five boats from the shoulda/coulda list…

What you’d expect from a guy who cheats at golf, a July 4th takeaway, and in the “Tall ship WTF on steroids” department…

Way back when I was stupid and single there were some boats I didn’t get. Though, with the application of hindsight, maybe I should have. For starters there’s the Pacific Seacraft 25-2. A cutter rigged version of the PC25. A friend of mine who lived in Marina Del Rey had one and it was an awesome small boat you could easily see yourself sailing off into the sunset with.

I had a chance to buy one at a deep discount but I wound up getting a job 2000 miles away. Today, I saw there was one selling for $3k in Seattle. I wonder if it might have been the boat I was considering all those years ago.

Here’s another one, a Pearson Vanguard.

There was a Vanguard for sale in the marina whose mast had fallen down do to rot and iffy rigging. It became affordable since it needed a new mast and rig. Sadly, I equated building spars akin to rocket science. Nowadays, being less stupid I’ve realized building spars is well within anyone’s grasp.

Bummer that. However today one can buy such a beast with a mast that works for around $4K.

Then there’s this design by Lyle Hess…

I never had an opportunity to buy a Balboa 26. It’s certainly the sort of boat I would have considered. Shoal draft and at least ten years ahead of it’s time. Certainly not what you’d expect Lyle would be designing. The few I’ve seen over the years seem to be selling for somewhere between $2-4K.

One boatyard I think is underrated is Cape Dory and there’s a lot to be said for the Cape Dory 30C.

I had the chance to look at one of these in the Florida Keys when I was inspecting another boat we were considering. It knocked my socks off. It had a bigger boat feel and the ergonomics were such that it fit like a glove. Not your usual bleach bottle plastic boat.

How could I make a list like this without a design by Philippe Harlé?

I almost didn’t. It’s too hard to choose between the Muscadet, Tonic, Sangria, and his plywood Punch catamarans. So, went with his popular design the Fantasia. I remember seeing one for sale at the Bastille and it was love at first sight. I’ll be truthful and point out it was actually a Sangria NV which was the initial name but was discarded for Fantasia. Harlé’s habit was to name his designs for drinks. Being, I was in my broke in Paris days so the Fantasia was out of my price range.

So, there you have it, five boats that are mostly ignored. All special. All better than most.

Anyway, all five boats are worth checking out.