Design Brief & Intent
The core mission of the Eclipse 6.7 was to provide budget-conscious families and daysailers with a highly versatile, easily trailerable pocket cruiser that sacrificed neither sailing performance nor basic weekend comfort. To achieve this, the design moved away from the traditional, low-profile coach roofs of early Alberg designs and embraced the popular "wedge deck" aesthetic of the era. By raising the topsides and coach roof by approximately three inches compared to the South Coast 22, the designers significantly increased interior volume. This modification created genuine sitting headroom and a more open, less claustrophobic cabin feel.
The interior layout was thoughtfully revised to maximize the available space on a seven-foot beam. The cabin featured a clean fiberglass headliner accented by warm wood trim. Accommodations included a forward V-berth, which, while tight for two adults, served as excellent dry storage for sails and gear. Moving aft, a long settee berth on the starboard side extended under the cockpit, comfortably accommodating a tall crew member, and was accompanied by a small galley sink. On the port side, a shorter settee was positioned next to a dedicated compartment for a portable head. A major improvement over the South Coast 22 was the elimination of the vertical mast compression post; instead, the Eclipse 6.7 transferred the deck-stepped mast loads to a heavily built fiberglass header beam integrated into the deck lining. This structural change completely opened up the cabin, allowing easy movement around the center-mounted swing keel trunk.
Sailing Performance & Handling
Under sail, the Eclipse 6.7 is a remarkably nimble and responsive pocket cruiser. With an empty displacement of 1,800 pounds and a generous sail area, it boasts a powerful sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 22.6. In physical terms, this high ratio ensures the boat is highly agile in light-to-moderate breezes, easily accelerating and approaching its theoretical hull speed of 5.52 knots in conditions that would leave heavier pocket cruisers becalmed. However, this performance comes at the expense of a heavy-weather dampening effect; its motion comfort ratio of 11.08 indicates a very lively, quick motion in waves. The boat will respond rapidly to wake and chop, requiring active helm management from the crew.
The boat’s primary righting moment is provided by its 500-pound cast-iron swing keel, resulting in a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 27.78 percent. Fully lowered, the keel draws 4.83 feet, providing good tracking and pointing ability. Retracted, the draft is reduced to just ten inches, allowing the boat to be easily trailered, ramp-launched, or run right up onto a sandy beach. (Note that while some modern online registries mistakenly list the keel type as a wing, the actual physical design of the Eclipse 6.7 utilizes this swing/lifting keel configuration.) With a high capsize screening ratio of 2.33, the Eclipse 6.7 is strictly a coastal, lake, and inland water boat. It is relatively tender initially and will require proactive reefing once true winds rise above 10 to 12 knots.
Crucially, Alberg's team redesigned the sail plan by shifting the mast step two feet forward compared to the South Coast 22 3. This realignment perfectly balanced the masthead sloop rig, completely curing the notorious weather helm that plagued the older model. Additionally, the Eclipse transitioned to a mid-boom sheeting arrangement with a traveler mounted directly in front of the companionway. This allowed for highly precise mainsheet control and cleared the stern for the addition of a cockpit bimini, though it did place the traveler blocks directly in the footwell.
Known Issues & Triage
The most critical maintenance item for any prospective or current owner of an Eclipse 6.7 is the swing keel lifting mechanism. The 500-pound cast-iron keel is supported and operated by a stainless steel wire cable and a manual winch. Over time, this cable is highly susceptible to wear and crevice corrosion. If the cable fails, the keel can drop violently, which can crack the fiberglass keel trunk, damage the hull, or lead to a catastrophic sinking. Proactive annual inspection and regular replacement of this cable are non-negotiable. Additionally, the main pivot pin and its brass bushings can wear down over decades of use, causing the keel to clank or sway from side to side when sailing. Remedying this requires hauling the boat and safely dropping the keel out of the hull—a task often simplified by modifying the trailer bed to clear the keel on land.
Deck-core integrity is another common concern. Like most production boats of its era, the deck is constructed with a balsa or plywood core sandwiched between fiberglass layers. Compromised sealant around the deck-stepped mast plate, chainplates, stanchions, or the bow pulpit will allow freshwater to migrate into the core, causing rot and soft spots. Furthermore, while the interior fiberglass header beam was a clever alternative to a traditional compression post, owners should check the cabin top for any downward deflection or "sagging" under the mast step, which can occur if the laminate has fatigued under heavy shroud tension.
Modernization & Upgrades
Modern owners are actively retrofitting the Eclipse 6.7 to improve single-handed ease of use and electrical efficiency. A standard upgrade is leading the halyards, mainsheet, and reefing lines aft to the cabin top. This allows the helmsperson to manage the sails entirely from the safety of the cockpit, which is a major benefit when sailing short-handed.
Given the boat's light 1,800-pound displacement, it has also become a popular candidate for electric propulsion. While a traditional 4 to 6 horsepower long-shaft gasoline outboard remains a reliable choice, many owners are retrofitting their boats with clean, quiet electric outboards. These lightweight electric systems are ideal for daysailing on lakes or coastal harbors, as they eliminate the weight, noise, and fuel-handling issues of small gasoline engines on a boat of this size.
To support these systems or simply run modern navigation tools, owners are upgrading the boat’s electrical systems to Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries. Because these batteries are lightweight and compact, they can be tucked away under the settees without adding unnecessary weight to the ends of the boat. Converting the navigation and interior cabin lighting to low-draw LEDs is another standard modern upgrade that drastically reduces the boat’s overall power demands.
Market Snapshot & Economics 2
Because South Coast Seacraft struggled financially in the late 1970s and ultimately closed its doors in 1981, the Eclipse 6.7 had a very short production run. Consequently, the model is highly scarce on the used market compared to the ubiquitous South Coast 22. When one does appear for sale, it represents an incredible value for budget-conscious sailors.
Because of its rarity, it often commands a minor premium over the older South Coast 22, as buyers appreciate the improved cockpit drainage, the balanced rig, and the post-free cabin layout. However, buyers must approach any purchase with a realistic budget for refits. Sails, trailers, and outboard engines are often near the end of their lives, and replacing them can easily exceed the initial purchase price of the boat itself. For those willing to invest sweat equity into re-bedding deck hardware and servicing the swing keel, the Eclipse 6.7 remains an exceptionally affordable, high-utility vintage pocket cruiser.
The Verdict
The South Coast Eclipse 6.7 is a highly functional, well-proportioned, and historically interesting trailerable pocket cruiser. By addressing the ergonomic and performance shortcomings of the older South Coast 22—specifically weather helm, cockpit drainage, and cabin space—Carl Alberg’s design team created a boat that punches well above its weight class. While it is too lively and tender for offshore passages, it is an outstanding and highly rewarding vessel for coastal exploration, lake cruising, and budget-friendly weekend getaways.
- Forward-shifted mast step beautifully balances the rig and eliminates heavy weather helm
- Open cabin layout is free of a mast compression post, maximizing interior space
- Improved cockpit drains run directly to the transom, preventing back-flooding
- Exceptional light-air performance and responsiveness due to a generous sail-area-to-displacement ratio
- Retractable swing keel allows for effortless trailering, ramp launching, and shallow water beaching
- Low motion comfort and high capsize screening ratio limit safe operation to sheltered waters
- Swing keel winch, lifting cable, and pivot pin demand diligent and regular maintenance to avoid failure
- Very short production run makes finding a used model difficult on the brokerage market
- Highly susceptible to deck-core rot around unsealed chainplates and deck-stepped mast plates
- Mid-boom traveler blocks can clutter the cockpit footwell and complicate companionway access
