2012

Best Boats 2012: Bavaria 32

by Peter Nielsen, Posted August 29, 2011

The smallest member of Bavaria’s new Farr-designed Cruiser series, the Bavaria 32 has a wide beam carried well forward and a full 6ft of headroom in the saloon. Careful styling, though, has produced a cruiser that looks good under sail, belying all that interior volume. The boat’s large, sturdy flip-down swim platform will serve up plenty of fun at anchor.

Best Boats 2012: Harbor 30

by Peter Nielsen, Posted August 29, 2011

Here is a sweet-looking daydailer-cum-weekender that combines traditional good looks with the fine build quality that W. D. Schock boats are known for. The Harbor 30 has cozy accommodations for four, with an enclosed head/shower and a tidy galley. A fractional rig with self-tacking jib promises easy handling.

Best Boats 2012: J/70

by Peter Nielsen, Posted August 26, 2011

The latest J/Boats design updates the venerable J/22 and offers something new as the company’s first ramp-launchable keelboat. This latest entry into the sport-boat market features a vertically lifting bulb keel, a carbon fiber single-spreader rig that flies a masthead A-sail and a large open-transom cockpit with dedicated stowage for an outboard motor.

Best Boats 2012: Marblehead 22

by Peter Nielsen, Posted August 26, 2011

Built in wood/epoxy by Samoset Boatworks in Maine, this little beauty is designed by Doug Zurn. Its big square-topped mainsail is set on a freestanding carbon spar and wishbone boom, which really sets it apart from the crowd. samosetboatworks.comSPECSLOA: 22ft, 9in LWL: 18ft, 8in Beam: 6ft, 10in Draft: 3ft,

Best Boats 2012: RS Venture

by Peter Nielsen, Posted August 26, 2011

The latest from the UK-based dinghy and performance-skiff manufacturer RS Sailing, the new 16-foot Venture dinghy serves equally well as a daysailer, trainer or club racer. The boat’s huge cockpit can fit a half-dozen people and includes storage space in a rear locker for an outboard engine. An internal ballast option provides additional stability, making the boat nearly self-righting should it

Best Boats 2012: Topaz 14 CX

by Peter Nielsen, Posted August 26, 2011

Small beach cats are always good for some fun sailing, and this new 14-footer promises to combine thrills with user-friendliness. Designed by top European multihull sailors Rob White and Yves Loday, the Topaz 14 CX comes with a choice of rigs that take it from perky singlehander to red-hot twin-trapeze racer.