite work includes a keel grid built from 33 layers of carbon. Believe me, the result on the water is a truly intoxicating ride, both upwind and down! Price ex. VAT: €390,000. 10. Rustler 33 The Stephen Jones design has the elegant lines and overhangs of the Cornish yard’s earlier Rustler 24, but with a comfortable handmade interior that makes it enticing to overnight on too – there is a proper heads compartment including wet hanging area. With the addition of stanchions, this becomes a Class B offshore yacht. It’s a stiff boat to sail with a deep, dry cockpit, in which it is comfortable to sit, perch on the chunky coaming or stand to handle the tiller. Rustler says recent clients for the Rustler 33 are ordering them with carbon masts and electric engines. Price ex. VAT: £165,000. 11. Morris 29 Fusing S&S lines with modern lightweight materials such as carbon and epoxy, the Morris 29 is a quintessential daysailer that’s easy to rig and maintain, a witch to sail and is as handsome as they come. And there’s a deep, long cockpit and comfortable saloon below to keep any guests content while you hog the tiller. Now built by Hinckley and priced from US$266,500. 12. Alerion 28 / 33 Cleverly marketed as ‘the 90-minute’ getaway, the iconic Alerion daysailer fleet, from 20-33ft, is designed to get people afloat easily and with the most enjoyment possible. Above is the Alerion 33. Often seen sporting optional Hoyt jib booms, the models are easy and a delight to sail and have inviting and well-finished interiors. Rarely do beauty, speed and single-handed ease combine this fluidly and successfully. Prices are available on application only. 13. Friendship 36 / 40 The elegantly timeless look of the Friendship 40, its classic lines, including pronounced tumblehome and wineglass counter, are by Rhode Island’s Ted Fontaine. A Friendship’s deep cockpit and wonderfully inviting and well-appointed interior invite you to sail on through the weekend and beyond. Fontaine says both the 36 and 40 are still available to order, but at top prices: “The Friendship 40 would be built by Yachting Developments in New Zealand where the moulds are presently stored,” (priced in the region of US $1,350,000). “And the Friendship 36 is being offered as a cold-moulded wood epoxy built boat that would be built by Rockport Marine in Maine – the yard that built the first 36.” First published in the June 2020 edition of Yachting World. Forum Listing Marketplace Advanced Search Stevenson Projects Weekender Sailboat Build Add to quote Man Matt, I was hoping to see this !!! I am so going to follow along and live vicariously in your boat building adventure! Before you know it, you'll be sailing in your boat and thinking how cool it was to make this decision! Good Luck & Good Building !!!   the best sailing is done , when you untie from the dock . now you are into it , congratulations !   Looking forward to seeing the progress as you build your vessel. It has to be an exciting time for you.   Whoo hoo! Great start on the blog Matt! You've already done a lot of hard work to get to where you are. It's going to get a lot more fun and interesting. Have a great time with your build.   Hi! I will be watching this blog. Since I was young I have dreamt of sailing on a boat I have built myself. It is still a dream. This should give me a lot of inspiration and hopefully see it come to fruition. I have spent 44 of my 50 years living in a fishing town north of Manila. My father finished college by working as a fisherman by day. Their boats were sail and oar powered. I loved the memories of his stories. I too experienced how it was to be a fisherman. But I had it easy. It was on a motorized boat. And it was not meant to pay for my college tuition. It mas meant to teach me the value of hard work… Sailing is one of my father's fine experiences that I am envious of. He is gone now. I hope to see the day that I will be able to say "Dad I did good!" on a boat I built. Rico   This is going to be great blog.   Have fun with this. Sounds more challenging than the last sail boat I put together. (2 grumman canoes, tamarac spars and some sheets. Hey it worked.   Matt this will be fun to follow. I wife keeps asking me why I don't build a boat. They have boat building workshops at St Michaels Maritime Museum. They meet on Sat and Sunday and you can show up when you want and help build the boat for the museum. You are the laborer and they keep the boat.   Nice job Matt, it's going to be like a fine peice of cheese. something you can sink your teeth into! Soon you will be sailing and dreaming of that time you spent building your own boat. Thinking that was the best quality time you could ever imagine. Next to your children it will be your best art to date.   this'll be fun to watch!   Wow, you are truly into it now! Congrats and I will be following this along all the way to the dock ! Can't wait to see " Captain Matt" in action !   