Sailboat Reviews

Fiberglass boatbuilding really hit its stride in the 1970s, and a lot of big-time boatbuilders were pumping out a lot of good boats. Although boats 30-plus years old are a little long in the tooth, a 1970s fiberglass boat that has been well taken care of is an excellent starting point in a search for an affordable used boat. Those searching for a $10,000 to $20,000 sailboat would do well to search for a fiberglass cruiser from the 1970s. Practical Sailor examines nine models of 30-year-old 30-foot sailboats that are fun to sail, have sufficient accommodations for a family cruiser, and are plentiful on the open market. Among a field including the C&C 30, Cal 2-30, Hunter 30, Irwin Competition 30, Newport 30 PH-II, and the O’Day 30, the Pearson 30, Tartan 30, and Catalina 30 stand above the others. A close look at these three used boats—the Sparkman & Stephens-designed Tartan, the racer/cruiser Pearson, and the well-rounded family boat, the Catalina—offers an idea of what to look for and what to expect when you’re searching those used-boat classifieds.

Who can forget that first day? When you finally took command of your new used boat, and, probably with a friend or spouse, sailed it home? If the boat is well used, like the nine boats featured this month ("30s from the 70s," page 8), the odds are great that some mishap enlivened the voyage home. I still have faded photos of my friend Steve Cannon, with his whole head wrapped up in gauze (think Bugs Bunny with a toothache), grinning at the tiller when Tosca finally met the sunlight-spangled waters of Biscayne Bay, Fla., her new home. In his chin were seven stitches, the result of a sharp blow from a slippery fuel dock on the Intracoastal Waterway. Whenever I dig up the photo, I still can smell the diesel in Steves T-shirt-residue from six hours of cycling the boats algae-laden fuel through a home-made filter. Thus began the great adventure.

Born as bluewater cruising boats, the Shannon 37 and Shannon 38 are a few of the designs that made Shannon Yachts a formidable semi-custom boatbuilder. Both boats, traditional designs by Walter Schultz, have relatively heavy displacements and long keels. This makes for comfortable offshore sailing, while their multiple sailplan options make short-handed voyaging possible. This Practical Sailor boat review includes a look at two Shannons: Hull No. 1 of the Shannon 38, owned by circumnavigators Bob Burns and Judi Nester, who completed a 14-year circumnavigation aboard their boat 30 years after it first splashed down in Narragansett Bay, R.I.; and a Shannon 37, Silk, owned by well-known bluewater voyagers Beth Leonard and Evans Starzinger, who finished a three-year circumnavigation aboard Silk. Testers found that the Shannons compare favorably to other full-bodied cruisers, including the Pacific Seacraft, the Cabo Rico 38, and Tayana 37.

The Hanse 400 is a cruising boat for those who love to sail, and a club racer for those who enjoy a summer cruise. Its construction quality and price point qualify it as a cost-effective alternative in the 40-footer marketplace. In comparison to mainstream production cruising boats, the Hanse 400 is an absolute performance standout, not only in its ability under sail, but in its ease of operation. (Photos by Ralph Naranjo)

There is nothing inherently wrong with core construction when it is done right. Over the years, however, Practical Sailor has seen a variety of core failures resulting in costly repair. There are five common types of failure: poor workmanship, excess flex (poor engineering), point loading, bad chemistry, and water intrusion. Even with a generous safety factor, things can still go wrong at the factory. High-tech materials and construction methods do not necessarily solve quality control problems.

Being one of the smallest cruising catamarans on the market brands the TomCat 9.7 (www.tomcatboats.com) “entry level,” but we find that term misleading and unfair. There’s much more to the joy of a sailing catamaran than speedo numbers. The 9.7 might not out-drag most of its rivals, but it can, we think, deliver more of what sailors are after when they turn off the auxiliary. And, in many respects, it makes shoal-water sailing safer and more relaxing. If you’re looking at a Maine Cat 30 or a Gemini 105Mc from Performance Cruising, the TomCat also deserves a look.

The Sydney 36CR reflects the agony and the ecstasy of modern handicap racing. Her designers aim was a durable, sexy, race-ready boat with hassle-free operation and cruiser accommodations. In Practical Sailor testers opinions, the 36CR addresses a very small niche market. Sailed hard and well, it can win races in most places and fleets. But thats not unique. It offers limited, yet realistic cruising, which expands its use. But how close to the top can you expect to get with a 12-year-old design optimized for Antipodean breezes? And is the 36CR enough of a cruiser to make it the dual-purpose boat of your dreams?

With a clear understanding of coastal weather conditions, inshore estuaries, and the cruiser-club racer mindset of potential buyers, Bill Shaw designed boats that met the needs of local sailors. The Pearson 32 was no exception: The 32-footer’s shoal draft stats also come with an efficient foil shape and external lead ballast, providing enough lift and lateral plane to enhance sailing ability both on and off the wind. Add to the mix a respectable sail area-displacement ratio, and it’s clear that this Pearson is more than an oversized pocket cruiser. Envisioned originally as both a club racer and a family cruiser, the boat lives up to expectations.

Eavesdropping at autumn boat shows, always produces some curious snippets of conversation. "I want a boat I can plow into a seawall without any worries," I heard one prospective buyer tell a friend as he surveyed the boats assembled at the Strictly Sail Miami Boat Show last winter. As far as I could see, there was only one boat that fit the bill: a steel-hulled Miami River tug that was pushing Haitian cargo boats just north of the show.

Take an International 110, stretch it out to 39 feet, give it a cambered deck, raised pilothouse, and the interior comforts of a couples cruising boat, and youll have a snapshot of what Container Yachts Far Harbour 39 looks-and in many respects-sails like. If you want a cruising boat that can be boxed and shipped, then the Far Harbour 39 box boat is worth considering. If youre not planning to use your boat this way, then save your $250,000 for a boat that has fewer compromises for the sake of shipping dimensions.