sea pearl 28 sailboat

Sea pearl 28

The sea pearl 28 is a 27.66ft cat ketch (unstayed) designed by ron johnson and built in fiberglass by marine concepts (usa) since 1990..

The Sea pearl 28 is a light sailboat which is a good performer. It is reasonably stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a day-boat. There is a short water supply range.

Sea pearl 28 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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SEA PEARL 28 Detailed Review

If you are a boat enthusiast looking to get more information on specs, built, make, etc. of different boats, then here is a complete review of SEA PEARL 28. Built by Marine Concepts (USA) and designed by undefined, the boat was first built in 1990. It has a hull type of Keel/Cbrd. and LOA is 8.43. Its sail area/displacement ratio 19.28. Its auxiliary power tank, manufactured by undefined, runs on undefined.

SEA PEARL 28 has retained its value as a result of superior building, a solid reputation, and a devoted owner base. Read on to find out more about SEA PEARL 28 and decide if it is a fit for your boating needs.

Boat Information

Boat specifications, sail boat calculation, contributions, who builds sea pearl 28.

SEA PEARL 28 is built by Marine Concepts (USA).

When was SEA PEARL 28 first built?

SEA PEARL 28 was first built in 1990.

How long is SEA PEARL 28?

SEA PEARL 28 is 7.49 m in length.

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Review of Sea Pearl 28

Basic specs., sailing characteristics.

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Sea Pearl 28 is 2.06, indicating that this boat would not be accepted to participate in ocean races.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 6.6 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Sea Pearl 28 is about 122 kg/cm, alternatively 685 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 122 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 685 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio) Indicates how fast the boat is in light wind: - Cruising Boats have ratios 10-15 - Cruiser-Racers have ratios 16-20 - Racers have ratios above 20 - High-Performance Racers have ratios above 24 Sail-area/displacement ratio (SA/D ratio): 19.22

Maintenance

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section shown boat owner's changes, improvements, etc. Here you might find inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what to look for.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Sea Pearl 28 it would be a great help.

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• Sailboat Guide

1991 Marine Concepts Sea Pearl 28 cat-ketch

• Description

Seller's Description

1991 Sea Pearl 28’ cat-ketch Rare boat, one of only 16 made by Marine Concepts. Similar to a Rob Roy yawl. Super light, super strong carbon-fiber masts on a tabernacle can be raised/lowered single-handed! Current registration, title in hand Galvanized trailer 9.9 HP Nissan The hull and deck are in great shape, but the boat needs interior work. Water has sat in it, and there is delaminating plywood. This project is best for someone who can work with fiberglass and epoxy, but the boat can be sailed as it. The cockpit needs paint. Beam 8’ Draft: 19” to 5’6” with centerboard down The boat weighs around 3700 lbs., including 1200 lbs. of ballast Sail area 290 sq.ft. Located in Houston, TX $14,998

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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On a beach overlooking St. Joseph’s Sound in Tarpon Springs, Fla., two friends studied a chart of the surrounding waters.  Depths were six inches in places at low tide with deeper spots still only two feet. They wanted to develop a boat that could sail in these waters without needing a chart in hand but also capable of adventures all over the world. The Sea Pearl name has become synonymous with easy, fun sailing and can be found in waters everywhere.

Sea Pearl founder Ron Johnson and fiberglass professional George Jeffries looked at boats with two-foot draft but knew that still wasn’t enough for their sailing grounds.  They began with a list of items their new boat should include.  The boat would beach and launch easily while avoiding getting stuck in the soft sand. The Sea Pearl needed leeboards rather than a centerboard and a kick-up rudder for the Gulf’s shallow waters. Eliminating the centerboard meant no trunk; that in turn opened the forward cockpit, making it an excellent family seating area or even a cabin for overnighting. With the optional cabin top or bimini top it also made a great place to get out of the rain. It also had to be light enough that it could be towed by anything economically (small four cylinder vehicles included). And finally, they also wanted the vessel to be light enough to be pushed along at a decent rate with a small light outboard or rowed if necessary.

The duo started with the hull of a Herreshoff designed 18 foot tender. Johnson added to the design by increasing the length, and rigging it with twin masts and what ended up as an unstayed cat-ketch rig. Many other changes came throughout the years and the end result is today’s Sea Pearl. Jim Leet, Ron’s brother-in-law, bought the business from Ron and has further improved the classic-looking performer over the past decade and a half.

Sea Pearls can be custom built in three different configurations; a mono-hull, the Sea Pearl Tri and the Tri-Sport. The hull is hand laid fiberglass cloth over Corecell with no wood to rot and includes a deck/liner. There are easy to fill and empty ballast tanks under the deck. The masts are easily stepped and the sails furl right on the masts for easy storing. When stepped, the masts fit easily on deck with no overhang fore or aft. These boats are easy to sail, easy to rig and easy to transport – exactly what the owners wanted.

