Design and Construction
Johnson retained the basic sheer lines, wide beam, and full-foil keel of his earlier sailing designs, then added a new “trawler” stern with a broader transom than is typical of sailboats to improve performance under power while keeping a traditional Island Packet bow.
The robust, one-piece hull is hand-laid in solid fiberglass. The Polycore sandwich decks are fastened to the wide hull flange both mechanically and with urethane adhesive. A practical rubrail runs from stem to stern.
The external boarding platform is molded directly into the hull to ensure its integrity. Because the platform’s buoyancy could cause yaw, two small skegs were added to the aft underbody to offset it. A 12-inch bridgedeck and large scuppers help prevent downflooding—an important detail on a boat with this much superstructure.
Rig, Sailing, and Handling Under Power
Compared with a pure sailboat, the SP Cruiser reduces and simplifies the sail plan. It has an in-mast furling mainsail with no traveler and a small, self-tending headsail on a Hoyt boom. A single electric winch on the starboard side of the aft cockpit handles the few lines required. The jib’s clubfoot boom can be swung clear of the foredeck workspace and left in any position.
Writing in Cruising World, test sailors recorded an honest 6.3 knots under sail in a 16-knot beam wind through a light Chesapeake chop. The magazine also noted that the boat wasn’t designed to sail to windward: on that point of sail, its 714 square feet of sail couldn’t compensate for its substantial weight and windage.
Broad, flat stern sections with minimal deadrise improve performance under power. However, Cruising World reported that the boat didn’t back well and may require the optional bow-thruster upgrade in tight quarters.
A turbocharged Yanmar 4JH3 turns a fixed three-bladed propeller, fed by a 215-gallon diesel tank. Sources differ on its output, with one quoting 100 horsepower and another 110. This provides a cruising range of 1,000 miles at 6 knots.
Accommodations
Inside, the SP Cruiser feels more like a sheltered, raised-deck saloon than a conventional sailboat cabin. The main helm is on the centerline, with a swiveling captain’s chair. Two cushioned captain’s chairs can serve as twin helm seats or swivel to face the folding-leaf saloon table.
Large deadlights along the sides and aft provide a panoramic view from the L-shaped saloon settees. A large deck hatch above the helmsman brings in light and air.
Three steps down, the well-appointed galley lies to port. It has a centerline wet counter, expansive preparation space, and a huge refrigerator beneath. A two-burner propane stove and oven sit forward, while the sinks are set on the centerline.
The owner’s cabin forward contains a walk-around double berth, two hanging lockers, and drawer space. A twin-berth guest cabin is aft to starboard. Both cabins share a single head with an enormous shower stall.
More than 300 cubic feet of stowage and headroom ranging from 6 feet 6 inches to 6 feet 10 inches complete a layout intended for comfortable, extended living aboard.
Known Issues
The transom’s camber required an offset entry door hung on protruding gate hinges, which leave sharp edges in the boarding area.
Because the cabin door is offset to port, the steering and sheeting controls ended up far apart—never ideal on a boat intended for short-handed operation. Neither issue is structural, but both reflect the compromises involved in combining a broad trawler stern with a sailboat deckhouse.
The Verdict
The SP Cruiser is a deliberate motorsailer that trades windward ability for protected, trawler-grade living space and substantial range under power. Its solid-fiberglass hull, molded boarding platform, and precautions against downflooding speak to a serious offshore-minded builder. The simplified rig and pilothouse layout also suit long seasons aboard. The compromises are the offset door hinges and the separation between the steering and sheeting stations.
Pros
- Hand-laid, solid-fiberglass hull with Polycore sandwich decks
- 1,000-mile range under power from a 215-gallon tank and turbocharged Yanmar
- Panoramic pilothouse saloon with generous headroom and more than 300 cubic feet of stowage
- Molded boarding platform, plus a 12-inch bridgedeck and large scuppers to help prevent downflooding
Cons
- Poor windward performance; 714 square feet of sail can’t offset the boat’s weight and windage
- Transom camber results in sharp, protruding gate hinges at the entry door
- Steering and sheeting controls are separated by the offset port cabin door
