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Are Sailboats Unsinkable? (What’s The Truth?)

Anytime I see a boat that has sunk, I feel a bit of sadness inside. That boat was once filled with joy and now it sits at the bottom of the ocean. Just think at one point that boat was new and in perfect condition and now it is trashed. It’s a very sad sight indeed. When it comes to sailboats, there is a lot of concern about safety and sinking. If your sailboat was taking on water what would you do?

As a general rule consider all sailboats sinkable for safety reasons. There have been a few sailboats designed by Etap that are unsinkable but the majority of all sailboats can sink. Check with your boat’s manufacturer for more information on the build of your vessel.

When it comes to safety always be prepared when your boat is taking on water. Even if you think your boat can’t sink, be prepared if it does. Remember the Titanic?

This article will talk about sailboats and what to do if your boat starts to sink. I will also talk about my personal experience when my Catalina 22 took on a lot of water and almost sank. Let’s talk about that first.

My Experience With A Sinking Sailboat – True Story

I bought my first sailboat back in Idaho, read about it here , about 8 years ago. It was 22 feet and amazing. I didn’t have much experience with sailing or sailboats but I did have a few lessons about sailing before I purchased it.

I spent the early months of the year getting it ready for its slip on the lake in Idaho. Around April, I decided to put it into the water and start my summer sailing. This was a great day, at least at the beginning it was.

I had a couple of friends joining me as well to help celebrate this joyous occasion.

When you put your sailboat in the water there are quite a few things you need to check and one of those things is checking for leaks. I did not do this because I was young and stupid. I did not do enough research about sailboats and how to manage them and this set me up for panic.

We put the boat in the water and motored over to the docks. Everything was going great. Once we got to the docks, we noticed the outboard motor was not spitting out water. Unable to get a good internet connection to research this, we asked other sailors on the dock for help.

People around the sailing marina were extremely friendly and happy to help.

After looking at the engine they decided it was probably a problem down in the prop area that pulls water up into the engine. They suggested driving over to another marina and seeing if they could take a look at it. While we were troubleshooting this engine and from the moment we put the boat in the water, there was a major leak happening that we still had not realized.

I continued to check out the engine because I felt like the problem was something else, something that the previous owner told me about but I forgot. After looking at the hole where the water comes out for some time, I noticed something. There was no hole for the water to come out of. It had a small rubber plug stopping the water. I believe the previous owner put it in when the boat was in storage to keep bugs out. After removing this plug the motor ran great!

But that is when everything started to go into panic mode. After fixing the engine situation, I finally went below deck to organize everything and found the leak. In my Catalina 22, there is a step into the cabin that has a removable wood panel. This is where the battery box sits in the hull of the boat. When I took off that panel the water was already at the top of the opening.

PANIC! The boat was sinking or at least about to sink. I yelled at my friends to drive over to the ramp and get the trailer in the water, I was going to make a run for it in the boat. Thankfully the engine started right up and had decent speed. It was only about 100 yards to the boat ramp but I felt like the boat would go under any second.

Thankfully we were able to get it on the trailer before it went under.

Turns out, the bilge pump had become detached from the hose that dumps over the keel. The force of the water when putting the boat in must have forced it off. It could have been a quick fix if I had just checked when we first got it in the water. Live and learn or just better prepare next time.

I did eventually get the boat leak corrected and back to its slip before the sun went down, but it was a very long day in the end.

What would I have done if it did sink?

How Do You Salvage A Sunken Boat?

There are two ways to salvage a sunken boat, hire a professional or do it yourself. A professional will charge you based on the location and size of your boat, which could cost up to $5000 and beyond. If you do it yourself, you will have to rent or buy the necessary equipment to do it.

Anytime I see a boat that has sunk, I feel a bit of sadness inside. That boat was once filled with a bunch of people having a great time and now it sits at the bottom of the ocean. Just think at one point that boat was new and in perfect condition and now it is trashed. It’s a very sad sight indeed.

If your boat has sunk, time is of the essence. The longer the boat is fully submerged in water the more damage it will take. You need to get it afloat and back to shore as soon as possible.

The first thing you should do is call your insurance company. If you plan on hiring a salvage yard to retrieve your boat, maybe your insurance will help with the cost and be able to recommend a company in the area.

If you want to do it yourself, there is risk involved. The risks involved are safety and more damage to your boat. Since you are not a professional and have probably never retrieved a sunken boat, there is a good chance you could hurt yourself or break the boat even worse. Don’t do this unless you are confident you know what you are doing.

Follow the steps in the next section to retrieve your sunken vessel.

5 Steps To Retreive A Sunken Boat

These steps are a recommendation only and have no guarantee of any kind. Your boat and safety are your responsibility.

You will need a rope or chain to attach the recovery vessel to the sunken vessel. Attach these lines to the strongest parts of the boat to help avoid damage.

Next, you will need some type of flotation device to attach to the sunken boat. Make sure you have multiple floatations to attach to your vessel. Once they are attached you will need to fill them with air. See about bringing an air compressor to fill these underwater. Once they are filled, the boat will rise some.

If at all possible, see if you can do any sort of repairs to the leak/ hole in the boat. This will help new water from entering once it is afloat.

Once the boat is high enough in the water, add pump-out lines to the vessel to start pumping out water. The pumps should be strong enough to pump out enough water (before more gets in) to make the boat reach the surface.

When the boat has reached the surface and seems to be buoyant again, safely and very carefully tow it to shore.

These steps are general and a good starting point if you plan to do it yourself, but please consult an expert if possible.

In Conclusion

This article discussed sailboats and if they are unsinkable. As a general rule, treat all boats as sinkable. Even if the manufacturer says it is not. This will help keep things and people safe when sailing. If your boat does sink, they are a couple of ways to retrieve it, hire a professional or do it yourself. If you plan to do it yourself, please be careful! Cheers!

Boatlifehq owner and author/editor of this article.

45' CENTER CONSOLE

The largest unsinkable boat of its kind, Grady-White sets the standard in luxury fishing boats with this flagship 45-foot center console! The Canyon 456 is an incredibly spacious, technically sophisticated boat built on Grady’s trademark SeaV² ® hull, ranked highest in performance and ride in every J.D. Power and Associates Marine Study ever done. This makes it the driest, softest riding center console on the market. One of the world’s largest center console boats, the 456 is crafted with Grady’s exceptional attention to detail, more richly appointed than other big outboard sportfishing boats and the only one to include the legendary company that stands behind it.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photo gallery.

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat running

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat running at sunset

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat starboard side

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat running with city in background

Grady-White Canyon 456 Center Console Boat Running

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console running with palm trees in background

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat sea command center helm

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat helm layout

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat cockpit

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat console interior facing aft

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat forward seating with tables

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console running starboard

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat cruising

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat running on misty calm water

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing offshore

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat running at sunrise

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing offshore in blue water

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat running fast

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat hooked up

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat running view of stern

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat running carving a turn

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat Sea Command Center seating

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat grilling

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat bow seating with tables

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat bow seating with speakers and tables

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat forward lounge seat

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat windshield

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat bow shade

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat sea command center captain's chairs

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat aft facing sea command seating

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat t-top with color

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat console interior

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat cabin berth

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat integrated rod storage slides

Alt Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat marine safe with touchpad entry

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat galley

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat cabin interior rod storage

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat galley and lower storage

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat galley and upper storage

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat head

Grady-White Canyon 456 45-foot center console fishing boat head rod storage

features & options

Performance, virtual tour, canyon 456 main specifications, beam amidships, 14' (4.27 m), center line length w/o engines, 45' (13.72 m), bridge clearance, 10'5" (3.18 m), cockpit depth, 28" (0.71 m), 30" (0.76 m), transom deadrise, 21 degrees (seav 2® progression), 1800 (1342 kw), fuel capacity - standard, 616 gal. (2,332 l), weight w/o engines, 24,500 lb. (11,113 kg), canyon 456 features & options.

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Denotes feature as trademarked, exclusive, patented, or patent pending

Automatic bilge pumps (2) (total 4,000 GPH) (15,142 LPH)

Basic flotation

Bow grab rails - low profile 316 grade stainless steel

Cockpit stainless steel toe rails

Composite stringer system & transom - water impervious

Fire extinguisher holder

Nonskid fiberglass liner

Self-bailing cockpit w/high-volume scupper system

Stainless steel through-hull fittings

Yamaha Siren Marine Vessel Monitoring System

Cockpit & Deck

100% hand laid SeaV² hull & deck

Anchor windlass w/rode, line, and remote switches at helm & windlass

Batteries (10) w/battery select switches (5) & charger system (3)

Bow thruster

Casting platform

Cleats - flush mount (pull up)

Cockpit bolsters

Cockpit lights - blue LED

Cockpit side doors - port & starboard w/boarding ladder

Deck hardware - 316-grade stainless steel through-bolted

Dockside power w/galvanic isolator & 35' Glendinning retractable shore power cord

Drink holders - stainless steel (12)

Easy up bow shade (ivory mesh)

Electric reel outlets (2)

Electrical system management - CZone® AC & DC digital switching

Engine flush system - Reverso® electronic self-cycling

Factory engine pre-rigging

Fender cleats - Phender Pro™ quick-release

Fish box - 43-qt. (41 l) port bow insulated fish box w/ob drain

Fish box - 123-qt. (116 l) port bow insulated fish box w/ob drain

Fish box - 239-qt. (226 l) starboard bow insulated fish box w/ob drain

Fish box - 459-qt. (434 l) aft insulated refrigerator/freezer fish box w/lights, digitally controlled thermostat & ob drain

Forward bolsters

Fuel capacity - 616-gallons (2,332 l) (2 - 308 gal. tanks)

Generator - 12kW diesel, 30-gallon (114 l) fuel capacity

International lighting

Lighting - underwater blue LED (3)

Livewells - port & starboard aft transom 35-gallon (132 l) insulated raw water livewells w/lights, full column distribution inlets & ob drains (1500 GPH) (5678 LPH)

Rod holders - cockpit (6), bow (4)

Rod storage - 2 lockable rod pods, holds 2 rods each (4)

