Dark Harbor 17 1/2 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Dark Harbor 17 1/2 is an enduring masterpiece of the "Golden Age" of yachting, a vessel that exemplifies the aesthetic grace and technical precision of the early 20th-century American daysailer. Designed in 1908 by the prolific naval architect B.B. Crowninshield and primarily constructed by the legendary yard of George Lawley & Son, this class was originally commissioned for the summer residents of Islesboro, Maine. Measuring 25 feet, 10 inches in length overall, with a 17-foot, 6-inch waterline—from which it derives its name—the design features the long, elegant overhangs and narrow beam characteristic of the era's racing yachts. Its transition from a local one-design class to a cherished icon of wooden boat restoration speaks to its exceptional balance and timeless silhouette. While many were built in the initial 1908–1915 run, the class saw a resurgence in the late 20th century, with several being meticulously rebuilt or replicated by specialized yards such as Artisan Boatworks.