montgomery 12 sailboat

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20 Best Small Sailboats for the Weekender

• By Mark Pillsbury
• Updated: August 4, 2021

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.

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

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

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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Centerboard Dinghy

Specifications MONTGOMERY 12

12.20 ft / 3.72 m - 1972 - Lyle Hess - Montgomery Marine Products (USA)

MONTGOMERY 12 Sailboat Data

Hull Type: Centerboard Dinghy Rigging Type: Fractional Sloop LOA: 12.20 ft / 3.72 m LWL: 10.00 ft / 3.05 m S.A. (reported): 91.00 ft² / 8.45 m² Beam: 4.83 ft / 1.47 m Displacement: 145.00 lb / 66 kg Max Draft: 3.00 ft / 0.91 m Min Draft: 0.80 ft / 0.24 m Construction: FG First Built: 1972 Builder: Montgomery Marine Products (USA) Designer: Lyle Hess

Information from  sailboatdata.com .

Hull Speed: 4.24 kn

M17 #375 – SWEET PEA

Information about and adventures on a montgomery 17, jerry montgomery: specialist in trailerable sailboats since 1969.

From 1969 until 1995 I owned and operated Montgomery Marine Products, primarily a manufacturer of sailboats featuring the excellent MONTGOMERY line, consisting of the MONTGOMERY 23, MONTGOMERY 17, MONTGOMERY 15, as well as the MONTGOMERY dinghies. During this time I made about 20 of the 23’s, about 500 each of the 17’s and 15’s, and several thousand of the dinghies. I also made the MONTGOMERY 12, which is a great little sloop designed by Lyle Hess for yacht club racing, and the MONTGOMERY 10. The M10 won most of the honors at Yacht Racing magazine’s America’s Teacup Trials in 1970 (Which was where the Laser and the Hobie 14 were introduced), and won the only perfect score in quality of the 49 entries. There is an  Montgomery owner’s group , with archives and an e-mail forum, and an active Facebook group that might be of interest to you, dealing with the larger of these boats .

I also dabbled in canoes, both conventional (“real canoes”) and polynesian-type outrigger canoes, and all were of my design except for the 6-person outriggers that I made from a Tahitian design for the World Sprint Championships in 1992. It’s also a point of considerable pride to me that I stroked the team that took a 1st in the 500 meters and a 3rd in the 1,000 meters. Those were the days.

In 1995 I ended a 26-year marriage and decided that building boats, with the problems of a bunch of employees, was just not fun anymore, and sold the tooling to various companies. Since then I mostly make my living designing and tooling racing kayaks and outrigger canoes for an upcoming Sacramento company (Huki Outrigger Canoes), making the laminated wood parts for a popular three-man sailing outrigger canoe (Holopuni.com), and making rigging components for sailboats. Both of these companies are owned by good friends. Things could be worse. If you have several hours to spare take a look at these two sites (there’s a whole ‘nother world out there), but the purpose of this website is to promote and describe my rigging services.

In 2009 and 2010 I designed and built the molds for the new Sage 17, now built in Golden, CO, which is a stiff, great handling trailerable that is sweeping the trailerable sailboat races. It’s a great improvement on my earlier Montgomery 17. See the SAGE 17 section below!

Inspection of Standing Rigging

CLICK HERE for how to inspect your Montgomery’s standing rigging

Measurement of Standing Rigging

CLICK HERE for how to measure your Montgomery’s standing rigging.

Sage 17, 15 and SageCat

In late 2009 I started my first pocket cruiser design in 15 years, the  Sage 17 for Sage Marine . I consider the Sage 17 to be a distinct improvement of my prior pocket cruisers: the significant use of carbon fiber makes her lighter and stronger which means better performance and lower towing weight.

A few years later I designed the Sage 15 and SageCat (the catboat rigged version of the Sage 15).

You can read more about Sage sailboats on the Sage Marine world-wide-web site –

www.sagemarine.com

Jerry Montgomery All Rights Reserved 2021 Email Jerry Montgomery: [email protected]

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#7720 Montgomery 12

1979 Montgomery 12. Nice day sailor designed by Lyle Hess – Ready to sail. Untitled trailer.

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Charity Boat Donation Program. St. Michaels, Maryland. Boats for Sale. Maryland Eastern Shore used boats.