Rod storage racks - horizontal (6)

Rubrail - high density PVC w/stainless steel insert

Seating - 60" foldaway aft bench seat w/cushion

Seating - port & starboard seating w/multi-position, forward & aft facing foldaway backrests (2)

Stabilizer - Seakeeper® 6 gyroscopic stabilization system

Stereo - Deluxe stereo system w/waterproof touch screen display, AM/FM tuner, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth® connectivity & remote unit; speakers w/LED lights - bow (2), T-top (4); subwoofers - cockpit (2)

Stern eyes - 316 grade stainless steel

Storage - forward anchor locker w/rode storage

Tables - electromechanically adjustable fiberglass bow tables (2)

Trim control - ZipWake® auto-leveling dynamic trim system

Washdown - cockpit freshwater shower (recessed) - aft cockpit w/20' Glendinning retractable hose w/hot & cold mixer

Washdown - cockpit freshwater shower (recessed) - forward w/20' Glendinning retractable hose

Washdown - pressurized raw water

Water heater - 11-gallon (42 l) (includes hot water cockpit shower)

Water reservoir - raw water sea chest

Water tank - 80-gallon (303 l) freshwater

Sea Command Center

Accessory outlet - 5V duplex USB port

Accessory outlet - 12V

Accessory outlet - 110V duplex

Air conditioning - 16,000 BTU w/outlets at helm (4) & aft seats (3)

Cockpit galley starboard w/grill, stainless steel refrigerator & trash compartment

Cooler - 53-qt. (50 l) insulated box w/ob drain (under starboard aft seat)

Drink holders - stainless steel at helm (4) & aft seats (2)

Flush mount electronics area

Footrest - molded console footrest

Footrests - fold down (4)

Lean bar grab rails (4)

Phone charger (wireless) - helm mounted

Rigging station - port freshwater sink w/up-down swivel faucet & pull-out spray handle, tackle & bulk storage

Seating - aft facing deluxe cushioned seats (3) w/flip-up bolster center & electromechanical footrest/step

Seating - electrically adjustable deluxe contoured helm captain's chairs w/flip-up bolsters & fold-down armrests (4)

Seating - molded forward lounge seat w/arm rests & drink holders (4)

Steering - Helm Master® EX w/Full Maneuverability

Steering wheel - 316 grade stainless steel Edson Wheel w/knob

Storage - portside 3-drawer stainless steel units (2)

Storage - tackle storage under aft-facing center seat w/trays (6) & bulk storage drawers (2)

T-top - fiberglass AV²® enclosure w/painted aluminum frame, electrically sliding sunroof w/screen & shade, storage net, LED spreader lights (3), tri-colored (red, blue, white) LED recessed lights (6), aft mounted rod holders (8), outrigger plates, SureShade® electrically retractable shade w/Sunbrella® canvas (oyster)

Windshield - wraparound glass integrated w/T-top w/electrically sliding port & starboard side vents

Windshield wiper w/washer - freshwater

Console Interior

Accessory outlet - 5V duplex USB port (2)

Accessory outlet - 110V duplex (2)

Air conditioning - 12,000 BTU w/outlets at console (3) & head (1)

Berth - forward convertible vee berth

Carbon monoxide monitor

Door - lockable sliding door w/separate screen door

Drink holders - stainless steel (4)

Forward hatch - low profile acrylic hatch w/retractable screen shade

Galley - portside galley w/Corian® countertop, stainless steel microwave drawer & stainless steel drawers (3)

Galley - starboard galley w/stainless steel sink, Corian® countertop & stove cooktop

Head - lockable enclosed ventilated head area w/lighting, sink, Corian® countertop, shower w/teak grate, mirror, storage cabinet, vertical rod storage (4) & VacuFlush® marine head w/freshwater supply, 20-gallon (76 l) holding tank, overboard discharge & deck pump out

Lighting - dimmable indirect lighting throughout

Refrigerator - stainless steel

Rod storage - retractable vertical storage rack under port countertop (4)

Rod storage - port & starboard forward berth sapele Integrated Rod Storage Slides™ (4)

Stereo - Deluxe stereo system w/waterproof touch screen display, AM/FM tuner, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth® connectivity & remote unit; speakers (2) & subwoofer

Storage - marine safe w/touchpad entry

Storage - port & starboard lighted glass shelves

Storage - port cedar-lined closet

Storage - starboard stainless steel drawers (3)

Storage - underberth compartments (3)

Teak wood sole

Windows - port & starboard tinted frameless glass windows w/blinds

Table - solid sapele dinette table w/teak & brushed aluminum inlays & electromechanically adjustable stainless steel base (seats 4)

TV - 32" LED flat screen w/HDMI inlet

CE certification package (European Conformity)

Hull color - Celestial Blue, Coastal Fog, Ocean Mist, or Sea Glass gelcoat

International AC electrical conversion - 220V (50Hz)

Outrigger kit - 22-ft. (6.7m) GEMLUX® carbon fiber outriggers w/polished stainless steel base

T-top color - underside of T-top (requires matching gelcoat color option)

Canvas Options

T-top Clear2Sea™ side wings & helm enclosure (ivory)

Canyon 456 Performance Data

XTO Offshore® 450

Top Speed : 58.0 MPH @ 6000 RPM

Optimum Cruise : 30.1 MPH @ 3500 RPM

GPH at Optimum Cruise : 44.0

MPG at Optimum Cruise : 0.68

CLASSIC WHITE

Engine Size

16 3/8 x 21 XTO OS

Weight as Tested

31650 lb. (including persons, fuel, water, gear, engines & accessories)

Bottom Paint

Optimum Cruise

30.1 MPH @ 3500 RPM

RPM	MPH	GPH	MPG
1000	7.0	7.8	0.89
1500	9.4	10.4	0.91
2000	11.4	16.0	0.71
2500	16.1	24.7	0.65
3000	23.8	33.7	0.70
3500	30.1	44.0	0.68
4000	36.8	57.2	0.64
4500	43.4	76.0	0.57
5000	48.7	93.3	0.52
5500	53.4	120.2	0.44
6000	58.0	146.6	0.40

Canyon 456 Overhead

Select the hotspots below to learn more about the Canyon 456 features.

Canyon 456 Virtual Tour

Salt Water Fishing University on the <em>Canyon 456</em>!

Salt Water Fishing University on the Canyon 456 !

Grady-White's Canyon 456

Fishing on the Canyon 456

Canyon 456 with Custom Tower

Canyon 456 on the water

Power & Motoryacht on the 456

FishTalk on the 456

Boating Magazine on the 456

Florida Sportsman on the 456

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

Customer reviews, industry reviews, industry reviews.

9 Best Trailerable Sailboats

Sailing is an excellent activity for the weekends, especially in remote mountain lakes or sheltered waterways. The United States is full of small isolated waterways, inland lakes, and rivers—which make the perfect environment for an adventure in a small sailboat .

Unfortunately, many people are put off by the idea of owning a sailboat due to the associated docking and maintenance fees. Weekend sailors often don’t want to pay for a long-term slip, and there’s no question that the added expense can be a pain.

Luckily, you don’t have to permanently dock a sailboat to enjoy this great pastime.

Instead of docking a large boat, you can purchase a small trailerable sailboat. A trailerable sailboat is a perfect option for part-time sailors and people with busy lives. Trailer sailors are some of the most popular boats in the country, and they’re not limited to light winds and calm seas. Many trailerable sailboats have made some impressive passages both offshore and coastal. In this article, we’ll go over some of the top new and used trailerable sailboats that you can purchase today.

Table of contents

Best Trailerable Sailboats

1) west wight potter 15.

The West Wight Potter 15 is perhaps one of the most capable 15-foot sailboats around. This neat little vessel is as seaworthy as it is easy to handle, and it’s a great choice for all kinds of cruising adventures.

The West Wight Potter 15 is a 15-foot sloop with an aluminum mast and tiller. This tiny boat also features a small cabin, which has ideal sleeping accommodations for a cruising couple. The cabin itself is spartan compared to its larger relatives, but it’s the perfect design for the minimalist cruiser.

This small sailboat is easily trailerable and can be stored in some garages with relative ease. The West Wight Potter 15 is ideal for inland and coastal waters and sets up (and takes down) fast with minimal fuss. Don’t let the small design fool you—this craft is surprisingly seaworthy.

The West Wight Potter 15 has an impressive cruising record, including a trip from England to Sweden in the brutal North Atlantic. The West Wight Potter 15 can be purchased new from International Marine, and thousands of craft are in circulation already.

2) West Wight Potter 19

We thought it fitting to include the Potter 15’s big brother, the West Wight Potter 19, on this list of the best trailerable sailboats . West Wight Potter boats are well known for their robust design and easy handling, and the Potter 19 is no exception.

The West Wight Potter 19 boasts the seaworthiness and ease-of-handling offered by its little brother, with the benefit of greater sailing comfort and cabin accommodations. This 19-foot sailboat is constructed of fiberglass. The hull contains a liberal amount of positive flotation, which makes the boat practically unsinkable.

The cabin features generous accommodations for a boat of its size, featuring space for a vee-berth, a small stove, a sink, and a portable head. Additionally, the West Wight Potter 19’s cabin can be wired for electricity from the factory, further increasing the level of comfort in this capable trailer sailor.

Like its smaller alternative, the West Wight Potter 19 has a history of some impressive cruises. An individual sailed this craft thousands of nautical miles from California to Hawaii —a single-handed voyage usually reserved for boats twice its size.

That’s not to say that the Potter 19 is a purpose-built long-haul sailboat. This design is ideal for larger lakes, rivers, and coastal cruising. However, the design has demonstrated toughness and seaworthiness rarely found in smaller boats.

The Potter 19, like the Potter 15, is a centerboard craft. This sailboat is available new from International Marine and offers a wide range of options packages and upgrades.

3) Newport 27

The Newport 27 is a massive step-up in size and amenities compared to the other boats on this list so far. This comfortable trailerable sailboat originated in 1971—at the height of the fiberglass boat boom. The Newport 27 measures 27-feet in length and feature a flush-deck design similar to the famous Cal 20.

