What's your favorite shoal draft boat?

[Graham Carr]

If I had the money, I would buy the Southerly 110 from Northshore Yachts in England. Price tag $213,000 at the current exchange rate. Practical Sailor said Beachable yet able to navigate open-ocean waters. The swing keel is operated by a hydraulic ram with electric pump. The system has a manual back-up which takes only 3 minutes to raise the keel. She can be sailed with the keel up but you will make leeway.

Southerly 110 web site

Headroom: 6-4
LOA: 35-6
LWL: 30-3
Beam: 11-10
Draft: Keel up 2-4
Keel down 7-2
Displacement: (lbs) 15,388
Ballast: Grounding plate 4455 lbs. Cast iron
Swing keel, 2310 lbs. Cast iron
Total ballast 6,765 lbs.
(Grounding plate is 4 x 8 x 3 thick and it protects the bottom for grounding.)
Ballast/displacement ratio: 45%.
Righting moment: Keel down 150
Twin rudders
Sail area: 606 SF
Engine: 29 hp
Water: 54 gals.
Fuel: 48 gals.

[Idle Time]

My brother's first sailboat was an air mattress folded up at both ends with duct tape (canoe?) and then he made a big cross put a sheet on it. I handed it to him after he got in the boat and he sailed it across the pond. I was surprised it didnt leak.

[Moe]

For a trailerable pocket cruiser, I sure like the Pacific Seacraft Dana 24. It has a air of quality and KISS about it I find appealing. There's no question about it making it to Hawaii... and far beyond.

[kevin carroll]

I may be a little bias since I bought one, but the best Shoal draft boat is the Gemini 105M !!! Centerboards raise up, rudders raise up and the diesel engine is a drive engine that lifts up as well. The price puts it under the seawind and the Gemini is a lot of boat for the money.

Kevin Carroll