The simple design and low maintenance also make Sea Pearl an excellent small expedition boat. Its ruggedness and durability have been proven on some pretty adventurous world travels. Sea Pearls have sailed around Patagonia, all over the Caribbean and along the length of the Danube River and completed many adventure races. One modified Sea Pearl is on a multi year cruise now exploring the rivers and deltas of South America. A Google search of Sea Pearl reveals great stories of many of these intrepid journeys. If they can take these voyages in stride these boats should be well equipped for a day sail on the sound.

Jim says that there are now well over 500 monohull Sea Pearls on the water today with many other Tri and Tri-Sport models also out there. Used models are hard to find as most people that buy them hold on to them, but some do come back to Jim to be refurbished and brought back to new or to be converted to the Sport-Trimaran configuration. He said that six weeks is all it takes for a custom ordered boat to be completed and delivered. Prices start at $16,000 for a new monohull model, with Sport-Tri models starting at $21,600.

Today’s Sea Pearl is truly an easy boat to sail, is simple to maintain and a joy to own. You can actually sail in waters so shallow that you can hear the turtle grass running across the bottom of the hull.

Jim Leet says it best, “When people get in our boats they just keep going.”

SEA PEARL MONOHULL SPECIFICATIONS: Length Over All: 21.0’ Length At Water Line: 19.0’ Beam: 5’ 6” Draft (board up): 6” Draft (board down): 2’ 6” Trailering weight: 600lbs Aprox. (1000-1500 Tri Sport and Tri) Sail Area (standard rig): 136 sq. ft. Aft Cockpit: 6’ 6” Center Cockpit: 10.0’ Mast Height Above Water Line: 19’ 6”

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• Sailboat Reviews

Here's a skinny little pocket cruiser for two that's back in production after a three-year hiatus. She is quick on a reach but, predictably, not very adept at upwind sailing.

When she was introduced in 1983, the Rob Roy 23 captured all the popularity that Ron Johnson, her Florida builder, could handle. Marine Concepts, Johnson’s small custom shop, built and sold 85 in less than 10 years. The Rob Roy was then retired in favor of Johnson’s Sea Pearls (Sea Pearl 21, Sea Pearl Tri-21, and Sea Pearl 28.)

Now the little cruiser is back, with the first new ones being launched in 1998, for “about what the last one we built cost—around $26,000 complete,” Johnson said when we talked to him in late 1997.

We wondered what sort of 23-footer could command that price. In 1983, it was the only trailerable canoe-stern yawl in town. Its appeal, however, goes beyond novelty. This is a boat with character: She looks salty; sails well with working sails alone; and she provides accommodations for two. Simplicity, from a space-saving centerboard to a “hardened” kick-up rudder, from an unstayed mizzen mast to a tabernacle-mounted mainmast, is a watchword. The Rob Roy can be launched at a ramp and is easily beached due to its 1′ 7″ draft with the board up. Owners have cruised her for weeks at a time and routinely cross the Gulf Stream and other formidable chunks of open water.

On the other hand, sitting headroom and moderate beam limit the space below, even for a pocket cruiser. There’s no shortage of boats in her size range with bigger cockpits. The canoe stern steals space, and an outboard well has its pros and cons.

To answer the question of her popularity, one must look deeper. As is our practice at Practica Sailor , we asked the owners about trailering ease, outfitting, durability and her woeful forays into PHRF racing.

As we learned, the Rob Roy not only created a minor buying frenzy when she appeared, it won a group of vocal and committed owners.

“This is THE boat,” said one owner. “I don’t want anything bigger and I can’t imagine anything better.”

Designed by Ted Brewer, the Rob Roy was inspired by the turn-of-the-century adventures of John MacGregor. His little 20-foot canoe yawl was so portable that he carted her aboard trains, yet she was tough enough to let him leave the protection of the River Humber and explore the British Isles from end to end. MacGregor not only named his freedom-giving yawl after his famous ancestor, he also inspired the Humber Yawl Society of which designer Ted Brewer is a member.

“I admire those boats and their voyages,” Brewer told us. “Lord Baden-Powell, who started the Boy Scouts, was president of the group early on. The Humber yawls were all canoe-sterned with plumb ends. They got bigger than the original Rob Roy, up to 24 or 26 feet. They had gaff or gunter rigs. My Rob Roy design owes a lot to their spirit but not a great deal to their specifics.”

Brewer’s career began in the late 1950’s. He’s worked on both the East Coast and West Coast (he now practices in Lyman, Washington), and his designs range from race boats such as Storm and American Eagle to cruising boats like the Panoceanic 46 and Quickstep 24.

“With the Rob Roy,” he said, “I was trying to keep the rig manageable and still have her sail well, to give her enough beam to stand on her feet but not so much that she’d be slow, to stretch out her design waterline, build in a lot of form stability, and still have her look handsome. Design is always a series of tradeoffs. In a boat of this size that’s especially true. The time that I spent in the navy sailing 26-foot open whale boats showed up in the design, too. Early in the design process I decided that I very much wanted one of these boats for myself. That tends to make you pay a particular kind of attention.”

