OPPOSITE—The Malbec is Potter-like, but also a little sleeker. ABOVE—Ken Lange, left, and Sue Bamford giving the new boat her shakedown.


ists Elliott/Pattison Sailmakers.


COMPROMISES: Other than the usual tradeoffs common to smaller boats—less cabin space, slower cruising speeds, etc.—Malbec owners and sailors had little to complain about. One owner pointed out the $23K advertised price is really for a stripped-down model, and that a well-outfitted version will be quite a bit more expensive. One other compromise, at this point,


is the fact that the Malbec is essentially a new design, so less is known about its strengths and weaknesses than long-es- tablished designs. But they appear to be off to a good start.


MODIFICIATIONS: Because the boats are just hitting the mar- ket, we didn’t hear about a lot of modifi- cations yet. However, Sue Bamford men- tioned adding a 50-watt solar panel with controller and additional battery. She also said she’d like to add winches for a larger


SMALL CRAFT ADVISOR


headsail and one for the mast halyard. Owner David Brown opted for vir-


tually every factory option, including colored hull, deck, and sails; jib furler; custom trailer; 6 hp outboard motor; anchor and rode; teak table and shelves; electrical system with rechargeable bat- tery and auto-tiller.


VALUE: “Te boat, especially with colored hull and wood trim topside, is unusually handsome. It has already drawn many compliments and turned many heads.” David Brown


“I bought a West Wight Potter 14…but I’ve been looking for a little larger pocketcruiser which would also afford a minimal draſt with the keel up, plus more room and speed. The Malbec 18 will fit the bill perfectly.” Bob Taugner


New boats aren’t cheap—regardless of the manufacturer—especially when you compare them to the mass of “plastic


classics” on the market, but as the few remaining production small-boat build- ers will tell you, it costs a lot to build a new boat these days. But there’s nothing quite like buying and outfitting a new boat—doing it your own way and know- ing the boat’s full and complete history. In the case of the Malbec it will cost you $25,000 to $35,000 or more depending on how many things you add. Although the Malbec is new and


plenty modern, in some ways her design is a throwback to the classic trailersailers of the 70s and 80s—a good all-round boat focused on family fun. For whatever reason, maybe the aforementioned used- boat saturation, of the few small-boat manufacturers who remain, most have focused on niche boats with very specific virtues or character. Te Malbec 18 aims more for the center, where a good-sailing and stable boat with nice accommoda- tions, shallow-draft beachability, and a fair price tag, ought to be extremely well-received. •SCA•


67


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