Light and readily trailerable, the Balboa 24 displaces 2,600 pounds, including 900 pounds of lead ballast. It has an 8-foot-4-inch beam and draws just under 3 feet with its fixed shoal-draft fin keel.
Design and Construction
The Balboa 24 is built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim. Its solid-laminate hull has a raked stem, a plumb transom, and a modest 20-foot waterline. The fixed shoal-draft fin keel and waterline keep wetted surface manageable for a trailer launch, while a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 34.6 percent reflects the racing side of its brief.
A tiller controls the transom-hung rudder. It’s a straightforward arrangement that leaves the steering gear exposed and serviceable.
Rig and Handling
The standard boat carries a 7/8 fractional sloop rig on anodized aluminum spars, although a masthead rig was optional. Richard Sherwood noted that two rigs were available: one with a 26.5-foot mast, and a taller version with a 28-foot mast carrying 200 additional pounds of ballast. He judged the taller rig the better one for racing.
The Balboa 24 has a Portsmouth Yardstick DP-N rating of 99.0 and a PHRF rating of 186, and it is raced with a crew of two. Those handicaps and the two-sailor crew describe a boat intended to be handled short-handed and driven hard without a large inventory.
Accommodations
Below, the Balboa 24 sleeps five. There’s a double V-berth in the bow cabin, a straight settee in the main cabin, and an aft berth to port. That’s a generous berth count for a boat under 24 feet.
The L-shaped galley is to starboard, just forward of the companionway ladder. It includes a two-burner alcohol-fired stove, an ice box, and a sink. The head is also to starboard, just aft of the bow cabin, grouping the wet functions along one side of the hull.
Teak cabin trim gives the interior some warmth. A pop-top adds headroom and helps the compact cabin feel more open at anchor without requiring a permanent trunk cabin.
Power and Ownership
The Balboa 24 is normally powered by a small outboard for docking and maneuvering, avoiding an inboard engine compartment entirely. That simplifies ownership: there’s no shaft, stuffing box, or diesel to winterize.
Its trailerable dimensions and simple tiller steering also help keep launch and storage costs low. On an aging example, the alcohol galley, pop-top, and teak trim are the usual areas to refresh.
Used-Boat Checks
The exposed steering arrangement is easy to reach, but the transom-hung rudder’s pintles and gudgeons should be inspected for wear. The pop-top also needs attention: degraded seals can admit water.
Because the masthead rig was optional and two mast heights were available, a used boat’s rig should be checked against its ballast configuration. The taller version paired its 28-foot mast with an additional 200 pounds of ballast.
The Verdict
The Balboa 24 is a tidy, light, trailerable racer-cruiser that offers more accommodation than its length might suggest while remaining easy to own. Its two rig options and shoal-draft fin keel add adaptability, while outboard power and tiller steering keep maintenance straightforward.
Pros
- Sleeps five in a 23-foot-7-inch trailerable hull, with a pop-top for additional headroom and cabin ventilation
- Offers two rig options; according to a period assessment, the taller 28-foot-mast version is better suited to racing
- Outboard power and a transom-hung, tiller-steered rudder simplify ownership and trailering
Cons
- Transom-hung rudder fittings and pop-top seals require periodic inspection for wear and deterioration
- Optional masthead rig and two mast heights mean the rig-and-ballast pairing must be verified on any example