What he came up with is hardly your average boat, but she is nevertheless a boat that addresses the needs of the average sailor. The 6′ 6″ cockpit seats are straight and comfortable enough to take a bit of the curse off having only two berths below, but the Rob Roy 23 is essentially geared to support two adults, and only two. That decision had its greatest impact on the interior arrangement, but other aspects of the design—like cockpit size, design displacement, and sail plan—reflect it, too.

One owner said, “I would have to rate the design as first rate, especially the double-ended look, the centerboard raising into the keel, the deep cockpit, the sail leads and hardware arrangements.”

Construction

The original Rob Roys were built of fiberglass with balsa coring in hull and deck. Johnson now builds his standard Sea Pearls and his new Rob Roy with foam cores. He says that the new foams have improved resistance to water migration and superior temperature and noise insulation.

“But,” he said, “we’re essentially a custom shop and the customer can get whatever type of core he wants.” One owner reported that the core beneath the mast step was squashed when he tightened his rig. “That sort of thing should never happen, but it did,” Johnson admitted. “We fixed it, but whether the core is foam or balsa a high-compression spot like that should always be solid glass, and in the Rob Roy, it is.” Despite that experience (or maybe because of Johnson’s handling of the problem), the owner in question rates the construction and finish of his Rob Roy as “excellent” and added, “I do not know of trailerable boat that I’d rather have.”

“We use the best gelcoats,” Johnson said. “We’ve found antique colors that don’t absorb heat or radiate much glare. ‘White sails’ is our standard deck color or for an additional $280 you can have a two-tone deck where the non-skid portions are done in ‘Whalebone’.” Hull colors are a no-cost option. Behind the gelcoat comes a barrier coat of vinylester resin. We use Stitchmat (a fabric made by stitching layers of mat together on the bias) to prevent print through. The remaining hand-laid rovings that make up the laminate are wetted out with polyester resin. The Rob Roy has extra layers of rovings in the keel and trailer impact areas.”

There is a small interior glass unit, very similar to what, in larger form, might be called an interior pan. It forms part of the sole and locates the bulkheads and furniture. It’s not structural. The bulkheads and furniture are double-tabbed to the hull. The bulkheads and furniture are faced with teak. Trim is solid teak. The archway in the central bulkhead is ringed with teak and is supported by solid pieces of teak that reach to the keel.

“You couldn’t build boats like the Rob Roy anymore,” one owner said. “The wood and the finish below would make it too expensive.”

“Marine Concepts provides excellent quality in basic construction. No problems with blisters after 12 years,” reported another.

One construction feature, though, that has been changed with the new Rob Roy is the make-up of both the centerboard and the rudderblade. Said Johnson, “The old centerboard was an aluminum plate and the old rudder was a sandwich with an aluminum plate in the middle. Boats that were kept in the water experienced electrolytic activity. due to the stainless steel weldment at the bottom of the rudder shaft. Owners can and should protect those blades with zincs if they keep the boat at the dock or mooring instead of on a trailer.”

The original board was hung from a pivot pin assembly that fits in the forward end of the centerboard slot but remains external to the hull so it won’t cause leaks but will allow the board to be removed for repair or even cleaning. The original board was shaped like an “L” lying on its back. The foot (or short side) of the “L” is housed in an abbreviated trunk, but forward of the companionway the remainder (or long side) of the board is housed entirely below the sole. You control the board via a simple, one-part tackle from its uppermost after- corner. The configuration leaves the saloon free from an obtrusive trunk.

The kick-up rudder connects to an angled stainless shaft. The shaft works well without bearings and has proven to be durable. The point where the blade joins it, however, seems thin and vulnerable. The joint is (just) protected by the keel in front of it. Neither Johnson nor Brewer has heard of a rudder being damaged. It appears as though a grounding in reverse or even maximum rudder torque might change that box score, but then steering loads on a moderately rigged 23-footer aren’t that extreme.

The blades on the new boat are made of glass. The new board probably will have a foil-shape.

The hull/deck joint has changed. The first 85 boats were built with an inward-turned flange molded into the hull. Johnson has now gone to an outward-turned flange “because it’s easier to finish off and make leak-proof.” He will still use 3M 5200 and mechanical fasteners to make the joint and will still cover it with a solid caprail. “The Rob Roy record on deck leaks is excellent,” he said, and the owners surveyed agree.

One owner had a persistent problem with a companionway leak. “It appears, after much back and forth, that there was no bedding in the original joint,” Johnson told us. “We fixed the problem but it cost me time and money to get it sorted out.”

During Rob Roy’s life, her bowsprit and boomkin have usually been 2″ x 6″ and 2″x 4″ balks of teak respectively. “I’ve built beefier ones for people that wanted them,” Johnson said, “but I never quite saw why.” Johnson remembers. Several owners expressed the wish for a detachable bow sprit to make trailering simpler and to reduce her “marina length” from a length overall of 28′ 8″ to her on deck length of 22′ 8″. “I used to do that,” Johnson recalled. “We’ve simplified by making the spars permanent, but if an owner wanted removable ones it’s easy to do.”