Contact Charity Boat Donation Program

Montgomery 17

Design characteristics, history and description, written by jerry montgomery.

The Montgomery 17 was designed by Lyle Hess, a well-known and highly respected designer of blue-water cruising boats, as an able coastal cruiser; small enough to be easily trailered but capable of moderate offshore passages. The first 17s were made as fixed keel boats, with a 525 lb. cast iron, bolt-on keel, and we took the first two to the Newport, RI, and Annapolis, MD boat shows in the fall of ’73 and sold over 30 of them between the two shows, strictly on the reputations of the designer and builder and the obvious quality of the boat.

Several of these were fixed keel boats, but most were orders for the announced keel/centerboard version. A total of about 20 of the early fixed keel 17s were made and the remain very stiff, seaworthy boats. (These boats are now old enough that keel bolts should be replaced for safety’s sake, and I still have a supply of the old 5/8" hi-tensile galvanized steel bolts, which are very difficult to find now). Soon after the shows, we finished the tooling for the still-current keel/CB version. I believe that the M-17 was the first production boat to use end-grain balsa coring in the deck.

In the late 70’s we made several flush deck 17s, which were a racing version with a flat deck like a Soling or Etchells 22, with no house and a small, self bailing cockpit. This started out as a lark, actually, because a good friend, also a boat builder, agreed to make the plug (mock-up) for the new deck mold in exchange for a 17 hull, which he wanted to finish off and sail to Hawaii. I made a mold off the plug, and made the first boat, Coyote, for myself. I took it to the October race in Guaymas, Mexico a few weeks later, and even though I did not yet have a spinnaker, finished 6th boat-for-boat on the first day and 2nd on the second day. A Venture 17 and I were the two smallest boats in the fleet, and not knowing anything about a Montgomery 17, let alone a flush deck 17, the race committee rated me the same as the Venture, which is a slow boat, and I won by so much on corrected time the first day that I had only to finish on he second day in order to take first overall. I also won the second day.

Later in the year, I sold "Coyote" (to an incredible guy in Tucson who won the Guaymas race the next two years with it) to help dig up money for the down payment on a house. The flush deck was a little lighter than a normal 17, had less windage because of the flat deck, and had a taller and higher aspect rig. It was a handful in a blow, but a light air bomb! I ended up building 9 of them, but destroyed the deck mold when I moved to the Sacramento area in 1987.

During the late 70’s we also made 15 or 20 tall rig 17’s; the mast was 1’9" taller than normal. Most of these were sold in the light-air areas of southern California and Arizona (mostly sailed in the Sea of Cortez).

In 1981 we retooled the 17, mostly because the molds had had several hundred boats made form them and were getting worn out, but incorporated several minor changes, like improving the windows, cockpit drainage, and the hull/deck joint, and changing the toe rails, forward hatch details, etc. In about ’84 we changed from extruded aluminum toe rails to those of teak, mostly because of changing market trends. In 1987 we made a centerboard change; from cast iron to fiberglass with a lead core. The new centerboards were thicker in section but smaller in profile, and I can’t tell the difference between the two types in sailing them. This change was made in response to death threats and other complaints resulting from the rusting problem common to cast iron. The new centerboards are no better, but they don’t rust. The older ones are probably more reliable, being cast iron, but we’ve had no problems with the new after 6 years. At the same time, we changed from steel to lead ballast, and increased the total ballast weight from 55 to 600 lbs.

The older, pre-81 17s are nearly as good as the newer; the difference being mostly that of cosmetics and other slight refinements, but they are usually a good bit less expensive in the broker’s yards. The biggest improvement in the 1981 17 was the addition of the wet locker, and the resulting improvement in cockpit drainage.

Other changes have been in the interior. Originally the 17 had a "three berth" interior; a double berth forward and a quarter berth on the starboard. On port, opposite the starboard berth, was a molded-in galley unit consisting of a sink with storage under, and a place for a stove. A few years later (about ’78 or so) we tooled a new interior with four berths, replacing the galley unit with a port side quarter berth which was a mirror-image of the starboard berth.

