BoatsNortheast Harbor A Class

Northeast Harbor A Class

Gaffhead Sloop · Fin Keel · 1911–1932

Commissioned as the Eastern YC 17, this lightweight gaff-rigged racer features a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio

Designed by Edwin A. Boardman, built by G. Lawley.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Fin Keel

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 2.21 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 1,406 kg of hull, so roughly 2,000 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.
LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a narrow beam gives 17 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 17
CoastalBluewater

1.99 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.99
LightHeavy

282 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 282
EasygoingPowered-up

27.8 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 27.8

Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.

  • Lighter than ~87% of boats her size on file
  • Draws less than ~79% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~95% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2026 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Gaffhead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
27.8
Displacement / length
281.7
Comfort ratio
17.0
Capsize screening
1.99
Hull speed
5.5 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
440
Hull
Hull type
Fin Keel
Construction
Wood
Production
Years built
1911–1932
Units built
50
Designer
Edwin A. Boardman
Builder
G. Lawley, Rice Brothers, Lawley (George Lawley, Son)

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Colvic Ltd. Sailor 268.21 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA twin-keeled masthead sloop with hulls molded by Colvic and finished by various yards, including Atlanta Marine
Com-Pac Yachts 258.59 mSame hull family0.2 m longerOriginally the Watkins 25, this masthead sloop features a shallow 0.76m draft and a fin keel for versatile cruising
Cascade Yachts 278.23 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, designed by Robert A. Smith for balanced coastal cruising
Coronado Yachts 278.13 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA William Tripp Jr. design featuring a masthead sloop rig and fin keel, sharing a near-identical hull with the Columbia 27
Catalina Yachts 278.18 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA masthead sloop with 6,662 hulls produced over two decades, serving as a staple of coastal cruising since 1971
Newport 27S8.23 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA 1974 masthead sloop with a 1.3-meter draft, offering a stable fin-keel platform for shoal-water coastal cruising

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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