Design and Construction
Both hull and deck are solid fiberglass, and the recorded dimensions place the boat at 24 feet overall with an 8.75-foot beam, a length-to-beam ratio of 2.74 that reads as narrow by contemporary standards anchor. At 5,340 pounds displacement with 1,435 pounds of iron ballast, the 27 percent ballast ratio and a displacement-length ratio of 322 put her firmly among what one design summary calls "heavy cruisers" anchor. That mass is not wasted: the capsize screening value of 2.00 and a Motion Comfort Ratio of 21.8 describe a stable, easy-motion hull in her size class. The twin bilge keels draw only 3.25 to 3.55 feet depending on load, letting her dry out or sneak into shallow marinas where a fin-keeled 24-footer could not follow anchor. The wetted surface of the underwater body is about 172 square feet, and her immersion rate of 595 pounds per inch speaks to a hull that sits heavily and changes trim slowly.
Rig and Handling
The Rowan Crown carries a masthead sloop rig, and the specified sheet lengths tell the practical story: a 60-foot mainsheet and 24-foot jib and genoa sheets, all of 3/8-inch diameter, with a 52.8-foot spinnaker sheet for downwind work anchor. Under power, the recorded calculated maximum speeds are about 4.3 knots with a Yanmar 1GM10 and 4.5 knots with a Bukh DV10, well under the 5.9-knot theoretical hull speed for a displacement hull of her length anchor. An outboard motor is often fitted for docking and maneuvering rather than a permanent inboard, which keeps the lazarette and bilge simple but means the buyer is dealing with portable power anchor.
Accommodations
Below, the boat is equipped with a single cabin arrangement providing 2+2 berths, the classic pocket-cruiser compromise of a double forward and two settee berths aft anchor. The 55-gallon water capacity against a mere 12-gallon fuel allowance underscores her nature as a sail-and-anchor coastal cruiser rather than a motoring trawler. One cabin means a single enclosed private space; the remaining berths lie in the main saloon.
The Verdict
The MacWester Rowan Crown is a modest, thoroughly traditional small cruiser. Roy's early eighties lines and Trident's solid-glass construction produce a heavy, stable, shallow-draft boat that is easy to keep and simple to handle, if slow under power and narrow on deck. For a couple or small family coastal wandering, she offers a honest 2+2 layout and bilge keels that open shallow water to her.
Pros
- Bilge keels give 3.25–3.55 ft draft and grounding tolerance
- Heavy-displacement hull with 2.00 capsize screen and 21.8 comfort ratio
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck, simple outboard-driven maneuvering
Cons
- Narrow 2.74 length-to-beam ratio limits interior beam
- Calculated motoring speed only 4.3–4.5 knots
- Single cabin with 2+2 berths suits only small crews