The Rob Roy 23 carries 900 lbs. of ballast (including the weight of the centerboard). The shallow keel is filled on either side of the centerboard trunk with small chunks of lead held in place with casting resin. A small sump is left in the after end of the keel.

“I must admit that I designed the Rob Roy accommodations for myself,” Brewer said.

The head is forward and benefits in terms of room and privacy. It’s not ideal for use at sea, however. An optional plan moves the head to port and inserts a child’s berth to starboard. Aft of the single bulkhead is the galley—stove to port, sink to starboard. Opening portlights provide ventilation. The saloon consists of settee berths that extend under the cockpit.

They are low enough and the house sides are wide enough to make for comfortable, “no-slouch” seating throughout. The shelves outboard of the berths are convenient but minimal and would benefit from taller fiddles. Four cockpit lockers and a raft compartment below the cockpit sole make on-deck stowage one of the boat’s strongest suits. Below, the majority of stowage is forward.

The centerboard trunk is capped with solid teak and extends just a foot into the interior from the companionway. “One or two can live aboard for one or two weeks” was the refrain from owners. “Having the galley forward took some getting used to, but now I like it,” said one.

Freshwater capacity is 14.5 gallons and there is a holding tank forward.

The berths convert, via an insert, into a platform double. “The boat is unparalleled for two—good bed, good head, great lighting,” said an owner after cruising the Rob Roy (his seventh boat) for five years.

Marine Concepts offers a trailer with the Rob Roy that costs $2,850. It comes with dual axles and is made of galvanized steel. It has 14″ wheels, surge brakes, bearing buddies, a tongue jack, and a spare tire. One owner figured his towing weight to be “about 4,200 lbs.” Over the years, some owners have mentioned trailer problems, to which Johnson said that he has changed vendors.

The standard trailer comes with custom-made beds spaced and angled to suit the boat. Given the boat’s draft, the trailer must be at least partially submerged—weight placement is critical to an easy retrieval as well as a comfortable tow. No owners have yet nominated trailering as a highlight of their Rob Roy experience.

Performance

The Rob Roy 23 is built to carry an 8-hp. Honda 4-stroke outboard in a well. (Some boats have been modified to accept a saildrive, an inboard powerhead, either gas or diesel, on a fixed vertical drive unit.) The outboard remains fixed in the well when the boat is under sail, so propeller drag is greater than if it were on a bracket or retractable. The convenience of having power on demand and the efficiency of a propeller that is mounted where it will provide good thrust even while the boat is pitching in head seas somewhat offsets the loss in sailing performance. The motor is mounted just aft of the keel which helps to diminish its parasitic drag under sail but presents the possibility of cavitation from running in aerated water under some powering conditions. The exhaust ports built into the well have proven satisfactory but many owners have increased the standard air intake (by replacing the solid well cover with a grating or adding cowl vents or cutting holes for ducts in the coaming) to relieve the tendency of the outboard to starve under load.

There is room for two 6-gallon fuel tanks in cockpit lockers.

Yawls are a rarity on the new boat market but the Rob Roy isn’t totally alone. Garry Hoyt recently introduced the Alerion Express 36 with a yawl rig. By adding a mizzen, Brewer increased the Rob Roy’s sail plan to 255 square feet. That results in a snappy sail area/displacement ratio of 20.8. Perhaps that is the root of a PHRF rating for the boat that has caused the few owners who have raced her to bemoan the experience. That sail area works fine on a reach, but upwind any mizzen, especially one set as close to the main as the Rob Roy’s, suffers from mainsail backwind. Downwind the mizzen works okay but it steals air from the main. It’s not surprising that racing yawls went out with black and white TV.

Balance, versatility, and small, easily managed sails are the virtues of the yawl rig, and the Rob Roy enjoys them all. On the flip side, this sail plan prevents the boat from accelerating as fast or developing as much horsepower as she might with the same area of sail divided into two larger units—or even lumped into one. Brewer offset this disadvantage in a number of ways. He kept the waterline beam on the slim side, cut back the forefoot, and faired the waterlines to make the hull very easily driven. The Rob Roy is a relatively light boat, even with two adults aboard. She has a minimum of wetted surface, especially with the board up. These factors make her a very respectable light air performer.

Sailing in a Buzzard’s Bay sou’wester cycling from 16 to 20 knots we saw the Rob Roy at her best. With three large men sitting to weather she cut through the chop heading upwind without dipping her rail or spilling wind from her sails. Dousing the mizzen helped her stand a bit straighter, but when we set it again it was hard to tell what difference it made. We rolled it around its spar and left it furled. Not as close-winded as sharper, deeper boats might be in waves, she picked up markedly when we cracked her off to 38° to 40°. We tacked consistently through 90°. It’s true that when you reef the center of effort moves forward and we found it nice to balance the boat by re-setting the mizzen. Across the wind we tried jib and mizzen alone and were rewarded with bursts approaching its 6- knot hull speed. Even with the wind near the top of its range we handled all sails by hand and found no need to crank on the winches. One owner described his boat as “extremely seaworthy,” noting that “She’ll lay over but she picks up stability as she goes.”

