Pelican 24

Description

The Pelican 24' Auxiliary Cruiser is a wooden sailboat designed by Samuel S. Rabl (S.S. Rabl) as a simple, seaworthy coastal cruiser for family day sailing, weekend overnights, and light coastal passages on protected waters. Introduced in 1946 as part of Rabl's "Twenty Boat Plans" series and featured in his seminal book Boatbuilding in Your Own Backyard, it was conceived during the post-WWII wooden boat revival, targeting amateur builders with its economical, easy-to-construct design using basic tools and materials like plywood or planking. Rabl, a self-taught naval architect and author (1895–1977), emphasized backyard boatbuilding for everyday sailors, and the Pelican exemplifies his philosophy of practical, affordable craft with good seakeeping for its size. Production was plans-based only (no factory boats), with a few dozen amateur builds, including modifications for island freighting (e.g., Bahamas cargo carriers). The design features a wooden monohull with a long keel and transom-hung rudder for stable tracking, a moderate beam for stability, and a masthead sloop rig for straightforward sail trim in moderate winds, with a heavy displacement/length ratio for a comfortable ride and a high ballast ratio for stiffness in gusts.