Design and Construction
Joubert's hull is round-bilged with moderate freeboard and a flared bow, and the deck is flush — no coachroof, no cockpit coaming — which gives the 720 a sleek, modern profile for its era with large windows that flood the saloon with light. The structure is fiberglass with a balsa core for stiffness and insulation. Two keel architectures were offered: a fin keel with a cast-iron fin and lead bulb at 4 feet 3 inches draft and a 35 percent ballast ratio, and a keel-centerboard version with a short fin, lead bulb, and a board that lifts the draft from 4 feet 3 inches to 2 feet 3 inches while raising the ballast ratio to 40 percent. Yachting Monthly noted the ballasted centreboard inevitably eats into cabin space, the trade a buyer accepts for the shallow-water reach.
Rig and Handling
The 720 carries a masthead sloop rig on a deck-stepped aluminum mast with a single spreader and an adjustable backstay for tuning. The boom is aluminum with two reef points, the mainsail is fully battened with lazy jacks, and the roller-furling genoa carries UV protection on the leech. A balanced spade rudder on a stainless stock gives good maneuverability and steering control. With a Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 21.3 and a Displacement/Length Ratio of 206, the boat is fast and agile with good performance to windward and docile handling in most weather. The centerboard version improves windward ability by increasing lateral resistance beyond most comparable bilge-keelers, and the raised board opens shallow swatchways — Yachting Monthly called her a good choice for exploring the shallow swatchways of the East Coast. Overloading with heavy cruising gear will blunt that performance.
Accommodations
The deck saloon offers panoramic views and the layout is one of the boat's strong suits. She sleeps five at a pinch: a forward cabin with a double V-berth, hanging locker, and shelves; a saloon with two single settee berths that convert to a double with an infill; and an aft quarterberth that doubles as storage. The galley to port has a two-burner gas cooker, built-in icebox, sink, and cabinets — a decent setup for a small boat — while the nav station opposite to starboard holds a chart table, instrument panel, and drawers. A separate heads with marine toilet and sink sits across from the galley. Realistically she is most comfortably cruised two-up, with ample space on deck and below for a couple of kids.
Deck and Equipment
On deck the cockpit is spacious with two long benches that serve as sunbeds and two lockers for sails and gear, steered by a liftable tiller. Hardware is simple but functional: cabin-top winches for halyards and reefing, coaming winches for genoa sheets, jammers for mainsheet and centerboard control, four mooring cleats, twin bow rollers, and full stainless pulpit, pushpit, and lifelines. An optional spinnaker flies from a removable bowsprit or the bow roller.
The Verdict
The Feeling 720 is a thoughtfully packaged small cruiser that punches above its length through the centerboard's flexibility and a bright, sociable interior. It rewards the sailor who wants shoal draft without bilge-keel penalties but accepts tight cabin volume as the price.
Pros
- Ballasted centerboard lifts draft to 2'3" and betters windward performance of comparable bilge-keelers
- Bright deck-saloon interior with practical five-berth layout and separate heads
- Docile, agile handling with reasonable turn of speed for a 24-footer
Cons
- Centerboard mechanism intrudes on cabin space
- Performance suffers if overloaded with heavy cruising gear
- Most examples carry a petrol outboard rather than inboard diesel
