Design and Construction
The Antares 17 is built predominantly of fiberglass, with a solid hull and solid fiberglass deck anchor. Its profile is defined by a spooned, raked stem and an angled transom, a transom-hung rudder on a tiller, and a choice of fixed fin keel or stub keel with centerboard. The 1.83-foot maximum draft of the fin configuration keeps it trailerable yet planted, while the stub-and-board arrangement extends versatility to shallow pocket-cruising grounds. The 5.1-knot hull speed and a displacement-to-length ratio of 168 mark it firmly as a light-displacement coastal sailer, and a capsize ratio of 2.67 with a comfort ratio of 8.72 places it among stable, forgiving small boats intended for sheltered-water use rather than offshore passage.
Rig and Handling
The boat carries a fractional sloop rig with 138 square feet of sail area, yielding a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 20.1 that confirms an easy, responsive nature in a breeze. With a small outboard mounted in a stern well for docking and maneuvering, the helm remains uncluttered and the tiller gives direct feedback through the transom-hung blade. The 7-foot beam and 1,150-pound displacement make it a straightforward trailerable load, and the fractional rig keeps sail handling simple for short-handed sailing.
Accommodations
Below the new deck lies a cuddy cabin, the heart of the pocket-cruiser claim. The galley sits within that cuddy, with a stove to port and a sink to starboard and a portable head set between them, while an ice chest may be stowed in the forepeak. Sleeping accommodation for two is provided not below but in the open cockpit, where two berths make overnight stays possible in fair weather. The arrangement is compact and utilitarian — a cuddy for shelter and meal prep, a cockpit for sleeping under the stars.
The Verdict
The Antares 17 succeeds as a lightweight, trailerable pocket cruiser that refines the Sovereign 17 with a fresh deck while keeping the earlier hull's sensible proportions. Its fiberglass construction, fractional sloop, and tiller-steered transom rudder make for an uncomplicated boat that a couple can sail and camp aboard with minimal fuss. The cuddy galley and cockpit berths deliver genuine pocket-cruising function in a 17-foot footprint.
Pros
- Trailerable 1,150-pound displacement with 7-foot beam and 1.83-foot draft fin keel
- Iron ballast near 42 percent of displacement for a steady small daysailer
- Cuddy cabin galley with stove, sink, and portable head; cockpit sleeps two
- Fractional sloop rig of 138 sq ft for easy handling
Cons
- Sleeping limited to open-cockpit berths rather than enclosed cabin
- Propulsion is by a small outboard in a stern well