AARRHH- I'll send you my sword and eye patch!!! This is going to be a great blog to watch!!! Lew   Matt, Good to see you pulled the trigger on this! I cannot wait to follow this blog. This is going to exciting.   Thanks everyone…tonight after writing the blog I went out and cleared out a storage space for all the wood coming tomorrow…and put all my tools away from my bench…and moved some things around…so when the delivery comes I just need to move a few things and waaahhh laaahhh… I wont blog nightly…lol…but since I am on spring break I hope to get some things done each day and will try to update all of you…then I will slow down… MattD--you are the one that got me started on all this…not really…but the timing of me having an interest in boats your blog was coming up a lot…and it sent me to the library for MANY books…this is way different then your build…but some day I may build a "classic"... DaveR--I have been meaning to call you…I will look for your numbers and if I cant find them I will PM you…I need glue! The Weekender plans came with some update sheets that you and Warren may be interested in…and I am interested in hearing both of your thoughts… Rico…great story…my grandfather was a Dory Fisherman in ALASKA…he salmon fished out of a place called Kenai…my mom would go out with him in freezing water--she never learned how to swim because the water was too cold…and you would die before you could swim…I have NO name yet…but my first thought ( i know nothing of boat naming) is to name it after my grandmother "Elsa" who was Nick's wife…she was a great woman…they were good people…hard workers… Warren--time for lunch? On me…and a visit to West Marine… Karson…the boat building museum sounds great…maybe I will inspire you…I actually looked at a SF BAY boatbuilding school that offered Saturday workshops where you could build a boat with them and see if you liked it… ok…tomorrow is a big day…look for a post later in the day/evening… matt   this is going to be a very interresting blog and build to follow Dennis   matt , do it in segments , it will take forever to load it every time we go to look at it like some of grumpy's jokes , or sukis ' what do you do for a living ' thanks .   I see that the usual suspects have already chimed in. Way to go Matt! If I can possibly squeeze it into my schedule, I'm only about an hour away. This blog is as much for you as it is for us, so I would love to see your successes and things you'd do differently, decisions, trade-offs, etc. This is already almost as long as the forum thread… BTW, even though I said I'd build the bigger boat, I just read an article on a guy who's building a catamaran. Even though they're different species, he says a 35 foot cat takes 3x longer to build than a 30 footer, so I may end up agreeing with your choice.   I can't wait to view this project. This is going to be great. You'll be like Gibbs on NCIS.   I am soooo excited too…they said they would call when they were on the way and to expect a mid morning delivery…its a 8:45am here and I am pacing in my mind…lol… David--I will definitely do the blog as a series unlike the forum which went forever…this will probably be my last post on this entry… Chris…I here you…those are all the things i want to discuss…I am a thinker…and I like to think out loud, tell stories…and as my students tell me--too much talking lol…but for something like this…I really want to share it with everyone…THIS IS LJ's BOAT…kind of…of course if anyone wants to sponsor me I will name the boat whatever they want and that may keep my marriage…$$$...so far sarah is still on board… ok…waiting for the phone to ring…   Go get em buddy!   ok…literally twiddling my thumbs…but was on Facebook and check out the quote on my friends page--this is timing for today: Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. -MarkTwain So…I now have a working title (to go with "Elsa") for the boat: "Mid-Life Crisis"... ok…this IS the last post until the wood…   Great quote. Also, remember as you get into the project and you become frustrated over the way things seem to be going…and it will happen at some point… don't let that frustration take the wind out of your sails. (sorry, couldn't resist that one) -Tom   congrats on the new project my son just came home from spending a year at boat building school at port hadlock, wa. if you need any pointers we live in Napa…   Hey Matt, if you have some 1/4" or 1/2" plywood approx. 6" wide and however long you need and a straight board 2-1/2" wide you can make a nice rip fence for your saw. Screw the straight board or ( 3/4"x 2-1/2" wide plywood ) to the 1/4" plywood. Run your saw along the straight edge cutting off the excess 1/4" plywood. This makes the straight board parrallel to 1/4" ply. To use, just line up the edge of the ply to your cut marks, clamp the fixture to your ply sheet and run the saw along the the straight board. Just make sure to know which side of the line is the waste side or you might be a saw blade width too short or too long. Scott-   looks like a challenge ! fun stuff Buddy !   ?             107.2K members Top Contributors this Month Pontoon Boats Personal Watercraft nauticalknowhow Nautical Knots Tools and Calculators Reviewing the Best Sailboats for 2024 Eagle Class 53 Catalina 22 Sport For some, there are fewer things in the world that trump the sheer joy you get from enjoying some water sports . There’s something so surreal about floating in the middle of the sea, surrounded by water on all sides stretching out to infinity. It’s truly a sight to behold. Now, if you thought the feeling you get onboard a basic motor-powered boat was exhilarating, you haven’t had the sailboat experience . There’s no better way to enjoy nature than cruising stealthily through the water silently, using nothing but the wind to propel you forward. Now, that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you take in the majesty and magnificence of the sea. If you’re in the market for a new boat, we’ve put together a comprehensive review of the best sailboats, as well as a buying guide to help you pick the right one. The Eagle Class 53 is specially designed to deliver the high performance of a competitive racing beast to the recreational user. Its core is all-carbon and is capable of achieving top speeds of 25 to 35 knots in light wind conditions. For a leisurely weekend cruise on the open water, the Eagle has a pretty spacious cockpit that’s outfitted with a hard-carbon bimini to keep the sun out on hot days. It offers plenty of padded seating and even comes with an onboard wet bar aft. It doesn’t get any better than that.  Fast forward composites  → ● Has a carbon-fiber wing that can rotate 360 degrees ● Ideal for competitive and recreational sailing ● Hybrid wing allows for excellent control even in high winds ● The aft-helm configuration may impede the visibility of the opposite bow You don’t have to break the bank to become a sailboat owner, nor do you have to settle for a used one either. You can get a fantastic sailboat that’s fresh-off-the-factory and fully-loaded with all the latest gear and boating accessories, for anywhere between $20,000 and $100,000. The Catalina 22 Sport is a prime example of a swanky-looking sailboat that costs under $40,000. It comes with a retractable keel and is ideal for family racing. Its standard features include a roller-furling jib, fractional rig, in addition to an open cabin that has enough room to sleep a small family of four. It also comes with an efficient mast-raising system for easy launching. ● Great value for money ● Ideal for small families ● Efficient mast-raising system ● Interior upholstery looks a bit dated Tiwal 3 (Best Inflatable Sailboat) If you’re new to the sailing world, an inflatable sailboat might be what you need to get started. They are lightweight, easy to store, and don’t cost nearly as much as conventional sailboats do. Tiwal 3 is a great option for both kids and adults. The hull is high-pressure inflated, making it almost as rigid as a regular epoxy one. It has a 56-foot squared sail that can withstand high winds of up to force 4 and offers a surprising amount of power for its mast height. ● Affordable ● Ideal for beginners ● Compact and portable ● Does not come with comfort and convenience amenities Beneteau Oceanis 38 Weekender (Best Weekender Sailboat) The best thing about a weekender is the fact that it allows you to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to spend a couple of days on the water. The Beneteau Oceanis 38 Weekender is the perfect sailboat for this. It comes with the option of a two/three-cabin plan, fitted galley, helmsman’s seats, shower, and an additional inside/outside table. The saloon and the master stateroom are separated by a removable bulkhead that can be installed to partition the space if you need more privacy.  Beneteau  → ● Ideal for a family weekend getaway ● Beautiful interior fittings ● Removable bulkhead for added privacy ● May not be suitable for an extended stay Marlow-Hunter 22 (Best Daysailer) If you’re not looking for a 30-foot plus sailboat with a galley and built-in bunks, then a daysailer is precisely what you need to hit the open ocean, enjoy a day out, and head back home when you’re done. The Marlow-Hunter 22 is the perfect daysailer for you and your family/friends, with excellent overnighting capability if you need it. It has a big enough cockpit for the crew and can comfortably accommodate up to five people at any given time. Standard features include a laminated fiberglass deck and hull, twin bunks, a hydraulic raising centerboard, and non-skid flooring.  