Hard bilges give the boat good initial stability. The flared hull, efficiently placed ballast and moderate sail plan all make her progressively stiffer as she heels. She’s a pleasing boat to sail in a breeze—responsive yet resistant. The helm is light and by playing with the centerboard and mizzen you can get the boat to steer herself on most points of sail. She’s dry for a boat of this size and has a predictable and deliberate motion even in a chop. There isn’t much room for that third person in the cockpit, however.

Conclusions

The Rob Roy has an appealing look all her own and some features that make good sense in a pocket cruiser. Limited accommodations means maximum space for two persons and keeps both stowage and performance capabilities from being overloaded. Her small cockpit is fine in a seaway and adequate for two but cramps her versatility as a daysailer. The yawl rig is simple and provides a built-in riding sail and virtual steer-by-the-sails control. She doesn’t have enough working sail area to be quick in light or even moderate air, but she can be sailed without winches and she handles heavy weather very well.

Marine Concepts works hard to keep its owners happy, but don’t look to Ron Johnson for much innovation. He seems almost the antithesis of Stan Spitzer, whose Rhodes 22 we reviewed in the August 1 issue. “He hates gadgets,” one owner said of Johnson. He builds conservative boats and has shown that he stands behind them. The Rob Roy’s design wrinkles, construction, and outfitting have all helped her become one of the few “offshore trailerables” available.

Price is a bit more than what Johnson predicted: $28,000, which includes sails, portable toilet and 8-hp. Honda four-stroke outboard. For those interested in a used model, the 1983, which originally sold for $16,000, is worth just $5,650-$6,500 today. A 1988 model, according to the BUC Research Used BoatPrice Guide , goes for $11,600-$13,200.

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR

where can we get detailed schematics of Rob Roy Yawl ?

Yes, I’ve looked everywhere online for some kind of schematic of my 1987 Rob Roy 23’. I even tried to contact Ted Brewer the designer, his web page says you can get owner sets for production boats. The phone number isn’t good and email is full.

I may be able to help. I bought a 1987 Rob Roy 23 last August. It’s now in winter storage, but I’ve been looking thru a box of paper work that came with the boat. It appears to be a complete set of plans & specifications.

Hey Brad, sorry i didnt get back with you sooner. I felt like this wouldnot be answeredi guess. I just subscribed to practical sailor and found your response. So sorry to hear Ted Brewer passed. Thank you for that information. Would love to get copy of Rob Roy schematic! Do you raise your mast by hand or use mechanisms. Everyone says we should be able to just walk the mast up usinf rolling furler jib as leverage. It seems risky to me?

Btw… Ted Brewer passed away last year. There was a nice tribute to him in Good Old Boat magazine.

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Small Craft Advisor

Review: Sea Pearl 21

Convenient and capable, the marine concepts sea pearl is a trailersailing jewel..

The eminent L. Francis Herreshoff called his Walrus design a “man’s boat.” A motorsailer, Walrus carried 755-square-feet of sail, two 65-horsepower gasoline engines, and a pot-bellied stove in her saloon. She was ideally suited to the cold-weather expedition.

Her only weakness, especially in the eyes of a venturesome coastal-cruising captain, was her six-foot draft. Herreshoff thought Walrus deserving of an able tender to serve as a secondary cruising boat for exploring shallows; this boat he called Carpenter.

A double-ended 18-footer, Carpenter was designed to carry substantial loads even through rough water. She was also intended to be easily beached—drawing a mere five inches with her centerboard retracted into her flat bottom. So impressed with the Walrus’ tender was Herreshoff that he wrote, “it might become something of a question as to which boat was tending which.”

In 1979, fifty years after Herreshoff ’s sketches, George Jeffries and Ron Johnson formed a boatbuilding partnership called Marine Concepts. Their first “concept” was a family boat based on Herreshoff ’s Carpenter. Expanded to 21 feet, their “Sea Pearl” maintained the length-to-beam ratio of the original. Not quite double-ended, the Sea Pearl had a narrow tombstone transom.

Early versions employed a centerboard, but by the eighties leeboards were being offered. The leeboard model excelled in shallow water, since the boards remain somewhat functional while drawing no more than the hull. And the absence of a centerboard trunk meant more room inside the forward cockpit or under the optional canvas cabin. Centerboard Pearls were soon all but obsolete.

Early models were unballasted, but since 1988 most have a hull liner and water ballast tanks that when full add 360 pounds. The unique reefing gooseneck system was added by 1990. Four hundred-nineteen monohull Sea Pearls had been built when we wrote out initial review in 2004 (see issue #25). Marine Concepts remained “in the family,” operating under the watchful eye of owner Jim Leet—Ron Johnson’s brother-in-law. At that time we asked Jim about his typical customer.