Neither of these interiors was perfect. The 3-berth lacked sitting room below; two people could shoehorn themselves onto the starboard berth and sit there like a couple of sardines, but it was far from comfortable. The galley/sink unit was seldom used except in cold or wet weather. And its most valuable qualities were the storage under, and even more important, the cockpit storage behind it, accessible through the port side cockpit hatch. The 4-berth had great sitting room for two people (or cramped room for four), but no galley for storage, and since the portside quarter berth ran all the way back under the cockpit, no storage there. To me, the 4-berth was the least desirable of the interiors.

In about ’87, we changed to the present interior, which is an adaptation of the previous two. On port, instead of the galley, we have a shortened (5’ long) berth that allows the much-needed sitting room and is long enough for a half-grown kid to sleep on, but still leaves enough room behind it for cockpit accessed storage. This is by far the best interior of the three and we have long since discontinued the other two.

Sail Measurements provided by Jerry Montgomery

Standard rig.

• I - 22.92 FT
• J - 7.16 FT
• P - 19.33 FT
• E - 7.75 FT

Tall rig is same except I and P are 1.75 FT longer. Working jib as supplied by Montgomery was a 109%.

• I - 25.08 FT
• P - 22.5 FT

10 Best Small Sailboats (Under 20 Feet)

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 28, 2023

Compact, easy to trailer, simple to rig, easy to maintain and manage, and affordable, the best small boats all have one thing in common: they offer loads of fun while out there on the water.

So whether you're on a budget or just looking for something that can offer ultimate daytime rides without compromising on safety, aesthetic sensibilities, alternate propulsion, and speed, the best small sailboats under 20 feet should be the only way to go.

Let's be brutally honest here; not everyone needs a 30-foot sailboat to go sailing. They come with lots of features such as electronics, entertainment, refrigeration, bunks, a galley, and even a head. But do you really need all these features to go sailing? We don't think so.

All you need to go sailing is a hull, a mast, rudder, and, of course, a sail. And whether you refer to them as daysailers, trailerable sailboats , a weekender sailboat, or pocket cruisers, there's no better way to enjoy the thrills of coastal sailing than on small sailboats.

There are a wide range of small boats measuring less than 20 feet available in the market. These are hot products in the market given that they offer immense thrills out on the sea without the commitment required to cruise on a 30-footer. A small sailboat will not only give you the feel of every breeze but will also give you the chance to instantly sense every change in trim.

In this article, we'll highlight 10 best small sailboats under 20 feet . Most models in this list are time-tested, easy to rig, simple to sail, extremely fun, and perfect either for solo sailing or for sailing with friends and family. So if you've been looking for a list of some of the best small sailboats , you've come to the right place.

So without further ado, let's roll on.

Table of contents

{{boat-info="/boats/hunter-15"}}

The Marlow-Hunter 15 is not only easy to own since it's one of the most affordable small sailboats but also lots of fun to sail. This is a safe and versatile sailboat for everyone. Whether you're sailing with your family or as a greenhorn, you'll love the Hunter 15 thanks to its raised boom, high freeboard, and sturdy FRP construction.

With high sides, a comfortable wide beam, a contoured self-bailing cockpit, and fiberglass construction, the Hunter 15 is certainly designed with the novice sailor in mind. This is why you can do a lot with this boat without falling out, breaking it, or capsizing. Its contoured self-baiting cockpit will enable you to find a fast exit while its wide beam will keep it steady and stable no matter what jibes or weight shifts happen along the way.

This is a small sailboat that can hold up to four people. It's designed to give you a confident feeling and peace of mind even when sailing with kids. It's easy to trailer, easy to rig, and easy to launch. With a price tag of about $10k, the Hunter 15 is a fun, affordable, and versatile boat that is perfect for both seasoned sailors and novices. It's a low-maintenance sailboat that can be great for teaching kids a thing or two about sailing.