This sailboat, despite its trailerable size and weight, features surprisingly good handling characteristics and generous accommodations. A full 6-feet of standing headroom is available in the cabin, making this boat exceedingly comfortable for longer journeys.

This sailboat is an excellent choice for the trailer sailing sailor who dreams of longer journeys but spends much of the time just hopping around local ports.

Despite its modest size and weight, the design of this small sailboat is proven. Many people sail them long distances and enjoy the quick handling characteristics of its design.

The Newport 27 is a true pocket cruiser, if not slightly larger than most. The Newport 27 isn’t produced anymore, but there is a healthy second-hand market for the boat.

4) Cape Dory 28

The Cape Dory 28 is a legendary Carl Alberg design known for its commodious living spaces and well-rounded performance both offshore and inland. This spacious little cruiser has the styling and capability of many larger boats, featuring traditional styling and generous amounts of varnished teak and brass. This cozy boat is a great choice for traditionalist sailors.

The Cape Dory 28 features a proven, simple, and robust rig, and it functions gracefully in a variety of conditions. While a 28’ sailboat is hardly considered trailerable by many, it can certainly be hauled-out and transported with relative ease. This is the kind of sailboat that’s just as happy in the boatyard or a permanent mooring.

The Cape Dory 28 offers attractive features for long-haul voyages, plus ease-of-handling and quickness that is necessary for tighter coastal waters. The Cape Dory 28 is ideal for salt-water cruising, though it’s a bit large for small lakes and narrow rivers.

This is certainly not a shoal-draft cruiser—with a draft of 4-feet, it's primarily at home in the water.

5) Islander 24

The Islander 24 is a common fiberglass classic that makes an ideal trailer sailing setup. This 24-foot fiberglass boat features a robust design and ease-of-maintenance rarely found on boats with similar capabilities.

The design has been around for over 40 years, and it’s served weekender and cruising sailor alike. The Islander 24 is a well-rounded cruising vessel with a spacious cabin for two (or more). The cabin features a forward vee berth, space for a head, and tables for a sink, stove, or navigation.

The boat is single-handed with ease, and the rig is simple enough to be stowed without too much hassle. The Islander 24 is a relatively common trailer sailor, though many owners leave it in the water.

A vessel of this size is ideal for cruising coastal waters, though some sailors have attempted longer voyages in this vessel. The Islander 24 is available on the used market all over the country.

6) Contessa 26

The Contessa 26 is an excellent classic trailerable sailboat. Don’t let its modest size fool you—this cruising craft has a long-standing reputation for seaworthiness. The Contessa 26 is a fiberglass boat that debuted in 1965 and has since earned a bit of a cult following.

These rather innocuous looking crafts are as fun and capable as they are easy to handle. The boat features a spacious cabin, comfortable cockpit, and plenty of available cruising upgrades. The rig is well-built and resembles the rig of a much larger boat.

The Contessa 26 is an ideal pocket cruising setup for a moderately experienced sailor. The vessel has a narrow beam, which contributes to heeling. The boat is known to heel rather violently, but it stiffens up shortly after and becomes a joy to sail.

A boat like this knows its capabilities and is sure to impress anyone. The Contessa 26 is a safe, hardy, and comfortable cruising boat for minimalists, and one of the best tailorable sailboats in the mid to large-size category.

This boat is a little harder to come by than many other vessels on this list, as around 300 were built. However, if you’re lucky enough to locate one on the used market, it’s definitely worth considering. Contessa built a fine boat, and the Contessa 26 meets the standard with confidence.

7) Hunter 27

If you’ve made it this far down the list, you’re probably surprised that the Hunter 27 hasn’t come up yet. This famous little boat has quite a reputation and happens to be one of the most popular modern trailerable cruisers available.

The Hunter 27 isn’t a traditionalist’s dream, but it offers the modern amenities and capabilities you’d expect from Hunter. This capable little sailboat has the handling characteristics of a truly seaworthy boat and manages well in all kinds of conditions.

The Hunter 27 has a reputation for amazing durability, and the design is sound from keel to masthead. Now, let’s get into some of the features that make the Hunter 27 a very attractive option. The Hunter 27 is a purpose-built small cruising vessel, but the accommodations appear to be a shrunken version of a boat 10 feet longer.

Down below, the Hunter 27 features a full galley, head, a full standing shower, berths, and generous storage space. The Hunter 27 is a truly livable trailer sailor, featuring accommodations that make it suitable for extended cruising or even living aboard. The salon features over 6 feet of standing headroom, with plenty of seating and counter space throughout.

The rig is sturdy and easy to handle. And remember, the Hunter 27 is still a trailer sailor. The boat features a shoal draft of under 4-feet and a displacement of less than 8,000 pounds. The Hunter 27 is available used, and this boat is still produced and available brand-new by Marlow-Hunter.

How could we forget the little Cal 20? We didn’t—and it’s certainly worth including the famous Trans-Pac underdog on this list. The Cal 20 is reminiscent of the glory days of fiberglass sailing in the 1960s and 1970s.

This flush-deck racer is a fantastic trailer cruiser for anyone wanting big-boat handling and speed in a compact package. The accommodations on this boat leave something to be desired, but many people find them cozy and acceptable.

The cabin features sitting headroom and a berth, along with small tables for a stove or sink. The Cal 20 has a history of impressive voyages and was a popular choice for daring sailors on long offshore journeys. However, the boat is designed to be quick, safe, and fun on inland passages and coastal cruises.

The Cal 20 is common on the used market and makes a great entry-level cabin sailboat. The Cal 20 features an enormous cockpit, making it ideal for a day on the bay with friends or family.

The boat is easy to handle, and upgrades abound. The Cal 20 is a great little sailboat with a fun history and a massive fan base. This stout little yacht makes an excellent weekender too, and the cabin makes overnighting comfortable.

9) Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20

One of the most legendary small trailerable cruisers is the full-keel Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20. A limited number of these boats were produced by Pacific Seacraft during the 20th century, and they have a reputation for incredible seaworthiness and long-range voyaging.

These sailboats have the hull shape of boats twice their size, with a long, deep, full keel running the length of the hull. The boat can handle some serious offshore cruising and features the capabilities of other full-keel sailboats.

The Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 is an amazing find on the used market, as owners tend to cling to them due to their incredible characteristics. There aren’t many trailerable offshore cruisers available, which is because it’s not easy to design a small boat with offshore capabilities.

However, Pacific Seacraft did just that and built one incredible trailer sailor. This vessel is not really designed for shallow lakes and rivers.

The Flicka 20 is known to be a truly seaworthy ocean-going sailboat, which happens to be small enough to fit on an average-sized boat trailer.

Wherever you choose to sail, a trailerable sailboat is often a great choice. The boats listed here are by no means the only options—in fact, there are dozens of excellent trailerable sailboat models on the market. If you enjoy sailing but want to avoid the hassle of a permanent mooring, or if you travel to sail, a trailer sailor is a great choice.

Many sailors pick trailerable sailboats to sail multiple oceans. Many people would agree that it’s a lot more practical to haul your boat from the Pacific to the Atlantic, especially when the alternative option is the Panama Canal .

A trailerable sailboat can give you access to a multitude of sailing adventures—the lake one weekend, the coast the next, and perhaps an offshore voyage or island hopping in the delta.

And with this list of the best trailerable sailboats, you can find the boat that fits your needs (and your budget) and hit the water in no time.

Daniel Wade

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Comfort & Convenience

The devil is in the details and a lot of time went into this part of the design. There is sitting headroom in the cabin and a forward table can be lowered in two separate halves, to make bunks on either side. Two big self-bailing cubicles (and 4 cup holders!) in the cockpit, two watertight lazarettes and ABYC-compliant dedicated gas locker, for grill/outboard tanks adds comfort and safety. Full-length oars are stowed under deck and out of the way, accessible via a small watertight transom hatch. The companionway is a hybrid kayak-coaming/sailboat-companionway hatch: It is large enough that one can reach the bow anchor and main mast while standing in the cabin, yet can be covered with stretch canvas or wood panels for spray/rain/sun protection in various configurations. Completely open in fair weather the cabin is closer to a dodger than an oven.

The boat is ABYC unsinkable, thanks to the use of flotation foam. She is designed to recover dry from any but the most catastrophic capsize. Indeed downflood angle is 108°, so no bailing for a tired crew. Centerboard and rudder systems are accessible and repairable underway, including keel-lift mechanism and rudder bolts. Both appendages will kick up undamaged upon grounding.

LOA:15.3ft,4.65m

Beam: 5.75ft,1.74m

Draft board up: 6in,15cm

Draft board down: 46in,118cm

Displacement: 975lb,443kg

Light ship: 450lb,205kg

Sail area:150sq.ft.,14sq.m.

Pointing ability: Fine sailplan balance and precise appendage shape allows RoG to point above 45° to the wind

Materials and BOM

We strongly recommend the carbon spars, but the sails do not have to be full-battens, nor do they absolutely need 2 reef points so there can be some savings there. The BOM as below is comprehensive, with lines led aft, all the way to the hiking sticks. Beware comparing this to your barebones-run-of-the-mill equipment list on most new boats.

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Articles and Guides

11 Best Small Sailboat Brands: How to Choose Your Next Daysailer or Pocket Cruiser

12th oct 2023 by samantha wilson.

Sailing is a relaxing, invigorating pastime that allows you to harness wind and waves in a unique and historic way without requiring a 50-foot yacht to enjoy what’s special about the experience. In fact, small sailboats allow a delightful back-to-basics experience that often gets lost on larger, systems-heavy sailboats.

On a small sailboat you can connect with the sea, feeling the boat move beneath you. The boat is typically easy to rig, simple to sail, and can even be sailed solo. Small sailboats give you the freedom to trailer your or car-top your boat and go anywhere, and they’re perfect for learning the nuances of sailing. There are many excellent brands and models of small sailboat, each with their own appeal, and here we narrow down some of our favorite in the daysailer and pocket cruiser categories under 30 feet.

