Design and Construction
The 24S is a monohull of fiberglass construction, built predominantly of that material with wood trim, and it carries a raked stem above a plumb transom. Beneath the waterline sits a fixed fin keel and a transom-hung rudder worked by a tiller, the latter arrangement keeping the steering gear clear of the hull and easy to service. At 23 feet 7 inches overall with an 8 foot 4 inch beam, a 2 foot 11 inch draft, and a displacement of 2,600 pounds carrying 900 pounds of lead ballast, the boat sits in the light-displacement cruiser class; her ballast-to-displacement ratio of roughly 35 percent and a capsize screening figure of 2.42 mark her as a stable small coastal vessel rather than a bluewater wanderer. The same underlying hull lines were reused for the Balboa 24, confirming that Turner's form found favor beyond the Laguna badge.
Rig and Handling
Above the deck, the Laguna wears a Bermuda-rigged fractional sloop, a sailplan of about 220 square feet that, paired with the modest displacement and fin keel, gives her a sail-area-to-displacement ratio near 18.6. The fractional rig keeps the genoa work manageable for short-handed cruising while the transom-hung rudder and tiller deliver direct helm feedback in close quarters. A small outboard motor is the normal auxiliary, fitted for docking and maneuvering rather than sustained passage-making, which suits the trailerable ethos and keeps the interior free of engine box and shaft clutter.
Accommodations
Turner drew the 24S expressly as a cruiser, and the wood trim against the fiberglass shell lends a period warmth below. The trailerable envelope limits absolute volume, yet the 20 foot waterline and beamy 8 foot 4 inch section give a usable cabin for weekend coastwise trips. The design's cruising intent, rather than day-racing, shaped the layout priorities toward sheltered sleeping and simple galley function within a 2,600 pound hull that can be pulled from the water on a standard trailer.
The Verdict
The Laguna 24S is a tidy, limited-production American cruiser that packaged a fractional sloop and tiller steering into a trailerable 24 foot hull with genuine cruising intent. Its seven-year, 350-boat run and derivative use in the Balboa 24 speak to a sound small-boat formula, while the out-of-production status means any purchase is a used-market exercise. The boat rewards an owner who values simplicity and ramp-launch freedom over cabin luxury.
Pros
- Trailerable American cruiser with 350 built and a defined 1980–1987 production history
- Fractional sloop rig and tiller-steered transom rudder suit short-handed handling
- Shared hull with the Balboa 24 confirms a proven small-cruiser form
Cons
- Out of production since 1987; all examples are used
- Auxiliary limited to a small outboard, not suited to extended motoring
- Compact trailerable dimensions constrain below-deck accommodation