Catalina 16.5

{{boat-info="/boats/catalina-16-5"}}

Catalina Yachts are synonymous with bigger boats but they have some great and smaller boats too such as Catalina 16.5. This is one of the best small sailboats that are ideal for family outings given that it has a big and roomy cockpit, as well as a large storage locker. Designed with a hand-laminated fiberglass sloop, the Catalina 16.5 is versatile and is available in two designs: the centerboard model and the keel model.

The centerboard model is designed with a powerful sailplane that remains balanced as a result of the fiberglass centerboard, the stable hull form, and the rudder. It also comes with a tiller extension, adjustable hiking straps, and adjustable overhaul. It's important to note that these are standard equipment in the two models.

As far as the keel model is concerned, this is designed with a high aspect keel as the cast lead and is attached with stainless steel keel bolts, which makes this model perfect for mooring or docking whenever it's not in use. In essence, the centerboard model is perfect if you'll store it in a trailer while the keel model can remain at the dock.

All in all, the Catalina 16.5 is one of the best small sailboats that you can get your hands on for as low as $10,000. This is certainly a great example of exactly what a daysailer should be.

{{boat-info="/boats/hobie-16"}}

There's no list of small, trailerable, and fun sailboats that can be complete without the inclusion of the classic Hobie 16. This is a durable design that has been around and diligently graced various waters across the globe since its debut way back in 1969 in Southern California. In addition to being durable, the Hobie 16 is trailerable, great for speed, weighs only 320 pounds, great for four people, and more importantly, offers absolute fun.

With a remarkable figure of over 100,000 launched since its debut, it's easy to see that the Hobie 16 is highly popular. Part of this popularity comes from its asymmetric fiberglass-and-foam sandwiched hulls that include kick-up rudders. This is a great feature that allows it to sail up to the beach.

For about $12,000, the Hobie 16 will provide you with endless fun throughout the summer. It's equipped with a spinnaker, trailer, and douse kit. This is a high-speed sailboat that has a large trampoline to offer lots of space not just for your feet but also to hand off the double trapezes.

Montgomery 17

{{boat-info="/boats/montgomery-17"}}

Popularly known as the M-17, The Montgomery 17 was designed by Lyle C. Hess in conjunction with Jerry Montgomery in Ontario, California for Montgomery Boats. Designed either with keel or centerboard models, the M-17 is more stable than most boats of her size. This boat is small enough to be trailered but also capable of doing moderate offshore passages.

This small sailboat is designed with a masthead and toe rail that can fit most foresails. It also has enough space for two thanks to its cuddly cabin, which offers a sitting headroom, a portable toilet, a pair of bunks, a DC power, and optional shore, and a proper amount of storage. That's not all; you can easily raise the deck-stepped mast using a four-part tackle.

In terms of performance, the M-17 is one of the giant-killers out there. This is a small sailboat that will excel in the extremes and make its way past larger boats such as the Catalina 22. It glides along beautifully and is a dog in light air, though it won't sail against a 25-knot wind, which can be frustrating. Other than that, the Montgomery 17 is a great small sailboat that can be yours for about $14,000.

Norseboat 17.5

{{boat-info="/boats/norseboat-17-5"}}

As a versatile daysailer, Norseboat 17.5 follows a simple concept of seaworthiness and high-performance. This small sailboat perfectly combines both contemporary construction and traditional aesthetics. Imagine a sailboat that calls itself the "Swiss Army Knife of Boats!" Well, this is a boat that can sail and row equally well.

Whether you're stepping down from a larger cruiser or stepping up from a sea kayak, the unique Norseboat 17.5 is balanced, attractive, and salty. It has curvaceous wishbone gaff, it is saucy, and has a stubby bow-sprit that makes it attractive to the eyes. In addition to her beauty, the Norseboat 17.5 offers an energy-pinching challenge, is self-sufficient, and offers more than what you're used to.

This is a small, lightweight, low-maintenance sailboat that offers a ticket to both sailing and rowing adventures all at the same time. At about 400 pounds, it's very portable and highly convenient. Its mainsails may look small but you'll be surprised at how the boat is responsive to it. With a $12,500 price tag, this is a good small sailboat that offers you the versatility to either row or sail.

