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    Home / Reviews

    Reviews

    Sub Categories:Boat ReviewsMonohullMultihullBook ReviewsProduct Reviews
    Bob and Cyndi Barclay’s Wind Dancer is a fine example of the Catalina 34, a handsome boat with pleasing proportions.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    Catalina 34

    A spacious coastal cruiser Issue 86: Sept/Oct 2012 Bob Barclay, a professional home inspector, and his wife, Cyndi, owned and sailed a Catalina 28 on Missouri’s Mark Twain Lake. While they both agreed...

    Tom Wells
    June 12, 2026
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    The dark hull of Steve and Diann Cook’s Seafarer 24, Endeavour, emphasizes the classic lines of this nearly 40-year-old design.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    Seafarer 24

    A pretty sturdy trailersailer with a swing keel Issue 87 : Nov/Dec 2012 The lovely lines of the dark blue hull caught my eye one weekend while sailing on Lake Mendota near Madison, Wisconsin. I said t...

    Allen Penticoff
    June 12, 2026
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    Comparison chart between Southern Cross 31, Westsail 32, and Pacific Seacraft 31
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    The Southern Cross 31 . . .

    . . . and two more true double-enders Issue 87 : Nov/Dec 2012 In the September 2012 issue we looked at three “second generation” cruising boats that had fin keels and separate rudders on handsome cano...

    Rob Mazza
    June 11, 2026
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    Designers have drawn many versions of the canoe stern. K. Aage Nielson’s Snow Star, at left, has tumblehome and a real canoe pinch, while Bill Crealock’s Pacific Seacraft 37, at right, is closer to the Albert Strange model.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    Double-enders and canoe sterns

    They grew from similar philosophies but have roots an ocean apart Issue 86: Sept/Oct 2012 When selecting comparison boats for the Pacific Seacraft 34 (see “The Pacific Seacraft 34 . . . and cano...

    Rob Mazza
    June 11, 2026
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    boat comparison spec chart
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    The Pacific Seacraft 34 . . .

    . . . and canoe-stern contemporaries Issue 86: Sept/Oct 2012 This really is a subset of yacht design: canoe-stern fin-keeled cruising boats. I say “canoe stern” rather than “double-ender” because, to ...

    Rob Mazza
    June 11, 2026
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    Dalliance and her owners, Bob and Linda Graebner, have been taking care of each other sailing the Great Lakes for 20 years.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    Dalliance, a Pacific Seacraft 34

    She has aged gracefully with her original owners Issue 86: Sept/Oct 2012 When I think of a good old boat, my first thought is a “rescue,” similar to what occurs in the world of pets. A new owner adopt...

    Bill Jacobs
    June 11, 2026
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    Janet sets the anchor in Bora Bora. Apogee is equipped with a manual anchor windlass with a long handle to provide leverage.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    Apogee, a Southern Cross 31

    Her name is symbolic of a cruise and a career Issue 87 : Nov/Dec 2012 George Smith began reading about boats when he was in grade school. As he grew older, his reading focused more on sailing books, e...

    Don Launer
    June 11, 2026
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    For John and Pam Cappitelli, the sheltered Caloosahatchee River on Florida’s west coast is an ideal cruising ground to explore in their MacGregor 26X.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    MacGregor 26X

    A versatile trailerable that’s as divisive as it is popular Issue 90: May/June 2013 Perhaps there will never be a more controversial sailboat to appear on the pages of Good Old Boat than the MacGregor...

    Allen Penticoff
    June 10, 2026
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    Vermont’s Lake Memphremagog provides a verdant background for Windshadow, a Capri 25. Her owners, Rob and Bonnie Geisler, below, restored her (and her color) from a “largely ignored” condition.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    Capri 25

    A fast club racer that accommodates four adults Issue 88 : Jan/Feb 2013 Rob Geisler needed a new sailboat. Not a new boat as in brand-new, but new as in bigger. He had graduated from a 13-foot Styrofo...

    Fred Bagley
    June 9, 2026
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    O’Day 37 picture
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    O’Day 37

    A low-profile high-value center-cockpit Issue 88 : Jan/Feb 2013 Founded by George O’Day, an Olympic gold medalist and crew on two successful America’s Cup defenders, the O’Day Corporation was at one t...

    Gregg Nestor
    June 9, 2026
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    Under reefed mainsail and partially furled genoa, the Cal 39 Mk II, Boomerang, owned by Charles and Gina Strasburger of St. Michaels, Maryland, struts her stuff on Chesapeake Bay.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    Cal 39 Mk II

    A fast and well-built Bill Lapworth design Issue 89 : Mar/Apr 2013 Each year, my wife, Sandy, and I look forward to early October, when we head for Annapolis and the U.S. Sailboat Show. Our fall 2012 ...

