Design and Construction
The Explorer carries a long-keel underwater profile beneath a fibreglass hull, with a stated length overall of 58 feet 7 inches, a 41-foot waterline, and a beam of 19 feet 8 inches. Displacement is a substantial 53,300 pounds. Those numbers place her firmly in heavy-displacement cruising territory: a displacement-to-length ratio of 321 means she can be loaded down with cruising gear without noticeably affecting her waterline anchor. The long keel and hefty ballast give her the bones of a sturdy offshore vessel, and period assessment describes her as a heavy and sturdy sailboat able to handle rough seas and strong winds.
Rig and Handling
Her masthead ketch rig carries a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 15.3, which tells you she needs a stiff breeze to get moving; in light air, motor-sailing is the practical answer anchor. She is not quick or agile, but she is reliable and comfortable, and the hydraulic steering makes her easy to maneuver in close quarters. A single John Deere diesel of up to 135 horsepower backs up the sail plan with useful power. The capsize screening formula of 1.7 marks her as a safer ocean-passage candidate than a boat scoring above 2.0, and her comfort ratio of 44.6 puts her motion in a seaway alongside a heavy bluewater cruiser with well-damped pitch and roll.
Accommodations
Below, the Boothbay Explorer is laid out for extended living afloat. The standard arrangement offers a spacious interior with a large saloon, a galley, a navigation station, and four cabins. The aft master cabin holds a double berth, settee, vanity, and ensuite head, while the forward cabin provides a V-berth, hanging locker, and head. Two guest cabins sit with upper and lower berths, drawers, and lockers. Alternative layouts exist: a three-cabin version substituting two singles forward for the V-berth, and a two-cabin version trading the guest cabins for storage.
Performance Underway
The same heavy hull that rewards load-carrying also defines her sailing character. She is not an ideal choice for coastal sailing, but she comes into her own on an offshore passage in testing conditions anchor. Combined with the seakeeping numbers and the long-keel form, the picture is of a boat that trades turn-of-speed for steadiness and predictability when the weather deteriorates.
The Verdict
The Boothbay Explorer is a scarce, thoughtfully appointed bluewater ketch built in tiny numbers by Hodgdon Bros. She asks for wind and rewards patience, offering a stable, well-found platform for long passages rather than quick hops.
Pros
- Heavy-displacement long-keel hull built for offshore work
- Comfortable, well-damped motion with strong capsize resistance
- Four-cabin interior with flexible alternative layouts
- Hydraulic steering and a 135 HP John Deere diesel for maneuvering and motor-sailing
Cons
- Needs a stiff breeze; sluggish and not agile in light air
- Only five built, so finding one is difficult
- Better suited to ocean passages than coastal cruising