{{boat-info="/boats/sage-marine-sage-17"}}

If you've been looking for a pocket cruiser that inspires confidence, especially in shoal water, look no further than the Sage 17. Designed by Jerry Montgomery in 2009, the Sage 17 is stable and should heel to 10 degrees while stiffening up. And because you want to feel secure while sailing, stability is an integral feature of the Sage 17.

This is a sailboat that will remain solid and stable no matter which part of the boat you stand on. Its cabin roof and the balsa-cored carbon-fiber deck are so strong that the mast doesn't require any form of compression post. The self-draining cockpit is long enough and capable of sleeping at 6 feet 6 inches.

The Sage 17 may be expensive at $25k but is a true sea warrior that's worth look at. This is a boat that will not only serve you right but will also turn heads at the marina.    

{{boat-info="/boats/laserperformance-laser-sb3"}}

Having been chosen as the overall boat of the year for 2008 by the Sailing World Magazine, the Laser SB3 is one of the coolest boats you'll ever encounter. When sailing upwind, this boat will lock into the groove while its absolute simplicity is legendary. In terms of downwind sailing, having this boat will be a dream come true while it remains incredibly stable even at extraordinary speed.

Since its debut in 2004, the Laser SB3 has surged in terms of popularity thanks to the fact that it's designed to put all the controls at your fingertips. In addition to a lightweight mast, its T- bulb keel can be hauled and launched painlessly. For about $18,000, the Laser SB3 ushers you into the world of sports sailing and what it feels to own and use a sports boat.

{{boat-info="/boats/fareast-18"}}

As a manufacturer, Fareast is a Chinese boat manufacturer that has been around for less than two decades. But even with that, the Fareast 18 remains a very capable cruiser-racer that will take your sailing to the next level. In addition to its good looks, this boat comes with a retractable keel with ballast bulb, a powerful rig, and an enclosed cabin.

Its narrow design with a closed stern may be rare in sailboats of this size, but that's not a problem for the Fareast 18. This design not only emphasizes speed but also makes it a lot easier to maintain this boat. Perfect for about 6 people, this boat punches above its weight. It's, however, designed to be rigged and launched by one person.

This is a relatively affordable boat. It's agile, safe, well-thought-out, well built, and very sporty.

{{boat-info="/boats/chuck-paine-paine-14"}}

If you're in the market looking for a small sailboat that offers contemporary performance with classic beauty, the Paine 14 should be your ideal option. Named after its famous designer, Chuck Paine, this boat is intentionally designed after the classic Herreshoff 12.5 both in terms of dimensions and features.

This is a lightweight design that brings forth modern fin keel and spade rudder, which makes it agile, stable, and faster. The Paine 14 is built using cold-molded wood or west epoxy. It has varnished gunnels and transoms to give it an old-time charm. To make it somehow modern, this boat is designed with a carbon mast and a modern way to attach sails so that it's ready to sail in minutes.

You can rest easy knowing that the Paine 14 will not only serve you well but will turn heads while out there.

{{boat-info="/boats/wd-schock-lido-14"}}

Many sailors will attest that their first sailing outing was in a Lido 14. This is a classic sailboat that has been around for over four decades and still proves to be a perfect match to modern small boats, especially for those still learning the ropes of sailing.

With seating for six people, the Lido 14 can be perfect for solo sailing , single-handed sailing, or if you're planning for shorthanded sailing. While new Lido 14 boats are no longer available, go for a functional used Lido 14 and you'll never regret this decision. It will serve you well and your kids will probably fall in love with sailing if Lido 14 becomes their main vessel during weekends or long summer holidays.

Bottom Line

There you have it; these are some of the best small sailboats you can go for. While there are endless small sailboats in the market, the above-described sailboat will serve you right and make you enjoy the wind.

Choose the perfect sailboat, invest in it, and go out there and have some good fun!