Difference Between a Daysailer and a Pocket Cruiser

While there are many different types of sailboat on the market and there is no single definition of either a daysailer or a pocket cruiser, they are used in a particular way, as the names imply. The term daysailer covers a huge array of sailboats, smaller and sometimes larger, and is generally defined as any day boat used for local sailing, with a simple rig, and easy to get underway. A pocket cruiser typically offers a cabin and head, and adequate accommodations for an overnight stay and sometimes longer cruises. Having said that, there is a large overlap between the two in many instances, so the lines may become blurred.

What Size is a Small Sailboat?

Small is a relative term of course, but in general—and for the purposes of this article—a small sailboat is one that could be sailed by a small crew, often with one or two people aboard. It will have a simple rig and be trailerable, and it might be either a daysailer or pocket-cruiser style vessel as above. Within those categories, there are many models and styles, but when it comes to length we consider a sailboat as small when it’s under 30 feet in overall length.

The Best Sailboats Under 30 Feet

Pocket cruiser: Beneteau First 27. The Beneteau First 27 is a modern example of a pocket cruiser, earning Cruising World ’s Boat of the Year award in the Pocket Cruiser category in 2022. With space for up to six people accommodated in a separated bow-cabin and open saloon, it offers families the chance to go farther, explore more, and cruise in comfort. There is a galley with freshwater and a head, adding to the interior home comforts. The sailboat itself is modern, fast, and stable, designed by Sam Manuard, and has been designed to be incredibly safe and almost unsinkable thanks to its three watertight chambers. The handling is also refreshingly intuitive, with a well-designed cockpit, simple deck controls, and double winches allowing it to be sailed solo, by two people, or a small crew.

Photo credit: Beneteau

Daysailer: Alerion 28. You’ll certainly turn heads cruising along in an Alerion 28, a daysailer whose forerunner by the same name was designed by Nathanael Herreshoff in 1912 and then updated with a modern underbody for fiberglass production by Carl Schumacher in the late 1980s. This pretty daysailer manages to combine a traditional silhouette and classic feel, with very modern engineering creating an excellent package. Over 470 of these sailboats were built and sold in the past 30 years, making it one of the most popular modern daysailers on the water. With a small cabin and saloon, complete with miniature galley area, it offers respite from the sun or wind and the option for a night aboard. The cockpit offers a beautiful sailing experience, with plenty of space for the whole family.

Photo credit: Alerion Yachts

The Best Sailboats Under 25 Feet

Pocket cruiser: Cornish Crabber 24. British manufacturer Cornish Crabber has been producing beautiful, traditional style small sailboats for decades, ensuring they honor their heritage both in the construction style and appearance of their boats. The Cornish Crabber 24 is the most iconic of their range and dates back to the 1980s. It offers a simple yet surprisingly spacious interior layout with cabin, galley, and head, and a good sized cockpit, as well as seating for up to six people. It’s the perfect family sailboat, with clever use of storage as well as just under 5000 pounds of displacement providing stability and easy tacking. Aesthetically the 24 is simply beautiful, with a traditional silhouette (combined with modern engineering), finished in hardwood trims.

Photo credit: Cornish Crabber

Daysailer: Catalina 22 Capri. Catalina sailboats need little introduction, and are one of the world’s best-known, most-respected brands building small sailboats. The Catalina 22 Capri (also available in a sport model) is a great example of what Catalina does so well. While we’ve classified it as a daysailer, it could easily cross into the pocket cruiser category, as it offers excellent sailing performance in almost all conditions as well as having a small cabin, galley, and head. Loved for its safety, stability, ease of handling and simple maintenance, it makes for a good first family boat for getting out onto the bay or lake.

Photo credit: Catalina

The Best Sailboats Under 20 Feet

Pocket cruiser: CapeCutter 19. This is another model that combines the beauty of the traditional silhouettes with modern-day advancements. The design originates from the classic gaff cutter work boats, but today offers excellent performance—in fact it’s one of the fastest small gaffers in the world. The interior is cleverly spacious, with four berths, two of which convert into a saloon, as well as a simple galley area. With quick rigging, it can be sailed solo, but is also able to accommodate small groups, making it a capable and hugely versatile pocket cruiser.

Photo credit: Cape Cutter 19

Daysailer: Swallow Yachts’ BayRaider 20. Classic looks with modern performance are combined in Swallow Yachts’ beautiful BayRaider 20. This is one of the most capable and safest daysailers we’ve seen, but also incredibly versatile thanks to the choices of ballast. Keep the ballast tank empty and it’s light and fast. Fill the tank up and you’ve got a stable and safe boat perfect for beginners and families. While it’s got an eye-catching traditional style, the engineering is modern, with a strong carbon mast and construction. While this is a true daysailer, you can use the optional spray hood and camping accessories to create an overnight adventure.

Photo credit: Swallow Yachts

The Best Sailboats Under 15 Feet

Pocket Cruiser: NorseBoat 12.5. Can we truly call the NorseBoat 12.5 a pocket cruiser? Yes we can! The sheer versatility of this excellent little sailboat has convinced us. These beautiful hand-crafted sailboats offer exceptional performance and are described by the manufacturer as ‘the Swiss Army Knives of sailboats’. The traditionally styled 12.5 can be sailed, rowed, and motored. It can be trailered, easily beached, and even used as a camp cruiser, allowing for overnight adventures. There is no end to the fun that can be had with this easy-to-sail and easy-to-handle boat, which makes it a dream to learn in. With positive flotation, lots of clever storage, and a full-size double berth for camp cruising, it really is the perfect mini pocket cruiser.

Photo credit: NorseBoats

Daysailer: Original Beetle Cat Boat 12: All across the bays of the US east coast cat boats have long been part of the ocean landscape. Able to access shallow rocky coves yet also withstand the strong coastal winds, these traditional New England fishing boats have an iconic shape and gaff-rigged mainsails. Beetle Cat have been producing elegant wooden cat boats for over 100 years – in fact they’ve made and sold over 4,000 boats to date. Their 12 foot Cat Boat 12 is one of their finest models, offering lovely daysailing opportunities. It has a wide beam and centerboard that lifts up, allowing it to access shallow waters, as well as a forward mast and single sail gaff rig in keeping with the traditional cat boats. To sail one of these is to be part of the heritage of New England and Cape Cod, and to honor the ancient art of hand-made boat building.

Beetle Cat official website

Photo credit: Beetle Cat

The Best Small Sailboats for Beginners

When it comes to learning to sail, it’s important to have a boat that is easy to handle. There’s no quicker way to put yourself or your family off sailing than to start off with a boat that is either too big or too complicated. When choosing your first boat we recommend the following characteristics:

Small: The benefits of starting off with a small boat are many, as we’ve seen above. They’re easier to control as well as to moor, and they react more quickly to steering and sails. They can be trailered and launched easily, and the loads generated are much lower than on bigger, heavier boats.
Easy to sail: You want a boat that is stable and forgiving of mistakes, doesn’t capsize easily, and isn’t too overpowered in a stronger breeze. Keep things simple and learn as you go.
Simple sail configuration: Choosing a boat that can be rigged by one person in a few minutes, and easily sailed solo, makes it easier to take along inexperienced crews. With regards to the rig, all you need are a halyard to hoist the mainsail and a sheet to control the mainsail.
Tiller steering: We recommend boats with tiller steering over wheel steering when starting out. The tiller allows you to get a real feel for the boat and how the rudder works as it moves through the water.

For more information on choosing the best beginner sailboat check out our full guide. There are many popular brands of beginner boats including Sunfish, Laser, and Hunter Marlow. Some of our favorites include;

Hobie 16: The classic Hobie catamaran has been a well-loved beginner sailboat for years, and the Hobie 16 started life back in 1969. Since then they’ve made and sold over a staggering 100,000 of the 16s. It has twin fiberglass and foam hulls, a large trampoline, and a pull-up rudder so it can be sailed straight onto the beach. The basic package comes with an easy to handle main and jib with plenty of extras available too such as a spinnaker and trailer. The Hobie 16 promises a great learning experience and lots of fun in a very nifty and inexpensive package.

Photo credit: Hobie

Paine 14: You’ll immediately fall in love with sailing when you step into a beautiful Paine 14. Made from seamless epoxy cold-molded wood, the P-14 is simply beautiful and offers the classic sailing experience with the design and innovation of a more modern hull and rig. Two people will be able to enjoy getting out on the water together and learning the ropes. The Paine 14 has a lead ballast keel that accounts for nearly half her weight, giving her the feel of a much larger boat, but is still trailerable and easy to manage offering the best of both worlds.

Photo credit: Chuck Paine

High-Performance Small Sailboats

Small sailboats generally become high performers if they are light, have a lot of sail area, or they have more than one hull. More recently, some of have been designed with foiling surfaces, as well. For the purposes of this article, we’d like to close by pointing out one model that is super fast and has versatile pocket-cruising capabilities.

Corsair 880 trimaran : The Corsair 880 trimaran is the grandchild of the company’s F27, a model that launched the popularity of trailerable leisure trimarans about 40 years ago. The 880 has taken the model to new heights and exemplifies the incredible space benefits you can achieve in a 29-foot sailboat. We’re talking an aft cabin, room to sleep 5 people, an enclosed head, and standing headroom in the galley and main saloon. It brings many of the opportunities that a much larger yacht plus the ability to cruise in extremely shallow water. Whether you want to cruise to the Bahamas or enjoy a high-adrenaline race, the Corsair 880 offers incredible performance and unlimited adventures in a truly pocket size.

Photo credit: Corsair

Written By: Samantha Wilson

Samantha Wilson has spent her entire life on and around boats, from tiny sailing dinghies all the way up to superyachts. She writes for many boating and yachting publications, top charter agencies, and some of the largest travel businesses in the industry, combining her knowledge and passion of boating, travel and writing to create topical, useful and engaging content.