Marlow Hunter  → ● Perfect for day sailing ● Has overnighting capability ● It is quite affordable compared to other sailboats in its class ● Sleeping quarters can get a bit cramped Hobie Mirage Adventure Island (Best Multihull Sailboat) The Hobie Mirage Adventure Island is a multihull sailboat built for adventure. It has a built-in retractable centerboard that comes in handy to prevent lateral slip, and a 16-foot long vertically-battened mainsail to give you the lift you need to propel you forward. You might also like the built-in multiple storage hatches for long days spent out on the water and the fully-adjustable Vantage CT Seating for extra comfort. Standard features include roller furling mainsails, ST Turbo kick-up fins, pivoting crossbars, and outriggers for added stability on the water. ● Easy to transport and launch ● Paddling option for non-windy days on the lake ● Molded-in rod-holders are perfect for anglers ● Not designed for very tall individuals, particularly when the sail is furled Living on the water and cruising around the world is, no doubt, an exciting lifestyle. Now, unless you intend to sleep under a canvas tarp, you need to get a sailboat that has a proper cabin. The Oyster 745 is one of the best liveaboard sailboats we’ve come across so far. Standard features include a spacious owner’s cabin, four double en-suite guest cabins, crew quarters, forced air ventilation, a flush teak deck, ample storage, large tankage, and lots more. It also has a Cummins turbocharged engine, which comes in handy during windless days.  Oyster  → ● Spacious enough for a large family and small crew ● Excellent ventilation ● Has an engine for windless days ● Price is on the higher end of the spectrum West Wight Potter 19 (Best Trailerable Sailboat) If you’re looking for a small sailboat that you can easily tow from your house to the sea, the West Wight Potter 19 is the ultimate trailer cruiser. It offers exceptional stability and handling and looks stunning while doing it. It is designed with a fully retractable galvanized keel, which makes it ideal for going ashore in remote areas. Standard interior features include four sleeping berths, ample lockable storage, main and lapper sails, marine cooking stove, sink, faucet, porta-potty, adjustable transom motor mount, and lots more.  West Wight Potter  → ● Trailerable ● Plenty of comfort and convenience features and amenities ● Unsinkable design ● The hull has hard chines J/Boats J/97E (Best Performance Cruiser) If you’re in the market for a high-performance sailboat with cruising capability, then you’ll love the J/Boats J/97E . It is easy to drive, provides excellent handling and unmatched stability even in rough sea conditions. The cockpit is one to behold. It has standard tiller/wheel steering, an open transom, and full-length seats with backrests. The retractable bowsprit comes with a spinnaker allowing you to get the best performance out of your boat without having to retain skilled crew. It can comfortably accommodate 3-4 people in the sleeping quarters and has the option of adding a boom tent to further expand the living space.  Jboats  → ● High performance cruising capability ● Excellent stability ● Ideal extended stay ● No designated owner’s cabin Buyer’s Guide to Choosing the Best Sailboats Sailboats don’t come cheap. So, if you end up buying the wrong one, well, let’s just say you’re stuck with it. It is, therefore, very important that you take your time and apply some logic to avoid regret later on. Here are the major factors you need to consider when choosing the best sailboats. 1. Size of the Boat The first thing you need to consider is the size of the boat you need. Do you intend to be cruising in the company of friends and family, or do you plan to do it by yourself? Will you have a crew with you when you embark on your sailing expeditions, or will it be purely for entertainment? Will you be living in your boat full-time, or do you intend to use it only on the weekends? The answers to these questions will determine the size of the boat you’ll need. Bigger Isn’t Always Better Many first-time boat buyers often make the mistake of thinking that getting a large boat is the best decision since they plan to have it for decades to come. They look for one that will meet every single one of their present and future needs. Here are a couple of reasons why bigger isn’t always better when buying a sailboat. Safety considerations – You require a substantial amount of skill to operate a large boat. If you’re not all that skilled and end up purchasing a big boat, you’re essentially endangering your life and that of the other boaters. Learning curve – It’s easier to pick up on the nuances of operating a smaller sailboat than it is a larger one since the feedback you get is almost instant. This makes it easier to learn as you work your way up to larger vessels. The learning curve on a big boat, however, is pretty steep, and critical errors can cost you a lot more than you bargained for. Associated costs – The rule of thumb to remember is: The larger a boat is, the higher its associated costs will be. Don’t buy a boat designed for the open seas if you intend to be using it on small bays. Low resale value – There’s also the risk of buying a boat that’s too big, only to regret your decision a few short sails later. The unfortunate reality is – you might be stuck with it for several years to come since it’s quite difficult to sell large vessels. 