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• Sailboat Guide

1976 Montgomery M17

• Description

Seller's Description

The Montgomery 17 has to be one of the nicest smaller boats built. It was designed by Lyle Hess, a well-known and highly respected designer of blue-water cruising boats, as an able coastal cruiser; small enough to be easily trailered but capable of moderate offshore passages. She has a beautiful, beamy lapstrake, handlaid fiberglass hull, which provides tremendous strength and excellent tracking ability. Her modern underbody, with low wetted area, fine entry, and displacement well aft, allows her to move, fast and point high in light air as well as to excel in a blow. Her centerboard pivots from a permanently attached keel with no cables protruding to pick up weeds, etc. and the boat draws just under 2 feet with the board up and can be easily beached when youre gunkholing. The adjustable Swing Keel drafts from 1-9 to 3-6.

Shes self-righting and sails like a dream. This model has the 3-berth interior layout with galley unit to port. In the cuddy cabin youll find sitting headroom, a pair of bunks, a hideaway for a portable toilet, and an impressive amount of storage space. The deck-stepped mast can be easily raised using a four-part tackle. She is considered by many to be the best cruising sailboat in the 16-20 foot range.

LOA 17’2” LWL 15’10” Draft 1’9” Beam 7’4” Displacement 1,550 Sail Area 154 sf Mast Height 256

Equipment: This 1976 Montgomery 17 with a white deck and tangerine hull is clean and ready to sail. The teak can be easily beautified with some TLC. She was named Windsong by her original owner. She is currently out of the water (images 4-13)

Equipment: Main sail with reef points and Jib head sail in good shape with downhaul, New sail cover, halyards & lines in good condition, solar fan on hatch, mast raising assist pole, water tank, electrical panel & switch and running lights (other equipment available with purchase).

Trailrite Boat Trailer with 1 7/8 ball, lights with flat 4 wiring and tires with tubes.

4 HP Suzuki Outboard (2007) 4-stroke, long shaft in good shape (tuned up two years ago at Hannays) and gas can.

Montgomery 17’s have cruised the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Sea of Cortez, and have made countless trips to the Pacific Coast Channel islands, including Catalina. A Montgomery 17 has sailed from sailed from California to Hawaii, from Cape Hatteras to San Diego, via the Panama Canal and sailed the length of the Mississippi, from St. Paul, Minnesota, to the Gulf of Mexico, and was possibly the first sailboat to have done so. Properly outfitted and prepared, she is a very capable boat. Her racing record is outstanding and her handicap (Portsmouth 104) is favorable.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Flush deck, keel/cb version of the standard MONTGOMERY 17.

This listing is presented by SailboatListings.com . Visit their website for more information or to contact the seller.

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63 Sea King-Montgomery Ward 12' boat info needed.

• Thread starter vfrf2
• Start date Jan 29, 2006
• Jan 29, 2006

I just acquired a 12 foot 1963 Sea King aluminum boat sold by Montgomery Ward. The information tag does not allow me to make out the maximum horsepower rating on the boat, and it does not show the maximum capacity as far as passengers and weight. If anyone could help me out I'd be appreciative!<br /><br />Thanks!  

Chief Petty Officer

Re: 63 Sea King-Montgomery Ward 12' boat info needed. I think most 12' tinnies are around 10hp - 600lb load  

2 strokes is all i need

• Jun 22, 2008

Re: 63 Sea King-Montgomery Ward 12' boat info needed. i have a 76 12 foot sea king that i put a thicker and taller wood transom on and a few hull reinforcements.. it has a 40hp motor now and it pulls so hard its scary. you need a thicker and taller transom because big motors dont fit on the thin stock transom. i think i just about doubled its thickness and added about 6-8 inches in hight. but the sea king is not a typical aluminum jon boat. it came stock with extra hull reinforcements, seat reinforcements, etc. the front of the hull is a very deep vee, the rear is a semi vee. so you can take some gnarly waves and not worry about cracking the hull. i added even more hull and seat reinforcements to cope with the bigger motor. i have jumped waves big enough that onlookers could see the bottom of the prop spinning. that is some serious adrenaline. back when i first got it, it had a 9.9hp motor. that was JUST barely powerful enough to pull a knee boarder or skier behind it. now with the 40, i can pull 2 or 3 at a time. the cool thing is i have 9.9hp stickers on the 40hp motor, so its all slick like and the boys in blue dont give it a second glance so long as i dont do anything stupid around them. just be safe and dont do anything dangerous when others are around. you dont want to have an accident and have people blame you for putting a motor 4 times too powerfull on a boat thats as long as 2 people are tall. a 40hp motor still idles like a 9.9, so you dont need to use all the 40 horses . infact when im on plane i usually dont give it more than 1/5 throttle. well maybe more. but you get my point. just because a motor has 40hp doesnt mean you have to use all of it.  

