Design and Construction
The Balboa 24 is built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim, its hull a solid laminate with a raked stem and plumb transom. The transom-hung rudder is controlled by a tiller, a straightforward arrangement that keeps the steering gear exposed and serviceable. Inside, the cabin is trimmed with teak and gains headroom through a pop-top, a period solution that lets a small trailerable boat breathe at anchor without a permanent trunk cabin. The fixed fin shoal-draft keel and modest 20-foot waterline keep the wetted surface manageable for a trailer launch, and the 34.6 percent ballast-to-displacement ratio reflects the racer side of the brief.
Rig and Handling
The standard boat wears a 7/8 fractional sloop rig on anodized aluminum spars, though a masthead rig was offered as an option. Richard Sherwood noted that two rigs were available — the first with a 26.5-foot mast and a taller version with a 28-foot mast carrying 200 additional pounds of ballast — and judged the taller rig the better one for racing. On the racecourse the design is rated a Portsmouth Yardstick DP-N of 99.0 and a PHRF of 186, and it is sailed with a crew of two. Those handicaps and the two-sailor crew describe a boat meant to be handled short-handed and driven hard without a big inventory.
Accommodations
Below, the Balboa 24 sleeps five: a double V-berth in the bow cabin, a straight settee in the main cabin, and an aft berth on the port side. The galley sits on the starboard side just forward of the companionway ladder, laid out as an L-shape with a two-burner alcohol-fired stove, an ice box, and a sink. The head is placed just aft of the bow cabin on the starboard side, grouping the wet functions along one flank of the hull. The teak interior and pop-top give the small volume a warmer, more open feel than the raw length suggests, and the five-berth count is generous for a boat under 24 feet.
Known Issues
The transom-hung rudder and tiller demand inspection of the pintles and gudgeons for wear, and a pop-top must be checked for seal degradation that can admit water. The optional masthead rig and the two available mast heights mean a used boat's rig should be confirmed against its ballast configuration, since the taller rig's extra 200 pounds of ballast was paired with the 28-foot mast.
Refits and Ownership
As a normally outboard-powered design, the Balboa 24 avoids inboard engine compartments entirely, taking a small outboard for docking and maneuvering. That simplifies ownership: no shaft, stuffing box, or diesel to winterize. The trailerable nature and simple tiller steering keep launch and storage costs low, and the alcohol galley, pop-top, and teak trim are the usual refresh points for an aging example.
The Verdict
The Balboa 24 is a tidy, light trailerable racer-cruiser that punches above its length in accommodation and remains easy to own. The dual rig option and shoal fin keel make it adaptable, while the outboard power and tiller steering keep maintenance honest.
Pros
- Sleeps five in a 23-foot-7-inch trailerable hull with a pop-top for extra cabin air
- Two rig options, the taller 28-foot mast version better suited to racing per period assessment
- Outboard power and transom-hung tiller rudder simplify ownership and trailering
Cons
- Transom-hung rudder and pop-top require periodic inspection for wear and sealing
- Optional masthead rig and two mast heights mean rig-and-ballast match must be verified on any example