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Yachting Monthly

Digital edition

Trying to sink an unsinkable boat

Chris Beeson
July 2, 2015

It’s every sailor’s nightmare: holed and taking on water. For Chris Beeson, the unsinkable Etap turned this sinking feeling into an unusual spa session

The Etap 21i sailing with her normal freeboard, before we opened the seacocks and attempted to scuttle her Credit: Lester McCarthy/YM

I thought it would feel stranger than it did, wading knee-deep through a flooded boat. While we were being towed out to the Needles, where we’d planned to founder, I was half expecting some mental switch to trip as the water started gushing in, overwhelming me with primal panic. Corporal Jones from Dad’s Navy, I thought. In the event, it was no more alarming than wallowing in a strangely shaped bath with several other men. Scary enough, but some way short of a crisis.

The bunk locker lids were barely awash when the water ingress stopped

The drama was limited first by the fact that we weren’t allowed to whack gaping holes below the waterline. The new owners of this boat, Grahame and Janine Mason, were understandably reticent about that. They did, however, kindly allow us to open the seacocks in an attempt to send their pride and joy to the bottom. And they did, sensibly, specify that we did so before they took delivery. The UK West Country broker of this yacht, Yachts of Dartmouth, set the wheels in motion.

We were towed out to the Needles by the SeaStart RIB. SeaStart was there to act as a photo-boat but aboard the Etap, I felt a good deal more comfortable knowing that there was something powerful, inflatable and fast nearby should anything go wrong. Once in position – and with nobody having said: ‘Actually, this is a daft idea. Let’s go back, eh?’ – we opened the seacocks.

We expected the seacocks to gush, but they merely dribbled

I was expecting something akin to ‘Old Faithful’ to erupt from the valve, bringing chaos with it. I had imagined the engine room scene from Noel Coward and David Lean’s wartime classic In Which We Serve . The reality was, frankly, disappointing, more like someone spilling a glass of water. This was the second drama limitation. When boats are holed and sinking, the hole is much larger, usually hidden behind joinery, and the ingress much faster.

It took a good 15-20 minutes for the flares canister to start bobbing about

Having established that we needed to slow to a stop to get any decent ingress, the flooding began. The boat took a while to fill up, even with both the sink and the larger heads seacocks open. It was a good 15-20 minutes before the flare canister started bobbing around. Within half an hour the lids of the bunk lockers began to open and shut with water pressure as the boat rolled in a gentle swell. After 45 minutes, the seacocks were no longer letting water in. We were as low as we could go.

The boat took a long time to fill up – even with all three seacocks open

We had a quick bash at sailing but the lack of wind prevented us finding out how her performance was affected by the extra load. Gert, the Etap representative onboard, has done this a few times, most notably in a 24ft Etap, crossing the Channel twice in a day with the boat flooded. He estimated that flooding slows the boat down by 1 knot, not bad considering he reefs to reduce strain on the rig.

Even flooded to the waterline, there was still plenty of freeboard thanks to the closed-cell foam that fills many of her cavities

Once we had all the photos we needed and the novelty of sinking had worn off, the seacocks were closed and the bailing began. We used a 14-litre bucket, scooping on average 8-10 litres each time. The last 30 buckets, filled using a bailer, were brim-full. We emptied 260 buckets in 40 minutes then mopped up the remainder with a sponge. A quick, approximate calculation suggests there were over 2,000 litres of water inside.

A rough calculation of the number of buckets we bailed suggested we took on 2,000 litres of water

Other than the fact that Etap does indeed make unsinkable boats, I’m not sure what we learned. I was hoping to vaccinate myself to the shock of a boat flooding so that, should the nightmare ever strike, I’ll be clearer headed. As it turned out, the height of the drama was a slightly damp mobile phone.

Tech Specs -Etap 21 i (Hull no. 549)

LOA: 6.56m (21ft 6in)

LWL: 6.10m (20ft)

Beam: 2.49m (8ft 2in)

Draught: tandem keel: 0.7m (2ft 4in); fin keel: 1.3m (4ft 3in)

Displacement: tandem keel: 1,230kg (2,712lb); fin keel: 1,180kg (2,601lb)

Ballast: tandem keel: 350kg (771lb); fin keel: 300kg (661lb)

Sail area: 23.9m 2 (258sq ft)

RCD Category: B/C

Price: £30,000 (new, in 2007)

Website: www.etapyachting.com

BUILDING THE UNSINKABLE

Spaces between inner and outer skins of hull and deck are packed with closed-cell polyurethane foam

Etap is the only builder of unsinkable yachts and is currently (2007) seeking a Lloyds certificate to that effect. Sadler Yachts used to have a claim to this title before it ceased production but, according to the only standard of unsinkability (that of the French Merchant Marine), unsinkability means that freeboard is reduced by less than 3% of LOA when flooded. Sadlers, though they wouldn’t actually sink, would flood close to deck level.

‘Unsinkable’ means freeboard is reduced by less than 3 per cent of LOA when flooded

The secret lies in the construction. The whole Etap range, from 21-46ft, uses double-skinned hulls and decks. The spaces between the two skins, and several other pockets throughout the hull and deck, are packed with closed-cell polyurethane foam.

This Etap 38i struck a reef and stuck fast while sailing in the Red Sea

Even if the hull is breached, only the foam damaged by the impact will absorb water. The rest of it, even when exposed to water rather than protected by GRP, has a maximum moisture absorption of 2% after 24 hours.

She was hauled off the reef and remained afloat, though flooded, as she was towed to safety

The result is an unsinkable boat, but there are other benefits. The boat is much stiffer as a result. Also, the foam acts as excellent insulation. It’s warmer below in winter and cooler below in summer. You can leave bedding on an Etap all winter and it will be condensation-free when you return in spring.

Of course, the extra design, materials and labour that go into building an Etap make this a fairly expensive 21-footer but, it you want to, you can buy peace of mind.

DISASTER-PROOFING

Watertight bulkheads

All new ocean racing yachts are fitted with watertight bulkheads. These are sealed, internal bulkheads with a lockable, watertight hatch and as few cable ducts as possible placed as high as possible. To be effective, at least two are required, dividing the boat into roughly equal volumes so that, should one area flood, there is sufficient volume left unflooded to maintain buoyancy. It’s rare for cruising owners to request watertight bulkheads but the more expensive boatbuilders can fit them during build.

Flotation bags

This is a well-established, relatively inexpensive and very effective method of creating buoyancy. These durable bags are easy to store when deflated and can be inflated with carbon dioxide from a SCUBA tank and secured either to anchor points inside the hull or to slings beneath the hull using webbing strops attached to the bags. As GRP supports 25% of its own weight in seawater, you need enough bags to support at least 75% of the boat’s displacement.

PUMPING POWER

A good engine-driven bilge pump will shift about 40 gallons per minute under ideal conditions. The average hand-operated one will only pump half that quantity.

Bilge pump ratings in the manufacturers’ claims are usually for 60 pumps per minute against no resistance, and with no need to lift the water (to a particular height above sea level) before discharging it. A head of 7ft will halve the output.

Any length of piping will rapidly reduce the efficiency of the pump, as length of pipe plays an important role in generating the resistance against which the pump is working.

Just to depress you further, you cannot pump faster than the time it takes the pump to fill and empty. Otherwise the pump loses efficiency. The classic ‘frightened man with a two-gallon bucket’ will shift about 20 gallons a minute. That involves lifting and throwing 20lbs of water every six seconds.

GOING DOWN: FACTS AND FIGURES

The flow of water through a hole is directly proportional to the fourth power of the radius of the hole. A two-inch hole will let in four times as much water as a one-inch hole.

If the hole letting in the water is bigger than the smallest part of the bilge pump pipework, you will surely sink unless you can make the hole smaller.

At a depth of three feet, a hole just one inch in diameter is estimated to pass 34 gallons a minute. Over an hour, that amounts to 2,040 gallons.

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Which boat brands are unsinkable?

When it comes to choosing a boat, safety is certainly one of the most important factors to consider. After all, the last thing anyone wants is to find themselves in a dangerous situation while out on the water. One of the key safety features to look for in a boat is whether or not it is unsinkable. Here, we’ll take a look at some of the most trusted and reliable unsinkable boat brands.

1. Boston Whaler

Boston Whaler is perhaps the most well-known unsinkable boat brand, with a reputation for producing high-quality boats that are both safe and reliable. The company’s signature “Unibond” construction method involves bonding the inner and outer hulls, creating a foam-filled, fully enclosed structure that is virtually unsinkable. Boston Whaler boats are available in a range of sizes and styles, from compact fishing boats to large center console models.

2. Grady-White

Another well-respected unsinkable boat brand is Grady-White. The company uses a similar construction method to Boston Whaler, with foam-filled hulls that provide added stability and buoyancy in the water. Grady-White boats are known for their top-notch craftsmanship and attention to detail, as well as their high level of safety and reliability.

3. Carolina Skiff

Carolina Skiff is a popular brand of unsinkable fishing boats that are known for their durability and affordability. These boats feature a hull design that incorporates foam flotation throughout the entire boat, providing exceptional stability and buoyancy even in rough water conditions. Carolina Skiff boats are available in a variety of sizes and configurations, making them a versatile choice for anglers of all skill levels.

4. Edgewater

Edgewater is a high-end boat brand that produces a range of unsinkable models, from small fishing boats to large center console yachts. The company’s “Single Piece Infusion” construction method involves injecting foam into a fiberglass mold, creating a completely sealed and foam-filled hull. This results in a boat that is both incredibly strong and unsinkable, providing peace of mind for boaters who prioritize safety above all else.

5. Everglades

Finally, Everglades is another reputable unsinkable boat brand that is known for its innovative designs and commitment to safety. The company’s “RAMCAP” construction method involves injecting foam into the voids between fiberglass layers, creating a completely sealed and unsinkable hull. Everglades boats are also known for their impressive handling and performance, making them a favorite among seasoned boaters.

When it comes to boating, safety should always be the top priority. Fortunately, there are a number of trusted and reliable unsinkable boat brands to choose from, each offering their own unique features and benefits. Whether you’re a casual angler or a serious boater, investing in an unsinkable boat is a smart and responsible choice that will help you enjoy the water with peace of mind.

