Design Philosophy
Crealock's brief for the Dana 24 was explicit: create a compact, seagoing cruiser that could carry meaningful tankage and stores without becoming a lightweight. The result is a hull with a long, moderately deep keel, a fully supported rudder, and a cutaway forefoot improves maneuvering in close quarters. The nearly plumb bow and stern, combined with a 36-inch bowsprit, give her a jaunty profile while the raised cabintop provides over six feet of standing headroom below. Crealock described the sailplan as balanced for good upwind performance, and the boat can be rigged as either a masthead sloop or a cutter.
Construction & Build Quality
Pacific Seacraft built the Dana to the same standards as its larger sisters. The hull is solid fiberglass, with a layup that includes ISO-NPG gelcoat, vinylester resin, and multiple layers of bi-axial roving, thickened at the keel, rudder post, and chainplates to 5/8 inch at the bottom. The hull-deck joint is bedded in 3M 5200 and through-bolted, with an aluminum toerail further securing the connection. Deck coring is 1/2-inch balsa encapsulated in mat and roving, with additional plywood reinforcement wherever hardware is mounted. Ballast is 3,200 pounds of pre-cast lead bonded into the keel fin, contributing to a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 40 percent.
Rig & Handling
The Dana's rig is simple and traditional: a deck-stepped aluminum mast by LeFiell, single unswept spreaders, and 1x19 stainless steel wire standing rigging with bronze turnbuckles. Halyards are external, led to mast-mounted Lewmar winches. The cockpit is designed for sailing comfort, with 6-foot-3-inch seats long enough for sleeping out on stifling nights. A short traveler on the transom keeps the mainsheet fall clear of the cockpit. During a test sail in San Francisco Bay, the boat achieved 5.7 to 5.9 knots close-hauled in 12–15 knots of wind, and 6.8 knots on a broad reach. The owner typically reefs the main only when wind reaches 18–20 knots to avoid excessive weather helm.
Accommodations
Belowdecks, the Dana 24 feels remarkably spacious for her length. The saloon has six feet of headroom, and the V-berth accommodates two adults up to 6-foot-2. The settees convert to 6-foot-6 berths. The galley is large by small-boat standards, with a gimbaled two-burner stove, a stainless sink, and a 3.5-cubic-foot icebox. The enclosed head is compact but functional. Throughout, hand-rubbed oiled teak surfaces and bronze ports create a warm, traditional ambiance. A removable white headliner and the absence of a forward bulkhead enhance the sense of openness. The nav station is small—an 18-by-13-inch hinged desk—but adequate for a boat of this size.
Known Considerations
The Dana 24 is not without compromises. The high cabin profile, while providing headroom, offers little deck-level shade in tropical anchorages, and an aftermarket bimini is a frequent owner upgrade. The deck-stepped mast is less ideal for serious offshore work, but it preserves interior space. A 6-inch loop of wire connector at the mast base for lights and VHF is prone to kicking loose and inviting electrical issues. The starboard cockpit locker houses batteries and engine access, while the port locker is deep enough for sails, fenders, and a spare anchor. The anchor locker drains into a PVC pipe leading to the bilge, requiring diligent bilge maintenance.
The Verdict
The Pacific Seacraft Dana 24 is a purpose-built, two-person offshore cruiser that delivers on Crealock's promise of comfort and safety in a small package. Her construction is robust, her motion at sea is easy, and her interior is surprisingly livable for a 24-footer. She rewards the sailor who values seakindliness over speed and who is willing to accept a few quirks in exchange for a boat that can handle tough conditions.
Pros
- Exceptional build quality and solid fiberglass construction
- Seakindly motion with moderate displacement and long keel
- Spacious interior with full headroom and comfortable berths
- Simple, reliable rig suited for singlehanding or couple cruising
- Proven offshore capability with many ocean miles logged
Cons
- High cabin profile limits deck shade; bimini often needed
- Deck-stepped mast less ideal for extended bluewater passages
- Small nav station and cramped head
- Light-air performance sluggish; larger genoa or asymmetrical spinnaker recommended
- Wire connector at mast base a potential electrical weak point
