Tamarisk 24 Information, Review, Specs

Drawing inspiration from the historic Itchen Ferry Cutter and Falmouth working boats, the Tamarisk 24 was conceived to provide a resilient and charming sailing experience. Her gaff sloop rig further reinforces her classic appeal, setting her apart in an era when more modern Bermuda rigs were becoming standard.

The genesis of the Tamarisk 24 lies in the design philosophy of David Cannell, who sought to translate the proven qualities of 19th-century coastal fishing boats into a practical and durable fiberglass yacht. Production commenced in 1972, with various builders, including North Sea Craft (UK), Cutriss Boats (UK), Tamarisk, North Cornwall Marine, and Cygnus Marine, contributing to her construction. The moulds for the Tamarisk 24 were known to have "travelled extensively," and many hulls were sold in various stages of completion, often finished by their owners. This led to a degree of customization and variation in her final fit-out and internal layouts. The design is noted as being a stretched version of the earlier Tamarisk 22, showcasing an evolution in Cannell's gaff-rigged offerings.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Tamarisk 24, with its traditional long keel and gaff rig, offers a sailing experience characterized by stability and seaworthiness rather than outright speed. Her sail area to displacement ratio of approximately 17.01 suggests a boat with respectable performance in a range of conditions, though not optimized for light-air racing. With a ballast to displacement ratio of around 0.40, she exhibits good stiffness and stability, enabling her to stand up to a decent breeze. The displacement to length ratio of approximately 295.6 positions her as a relatively heavy boat for her waterline length, indicative of her robust, traditional cruiser classification.

Owners often describe the Tamarisk 24 as a "good sailing boat" that is both "fast and seaworthy". While she is generally considered heavily built and capable, some owners note a tendency to make leeway, possibly due to her shallow draft. The gaff rig, a defining feature, is reportedly manageable, with halyards often located at the mast on a pin rail, eliminating the need for winches for basic sail handling.

Accommodations and Layout

Despite her compact length overall of 24 feet, the Tamarisk 24 is often praised for offering surprisingly generous accommodations, with some owners suggesting she provides more interior space than some vessels several feet longer. The interior layout of a Tamarisk 24 can vary significantly, largely due to the practice of selling hulls for owner completion. Typically, she features an open-plan arrangement capable of sleeping up to three persons. The interior often showcases a considerable amount of woodwork, contributing to her traditional charm. Details like V-berths forward, a small galley, and a saloon area are common, though specific configurations depend heavily on the individual builder or owner's finishing choices. Ventilation and storage would likewise depend on the customized finishes.

Owner's Perspectives

Owners of the Tamarisk 24 consistently highlight her solid construction and the enduring appeal of her classic design. Many appreciate the satisfaction derived from maintaining her traditional aesthetics, including the significant amount of exterior woodwork, viewing varnishing as a pleasurable aspect of ownership. The gaff rig, while traditional, is generally found to be straightforward to handle, even without winches for the halyards. Owners report a comfortable motion at sea, aligning with her design as a sturdy coastal cruiser.

Regarding potential drawbacks, the variability in build quality and interior finish, due to the multiple builders and owner-completed vessels, means that the condition can differ greatly from one boat to another. The tendency to make leeway in certain conditions is also mentioned by some, a characteristic often associated with traditional long-keel, shallow-draft designs. Like any older vessel, common maintenance issues may arise, with some owners undertaking significant refits, including engine replacements or deck reworks, to keep their boats in prime condition.