“Most of our business comes from 60 to 80-year-olds. The Sea Pearl is so easy to rig and launch that older folks really like them.” Leet sees tremendous potential for his lightweight, rowable, sailable Sea Pearl in another market as well. “I’d also like to get the younger camp-cruise, kayak and canoe crowd. Our boat would be the absolute Cadillac of their market.”

We sailed with owner Drew Squyres aboard his 1991 model, Persuasion, and we asked the real experts—Sea Pearl owners—for their comments.

Note: Before publishing this article we reached out to Marine Concepts and didn’t get a reply. We were told by one Sea Pearl owner (but were not able to confirm) that Marine Concepts has ceased production of new boats, but that Jim Leet is possibly still selling accessories.

PERFORMANCE:

“I have sailed along side a Drascombe and Bay Hen and had to luff both my sails to keep my speed down to theirs. Downwind, the ability to go wing-onwing in air too light to sustain flying a spinnaker cannot be matched.” Steve Churchill, 1993 Silmaril.

“People claim to tack through 90 degrees. I guess you can, if you’re pointing to the max. I prefer to sail about 55 degrees off the wind for a little more speed.” Phil Bacon, 1986 Scout .

“In a light breeze I get 3-4 knots easily. When the wind is over 10 knots, I consistently get 4.5 to 5.5 knots upwind and 6 to 6.5 knots downwind. I’ve surfed occasionally over 7 knots.” John Weiss, 1998 DragonSong.

“The Sea Pearl is a family and recreational cruising boat, not a racing boat comparable to Flying Scots, Lightnings, Thistles, etc. Still, it is quite fast—commonly the fastest boat overall of a group of various trailerable cruisers such as the West Wight Potters, O’Days, Drascombes, Wayfarers, Dovekies, Hen boats, Sanibel, Com Pacs, etc. The 21 does not point well. The cat ketch rig, shallow draft, and leeboards in lieu of a keel or center/daggerboard all work against sailing close to the wind. I have found that about sixty degrees off of the wind is the best I can do in good conditions. In rough seas, achieving even that upwind success requires close attention to such things as weight distribution and tell-tales.” Bill Fite, Moon Shadow.

“Not as fast upwind as some, but often passes boats on a broad reach and downwind. Points fairly well, and sailing close-hauled is fun because it likes that initial heel, but some sloops can certainly out-point her at times. The lug rig has some mysteries I never fully solve, because sometimes I’m amazed how well it does even when close-hauled.” Tom Lyons, 1984 Besito (lug rig).

In a dead calm, we had a chance to test the Sea Pearl’s standard auxiliary propulsion system—9-foot oars. Drew rowed while I manned the tiller—later we switched. We pulled our way quietly through the desolate back bay. Almost any small boat can be made to row, but there’s a clear difference with those in which rowing was a design consideration. The Sea Pearl goes well. She’s too heavy to move like a. rowboat or racing shell, but if I owned her I think I’d frequently leave the outboard at home. I’d be tempted to make her an exercise machine in the morning’s light air and sail home on the afternoon sea breeze.

After rowing to a shallow spot near the dunes we unfurled the sails in an attempt to catch the freshening breeze. Sure enough the Pearl responded. The cat-ketch rig’s 136-feet of sail area was just enough. Light air performance was good.

Sixty minutes later the Santana arrived in force. Our mirror-like reflection on the water was shattered by whitecaps. Drew suggested we fill the tanks. “It’s like giving her a glass of wine,” he said, “the extra ballast relaxes her and takes the edge off.” The Pearl felt more substantial now—especially hard on the weather, clipping the tops off the foamy swells.

We were surprised when the wind built to a sustained 17 knots. Drew demonstrated another Sea Pearl strength—heaving to. Ease the main, harden the mizzen and let go. The boat weather-vaned, drifting slowly backward—the rudder turned sideways and acted as a brake. To reef, Drew lifted the thumb tab on the ingenious rotating gooseneck, unclipped the vang and eased the outhaul. This allowed him to rotate the mast— which spins freely in the mast tube— and roll up sail area. Very simple. Very Sea Pearl.

To keep a balanced rig we reefed using the Sea Pearler’s standard “3/2”— three turns on the main and two on the smaller mizzen. This leaves the Pearl—which can be set to sail with a neutral helm in any conditions—with a slight weather helm for assistance rounding into stronger gusts. To resume sailing Drew simply backed the mainsail, which was right at his fingertips. Obviously, traditional battens won’t fly on these roller-reefing masts but the factory does offer special vertical batten performance sails as an upgrade.

Even under reduced sail the Sea Pearl performed admirably. She was fast and predictable—and pointed fairly well. Owners told us Sea Pearls tack in 90-110 degrees. The truth is somewhere in between; not quite as good as a similar sloop-rigged centerboarder, but not bad.

The split rig is essentially self-tending, that is, her skipper can ignore the sheets on tacks. Push the tiller over, lower the leeward board, and raise the windward board. Optionally, the Pearl can be sailed less efficiently with both boards down as some owners do in short tack situations.

