Design and Construction
Crocker's Design Number 159 began life as a wooden boat built in Harwich Port from 1931 until the Second World War, with 38 completed before hostilities stopped the line. Edey & Duff later redesigned the hull for Airex core fiberglass construction with wood trim, preserving the original's deep, beamy hull with a full keel and keel-hung rudder. Above the waterline the boat shows a spoon bow and a gentle faux sheer line, while the flush deck keeps the cabin house low and gives the 23-footer her pleasing proportions. A canoe transom and a keel-mounted rudder controlled by tiller complete a traditional silhouette that reads as a period reproduction rather than a modern design.
Rig and Handling
The sailplan is a cutter-rigged sloop: a masthead rig carrying twin headsails on a small bowsprit, with the builder calling it a cutter-rigged sloop yet also describing it as a sloop because the headsails are small. The staysail is self-tacking and the jib carries roller furling, while the mainsail has two reefing points and either headsail may be rigged with a boom or wishbone boom. Crocker enlarged the cockpit by leading the backstay to a boomkin, and the 8-foot cockpit welcomes guests and stays dry. Under sail the boat goes upwind and reaches well and handles easily in a sea; test sailors found the large mainsail drives her in the merest whisper of breeze while the long keel holds course and aids self-steering, though the same testers concede she is no speed demon in light air. Owners report an asymmetrical spinnaker improved downwind legs, and the boat is stout enough for Plum Gut and late-season sailing. The PHRF average handicap of 246, ranging 243 to 255, places her among modest club-racer ratings.
Accommodations
Below, a centerline companionway with sliding hatch drops into a snug cabin with mahogany woodwork and a typically carpeted sole. The layout follows a traditional V-berth with an insert that covers the portable head just aft of the mast, while two small quarter berths flank the sides and suit children or storage. The galley is split port and starboard: sink, icebox and counter to port, stove to starboard, with the port sink lacking a drain and instead emptied over the side by an inset. A cabin heater sits on the port side. Testers call her a fine little cruising boat for two, and owners confirm enough room for a spontaneous overnight or weekend away thanks to the beamy hull's volume.
Power and Equipment
Propulsion is either an auxiliary diesel mounted under the cockpit or a transom-mounted outboard, with a small outboard also cited for docking and maneuvering. The raised deck design provides good headroom in the cabin despite the low house, a useful trait in a 23-foot hull.
The Verdict
The Stone Horse is a considered answer to a specific brief: a stout, traditional-looking keelboat for Cape Cod and Buzzards Bay that two people can cruise and race without drama. Her fiberglass Airex construction, full keel and self-tending rig make her forgiving and dry, while the flush-deck profile and spoon bow give her a quiet elegance that period reviewers admired. She is not a light-air flyer, and the cabin is tight for more than a couple, but as a trailerable pocket cruiser with real sea sense she remains distinctive.
Pros
- Deep, beamy Airex-core fiberglass hull with full keel and keel-hung rudder for easy sea handling
- Self-tacking staysail and roller-furling jib simplify short-handed sailing
- Flush deck and spoon bow deliver traditional proportions and low cabin house
- Dry, ample cockpit extended by boomkin-mounted backstay
Cons
- Modest light-air speed despite large mainsail
- Quarter berths sized for children; cabin best for two
- Port sink lacks drain, emptied over side by inset