2. Boating Location Next, you need to think about is – where you’ll be boating. Sailing on Lake Michigan, for instance, is vastly different from sailing on the Atlantic. The same logic applies when boating on smaller rivers. If the water isn’t deep enough, based on how far down into the water your keel goes, let’s just say you’ll be in for an unpleasant grounding experience. You need to pick the right vessel for the environment you’ll be sailing in. 3. Boating Experience If this is your first-ever sailboat (or any boat for that matter), then going with a large model is probably not the best thing. We’ve all heard the horror stories of people who purchased boats that were too big, only for them to end up losing control of their vessels in the open water. We recommend starting small and working your way up from here as you gain more experience. 4. Use of the Boat We touched a bit on this in the preceding sections. But, in this case, we mean “use” in reference to your budget. If you want to buy a sailboat primarily for entertaining, then you need to get one that’s large enough to host the number of people you intend to have onboard. Keep in mind, though, that it may be at the expense of certain luxury, convenience, and comfort features. Likewise, you might find a sailboat with loads of useful amenities, but without enough space to accommodate the people who might enjoy them. There’s no point in buying a boat that comes with a kitchen and grilling station, but without enough room to accommodate the number of people who might enjoy fresh grilled fish. Or maybe you want a boat that only you will use – in which case you may prefer one with a comfortable and attractive cockpit for yourself, seeing as you’ll be the main person enjoying it. Size generally trumps luxury when buying a sailboat. Then again – it depends on what you intend to use it for. 5. New vs. Used Sailboats The other thing you need to think about is whether you’re buying a new or used sailboat. Each option has its own set of pros and cons. For one thing, buying a brand new boat means that it’s ready to hit the open waters the moment you own it. On the other hand, buying a used sailboat means that you may have to make repairs and upgrades before you can set sail. You also have to think about the costs associated with such repairs and the time required to do all the legwork to get the right gear. So, ensure that you factor in these costs when coming up with your boat budget. That way, you’ll be able to tell if it makes sense to buy a new boat versus a used one, based on the overall cost for each. Don’t buy a lemon that turns into an infinite money-pit all in the name of saving a couple of bucks. What to Check for When Buying a Used Sailboat If you’re going the previously-owned route, here are a couple of things you need to check for before you sign on the dotted line. Deck and hull – Check that the deck and hull are dry and intact. If not, you’ll have to budget for repairs if you go ahead with the purchase. Electrical work – Rewiring a boat is a very complex and expensive process. Get a certified electrician to examine the existing electrical work before you buy a used boat. Engine – It’s always a good idea to bring a mechanic onboard during the purchase process just to make sure that everything is in excellent working condition. They are better-placed to give you a true picture of the boat’s existing state. Safety equipment – Last but not least, you need to keep in mind that insurance service providers usually require sailboats to have a minimum amount of safety equipment onboard. If anything is missing from the boat you’re about to purchase, you will need to buy them, which will no doubt drive up the cost. 6. Recurring Costs The recurring costs associated with owning a sailboat aren’t exactly cheap. Buying the vessel is only one part of the process. You’ll need to pay for insurance, which is more expensive for larger boats. You also need to think about storage costs if you don’t own property on the waterfront. There’s also the cost of docking and mooring at the various locations you visit. So, when calculating your overall budget, don’t forget to factor in these costs as well. Research, Research, Research When looking for the best sailboats, ensure that you do your homework. Otherwise, you could be setting yourself up for years of additional expenses, work, stress, and heartache. Get something ideal for your needs and won’t take up too many resources in maintenance and upkeep. All in all, with the right sailboat, you’re in for one helluva ride! Any of the 9 best sailboats detailed in this guide are excellent options worth looking into. In the meantime, if you’re in the market for a new pontoon boat, check out our comprehensive review on the 10 best pontoon boats . About Chris Outdoors, I’m in my element, especially in the water. I know the importance of being geared up for anything. I do the deep digital dive, researching gear, boats and knowhow and love keeping my readership at the helm of their passions. Categories : Boats Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. More in Boats What Is A Gunwale? 