    Tom Wells
    June 5, 2026
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    Catalina 27, C&C 27 Mk I & II, and Ericson 27 comparison chart
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    The Catalina 27. . .

    . . . and its club-racer contemporaries Issue 89 : Mar/Apr 2013 Almost every production builder in the late 1960s and early ’70s initially entered the market with a 27-footer, if not as its first boat...

    Rob Mazza
    June 5, 2026
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    Jim Hildinger, above, is more interested in sailing his Catalina 27, Cadenza, than in spiffing her up. In the cold fresh waters of Lake Tahoe, does she need fancy bottom paint anyway?
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    Cadenza, Jim Hildinger’s Catalina 27

    She’s a modern example of “working sail” Issue 89 : Mar/Apr 2013 We began thinking of them as “the Tahoe Four.” There are other winter sailors on Lake Tahoe but this is the core group. Jim Hildinger i...

    Karen Larson
    June 5, 2026
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    John Vokaty and his daughter Judy in Poise demonstrate the Westerly Centaur’s light-air sailing prowess on Lake Michigan.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    Westerly Centaur

    A stout bilge-keeler from across the pond Issue 91 : Jul/Aug 2013 What were you doing in 1975? John Vokaty, then 48 years old, was working in corporate accounting when his wife, Helen, strongly sugges...

    Allen Penticoff
    June 4, 2026
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    Mystic, a C&C 30, shows off her pert sheer while sailing under the spinnaker her owners, Good Old Boat’s Karen Larson and Jerry Powlas, built from a Sailrite kit. The kayak they use for ship-to-shore excursions and exploring takes up some deck space but doesn’t hamper the sailing activities.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    The C&C 30 Mk I

    A solid, dependable racer/cruiser that’s just plain fun to sail Issue 91 : Jul/Aug 2013 Boat reviewers are tasked with finding a good example of the subject boat to sail and photograph. When the C&amp...

    Tom Wells
    June 4, 2026
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    C&C designs are easily recognized with their somewhat aggressive lines that suggest performance above the average. The C&C 34+ is no exception, and Intuitive, owned by Paul and Cheryl Vesetinski, carries the look boldly in her dark blue livery.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    C&C 34+

    A fast racer/cruiser from the early ‘90s Issue 90: May/June 2013 C&C Yachts enjoys a hard-won reputation for building strong, high-performance sailboats without neglecting cruising amenities or ap...

    Richard Smith
    June 4, 2026
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    Comparison chart between Morgan 34, Tartan 34C, and Pearson 35
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    The Morgan 34 . . .

    . . . and two fellow CCA keel/centerboarders Issue 91 : Jul/Aug 2013 I have to admit to having a prejudice toward keel/centerboarders — possibly due the fact that I own one — so I’m pleased to be look...

    Rob Mazza
    June 3, 2026
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    O’Tay Too, Dave Pickard’s Morgan 34, presents her fine profile on Tampa Bay.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    O’Tay Too, a Morgan 34

    A fine example of Morgan Yachts’ debut design Issue 91 : Jul/Aug 2013 In July 2011, Dave Pickard of Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, Florida, was walking out of the locker room having just won anothe...

    Bill Jacobs
    June 3, 2026
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    Mark and Suzanne Nye sail their Nimble Arctic 25, Baby Grande, on Florida’s St. Johns River, where it can sometimes get cold enough in winter for them to appreciate the shelter offered by the pilothouse.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    Nimble Arctic 25

    It’s neither mediocre nor boring Issue 98: Sept/Oct 2014 We go to Florida in January to get away from the cold north, but Florida weather conditions allowed the boat I tested near Jacksonville to live...

    Allen Penticoff
    June 2, 2026
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    Henry and Linda McKevitt use Linda Lee, their Gemini 105M, for cruising the mostly shallow waters around Florida’s west coast.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Multihull
    • Reviews

    Gemini 105M

    A popular cruising catamaran Issue 92 : Sept/Oct 2013 When Henry and Linda McKevitt traded in their S2 9.2 center cockpit in October 2011, they had been looking for a comfortable boat for cruising the...

    Allen Penticoff
    June 2, 2026
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    Don and Sheila Brown’s Pearson 34-2 sails like a, well, Banshee, top of page. The wide sidedecks benefit from inboard shrouds, above.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    The Pearson 34-2

    A handsome cruiser with highly evolved amenities Issue 92 : Sept/Oct 2013 Pearson Yachts updated several of its more popular designs in the late 1980s, releasing them as what is commonly referred to a...

