Meryl Grandy

Design 2263 17 Daysailer

These plans were part of a design proposal at the request of the Boston Whaler Company for their first foray into the sailboat market. The year was 1975.

The basic specifications were to be:
1. Performance - it should be a good performing boat without the need for acrobatics, trapezes, etc.
2. Cockpit - it should be large, with a relatively small amount of shelter/storage space up forward.
3. A Family Boat - the boat should be designed for families first and foremost: easy to sail, trailer, rig and maintain.
4. Safety - because of its family appeal, the boat should meet the high safety standards of Boston Whaler. This would mean utilizing their foam sandwich technique along with a foam-filled mast and sewn-in masthead flotation to reduce turtling.
5. Self-bailing - unlike most boats her size, the boat should be self-bailing at rest as well as underway.


Unfortunately, the design contract was awarded to a competing firm.