131 of the Best Hawaiian Boat Names 167 Patriotic Boat Names The 138 Best Boat Names for Dog Lovers The People’s Poncho Review and Ratings  Oru Lake Kayak Review About Boatsafe Established in 1998, BoatSafe is your independent guide into the world of boating, fishing, and watersports. We provide expert insights and detailed guides to help you find products tailored to your needs and budget. Contact Boatsafe Address: 4021 West Walnut Street. Rogers, AR 72756 Phone:  (479)339-4795 Email: [email protected] Site Navigation How We Test Corrections Policy Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Editorial Policy Affiliate Disclosure Our Reviews All content is © Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. BOAT OF THE YEAR Newsletters Sailboat Reviews Boating Safety Sails and Rigging Maintenance Sailing Totem Sailor & Galley Living Aboard Destinations Gear & Electronics Charter Resources Ultimate Boating Giveaway Grand Soleil Yachts Unveils Zero-Impact Weekender Sailboat By Cruising World Staff January 22, 2024 Grand Soleil Yachts has announced its Blue concept, a 33-foot weekender conceived for sustainability and efficiency underway. Conceived by Cantiere del Pardo, Grand Soleil Blue gets its exterior and interior design by Nauta Design, with naval architecture by Matteo Polli. Underscoring the builder’s commitment to sustainability and environmentally conscious cruising, Grand Soleil Blue, which is capable of hosting up to four guests overnight, promises both zero environmental impact during sailing and complete recyclability at the culmination of its life cycle. According to the builder, the Blue concept marks a turning point in boat construction by employing thermoplastic resin to address end-of-life recycling, one of the more significant complications in eco-conscious construction methods. Traditionally, composite boats have been built using thermosetting resins, which are very difficult if not impossible to recycle. Thermoplastic resin allows for easier separation of the resin and glass or carbon fibers for re-use or eco-responsible disposal. This smart design approach allows simpler separation of boat accessories and components, similar to end-of-life practices currently being explored in the automotive industry. The process ensures that every part of the Grand Soleil Blue can be effectively disassembled and recycled, minimizing environmental impact. Grand Soleil Blue will feature a lithium battery bank and electric propulsion for zero-emission cruising, contributing to a more sustainable future by reducing emissions. Renewable energy autonomy will be provided through the use of solar panels, which will recharge the battery bank to feed the electric motor. The proposed standard battery pack will allow for a range of approximately 30 nautical miles at around five knots, which translates to six hours of continuous engine operation, or 12 hours with the dual battery pack, in total silence and with zero emissions. The sails are also crafted from thermoplastic materials, further minimizing environmental impact. While underway, the Grand Soleil Blue concept can recharge its batteries through hydrogeneration, converting energy to electricity as the propeller spins in response to the water flow generated by the boat’s speed. The world premiere of the Grand Soleil Blue concept is slated for the 2024 Cannes Yachting Festival. More: Grand Soleil Yachts , Innovators , Nextmarine , Sailboats , Sustainable Sailing More Sailboats New on the Docks: Leopard 46 Sailboat Review: Dufour 41 Pre-Owned: 1988 Hylas 47 Catalina Introduces the 6 Series Surviving the Storm: A Sailor’s Tale of Hurricane Lee Storm-Tossed, Lobster-Blessed: A Culinary Cruising Tale Minimalist Cruising: Georgian Bay by Dinghy Digital Edition Customer Service Privacy Policy Terms of Use Email Newsletters Cruising World Sailing World Salt Water Sportsman Sport Fishing Wakeboarding Great choice! Your favorites are temporarily saved for this session. Sign in to save them permanently, access them on any device, and receive relevant alerts. Sailboat Guide Typhoon 18 (Weekender) Typhoon 18 (Weekender) is a 18 ′ 6 ″ / 5.6 m monohull sailboat designed by Carl Alberg and built by Cape Dory Yachts between 1967 and 1986. 