tashasdaddy

Honorary moderator emeritus.

Re: 63 Sea King-Montgomery Ward 12' boat info needed. you can find the formula for both in here. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=191283  

CATransplant

• Jun 23, 2008

just be safe and dont do anything dangerous when others are around. you dont want to have an accident and have people blame you for putting a motor 4 times too powerfull on a boat thats as long as 2 people are tall. Click to expand...

CATransplant said: That's not at all helpful. If you have a 40hp on that 12' aluminum boat, you're just cruising for a disaster. Please don't advise people that such a drastic overpowering is safe. You'll do what you want, I suppose, but please don't hold your bad judgment up as an example for others. People come here to get real advice and information. The folks here who offer information and advice try very hard to give good information and advice. Your example is a very, very bad one. Click to expand...

• Jun 24, 2008

2 strokes is all i need said: sorry you feel that way. im sure others do too, but i did what i did and have not had any problems or regrets. remember that just because you have 40 horses does not mean you have to use them all at once. Click to expand...

• Jun 25, 2008

Re: 63 Sea King-Montgomery Ward 12' boat info needed. i think you might be making a bigger deal out of this than reality. i dont want to go any more off topic here but my example is nothing different then a person swapping a 283/327 for a 350 small block in a v drive glen allen, or one of those crazy people who put jet heli motors in little 16 foot hulls and go nuts up and down rivers with 200 foot roost. most pwc's have 2-3 even 4 times the power to weight ratio than my 12 foot boat. look at them bass boats with engines that are bigger than my truck. i dont think it is bad advice. its just advice. take it or leave it either way its out there. its doubtful the original owner is going to go out and buy a new 40hp just because i said it can be done with the proper mods. why not leave it at that? if you dont want to leave it at that, hit me up a pm. im not going to respond to this again. its taking away from the original topic. plus its a pain to hunt down previous threads. besides that, we shouldnt even be. we both own the same boat. owners of similar boats should stick together for help, not quarrel about trivial things like motor size.  

sdshort1979

• Jun 26, 2008

Re: 63 Sea King-Montgomery Ward 12' boat info needed. I have a 1960 Sea-King, with a 9 horse outboard, it does just fine with that. Has plenty of power to get around on small waters. My boat I have had 4 full grown adults on board her, but I would'nt recommend it. I would say safely that full grown adults is ideal. Anymore than that it gets kinda cramped and you are pushing the weight limit on your boat. Hope this helps and good luck with your boat.  

• Jun 28, 2008

Re: 63 Sea King-Montgomery Ward 12' boat info needed. i just sold my boat today. fancy that. the new owner loves the 40hp. got a great price on it too. (i got the great price, not him!) good luck to you fellas with the montgomery wards. it was an awesome boat while i had it. im moving onto other things though. goodbye iboats.com  

• Jul 16, 2008

Re: 63 Sea King-Montgomery Ward 12' boat info needed. I too recently bought an older 12' Montgomery Ward Sea King. I'm having a devil of a time finding the identification plate and serial number. Where have you guys found yours? TIA, Richard  

Re: 63 Sea King-Montgomery Ward 12' boat info needed. It should be on the transom, if there was one. Before 1972, they weren't required. Most of the Sea King aluminum boats were made by StarCraft, and are virtually identical with their Sea Scamp model. The 12' boats, at least the semi-V models, were rated for 10 hp. They do great with anything from 6hp to 10 hp.  

