One Owner’s Opinion
We asked well-known Everglades Challenge veteran and Sea Pearler, Bill Fite, if he would offer a list of the design’s pros and cons.
Bill Fite’s Wind Shadow slipping along under oversized verti- cal-batten sails. Photo Ron Hoddinott.
Pros
• Te SP 21 is simple. Its rugged fiberglass construction makes it easy to maintain. Te masts are free-stand- ing, and the sails furl around the masts for easy reefing and stor- age. There is a sheet for each sail, and a pennant each for raising and lowering the leeboards and the rudder. Te leeboards avoid the through- hull penetrations (and potential problems) that come with centerboards and dagger boards. Once in place, the excellent camper top can be put up or down in seconds.
• At less than 1000 lbs, the SP 21 is easy to trailer, launch, and recover.
• The hull is a beautiful design that helps make the boat reasonably dry and remarkably seaworthy in coastal and bay waters, even in severe chop.
• Te SP 21 is surprisingly fast for a recreational family boat not designed for racing, especially on close reaches to broad reaches and on runs.
• The divided sail plan of main and mizzen allows easy balancing of sails as well as quick and effective heaving to—a potentially valuable safety measure.
• The collapsible Sunbrella camper top is brilliantly designed and con- structed to provide virtually complete
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to the lack of a jib, centerboard, or keel. Tacking about 60 de- grees off of the wind is about the best the boat can do.
• Sleeping two adults within the camper top is cramped. Removing baggage to the rear cockpit to make room, and sleeping head to foot is common in ex- peditionary races or challenges.
•The boat is slightly bow down in the wa-
protection from weather and insects.
• Beside sailing well, the Sea Pearl is easily rowed for a 21 foot sailboat, and easily motored with an electric or small gasoline outboard (the Honda 4-stroke 2 hp is a favorite).
• The extreme shoal draft (6 inches) of the Sea Pearl opens many shallow areas for gunkholing or riding out a thunderstorm at anchor, and emergency beaching.
• Use of the water ballast tanks can add stability and a reassuring heavier feel to the boat in high winds and chop.
Cons
• Te 21 is tender. Despite strong final stability, it can be difficult to right if cap- sized, and can “turtle” readily without rapid employment of flotation such as an inflated boat roller.
• The boat does not point well due
ter during even solo rowing. Placing heavy baggage in the rear cockpit before rowing long distances can help improve rowing efficiency.
• Te SP 21 is self bailing only at rest, as the weight of the helmsman puts the drain hole below the water line when underway.
• Te rear cockpit is small, and the rel- atively low seating position with little backrest is uncomfortable for some (extending legs to place feet against the opposite seat improves comfort).
• The narrow canoe-like transom of the SP 21 makes it less stable running in high winds. Surfing down swells at 12 or more knots is common, but more exciting than one would wish. It is important to take advantage of the SP 21’s easy reefing options early.
• The narrow stern makes outboard motor access difficult for some using the standard rudder mount. •SCA•
SMALL CRAFT ADVISOR
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