1 / 10 Rye, NH, US 1982 Typhoon 18 (Weekender) USD View 2 / 10 Chaumont, NY, US 1978 Typhoon 18 (Weekender) $5,900 USD View 3 / 10 Rye, NH, US 1982 Typhoon 18 (Weekender) USD View 4 / 10 Chaumont, NY, US 1978 Typhoon 18 (Weekender) $5,900 USD View 5 / 10 Rye, NH, US 1982 Typhoon 18 (Weekender) USD View 6 / 10 Chaumont, NY, US 1978 Typhoon 18 (Weekender) $5,900 USD View 7 / 10 Rye, NH, US 1982 Typhoon 18 (Weekender) USD View 8 / 10 Chaumont, NY, US 1978 Typhoon 18 (Weekender) $5,900 USD View 9 / 10 Chaumont, NY, US 1978 Typhoon 18 (Weekender) $5,900 USD View 10 / 10 Chaumont, NY, US 1978 Typhoon 18 (Weekender) $5,900 USD View Rig and Sails Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations. The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more. Classic hull speed formula: Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL Sail Area / Displacement Ratio A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more. SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3 SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay). D : Displacement in pounds. Ballast / Displacement Ratio A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize. Ballast / Displacement * 100 Displacement / Length Ratio A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more. D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³ D: Displacement of the boat in pounds. LWL: Waterline length in feet Comfort Ratio This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more. Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 ) D: Displacement of the boat in pounds LOA: Length overall in feet Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet Capsize Screening Formula This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more. CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64) The DAYSAILER model has a slightly larger cockpit than WEEKENDER. With nearly 2000 built, this was Cape Dory’s most successful model. Embed this page on your own website by copying and pasting this code. Discover Related Sailboats Typhoon 18 (Daysailer) About Sailboat Guide ©2024 Sea Time Tech, LLC This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. 137 IMAGES Pearson 26 Weekender Typhoon 18 (Weekender) Pearson 26 Weekender Stevenson Weekender Sailboat "Scallywag" Build Part 4 Weekender The Making of a Weekender Sailboat VIDEO Sam's weekender sailboat part 2 Amazing boat fits in a box Stevenson Weekender Sailboat "Scallywag" Build Part 10 Meteora Weekender sailboat, Issyk-Kul 2022 Sailing Video From The Weekender DVD Set Weekender sailboat on Columbia River COMMENTS Weekender T he Weekender is a plywood gaff-sloop pocket yacht designed by Peter Stevenson and first presented to the public in a two-page article in the March 1981 issue of Popular Science magazine. In the decades that have followed, it has been a very popular design. I was drawn to its classic look and simple construction. Eager to learn how to sail—and to find out if my wife would enjoy sailing too ... The Stevenson Projects' Weekender The Weekender has been our most popular boat design for many years, and we understand why: It has a Classic Style, based loosely on the amazginly pretty Friendship Sloops of New England, and the Weekender is a perfect size for "simply messing about in boats"! ... Small Boats Magazine recently published a very thourough review of our Weekender ... Best Small Sailboats, Beginner and Trailerable Sailboats 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. 9 Best Trailerable Sailboats Instead of docking a large boat, you can purchase a small trailerable sailboat. ... The design has been around for over 40 years, and it's served weekender and cruising sailor alike. The Islander 24 is a well-rounded cruising vessel with a spacious cabin for two (or more). The cabin features a forward vee berth, space for a head, and tables ... Concensus on Stevenson's Projects Vacationer and/or Weekender 11-21-2008, 06:32 PM. Re: Concensus on Stevenson's Projects Vacationer and/or Weekender. I guy around here built one, sailed it once, was hugely disappointed, left it on its trailer for a long time (rotting), then tried to sell it for $5K. He ended up donating it to a charity auction where it was bought by a local boat builder for $100 who put ... 7 Best Trailerable Sailboats for Cruising 7 Best Trailerable Cruising Sailboats. Catalina 22/25 "Pop-Top". Com-Pac Horizon Cat for Classic Coastal Cruising. Marshall Sanderling — Small, Portable, Classy. West Wight Potter 19 — The Tiny Go-Anywhere Sailboat. Seaward 26RK with Retractable Lead Keel. Corsair F-24 Trimaran - Sporty Sailing. The Open Weekender There was some precedent for this. Bob Butler, who had already built two Weekenders, built a third Weekender as an open boat, and created my dreamboat. Since the Weekender has no centerboard case (it has a keelson that runs the length of the boat), and is flat bottomed, the flat sole makes every inch of the layout usable. CAPE DORY TYPHOON (WEEKENDER) The WEEKENDER model has a slightly larger sail area than the DAYSAILER. Self-bailing cockpit. Also a cuddy cabin with v-berth and two quarter berths. ... 