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.

Artekno H-Boat8.31 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn IYRU-international one-design keelboat with a massive racing fleet across Europe and a legacy dating to 1967
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
Contessa 288.43 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Doug Peterson-designed masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, built for balanced performance since 1977
Hunter Marine 278.28 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA John Cherubini-designed masthead sloop built for a decade, featuring a skeg-mounted rudder and shoal-draft options
Mirage Yachts 2758.38 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Philippe H. Harle-designed masthead sloop built for coastal cruising with a stable fin keel and spade rudder
Verl 278.32 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthOriginally marketed as the Phillipa 27, this 1973 fin-keeler offers a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for her size

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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