Petty Officer 2nd Class

• Jul 17, 2008

Re: 63 Sea King-Montgomery Ward 12' boat info needed. Just to throw my two cents in . . . all the advice you never asked for! I have a 1971 12 ft aluminum boat by Chrysler which is rated for 7.5 hp and 555 lbs and would like to offer a couple points/ponders: First, what do you plan to use the boat for? Here in AZ we have our large desert lakes and small mountain lakes. In my case a gas motor is great during bass season, but useless on the smaller northern lakes. If you stick to mostly small lakes, you might just consider a large trolling motor ? really very versatile. If you are looking at larger bodies of water or river travel a bigger gas motor is definitely the way to go. The second point was the result of the good folks here at the iboats forum. I was curious to find out what the HP limit was comprised of ? motor weight or power. Turns out that the answer is both. So while my lil hooptie is rated for 7.5 hp this was rated with 2 stroke engines in mind. I decided (just my own don?t-want-to-sink-paranoia) that it is probably safer to stick with a smaller hp rating when going with a heavier 4 stroke engine. The 4 stroke I purchased is about 50 lbs, where a comparable 5 hp 2 stroke can be as much as half that weight. Additionally, some states are starting to outlaw 2 stroke engines due to the pollution ratings. When taking any of this into consideration, please bear in mind that I am at a ?Cadet? rating for a reason. This boat of mine is my first and has only been used 4 times in the past three months or so . . . Good luck with your boat, be sure to share pictures ? especially of mods and restore efforts!  

• Oct 22, 2008
• Feb 22, 2009

79 Sea King Modifications..... 79 Sea King Modifications..... I have a 1979 Ward Sea-King with a 10 hp engine on the back. I also have about a 50 pound thrust trolling motor. I am wanting to put my battery for it under the front seat and run wires from there to the back. My idea is to cut a hole under the seat and put a hinge on top so i can easily remove the battery to charge it. I was wondering what the best way to run the cables from the front to the back and what type of cables to use? I was thinking of running conduit on the bottom or even just under the top rail. My other question is what type of cable would i use to connect the existing power cord to the new stuff in order to make it long enough? My 10 horse motor is plenty big to push myself and two adult friends around the lake but it is not running right. Its a Johnson motor and i messed around with the red needle that goes into the carb. I ended up screwing it all the way in and was wondering if that would be the problem? If i carefully set the choke halfway (which really isn't an option since its suppose to be either all or none) it runs very well. Should i unscrew it some so more air moves into the carb?  

• Jul 7, 2009

Re: 63 Sea King-Montgomery Ward 12' boat info needed. to answer your question it only allows a 10 hp motor and only 500lbs with motor people and gear or three persons at no more than 150lbs each. I hope this helps I have this exact boat that my grandfather left to my father and so on it has held up nicely and I have only had to replace the transom nothing else as of yet. If you have any other questions on this please let me know.  

• Aug 7, 2009

Re: 63 Sea King-Montgomery Ward 12' boat info needed. the engine model number is what ya need. useing that search under sea king and you will find your model year and hp. also you may find the hp on the cowl is less than what model will tell ya. the neat thing is you may find with the model # that your motor has many parts interchangeable with a multitude of other motors.  

Re: 63 Sea King-Montgomery Ward 12' boat info needed. I also have a 12ft but run an old 61 sea king 15hp on it. it truly does the flat scat. it is a bit scary though i must say. must always be on my toes for a cross wind that will change your course drasticaly. a cross wind from the right will push it left but tilt it to the right. your first instinct is to correct and turn right but being tilted that way already you can easily flip. droping throtle is best. to the guy with the 40hp on his 12 ft. i hope you carry alot of weight!!! I dont and have only 15hp and have found it unsafe for all but the most careful and skilled boaters. I cary 2 small tackel boxes and 3 polls and 1 transom mount troller with deep cycle bat and myself at 170lbs. am carrying less than 300lb. darn squirely boat and a fun adrenilian rush!! so like the other guy said about not advisin people to do the unsafe well, be sure to qualify your statement with "for the most experienced and skilled boater". let us not forget that the motor tech. that has developed over the years has come from guuys tryin to go faster, and do it more reliably. P.S. forgive my spelling