TRAILERING AND LAUNCHING:

“Even my 1982 Saab hauls it at highway speeds with ease. It sits so low on the trailer, it’s stable even in crosswinds . . .I blew a trailer tire at 65 mph and didn’t even know it except for a bit of rumbling noise from the wheel on the pavement” John Weiss, 1998 DragonSong

The lightweight Sea Pearl is one of the few trailerables appreciably lower than her tow vehicle. She also sits low, so the view in the rearview mirror is less impaired. Few boats are easier to tow.

We were ready to participate in the rigging and launching of Drew’s Persuasion, but we didn’t have a chance to do much—Drew had already stepped both masts and rigged in the time it took us to snap a few pictures. Many owners claim to rig and launch in less than 8 minutes—and we believe it.

Launching is even easier. Drew showed us how, with his tilt trailer, the Pearl can be launched without dunking the trailer hubs. That’s right—not just dry automobile hubs—but dry trailer hubs. A gentle push and the boat slid right off. Drew deftly played bow and stern lines to turn his boat toward open water, tied off at the dock, and we were ready to go.

SEAWORTHINESS :

“I had my Pearl out in tropical storm Frederick in 1988 with winds of 45 knots, with sails reefed down to tiny size. We not only didn’t capsize, but made near hull-speed upwind. I had her offshore (along the coast) in 12-foot waves and stayed dry and in complete control.” Steve Churchill, 1993 Silmaril.

“I use ballast tanks whenever I’m alone, or in more than 12 knots or so. In combination with prudent reefing, she keeps right on going.” Phil Bacon, 1986 Scout.

“So far, so good. My boat does NOT have water ballast as many newer models do, but I really don’t want it. My only worry is in a possible breach situation when we are unavoidably crossways to big surf, but I have never rolled the boat or had it knocked down despite some adventurous chances. I do know the 21-foot length is a lot for its somewhat narrow beam and this helps when going upwind in a chop. The boat feels a bit light in big winds but it can take water over the rail without any problem because it just flows back to the cockpit and drains readily” Tom Lyons, 1984 Besito (lug rig).

Who can forget small-boat adventurer, Shane St. Clair’s account of sheeting the mizzen tight and going below to get some sleep in a 40-knot blow near Cape Hatteras. (SCA #13). In total darkness, surrounded by angry seas, St. Clair crawled forward, closed his eyes and left his Sea Pearl to fend for them both.

One look at the 600-pound Pearl, with its minimal freeboard and lack of a fixed cabin, and you’ll appreciate St. Clair’s courage. But Sea Pearls have been employed for a number of ambitious journeys.

She’s not only an able sailer, but also easy to reef and easy to beach—two qualities that add to a small-boat’s seaworthiness and versatility. Many owners laud their boat’s performance in high winds and big seas.

The Sea Pearl is not exempt from the realities of a narrow, relatively light, open boat. It’s possible to swamp or capsize her, and we’re told she can be difficult if not impossible to self-rescue. A few owners prepare for this unlikely possibility by adding more foam flotation to the hull and masts, but we’ve several reports of Sea Pearls bring towed to shore upside down.

Pearls benefit from hearty construction and a basic simplicity. The split rig means both low-aspect sails are easily manageable—neither requires winch or mechanical advantage. And unlike a centerboard, the leeboards are totally open to inspection and unlikely to jam with rocks or sand.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

“I think four can daysail comfortably, but three is great for balance and stretching out. For overnight, one can sleep in the center cockpit and one on the stern platform I made from folding plywood. Three of us have done extended cruising in the Sea of Cortez, but we slept on the beach and set up a full-blown camp. If you treat the Pearl as you would a big backpack, she will hold weeks worth of stuff. Of course, I never took three dozen tortillas and a case of Negra Modello on a backpacking trip.” Drew Squyres, 1991 Persuasion .

“ There’s plenty of room, but a lot of it is in inconvenient shapes or locations. (e.g., stowage racks under side decks are too shallow; space under cockpit is voluminous but hard to access).” John Weiss, 1998 DragonSong.

As a daysailer the Sea Pearl is one of the more accommodating small boats on the market. Six people for an afternoon sail is said to be plenty comfortable. Under-deck storage is good, with most owners customizing the space with storage boxes or duffel bags.

Overnighting aboard below the tonneau cover, optional convertible cabin (3' 6" headroom), or a canopy of stars (limitless headroom) is comfortable enough for two persons—if a bit spartan. Drew Squyres constructed his own aft tent to cover an aft berth made with plywood filler boards. This combination creates a giant caravan suitable for more extended cruises.

There is no designated spot for head or galley. Cruisers typically carry buckets, camp stoves, air mattresses, and other tent-camping gear.

“At 34 years old (the boat, not me), I have replaced some wooden spars (cheap and easy) on the lug rig and repaired a lee board that was losing a lead shoe. Most Sea Pearls have the aluminum marconi rig, which must last forever. (But mine looks cooler and gets under low bridges better!) Virtually everything that can break is fixable with some line and a few minutes of creative rigging.” Tom Lyons, 1984 Besito (lug rig).