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20 Best Small Sailboats for the Weekender

By Mark Pillsbury
Updated: May 24, 2024

In order to go cruising, most of us require a sailboat with a head, a galley, and bunks. The boat, likely a 30-footer and more often a 40-footer, will have electronics for navigation and entertainment, refrigeration if the trip is longer than a coastal hop, an engine for light wind, and, depending on our appetites for food and fun, perhaps a genset to power our toys and appliances.

To go sailing , however, all we really need is a hull, mast, rudder, and sail. To experience the pure joy of sheeting in and scooting off across a lake, bay, or even the open ocean, there’s nothing better than a small sailboat – we’re talking sailboats under 25 feet. You can literally reach out and touch the water as it flows past. You instantly feel every puff of breeze and sense every change in trim.

Some of the boats in this list are new designs, others are time-tested models from small sailboat manufacturers, but every one is easy to rig, simple to sail, and looks like a whole lot of fun either for a solo outing on a breezy afternoon or to keep family and friends entertained throughout your entire sailing season. This list is made up of all types of sailboats , and if you’re looking for a list of some of the best small sailboats for beginners, you’ll find exactly that here.

Any one of these popular boats could be labeled as a trailerable sailboat, daysailer, or even a weekender sailboat. And while most would be labeled as a one or two person sailboat, some could comfortably fit three or even four people.

– CHECK THE WEATHER – The weather changes all the time. Always check the forecast and prepare for the worst case. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

Marblehead 22 Daysailer

If you have an eye for elegant lines and your heart goes pitter-patter over just the right amount of overhang beneath a counter transom, the Marblehead 22 daysailer, designed by Doug Zurn and built by Samoset Boatworks in Boothbay, Maine, will definitely raise your pulse. Traditional-looking above the waterline and modern beneath, the cold-molded hull sports a deep bulb keel and a Hall Spars carbon-fiber mast with a wishbone rig and square-top main. The 11-foot-9-inch cockpit can seat a crowd, and a small cuddy forward will let you stow your friends’ gear for the day. samosetboatworks.com

Catalina 22 Sport

Many a harbor plays host to an active fleet of Catalina 22s, one of the most popular small sailboats over the years, given its basic amenities and retractable keel, which allows it to be easily trailered. Recently, the company introduced the Catalina 22 Sport, an updated design that can compete with the older 22s. The boat features a retractable lead keel; a cabin that can sleep four, with a forward hatch for ventilation; and a fractional rig with a mainsail and a roller-furling jib. Lifelines, a swim ladder, and an engine are options, as are cloth cushions; vinyl cushions are standard. The large cockpit will seat a crowd or let a mom-and-pop crew stretch out and enjoy their sail. It’s clear why the Catalina 22 is one of the best sailboats under 25 feet. catalinayachts.com

With its large, open-transom cockpit and sloop rig, the Hunter 22 makes a comfortable daysailer for family and friends. But with its cuddy cabin, twin bunks, optional electrical system, opening screened ports, and portable toilet, a parent and child or a couple could comfortably slip away for an overnight or weekend. Add in the optional performance package, which includes an asymmetric spinnaker, a pole, and a mainsheet traveler, and you could be off to the races. The boat features a laminated fiberglass hull and deck, molded-in nonskid, and a hydraulic lifting centerboard. Mount a small outboard on the stern bracket, and you’re set to go. marlow-hunter.com

Not sure whether you want to race, cruise or just go out for an afternoon sail? Since 1958, sailors have been having a ball aboard the Uffa Fox/George O’Day-designed Daysailer. Fox, who in the 1950s was on the cutting edge of planning-dinghy design, collaborated with Fall River, Massachusetts boatbuilder O’Day Corp. to build the 16-foot Daysailer, a boat that features a slippery hull and a small cuddy cabin that covers the boat roughly from the mast forward. Thousands of Daysailers were built by various builders, and they can be found used for quite affordable prices. There are active racing fleets around the US, and new Daysailers are still in production today, built by Cape Cod Ship Building. capecodshipbuilding.com

BayRaider from Swallow Boats

Easy to rig and trailer, the BayRaider from England’s Swallow Yachts is a relative newcomer to the small-boat market in the United States. Nearly all of its 19 feet 9 inches is open cockpit, though a spray hood can be added to keep the forward sections dry. The BayRaider is ketch-rigged with a gunter-style mainmast. The topmast and mizzen are both carbon-fiber, which is an option for the mainmast as well. The BayRaider can be sailed with a dry hull in lighter conditions or with 300 pounds of water ballast to increase its stability. With the centerboard and hinged rudder raised, the boat can maneuver in even the thinnest water.

$28,900, (904) 234-8779, swallowyachts.com

Big fun can come in small packages, especially if your vessel of choice happens to be the 12 ½-foot Beetle Cat. Designed by John Beetle and first built in 1921, the wooden shallow draft sailboat is still in production today in Wareham, Massachusetts at the Beetle Boat Shop. With a draft of just 2 feet, the boat is well-suited for shallow bays, but equally at home in open coastal waters. The single gaff-rigged sail provides plenty of power in light air and can be quickly reefed down to handle a blow. In a word, sailing a Beetle Cat is fun. beetlecat.com

– LEARN THE NAVIGATION RULES – Know the “Rules of the Road” that govern all boat traffic. Be courteous and never assume other boaters can see you. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

West Wight Potter P 19

With berths for four and a workable galley featuring a cooler, a sink, and a stove, West Wight Potter has packed a lot into its 19-foot-long P 19. First launched in 1971, this is a line of boats that’s attracted a true following among trailer-sailors. The P 19′s fully retractable keel means that you can pull up just about anywhere and go exploring. Closed-cell foam fore and aft makes the boat unsinkable, and thanks to its hard chine, the boat is reportedly quite stable under way. westwightpotter.com

NorseBoat 17.5

Designed for rowing and sailing (a motor mount is optional), the Canadian-built NorseBoat 17.5—one of which was spotted by a CW editor making its way through the Northwest Passage with a two-man crew—features an open cockpit, a carbon-fiber mast, and a curved-gaff rig, with an optional furling headsail set on a sprit. The lapstrake hull is fiberglass; the interior is ply and epoxy. The boat comes standard with two rowing stations and one set of 9-foot oars. The boat is designed with positive flotation and offers good load-carrying capacity, which you could put to use if you added the available canvas work and camping tent. NorseBoats offers a smaller sibling, the 12.5, as well; both are available in kit form.

$19,000, (902) 659-2790, norseboat.com

Montgomery 17

Billed as a trailerable pocket cruiser, the Montgomery 17 is a stout-looking sloop designed by Lyle Hess and built out of fiberglass in Ontario, California, by Montgomery Boats. With a keel and centerboard, the boat draws just under 2 feet with the board up and can be easily beached when you’re gunkholing. In the cuddy cabin you’ll find sitting headroom, a pair of bunks, a portable toilet, optional shore and DC power, and an impressive amount of storage space. The deck-stepped mast can be easily raised using a four-part tackle. The builder reports taking his own boat on trips across the Golfo de California and on visits to California’s coastal islands. Montgomery makes 15-foot and 23-foot models, as well. If you’re in search of a small sailboat with a cabin, the Montgomery 17 has to be on your wish list.

With long overhangs and shiny brightwork, the CW Hood 32 is on the larger end of the daysailer spectrum. Designers Chris Hood and Ben Stoddard made a conscious decision to forego a cabin and head in favor of an open cockpit big enough to bring 4 or 5 friends or family out for an afternoon on the water. The CW Hood 32 is sleek and graceful through the water and quick enough to do some racing, but keeps things simple with a self-tacking jib and controls that can be lead back to a single-handed skipper. A top-furling asymmetrical, electric sail drive and Torqeedo outboard are all optional. The CW Hood 32 makes for a great small family sailboat. cwhoodyachts.com

Sun Cat from Com-Pac

Shallow U.S. East Coast bays and rock-strewn coasts have long been graced by cat boats, whose large, gaff-rigged mainsails proved simple and powerful both on the wind and, better yet, when reaching and running. The 17-foot-4-inch Sun Cat, built by Com-Pac Yachts, updates the classic wooden cat with its fiberglass hull and deck and the easy-to-step Mastender Rigging System, which incorporates a hinged tabernacle to make stepping the mast a one-person job. If you want a personal sailboat ideal for solo sailing, the Sun Can is a great choice. Belowdecks, the twin 6-foot-5-inch berths and many other features and amenities make this cat a willing weekender.

$19,800, (727) 443-4408, com-pacyachts.com

Catalina 16.5

The Catalina 16.5 sits right in the middle of Catalina Yachts’ line of small sailboats, which range from the 12.5 to the 22 Capri and Sport, and it comes in both an easy-to-trailer centerboard model and a shoal-draft fixed-keel configuration. With the fiberglass board up, the 17-foot-2-inch boat draws just 5 inches of water; with the board down, the 4-foot-5-inch draft suggests good windward performance. Hull and deck are hand-laminated fiberglass. The roomy cockpit is self-bailing, and the bow harbors a good-sized storage area with a waterproof hatch. catalinayachts.com

No roundup of best small sailboats (trailerable and fun too) would be complete without a mention of the venerable Hobie 16, which made its debut in Southern California way back in 1969. The company has introduced many other multihulls since, but more than 100,000 of the 16s have been launched, a remarkable figure. The Hobie’s asymmetric fiberglass-and-foam hulls eliminate the need for daggerboards, and with its kick-up rudders, the 16 can be sailed right up to the beach. Its large trampoline offers lots of space to move about or a good place to plant one’s feet when hanging off the double trapezes with a hull flying. The boat comes with a main and a jib; a spinnaker, douse kit, trailer, and beach dolly are optional features. hobiecat.com

Novice sailors or old salts looking for simplicity could both enjoy sailing the Hunter 15. With a fiberglass hull and deck and foam flotation, the boat is sturdily built. The ample freeboard and wide beam provide stability under way, and the heavy-duty rubrail and kick-up rudder mean that you won’t have to worry when the dock looms or the going grows shallow. Both the 15 and its slightly larger 18-foot sibling come standard with roller-furling jibs.

