Category Archives: Boat Reviews
Boat Review: Sabre 456
The Sabre 456 was launched in 2010 and has drawn a lot of attention from both Sabre owners and would-be Sabre owners. The Jim Taylor design is an upgrade of the Sabre 452 that was introduced several years ago with … Continue reading
Boat Review: Hunter e33
Hunter has long been a leader in offering sailors a wide range of boats, from sailing dinghies to 50-foot ocean cruisers. But the company may be best known for its mid-size cruisers, which offer expansive living spaces in boats that … Continue reading
Boat Review: Lagoon 52
FLYING THE 52 The sun was getting a bit low when we got the Lagoon 52 away from the marina docks and headed out the cut toward the open sea. Compared to the 39, the 52 felt vast yet was … Continue reading
Boat Review: Lagoon 39
On the Tuesday following this winter’s Strictly Sail Miami boat show, the two Lagoons that debuted at the show were cut loose from the docks so we could get a chance to sail the innovative new designs from the world’s … Continue reading
Boat Review: Jeanneau 53
In the Fall of 2011, BWS had the opportunity to test sail the Jeanneau 53 on the Chesapeake Bay. The afternoon was lovely and the breeze light but steady at about 8 knots. With Jeanneau America’s Paul Fenn aboard, we set … Continue reading
Boat Review: Bavaria 32
Last summer, Bavaria USA introduced four new models to the U.S. market. The smallest of the fleet is the Bavaria 32, which packs a lot in a fairly small package. Designed by Farr Yacht Design, who designed all of the … Continue reading
Boat Review: Beneteau Oceanis 45
Two summers ago I signed on to crew aboard the brand new Beneteau Oceanis 45 on the delivery leg between the Newport, R.I. boat show and the Norwalk, Conn. boat show. It’s a run of about 140 miles across Block … Continue reading
Boat Review: S & S 30
For those who may have forgotten, Olin Stephens was the Twentieth Century’s resident genius of yacht design, our own nautical Da Vinci. In every aspect of the sailing game from dinghies like the Lightning to offshore racers like Finisterre to America’s … Continue reading
Boat Review: Hallberg Rassy 372
The German Frers-designed Hallberg Rassy 372 is another cruiser under 40-feet that will appeal to couples and young families. The 372 replaces the popular HR 37. HR has built more than 8,000 cruising boats over the years, so it is … Continue reading
Boat Review: Dufour 405 Grand Large
The new Dufour 405 Grand Large combines a sweet performance hull and rig with a classic yacht-style interior. The old adage says that whenever you have two boats sailing in the same direction, you have a race. While casual cruisers … Continue reading
Boat Review: J/124
The folks at J/Boats always march to the beat of their own drum, and they have thousands of sailors who hear that beat and follow. They designed and launched the J/124 to appeal to sailors who want something pure and … Continue reading
Boat Review: Hunter 40
A look at the new Hunter 40 from the March edition of BWS. By Andrew Cross Last year, when Hunter filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy and was subsequently purchased by Marlow Acquisitions, LLC, it was hard to see what direction the … Continue reading
Boat Review: Morris 454
Quality of the construction and attention to detail make this boat exactly what you expect a Morris Yacht to be. This new Chuck Paine design from one of America’s premier builders is a true thoroughbred that combines great looks and … Continue reading
Boat Review: Shannon 43
The Walter Schultz’ designed Shannon 43 first turned heads in 1986, and after 20 years of production her classic look, seaworthy construction and sailing performance have proven her to be a hardy bluewater cruiser with timeless appeal. After a summer … Continue reading
Boat Review: Swan 46
Since the company’s 1967 debut with the Swan 36, Nautor’s Swan has been a leading name in top-end racer/cruisers. In recent years their designs have moved increasingly toward the racing end of the compromise, where they have racked up notable … Continue reading
Boat Review: Tartan Fantail
Tartan Fantail 26 • The new daysailer-weekender from Tartan Yachts packs a lot of performance in a compact package. We had our first look at the new Tartan Fantail 26 at the Annapolis sailboat show last fall, and we must … Continue reading
Blue Water Boat Review: Najad 44AC
BWS joins a 350-mile delivery that showed off just what a great sea boat the Swedish-built, Judel-Vrolijk design really is. A three-day fall delivery along the East Coast can dish up just about everything and anything from calms to gales, … Continue reading
Boat Review: Outbound 52
On January 25, 2008 I joined Phil Lambert of Outbound Yachts aboard hull number one of his new Tim Kernan-designed Outbound 52 in Norfolk, Virginia. Planning to be at February’s Miami Strictly Sail boat show, Phil needed to get the … Continue reading
Boat Review: Island Packet SP Cruiser
Biscayne Bay and the sounds of South Florida are not Blue Water Sailing’s usual sailing grounds, not the least because the water is anything but blue and is for the most part remarkably thin. Few offshore cruising boats can venture … Continue reading
Boat Review: Malo 37
Built in Sweden by traditional craftsmen, the Malo 37 offers all the quality of a proper ocean-sailing yacht in a design suitable for a cruising couple. The west coast of Sweden is home to several of the world’s premier builders … Continue reading
