Conceived as a small trailer boat for coastal cruising, this bilge-keel pocket cruiser weighs 670 kilograms empty and carries 250 kg of iron ballast, giving a 37 percent ballast ratio. It famously proved its range when John Adam sailed one from England to Cuba in 1967. In 1979, YACHT chief tester Michael Naujok described it as a boat for young families. The little hull has remained a touchstone for what a minimalist cruiser can attempt.
Design and Construction
Howard specified a solid, hand-laid GRP hull made with polyester resin. Rather than being framed separately, the floor, berths, backrests, and headliner are moulded into two inner shells.
Most Leisure 17s left the yard with cast-iron bilge keels. A central-keel version was also offered, with one metre draught and about 30 kg more ballast. The reinforcements and keel bolts are overlaminated, so their actual condition can’t be checked without destructive investigation.
In 1980, the deck was revised to create the Leisure SL, with angular superstructure windows and a little more room below. Outside, the side decks are barely wide enough for walking aft. The pushpit encloses an entirely self-draining cockpit, measuring 1.50 m across at the bridge deck and a few centimetres wider than it is long.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The six-metre mast carries a masthead sloop rig, stayed by one pair each of upper and lower shrouds. The backstay is fastened at the stern by a capstan and tensioned by a tackle. Sail area is 7.7 m² for the mainsail and 9.3 m² for the genoa.
Two adults sitting on one side put the boat into a strong leaning position. Once the rubbing strake reaches the water at roughly 25 degrees of heel, she begins to luff uncontrollably. Even so, testers found her sailing characteristics good-natured and problem-free.
She isn’t a sharp windward performer. In moderate, swell-free conditions, she tacks through 50 to 55 degrees. During a 1979 test in 6 Beaufort with swell, however, she still made almost five knots on rough courses and laid 45 degrees to the true wind. Her GPS has shown just over five knots over the ground—her hull speed. The bilge keels are also well suited to tidal grounding.
Accommodation
There’s no standing headroom below, but the available space is used optimally. Four bunks are provided, although the cushions are only 185 cm long and barely 60 cm wide. Stowage is fitted beneath the cushions and in the slip berths under the cockpit thwarts, which are sized for sails.
A recess for a chemical toilet is concealed beneath a cover in the bow. There’s space for a cooker under the companionway, and a saloon table can be clipped to the mast support. Period reviewers praised the generous window area, the light it brings into the cabin, and the genuinely usable stowage, while also noting the narrow bunks.
Known Issues
The foredeck can soften with age. Repairs are slow because the inner shell blocks access to the affected area. Similar softening can appear at the mast base as hairline cracks.
Windows on boats built before 1980 aren’t watertight. The tiller also often develops play in the rudder cokers, interfering with steering.
Refits and Ownership
Because the keel bolts are overlaminated, a buyer can’t assess the integrity of the fastenings from outside. Any ownership plan therefore has to treat their condition as unknown. Soft-deck and mast-base repairs are practicable, but slow and invasive.
The SL deck fitted from 1980 onward provides more room and tighter windows, making it a useful upgrade path within the class.
The Verdict
The Leisure 17 is an individual and indestructible design that punches far above its 5.18 m torso length. It’s equally at home on a trailer, a tidal grid, or a blue-water crossing. It asks little of its keeper beyond tolerance for narrow bunks and watchfulness for soft decks.
Pros
- Atlantic-crossing pocket cruiser on a 670 kg trailerable hull
- Protected, self-draining cockpit with a broad 1.50 m width
- Efficient moulded interior with good stowage and a bright cabin
- Bilge keels suited to tidal shores and shallow draught
Cons
- Pre-1980 windows leak; the foredeck and mast base can soften with age
- Keel bolts are permanently hidden beneath overlaminate
- Narrow berths and no standing headroom below
- Doesn’t point high to windward and luffs beyond 25 degrees of heel