$6,900/$9,500 (boat-show prices for the 15 and 18 includes trailers), (386) 462-3077, marlow-hunter.com

– CHECK THE FIT – Follow these guidelines to make sure your life jacket looks good, stays comfortable and works when you need it. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

Super Snark

Under various owners, the Snark brand of sailboats, now built by Meyers Boat Co., has been around since the early 1970s. The Super Snark, at 11 feet, is a simple, easily car-topped daysailer that’s fit out with a lateen rig and sail. Billed as unsinkable, the five boats in the company’s line are built with E.P.S. foam, with the external hull and deck vacuum-formed to the core using an A.B.S. polymer. The Super Snark weighs in at 50 pounds, and with a payload capacity of 310 pounds, the boat can carry two.

$970, (800) 247-6275, meyersboat.com

Norseboat 21.5

Built in Canada, the NorseBoat 21.5 is a rugged looking craft that comes in a couple of configurations: one with an open cockpit and small doghouse, and another with a smaller cockpit and cabin that houses a double berth for two adults and optional quarter berths for the kids. Both carry NorseBoat’s distinctive looking carbon fiber gaff-rigged mast with main and jib (a sprit-set drifter is optional), and come with a ballasted stub keel and centerboard. Because of its lightweight design, the boat can be rowed and is easily trailered.

$36,000 (starting), 902-659-2790, norseboat.com

Flying Scot

Talk about time-tested, the 19-foot Flying Scot has been in production since 1957 and remains a popular design today. Sloop rigged, with a conventional spinnaker for downwind work, the boat is an easily sailed family boat as well as a competitive racer, with over 130 racing fleets across the U.S. Its roomy cockpit can seat six to eight, though the boat is often sailed by a pair or solo. Hull and deck are a fiberglass and balsa core sandwich. With the centerboard up, the boat draws only eight inches. Though intended to be a daysailer, owners have rigged boom tents and berths for overnight trips, and one adventurous Scot sailor cruised his along inland waterways from Philadelphia to New Orleans.

Known primarily for its line of racing dinghys, RS Sailing also builds the 16-foot, 4-inch Venture, which it describes as a cruising and training dinghy. The Venture features a large, self-draining cockpit that will accommodate a family or pack of kids. A furling jib and mainsail with slab reefing come standard with the boat; a gennaker and trapeze kit are options, as is an outboard motor mount and transom swim ladder. The deck and hull are laid up in a fiberglass and Coremat sandwich. The Venture’s designed to be both a good performer under sail, but also stable, making it a good boat for those learning the sport.

$14,900, 203-259-7808, rssailing.com

Topper makes a range of mono- and multihull rotomolded boats, but the model that caught one editor’s eye at Strictly Sail Chicago was the Topaz Taz. At 9 feet, 8 inches LOA and weighing in at 88 pounds, the Taz is not going to take the whole crowd out for the day. But, with the optional mainsail and jib package (main alone is for a single child), the Taz can carry two or three kids or an adult and one child, and would make a fun escape pod when tied behind the big boat and towed to some scenic harbor. The hull features Topper’s Trilam construction, a plastic and foam sandwich that creates a boat that’s stiff, light, and durable, and shouldn’t mind being dragged up on the beach when it’s time for a break.

$2,900 (includes main and jib), 410-286-1960, topazsailboats.com

WindRider WRTango

WRTango, a fast, sturdy, 10-foot trimaran that’s easy to sail, is the newest portable craft from WindRider International. It joins a line that includes the WR16 and WR17 trimarans. The Tango features forward-facing seating, foot-pedal steering, and a low center of gravity that mimics the sensation of sitting in a kayak. It weighs 125 pounds (including the outriggers and carbon-fiber mast), is extremely stable, and has single-sheet sail control. The six-inch draft and kick-up rudder make it great for beaching, while the hull and outriggers are made of rotomolded polyethylene, so it can withstand running into docks and being dragged over rocks.

$3,000, 612-338-2170, windrider.com

More: 21 - 30 ft , Boat Gallery , day sailing , dinghy , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats , under 20 ft
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cruising sailboat 44

Overall length : 13.55 m Width : 4.5 m Draft : 1.4 m

... of the other models in the POGO range. Like all models in our POGO range, the POGO 44 is built in Vacuum Infusion (100%). Unsinkable foams make the boat "unbreakable", an invaluable safety for long crossings. The famous ...

cruising sailboat 30

Overall length : 9.1 m Width : 3.7 m Draft : 1.9 m

A truly versatile yacht for very fast offshore sailing and coastal sailing (lifting keel), ideal for a small crew or family. Length of 30 (9.14 m) and beam of 3.70 m. The Pogo30 is therefore more powerful than the Pogo8.50, with its ...

racing sailboat 40 s4 v²

Overall length : 12.19 m Width : 4.42 m Draft : 3 m

Upwind sail surface - Surface totale au près : 115 Sqm Mainsail - 258 Sqm Architect - GUILLAUME VERDIER Design - Guillaume VERDIER – POGO STRUCTURES Development - POGO STRUCTURES Construction - POGO STRUCTURES

classic sailboat Gazelle des îles

Overall length : 3.9 m Width : 1.45 m Draft : 0.55 m

... natural areas, sail when there’s no wind, go forth in calm currents and pull of trick manoeuvres…. without the noise! Unsinkable , Self-righting, Self-bailing floor when moored Launch your boat on your own and sail ...

sport keelboat sailboat 5.70

Overall length : 5.7 m Width : 2.53 m Sail area : 17 m²

... want to once again find the same sensations on a small keelboat. Stark, simple and well manufactured, the Open 5.70 is unsinkable and cannot capsize. The easy to handle asymmetrical spinnaker drives the boat downwind ...

sport keelboat sailboat Open 5.70

Overall length : 5.7 m Width : 2.53 m

sport keelboat sailboat ELF-620

Overall length : 6.2 m Width : 2.5 m Draft : 0.36, 1.5 m

21-ft Conceptual project ELF-620 ELF-620 designed as small budjet racer/cruiser for young yachtsmens and young family users. Despite of small cost it is very fast sail boat. Cfn be equipped up to ISAF OSR 208/9. Long cocpit (2,98 m) ...

day-sailer NEXØ 1ST

Overall length : 5 m

nexø first is and open deck yacht with a drive for sports. The shape of the hull, the ergonomics of the rigging and low weight guarantee planing with the use of standard set of sails. The possibility of setting the gennaker and the installation ...

fast cruising sailboat DJANGO 9.80

Overall length : 9.8 m Width : 3.6 m Draft : 1.6 m

The Django 9.80 is the ideal saiboat for all those who dream of taking a beak and getting away from it all, with their family, their friends or solo.

cruising sailboat Faering Cruiser

Overall length : 6.9 m

cruising sailboat Mastracchio 24.5

Overall length : 24'06"

... length sailboat , with modern interior and exterior lines. Designed as a trailerable daysailer that satisfies the needs of those who navigate with no elevation means. Explore new waters in comfort and style, on our ...

catamaran IC36 INDEPENDENCE

Overall length : 11 m

... bowsprit. High-tech equipment that contributes to stunning performance. Lateral and fore-and-aft stability and IC36 is UNSINKABLE . High-end B&G electronics deliver precise data and weather information. Our top ...

trimaran 25 EVOLUTION

Overall length : 7.7 m Width : 2.45 m Draft : 0.3, 1.2 m

... Construction : Infusion polyester Country : France Folding system : Pivotement sur l’arrière trailerable : Oui Unsinkable : Yes

sport keelboat sailboat PROTON 2.4 MR

Overall length : 4.2 m Width : 0.85 m Draft : 1 m

... specially strengthened structure which guarantees full safety. The keelboat is uncapsizable thanks to keel filled with lead and unsinkable because she has the flotation tanks filled with foam material.

ocean cruising sailboat ISMERIA 45

Overall length : 13.4 m Width : 4.52 m Draft : 3.1 m

The ISMERIA 45′ is an aluminium sailboat , with a comfortable and safe interior living space, made for blue water sailing. Centralize the maneuvers and propose an interior helm station benefiting from a privileged 360° ...

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Sailing yachts like Mike Lynch's are 'unsinkable bodies', CEO of boat manufacturing firm says

Bayesian superyacht which sank off Italy is an "unsinkable" vessel, Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, said.

By Ashna Hurynag, news correspondent and Eleonora Chiarella, producer

Sunday 25 August 2024 08:48, UK

Vessels like Mike Lynch's stricken superyacht are "unsinkable", according to the chief executive of the firm which makes and sells them.

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, told Sky News there are no flaws with the design and construction of the Bayesian superyacht which capsized in a storm off the coast of Porticello, Sicily, on Monday.

Five bodies were found by divers on Wednesday - taking the number of confirmed dead to six.

The Italian Sea Group also owns the firm that built British tech tycoon Mr Lynch's Bayesian, and Mr Costantino said the vessels "are the safest in the most absolute sense".

News of the sinking left CEO of The Italian Sea Group Giovanni Costantino in ‘sadness on the one hand and disbelief on the other’.

"Being the manufacturer of Perini [boats], I know very well how the boats have always been designed and built," he said.

"And as Perini is a sailing ship... sailing ships are renowned to be the safest ever."

He said their structure and keel made them "unsinkable bodies".

Read more on this story: Why search of superyacht wreck has been so difficult Hero mum 'slept with baby on deck when storm sank yacht'

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Mr Costantino said news of the sinking "put me in a state of sadness on one side and of disbelief on the other".

"This incident sounds like an unbelievable story, both technically and as a fact," he said.

It is understood Italian prosecutors investigating the incident are continuing to hold interviews with the survivors.

On Tuesday they questioned the captain for more than two hours to help reconstruct what happened and provide useful technical details.

Four British inspectors are also in Porticello and have begun a preliminary assessment of events.

It is understood they will look at all relevant aspects of the incident, including the design, stability, and operation of the vessel. They will also examine the effects of the weather conditions experienced.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Twenty-two people were on board the vessel, 15 of whom were rescued - including Briton Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter Sofia.

