Design and Construction
Bingham's styling hand shows in the plumb stem and stretched-out waterline, which together wring living and sailing length from a hull just over 18 feet on deck. The Eclipse carries a very flat bottom and soft chines that push the waterline beam well outboard, a form that trades the soft ride of a round bilge for noticeable initial stability when seated or sprawled inside. A shallow molded keel houses the centerboard trunk under the sole, so the board drops to a weatherly 5 feet 2 inches yet retracts to 1 foot 6 inches for trailing or gunkholing. The solid fiberglass hull and deck follow the builder's established practice, and the open transom — borrowed from larger charter boats — gives a clear step from cockpit to water with a fold-down stainless ladder for egress.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig is built around easy trailering rather than racing tweak. A trademarked Mastendr system uses a pinned mast hinge above the furled mainsail, quick-release levers to slacken the standing rigging, and a stainless gin pole; once lowered onto the stern arch the mast unpins and slides forward to balance the trailer overhangs. That arch is a multi-tasker: it lifts the mainsheet clear of the cockpit, carries a bimini, acts as boom gallows, and supports the mast for the road. The mainsheet itself leads forward along the boom and back to a cabin-top cleat, keeping the cockpit uncluttered. A kick-down rudder completes a package that Cruising World found could be converted from sailer to trailer singlehanded if need be.
Accommodations
Below, the Eclipse is more padded nook than cabin. Most of the interior is cushioned horizontal surface, lending a playpen-like feel, and the centerboard trunk tucked under the sole frees the floor so sitting and lounging come easily even if standing is confined to the hatch. The galley is pure space-saving theater: lift one cushion to reveal the sink, lift another for the stove, then flip the countertop between them to brace the stove on its underside now facing up. With 5 gallons of water stowed and a portable 6.5-gallon fuel tank in the starboard cockpit locker, the boat supports simple overnight use without pretending to be a miniature ocean liner.
Equipment and Power
Propulsion is an optional outboard on a transom bracket, its tank tucked in the starboard locker away from foot traffic. Sail area measures a modest 200 square feet against 2,200 pounds displacement and 700 pounds of ballast, enough to move the light hull without overwhelming a short-handed crew. The open transom and arch-mounted canvas points hint at the boat's day-sailer-with-berths character rather than bluewater ambition.
The Verdict
The Eclipse is a focused tool: a trailerable, singlehand-launchable pocket cruiser that maximizes usable interior space through cushion-stowed galley gear and a trunk-under-sole layout, while Bingham's plumb bow and stretched waterline give it more boat than the length suggests. Its flat-bottomed, beamy form favors stability and simplicity over offshore seagoing, and the low headroom will suit those who camp afloat rather than stand and cook.
Pros
- Singlehanded sail-to-trailer transition via the Mastendr mast-lowering system
- Centerboard retracts to 18-inch draft yet reaches 5-foot-2 for windward work
- Galley hidden in cushions and flip counter keeps the cabin open and playful
- Open transom with folding ladder eases swimming and boarding
Cons
- Headroom limited to the hatch; standing below is impossible
- Unabashedly small with only 200 square feet of sail and 5 gallons water
- Power comes from an optional outboard only