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 will be reefed often in offshore cruising. Derek Harvey ... The Stevenson Projects Weekender Learn more about this boat in our March 2020 Issue of Small Boats Magazine: https://smallboatsmonthly.com/article/weekender/Subscribe: https://smallboatsmont... Nimbus W9: the weekender/ commuter on test October 7, 2022. Nimbus W9: the all-season weekender. Nimbus has always offered excellent, multi-purpose boats, and this time it seems to have outdone itself. With the W9, the Scandinavian yard offers a compact weekender that still provides all the comforts for a day trip and, why not, for a few more days. In fact, this 9-metre boat, in the ... Sunbeam 29.1 first look: stylish weekender The yard believes there is more of a market in luxurious dayboats and weekenders than basic small cruising yachts. It takes many of its cues from the 32.1 and aims for much the same concept - that of being a boat that's easy to sail, with decent sailing performance and large, open spaces for sailing and socialising despite its diminutive size. Sea Sprite 23 (Weekender) Sea Sprite 23 (Weekender) is a 22′ 6″ / 6.9 m monohull sailboat designed by Carl Alberg and built by Sailstar Boat Co., Beetle Boat Co.(USA), and C. E. Ryder starting in 1958. ... The WEEKENDER has a self-bailing cockpit, the seats are molded in fiberglass, there is a companionway and stairs down into the cabin, the mast is stepped forward ... Review of Weekender Review of Weekender. Basic specs. The Weekender is a sailboat designed by the American maritime architect bureau Sparkman & Stephens in the late thirties. Less than 100 boats have been produced. The Weekender is built by the American yard George Lawley. Experience With Stevenson Weekender? : r/sailing Building a boat is great and fun and very cool and I highly encourage you to do it (and also maybe buy a $800 used oday 14 or something to mess with while building your boat) BUT- given the effort that you are going to put into it, I'd probably avoid the stevenson's projects stuff beyond the basic rowing tender plan they have or the "amphora ... Stevenson Weekender The Stevenson Weekender is a boat that borrows some good ideas from the golden age of working sail, as well as some new wrinkles from space-age materials. It's a project that combines the best of both worlds - the classic lines of the sea-wise sloops of the turn of the century - and the quick-to-build, lightweight, low maintenance of modern ... The Cape Dory Typhoon Used Boat Review The Typhoon is a full keel design with a yacht rather than dinghy like profile and seems larger than she actually is; although, dimensions are a mere 18' 6" LOA, 13' 11" LWL, 6' 3" beam and 2' 7" draft. Displacement is a healthy 1,800 to 2,000 lbs, depending on the model. All Typhoons are solidly constructed of fiberglass cloth and ... Dream daysailers: 13 of the best boats for a great day out on the water 5. B-Yachts B30 / B34. The Brenta B30 is the iconic Italian daysailer. A real looker to keep berthed at your Portofino residence, it has a lightweight carbon/epoxy build and a high ballast ratio ... Stevenson Projects Weekender Sailboat Build COSTS TO DATE: 1) Vacationer Plans and DVD $110. 2) Weekender Plans FREE--stevensons offer a free downgrade in plans if you decide the Vacationer is a bit big to build. 3) Marine Grade Playwood (all sheets) $520 (should not need more) 4) First Lumber Purchase: $656 (this is a big chunk of the wood list-all the pieces 10' more purchased and many ... Reviewing the Best Sailboats for 2024 The Beneteau Oceanis 38 Weekender is the perfect sailboat for this. It comes with the option of a two/three-cabin plan, fitted galley, helmsman's seats, shower, and an additional inside/outside table. ... In the meantime, if you're in the market for a new pontoon boat, check out our comprehensive review on the 10 best pontoon boats. Weekender 24 Weekender 24 is a 24′ 2″ / 7.4 m monohull sailboat designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built by Tidewater Boats starting in 1965. ... Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay). D: ... Fast weekenders: 5 of the most enjoyable June 27, 2016. As the name suggests, a fast weekender is designed to facilitate one of the most enjoyable marine pursuits there is. It's basically a high-performance sports boat that enables you to sleep on board - and with the emphasis on sporting prowess, the accommodation on offer is rarely lavish. On the contrary, even on a premium ... Grand Soleil Yachts Unveils Zero-Impact Weekender Sailboat Grand Soleil's "recyclable" 33-footer is designed to have zero environmental impact while cruising. Grand Soleil's Blue concept is set to premiere at the 2024 Cannes Yachting Festival. Courtesy Grand Soleil. Grand Soleil Yachts has announced its Blue concept, a 33-foot weekender conceived for sustainability and efficiency underway. Typhoon 18 (Weekender) Typhoon 18 (Weekender) is a 18′ 6″ / 5.6 m monohull sailboat designed by Carl Alberg and built by Cape Dory Yachts between 1967 and 1986. ... Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay). D: ... catamaran gulet motorboat powerboat riverboat sailboat trimaran yacht