Divers will resume efforts on Thursday morning to bring ashore a body they found earlier. One more person remains missing.

National News | Carnival cruise ship hits iceberg in ‘Titanic…

National News

Puzzles & Games

National News | Carnival cruise ship hits iceberg in ‘Titanic moment’

A Carnival cruise ship. (RHONA WISE/AFP via Getty Images)

“If we die it is damn well worth it, it’s a Titanic moment,” said one passenger who posted a video on TikTok showing the ship approaching the chunk of ice.

@cass_goskie 9/5/24 Carnival Spirit hit an iceberg. It didnt do any damage that caused us to use any emergency procedures. The crew did an amazing job at accessing the damage and keep all of its crew and passengers safe and informed! #greenscreenvideo #alaskacruise #carnivalcruise #iceberg #fyp #icebergincident #cruiseaccident #titanic #carnivalspirit ♬ original sound – Cassandra Goskie

After the collision, which happened last Thursday and jolted those onboard, the ship was halted for damage assessment. There turned out to be none , Carnival said in a statement to Cruise Hive, and the vessel continued on its way.

The week-long trip concluded in Seattle on Tuesday as previously planned.

As far as Carnival was concerned, the berg bump hubbub was a great, big nothing burger, and the same ship has since left for another roundtrip cruise to Alaska.

The iceberg that hit Titanic dwarfed the Spirit’s ice chunk nemesis, which barely nicked the boat. Witness testimony put the ice rock that sunk the unsinkable ship at about 50 to 100 feet high and 400 feet long , compared to the Titanic, which was 883 feet long, 92 feet wide and 175 feet tall from keel to smokestack.

More in National News

Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly lashed out at Taylor Swift after the pop superstar endorsed Kamala Harris for president. "F you," Kelly barked.

SNYDE | Megyn Kelly goes on epic tirade after Taylor Swift endorses Harris

A man and a woman have been arrested in the alleged sexual and physical abuse of “multiple” young children in Connecticut.

National News | 2 arrested in sexual abuse of multiple kids in Connecticut

Jon Bon Jovi is being hailed as a hero after he saved the life of a woman who was about to jump off a bridge in Nashville, as seen in video released by police.

SNYDE | Video shows Jon Bon Jovi saving woman from jumping off Nashville bridge

Shannon Arrington, a 37-year-old New Haven resident, was pulled from the water near the mouth of the Quinnipiac River.

National News | Dead woman pulled from Quinnipiac River in New Haven

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COMMENTS

Unsinkable Boat: What Boats Are Unsinkable?
While working boats and occasional cruising boats can be found up to 40 feet long, you'll be hard-pressed to find an unsinkable boat much bigger than 30 ft. It is even harder to find unsinkable motorboats since unsinkable sailboats seem to be a more common need. One of the largest unsinkable boats currently available is the 370cc by Edgewater ...
Life Proof Boats
LIFE PROOF BOATS, 5626 SW Imperial Way, Bremerton, WA, 98312, United States 360-674-7019 [email protected]
The Truth About Unsinkable Boats
The Etap 46, with its double hull construction, is an excellent example of an unsinkable boat. Caution should be exercised when using some foams. Some types are combustible and give off poisonous gas when exposed to flames. These should not be used in galley or engine-room areas where fires are most likely to occur.
Colgate 26 Sailboats
Take advantage of our special 15% boat show discount and enjoy sailing your new Tartan-built Colgate 26 later this fall or spring. Order your new Colgate 26 now through August 2024 and save $13,125 on a your ready-to-sail new Colgate 26! To learn more, contact Randon Finkelstein at [email protected]; or Steve Colgate at 239-218-0471 ...
Are Sailboats Unsinkable? (What's The Truth?)
When the boat has reached the surface and seems to be buoyant again, safely and very carefully tow it to shore. These steps are general and a good starting point if you plan to do it yourself, but please consult an expert if possible. In Conclusion. This article discussed sailboats and if they are unsinkable.
How US Coast Guard Made An Unsinkable Boat
Explore the marvel of the 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (47 MLB), an unsinkable force operated exclusively by the United States Coast Guard. Uncover the physics beh...
What are some unsinkable sailboats?
Here's a look at some of the best options for unsinkable sailboats. 1. Boston Whaler. Boston Whaler is one of the most well-known brands for unsinkable boats. Their patented foam-filled construction makes their boats virtually unsinkable, and they've been proven to withstand even the toughest conditions. 2. Hobie.
Certified Unsinkable
The Truth About Unsinkable Boats. Staff. December 20, 2016. Boat Reviews. EdgeWater 170 Center Console: Unsinkable and Ready for Fun. Pete McDonald. March 15, 2011. Boat Reviews. Boston Whaler 315 Conquest: Super-sized and Unsinkable. Jeff Hemmel. May 19, 2012. NEWS AND EVENTS. Certified Dealers Recognized at 2008 NMMA Winter Boat Shows.
Etap 34s: Unsinkable Etap
Although Etap has mainly been a builder of smaller boats, their 38i has been a popular offshore model, and the 32i is also a capable small passagemaker. As used boats, these two will make good values. This year, Etap has launched the "s-series" with the 34s and the 39s, both of which advance the art and science of building unsinkable cruising ...
Canyon 456 Center Console
The largest unsinkable boat of its kind, Grady-White sets the standard in luxury fishing boats with this flagship 45-foot center console! The Canyon 456 is an incredibly spacious, technically sophisticated boat built on Grady's trademark SeaV² ® hull, ranked highest in performance and ride in every J.D. Power and Associates Marine Study ever done.
Which sailboats are unsinkable?
The boat's hull is made of carbon fiber, making it extremely lightweight and buoyant. Unsinkable sailboats are the safest choice for sailors who want to enjoy their sailing experience without worrying about the boat sinking. The sailboats mentioned above are just a few examples of unsinkable sailboats that are available on the market.
9 Best Trailerable Sailboats
The hull contains a liberal amount of positive flotation, which makes the boat practically unsinkable. The cabin features generous accommodations for a boat of its size, featuring space for a vee-berth, a small stove, a sink, and a portable head. Additionally, the West Wight Potter 19's cabin can be wired for electricity from the factory ...
15' Micro cruiser
The boat is ABYC unsinkable, thanks to the use of flotation foam. She is designed to recover dry from any but the most catastrophic capsize. Indeed downflood angle is 108°, so no bailing for a tired crew. Centerboard and rudder systems are accessible and repairable underway, including keel-lift mechanism and rudder bolts. Both appendages will ...
Unsinkable boats, exceptional safety
EdgeWater Power Boats, Edgewater, Fla. Phone: (386) 426-5457. www.ewboats.com. Everglades uses a patented process where the hull and deck are laid up over three premolded foam cores in hull, deck and transom shapes. Once the pieces are ready, the entire boat is then vacuum-bagged.
The Unsinkable Boat: Legendary Craftsmanship
An unsinkable hull plus brilliant design and advanced technology equals the most trusted boat on the water. Yes, you can cut a Boston Whaler in two and drive away in the half with the engine. But unsinkability means more than just the unmatched safety of Unibond™ hull construction. It means smart design, high-quality construction and forward ...
11 Best Small Sailboat Brands: How to Choose Your Next ...
The Best Sailboats Under 25 Feet. Pocket cruiser: Cornish Crabber 24. British manufacturer Cornish Crabber has been producing beautiful, traditional style small sailboats for decades, ensuring they honor their heritage both in the construction style and appearance of their boats. The Cornish Crabber 24 is the most iconic of their range and ...
Trying to sink an unsinkable boat
Trying to sink an unsinkable boat. It's every sailor's nightmare: holed and taking on water. For Chris Beeson, the unsinkable Etap turned this sinking feeling into an unusual spa session. The Etap 21i sailing with her normal freeboard, before we opened the seacocks and attempted to scuttle her Credit: Lester McCarthy/YM.
Which boat brands are unsinkable?
1. Boston Whaler. Boston Whaler is perhaps the most well-known unsinkable boat brand, with a reputation for producing high-quality boats that are both safe and reliable. The company's signature "Unibond" construction method involves bonding the inner and outer hulls, creating a foam-filled, fully enclosed structure that is virtually ...
Best Small Sailboats, Beginner and Trailerable Sailboats
Billed as unsinkable, the five boats in the company's line are built with E.P.S. foam, with the external hull and deck vacuum-formed to the core using an A.B.S. polymer. The Super Snark weighs in at 50 pounds, and with a payload capacity of 310 pounds, the boat can carry two.
Hunter 212: Unsinkable
The Hunter 212 combines the rigging and performance of a daysailer, the comfort and overnight capability of a mini-cruiser, and easy trailering. With the innovative, patented Advanced Composite Process, this Hunter is both lightweight and extremely durable. Five times more impact resistant than fiberglass, this boat is tough, unsinkable, and ...
How US coast guard made an unsinkable boat
The United States Coast Guard's commitment to ensuring the longevity of these unsinkable vessels reflects their dedication to maritime safety. These boats represent more than just naval ...
Thunder Child: The Wave-Piercing Unsinkable Powerboat
Meet the Thunder Child, a world-renown powerboat that is unsinkable due to its ground-breaking hull design. The state-of-the-art 17-metre design comes from I...
Unsinkable sailboat, Unsinkable open sailboat
Unsinkable foams make the boat "unbreakable", an invaluable safety for long crossings. The famous ... Compare this product Remove from comparison tool. cruising sailboat 30. 2-cabin 6-berth fiberglass. cruising sailboat. 30. Overall length: 9.1 m Width: 3.7 m Draft: 1.9 m.
Sailing yachts like Mike Lynch's are 'unsinkable bodies', CEO of boat
Sailing yachts like Mike Lynch's are 'unsinkable bodies', CEO of boat manufacturing firm says. Bayesian superyacht which sank off Italy is an "unsinkable" vessel, Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The ...
Carnival cruise ship hits iceberg in 'Titanic moment'
The iceberg that hit Titanic dwarfed the Spirit's ice chunk nemesis, which barely nicked the boat. Witness testimony put the ice rock that sunk the unsinkable ship at about 50 to 100 feet high ...