    Gregg Nestor
    May 29, 2026
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    ScreenshotDick Osborn sails his Hunter 29.5, Wind Dancer, on Puget Sound. The boat is representative of Hunter Marine’s sailboats with their distinctive styling.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    The Hunter 29.5

    Innovative design and a voluminous interior Issue 93 : Nov/Dec 2013 Hunter Marine builds enough boats, about 2,000 a year, to make it one of the leading producers of sailboats in the world. The compan...

    Richard Smith
    May 29, 2026
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    Statistics for the Nauticat 36, Nautilus 36, and Pearson 36
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    Pilothouses and performance

    Evaluating three variations on a theme Issue 93 : Nov/Dec 2013 In the article, “Defining a Pilothouse,” in the September 2013 issue, we looked at how the aft end of a sailboat’s coachroof is designed ...

    Rob Mazza
    May 27, 2026
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    Picture of The O’Day 322
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    The O’Day 322

    A spacious and comfortable wing-keel cruiser Issue 93 : Nov/Dec 2013 A certain connection draws some sailors back to favored nameplates. Such was the case for Jeff and Liz Fleenor. Jeff was a longtime...

    Tom Wells
    May 27, 2026
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    Picture of Freedom 38
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    Freedom 38

    A well-built sloop with an unstayed mast Issue 94 : Jan/Feb 2014 Frustrated with the sailboat offerings of the time, Garry Hoyt decided to do something about it. The former advertising executive and c...

    Gregg Nestor
    May 22, 2026
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    Jack and Anneke Wolf sail their Islander 36, Trillium, on Muskegon Lake, Michigan. The sleek lines of this 40-year-old design have lost none of their appeal.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    The Islander 36

    An innovative design that’s fast and fun Issue 95 : Mar/Apr 2014 Jack Wolf caught the sailing bug at the age of 18 aboard a friend’s 32-foot Columbia Sabre. He later owned and sailed trailerable boats...

    Tom Wells
    May 22, 2026
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    After a long hiatus, Lenny and Carla Corin are rediscovering sailing in their Montgomery 17, Orli.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    Montgomery 17

    A handsome and seasoned trailer-sailer Issue 95 : Mar/Apr 2014 Lenny and Carla Corin sailed Sunfish and Sailfish on the East Coast when they were teenagers. Then, as Carla puts it, “life and children”...

    Ferd Johns
    May 20, 2026
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    Comparison chart between the Clipper 36, Cabo Rico 34, and Gozzard 31
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    The Cheoy Lee Clipper 36 . . .

    . . . and two more classic clippers Issue 95 : Mar/Apr 2014 The most obvious design feature of the Bill Luders Cheoy Lee Clipper 36 is the pronounced clipper bow, which is synonymous with the name of ...

    Rob Mazza
    May 20, 2026
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    Alberg 30s Skybird, Windswept, and Argo, top of page, fight for an advantage during a race on Chesapeake Bay in 2010. David and Renee Cooper explored the coast of Spain in Cookin in 2002, at left. When Chesapeake Bay Alberg 30s get together, at right, they do so in good numbers.
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    The Alberg 30 turns 50

    Events will celebrate a classic’s half century Issue 96 : May/Jun 2014 The Alberg 30 class is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. In the early 1960s, Whitby Boat Works, Ltd., a Canadian manufa...

    Rolph Townshend
    May 19, 2026
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    Picture of Gulf 32, Sabine F
    • Boat Reviews
    • Monohull
    • Reviews

    Gulf 32

    A sturdy sailing motorsailer Issue 96 : May/Jun 2014 Capital Yachts, the builder of the Gulf 32, was formed in 1971 by Jon Williams and Bill Smith when they bought the tooling for the Newport line of ...

    Richard Smith
    May 15, 2026
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    123...29

    Featured Posts

    1In fresh paint, at left, Jim’s Morgan 24 looks vastly better than when he bought her, at right. The bulkhead repair prompted Jim to remove the counter, bottom left, and install seating in its place, bottom right.
    Yachting for pennies
    June 12, 2026
    2David’s fuel polisher gives him a second line and replaces the Baja when decanting from fuel cans.
    Fuel-polishing system
    June 12, 2026
    3In July 2010, floating behind Cormorant at anchor in Paros, Greece, the dinghy still looks great.
    RIB wrap
    June 12, 2026
    4The schematic shows the layout of the various and sundry components of the heating system.
    Hot water, warm boat
    June 12, 2026
    5Burry’s diesel fireplace awaits the New York winter. The heat shield protects the bulkhead from heat given off by the flue all the way up to the headliner. The damper halfway up is needed for gusty winds.
    Installing a cabin heater
    June 12, 2026
    6Kate, at left, is an International 12-Meter built in 2006 to a 1906 design. Although she doesn’t have the retractable topmast and bowsprit of the Bristol Channel pilot cutters from the same period, her rig is very similar in other respects.
    What is a cutter?
    June 12, 2026
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