We asked owners about all aspects of construction, trying to uncover any pattern of failure or corner-cutting. Owner responses bordered on the mundane. A bent cleat, some faded paint—very little trouble of any consequence. The only significant report we heard related to some leaky ballast tank seams. Potential owners might want to double-check this system.

Marine Concepts cores the Pearl’s double-laminate hull and deck with Klegecell™ (cross-linked PVC), where older models used end-grain balsa. We crawled around Drew’s boat, pushing and pulling, and were impressed with both strength and finish.

Jim Leet tells of one Sea Pearl that fell from its trailer at 70 mph. The owner reportedly picked up the scattered components and sailed that afternoon.

COMPROMISES:

“You can’t throw it on top of your car, and you can’t put a queen-sized bed in it. It’s a perfect compromise between those two.” Drew Squyres, 1991 Persuasion .

“You forgot to ask about shallow-water worthiness. That’s where this boat shines. The Sea Pearl can go just about anywhere a kayak can go. With lee boards barely in the water she can work her way upwind. Stick the boat on a sandbar 5” deep and it still usually floats free as soon as you step onto the sand. For exploring little islands and mangrove lagoons that other sailboats have to steer clear of, the Sea Pearl is wonderful. And it is great for taking shortcuts where other boats must go around. . Who needs channels?” Tom Lyons, 1984 Besito (lug rig).

We’ve touched on some compromises already. The Sea Pearl is essentially open, so the boat and her crew are more exposed than they might be on a cabin cruiser, and accommodations are comparatively rudimentary. Some sailors—and especially non-sailors—are put off by the Pearl’s initial tenderness, although she stiffens up considerably once heeled. The Sea Pearl is nearly defined by its cat-ketch rig and leeboards, which are both compromises—trading certain virtues for others—but we think the net results are positive.

MODIFICATIONS:

“I bought an aftermarket rudder for about $400 in hopes of getting extra lift for perhaps a bit of extra speed or higher pointing. Every penny of that cost was a waste, as I have found absolutely no evident advantage to the rudder, which I later learned was simply a Com Pac 16 rudder. I also eventually replaced my original sails with the horizontally-battened sails which have added roach and sail area, and therefore make the boat slightly faster in light air. Once I have to reef, however, anyone with standard sails can put up as much sail I do.” Bill Fite, Moon Shadow.

Several owners we spoke with who have older boats have retrofitted them with ballast tanks. Additional flotation, side motor-mounts and custom storage bins were common mods. Owner Kevin Mart was more ambitious, having built a beautiful new deck of mahogany and teak.

“A bit pricey at first glance, but worth every penny! There may be cheaper boats, but I doubt there are any with the Sea Pearl’s quality and versatility.” John Weiss, 1998 DragonSong .

“I suppose I could have bought two clunky 24-foot Chlorox bottles, complete with bunks, galley and head, for the same price. I think the Sea Pearl, at $4-5k for a good used one is a better deal” Phil Bacon, 1986 Scout .

“If you want a built-in cabin where you can keep your bunk made, this boat isn’t for you. It is a good-sized day-sailor and readily used for camping, but not in easy comfort at all times. You will get wet when sailing in the rain. Fun to sail, but not on auto-pilot while you mix martinis. It is a lively boat and you stay close to the water.” Tom Lyons, 1984 Besito (lug rig).

Sea Pearls are custom built and the options list is long. Even central components like the gunnel rub-rail are offered three ways. Vinyl is standard—teak, aluminum, and the “heavy teak classic” are optional upgrades. The base boat sailaway price is $11,295. Pearls appear to hold their value remarkably well. Few used models are found for less than $5,000.

The Sea Pearl has a noteworthy pedigree and is both attractive and capable. She even has an avid owner’s group with whom to share the excitement. But nothing makes her so appealing as her simplicity. Like Marine Concepts’ Jim Leet told us: You can arrive at the launch ramp parking lot the same time as an owner with a different trailerboat, and you’ll be two miles off shore by time the other boat is rigged. In a world where time seems to be an increasingly precious commodity, the Sea Pearl allows us to hurry up and relax.

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.

• The SP 21 is simple. Its rugged fiberglass construction makes it easy to maintain. The masts are free-standing, and the sails furl around the masts for easy reefing and storage. There is a sheet for each sail, and a pennant each for raising and lowering the leeboards and the rudder. The 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.

• The 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 constructed to provide virtually complete 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.

• The 21 is tender. Despite strong final stability, it can be difficult to right if capsized, and can “turtle” readily without rapid employment of flotation such as an inflated boat roller.

• The boat does not point well due to the lack of a jib, centerboard, or keel. Tacking about 60 degrees 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 expeditionary races or challenges.

•The boat is slightly bow down in the water during even solo rowing. Placing heavy baggage in the rear cockpit before rowing long distances can help improve rowing efficiency.

• The SP 21 is self bailing only at rest, as the weight of the helmsman puts the drain hole below the water line when underway.

• The rear cockpit is small, and the relatively 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.

Ready for more?