Hanse Yachts in Greifswald, in eastern Germany, was little heard of until the 1990s, when reunification allowed the yard to break into the worldwide production-boat market. Hanse has built fast cruising boats from 31 to 41 feet and recently launched its largest model, the 53-foot 531 that I tested off Cannes, France, this summer.On DeckThe 531’s deck layout is
All variable-draft boats depend on a fully deployed keel for windward performance. Walt Schulz of Shannon Yachts set himself the challenge of designing a 32-foot cruising boat that would sail to windward without drawing more than 30 inches. The result is the Shannon Shoalsailer, and Schulz’s beamy design with dual shallow-draft bilge boards reportedly does just that. Schulz says the hull shape is
The MacGregor 26M is the latest version of Roger MacGregor’s successful MacGregor 26X. This remarkable 26-footer can reportedly log speeds of over 21 knots under power, float in 12 inches of water, and sleep six. It has a galley and an enclosed head. Stability under sail comes from 300 pounds of permanent ballast, 1,150 pounds of easily removable water ballast in the hull, and a narrow
The Catalina 250 Centerboard has some unusual features for a pocket cruisera built-in swim ladder and stern-pulpit seats. And it has the essentials: an easy-to-fill water-ballast system, a spacious cockpit and accommodation plan, a big kick-up rudder and a durable centerboard, and a stove, sink, and a bit of counter space in the galley. There is also a private head compartment. You’ll be amazed
Not all pocket cruisers are water-ballasted. The Jim Taylor-designed Precision 23 achieves stability with fixed ballast and a shallow keel/centerboard configuration. With the board up the minimum draft is just under 2 feet; draft increases to 5 feet, 4 inches with the board down. The Precision also bucks pocket-cruiser convention in that it has a conventional cabin-top and legitimate side decks.
The True Wind 32 presents an interesting amalgamation of features. It’s a 32-foot cat with a rigid open bridgedeck and is built to sail faster than wind speed in the right conditions, to provide the amenities of a pocket cruiser, and to be capable of easily folding up onto a street-legal trailer.During my test on Florida’s Biscayne Bay in 10 knots of breeze and flat water, we hit 8 knots on
The Chuck Paine-designed Cabo Rico 42 has an excellent reputation as a bluewater cruising boat. Its full underwater profile, sturdy good looks, and quality craftsmanship have helped instill confidence in offshore sailors for years, but only if they were willing to brave the elements in the aft cockpit. With the introduction of the Cabo Rico 42PH, offshore sailors can now order a 42 with a
All my days on the water should be as perfect as the day we took a Dufour 34 out for a spin after the Miami Boat Show. We caught the back end of a February cold front that produced steady 12-to-15-knot northerly winds, sunny skies, and comfortable temperatures. As we motored out of the marina, it was obvious that I couldnt have scheduled this test any better. The smallest boat in the revamped,
The recent proliferation of large cruising catamarans has been well documented, but there is also an increasing number of smaller performance catamarans that offer modest living accommodations for go-fast racer/cruiser types. One of the most interesting of these is the Raider 30, a very sleek craft that was born four years ago in Australia and debuted in the U.S. early last year. There
The British are coming! The British are coming! Actually, it’s the British-built, Reichel/Pughdesigned Seaquest 36. After a successful launch and wins notched in races all over Europe, the Seaquest 36replete with narrow-chord bulb keel, high-octane sailplan, weight-saving interior, and impressive polar numbershas arrived. It’s a flat-out racing design concerned more with
Every sailor has a Covid story, many involving themselves—or their boats—getting stuck where and when they least expected. I am willing to bet, however, that
How do you answer the second most unanswerable question?
A Top 10 Winner for 2025, the latest from J/Boats is a racer/cruiser worthy of the term.
Nobody likes a stinky boat. Here’s how to identify and deal with the major culprits.
When it comes to displays, there are as many layouts and preferences as there are sailors, but B&G considers the latest 12- and 15-inch displays
They’d never seen an old boat look so new.
A well-trimmed sailboat is a beautiful thing. Here’s how to make the most of the tools at hand.
Three days aboard a Lagoon catamaran reminds one sailor of what he’s always loved most about being on the water.
Never Count on Neptune. A dubious decision opened the door for mischief— and Neptune waltzed right in.
Diversifying ways to generate power onboard without using fossil fuels, and maximizing that power generation, is the holy grail of sailors who want energy independence,
