Design and Construction
Johnson kept the basic sheer lines, wide beam, and full foil keel of his earlier sailing designs but grafted on a new "trawler" stern with a broader transom than typical sailboats to enhance motoring performance hull design with a traditional IP bow. The hull is a robust, one-piece hand-laid solid fiberglass unit, and the decks are a Polycore sandwich well fastened to the wide hull flange mechanically and with urethane adhesive robust, one-piece hull is hand-laid, solid fiberglass. A practical rubrail runs stem to stern, and an external boarding platform was molded directly into the hull to assure its integrity, with two small skegs added on the aft underbody to offset yaw from that platform's buoyancy. A 12-inch bridgedeck and large scuppers prevent downflooding, a detail that matters on a boat with this much superstructure.
Rig and Handling
The SP Cruiser decreases and simplifies the sail plan compared with a pure sailboat, paring operations down to an in-mast furling main with no traveler and a small, self-tending headsail on a Hoyt boom decreases and simplifies the sail plan. A single electric winch on the starboard side of the aft cockpit handles the few lines required. The jib carries a clubfoot boom that can be swung clear of the foredeck workspace and left in any position. Writing in Cruising World, test sailors found her sailing an honest 6.3 knots under a beam wind of 16 knots through a light Chesapeake chop, but the magazine noted she was not designed to sail to windward and the 714 square feet of sail could not compensate for the substantial weight and windage on that point of sail. Broad and flat stern sections with minimal dead rise enhance performance under power, though Cruising World reported the vessel did not back well and may require the optional upgrade of a bow thruster for tight quarters. A turbocharged Yanmar 4JH3 turns a fixed three-bladed prop, fed by a 215-gallon diesel tank for a 6-knot cruising range of 1,000 miles. Sources differ on engine horsepower, with one quoting 100 and another 110.
Accommodations
Inside, the boat reads as a sheltered raised-deck saloon more than a conventional cabin. The main helm sits on the centerline with a swiveling captain's chair, and two cushy captains chairs double as twin helm seats or swivel to face the leafed saloon table. Large deadlights to the sides and aft offer a panoramic view from the L-shaped saloon settees, while a large deck hatch over the helmsman brings light and air. Three steps below lies a well-appointed galley to port with a centerline wet counter, expansive prep space, and a huge fridge beneath; a two-burner propane stove and oven sit forward, with sinks islanded on the centerline. The owner's cabin forward holds a walk-around double berth with two hanging lockers and drawer space, while a twin-berth guest cabin aft to starboard and a single head with an enormous shower stall serve both. More than 300 cubic feet of stowage and headroom between 6 feet 6 inches and 6 feet 10 inches round out a layout built for extended, comfortable living.
Known Issues
The camber of the transom forced an offset entry door hung on protruding gate hinges that present sharp edges in the boarding area. Because the cabin door lies offset to port, steering and sheeting controls ended up located far from each other — never a good idea on a boat meant for short-handed operation. Neither flaw is structural, but both reflect the compromises of marrying a broad trawler stern to a sailboat deckhouse.
The Verdict
The SP Cruiser is a deliberate motorsailer that trades windward ability for protected, trawler-grade living and strong motoring range. Its solid-fiberglass hull, molded boarding platform, and downflooding precautions speak to a serious offshore-minded builder, while the simplified rig and pilothouse layout make long seasons aboard easy. The offset door hinges and split steering/sheeting stations are the price of the layout.
Pros
- Hand-laid solid-fiberglass hull with Polycore sandwich decks
- 1,000-mile range under power from 215-gallon tank and turbocharged Yanmar
- Panoramic pilothouse saloon with generous headroom and 300+ cubic feet stowage
- Molded boarding platform and 12-inch bridgedeck with large scuppers against downflooding
Cons
- Poor windward performance; 714 sq ft sail cannot offset weight and windage
- Transom camber produces sharp protruding gate hinges at the entry door
- Steering and sheeting controls separated by offset port cabin door
