The S&S Knockabout 24 is a small keelboat, with an LOA of 24.17 ft. This falls under the "less than 30 feet" guideline, so I will not be using performance ratios in the article, as instructed.
I have found several useful pieces of information:
- Designer: Sparkman & Stephens (S&S).
- Builder: Tidewater Boats (Annapolis, USA).
- Production Start: 1962. Production end year is not specified in, nor in search results, but the builder article says Tidewater Boats (Annapolis) ceased operations by 1977. So production would have ended by then.
- Relationship to Rainbow 24: It's a version of the Rainbow 24, specifically without the cuddy/cabin. This is crucial for the Accommodations section. The original Rainbow 24 was designed as a cruiser/racer.
- Purpose: Originally built for the Annapolis Sailing School and used as a trainer for the US Naval Academy. This highlights its robust, instructional focus.
- Interior: Described as "without the cuddy/cabin" and creating "a much more open cockpit for a roomy seating area" compared to the Rainbow 24's forward cabin. This confirms a very minimalist, open-boat layout.
- Sailing Characteristics: The Rainbow 24, from which it's derived, is described as having a "double spreader rig" giving "ample power that is easily handled by the well-balanced helm" and making for a "sporty ride". The S&S 24 (which could refer to the Knockabout 24 or similar S&S 24ft designs) is noted for a "speedy hull design". The Stuart Knockabout (a different but related design, also from the Knockabout family) is praised for being "exceptionally fast" and having "surprising power". The Rainbow 24 is also described as "small, reliable and a safe boat to enjoy!".
- Designer Philosophy (S&S): Olin Stephens' philosophy focused on "long...factors of speed". S&S is known for performance optimization.
I have sufficient information for all sections, including the lack of a traditional interior for Accommodations, and a general sense of sailing performance and purpose. I do not see enough consolidated owner reviews or common problems specific to the "Knockabout 24 (S&S)" to warrant a dedicated "Owner's Perspectives" section. I will stick to the core sections.
I will now generate the article.