This design was commissioned by a couple who required an easily handled yacht for cruising in the higher latitudes. The concept is based on our “64”, the first of which has logged in excess of 100,000 miles in a variety of sea conditions since 1981. Like the “64”, this design offers good sailing performance with a functional and practical wheelhouse.

The hull is of moderate beam with deep fin keel and skeg mounted rudder for good windward performance plus optimum control and manoeuvrability. The keel is of sufficient size and positioned to facilitate ‘drying out’ on a tidal grid or marine ways. For those wishing a “full” keel, details are included with the plans.

The deck layout features a generous cockpit with bridge deck and low profile deckhouse. The pilothouse is low enough  to afford good visibility from the cockpit and yet of sufficient height to give the skipper good visibility when steering from the inside helm. Direct access to the deck is available through a sliding door on the starboard side. As with the ‘64’, the superstructure is of aluminum to reduce topside weight and improve stability.

The interior layout is arranged with permanent berths for 4 persons in two staterooms with supplementary sleeping accommodations available in the saloon. One fully equipped “head” is fitted and a second “day head” (sink & toilet) could be fitted adjacent to the saloon opposite the galley or under the cockpit.

The auxiliary engine is located under the pilothouse sole with hatches plus swing-out panels in the galley yield excellent access for servicing.

To achieve maximum efficiency, a masthead rig with roller furling on the headsails and remote slab reefing on the mainsail is fitted.   The stock plans for this vessel consist of 11 detailed plans plus several detail sheets. Although the hull has been lofted with corrected offsets supplied, it is still recommended that builders lay down the lines to facilitate frame layout with accurate dimensions.

Hull no. 1 was built in Vancouver, BC and at last report was in Quebec after transiting the Panama Canal.