Telstar 28
Though a predecessor went by the Telstar name in the '80s, the T2 is brand new in every sense.
C&C 29
Produced in two decidedly different versions, this boat sold well behind the C&C name. The original MK I design was a good light-air boat, but was a handful in heavy air.
Catalina 350
The 350 follows the lead of the successful 310, with well-designed space in the saloon, and more comfort for fewer crew. Our test sail was slow, partly due to a battenless main.
Newport 41
Derived from C&C's Redline 41, this design had a long and successful production run. It lacks some of the amenities of 'full-volume'modern boats belowdecks, but is a tough, fast, seakindly boat offshore.
Santa Cruz 27
Bill Lee's first production boat set a standard for fast, lightweight keelboats that are easily sailed by a small crew.
Freedom 30
A collaboration between Garry Hoyt on the marketing side and Gary Mull on the design, and built tough by Tillotson-Pearson, this boat, while not quick in light air, is a total cinch to sail.
Corsair 36
The new Corsair is a fast cruising platform, light and bright belowdecks, but with a bit less elbow room than you'd find on a 36-foot monohull, and pricy. For many, these are worthy trade-offs.
Express 27
A boat both of and ahead of its time, the Express 27 is one of the legendary combinations of Carl Schumacher design and Terry Alsberg construction—and proof that quality keeps its value.
C&C 99
One of a handful of production boats built today with epoxy resin in the laminate, this is a good-looking, fast racer/cruiser from Tim Jackett.
Gemini 105Mc
This is the third version of an already thoughtful design that Tony Smith has been tweaking for years. It's a spacious, stable platform for a fast-cruising couple.
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Latest Sailboat Review
Island Packet Estero Used Boat Review
Florida-based Island Packet targets a relatively narrow niche, so the toughest competitors to its new boats are often older Island Packets. Introduced in 2010, the 36-foot, shoal-draft Estero is the company’s latest attempt to introduce a distinctive model that doesn’t stray too far from the company’s proven formula for success: moderate displacement, full-keel cruisers designed to be lived on, sailed far and in comfort, and endure the bumps, scrapes, and storms that cruising boats inevitably encounter. After sailing the Estero on Florida’s Sarasota Bay and inspecting its interior, construction, and systems, Practical Sailor testers noted that the shoal-water cruiser will appeal strongest to Island Packet fans who’ve been waiting for a shoal-draft, easy-to-sail boat that compares to the IP37 in terms of interior space. These strengths will be most apparent on intracoastal or riverine adventures like the Great Loop.