The result is a larger, elegant daysailer that carries the classic aesthetic forward while offering more flexibility than the Herreshoff 12 1/2 that inspired so many of its owners.
Design and Construction
The modern Stuart Knockabout is a shoal-draft sloop with a 22-foot 10-inch resting waterline. With the centerboard raised, it draws just 2 feet 9 inches; lowered, the board increases draft to 5 feet 6 inches.
Displacement is 4,000 pounds, including 2,400 pounds of lead ballast. Harding increased the ballast slightly from the original timber hull, producing a 50-percent ballast ratio and adding extra stiffness. The foam-and-fiberglass sandwich hull and deck weigh less than the original construction.
Ballentines adds buoyancy foam aft and a water-tight bulkhead in the stem so a swamped hull stays on the surface. The boat’s parts come from several specialist suppliers: custom bronze hardware is cast at Edson Anbar Foundry in New Bedford, while Schaefer Marine blocks and tracks come from the same Massachusetts city. Pine Grove Plastics in Freetown molds the fiberglass hull and parts, I. Broomfield & Sons pours the lead keel, and Hall Spars builds the rig in Bristol. Final finishing takes place at Ballentines in Cataumet.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
With unnecessary gear stripped away, the Stuart Knockabout has an uncluttered, simple rig. It’s quick to get underway and put to bed, with or without a crew.
The Marconi mainsail and small clubfooted jib provide 265 square feet of working sail. A genoa can replace the self-tacking working jib, while an asymmetric spinnaker completes the light-air inventory. A rail-to-rail traveler spans the aft deck, and the mainsail also has a vang. The alloy spar has a traditional buff-colored finish, while the running rigging is traditional three-strand line that’s easy to splice.
Practical Sailor found the boat exceptionally fast, with surprising power for its modest sail plan. It also reported that an oncoming sea did not perceptibly slow her, describing the Stuart Knockabout as a joy to sail and comfortable and forgiving in the hands of an amateur.
Cockpit, Equipment, and Intended Use
The Stuart Knockabout combines space, comfort, easy handling, shallow draft, and plenty of speed in a larger daysailer. That makes her an excellent step up from a smaller daysailer and a simpler alternative to a large cruiser.
High coamings surround the cockpit. A long varnished locust tiller reaches the helm, while the outboard sits on a port-mounted bracket near the rudder. Low freeboard allows a small long-shaft outboard to keep its propeller well submerged.
The boat fits perfectly in a 40-foot container. Every new example left the shop with Hall Spars, a Harding Sails main and jib, standing and running rigging, running lights, a fixed bilge pump, an anchor, two life vests, and a bucket and oar.
Known Issues and Flotation
The non-self-bailing cockpit is the design’s acknowledged vulnerability. The boat’s proclivity to heel combines with the lack of automatic drainage, leaving only the high coamings between the crew and a filled sole.
The built-in flotation has proven its worth. One boat was knocked down and swamped in a tornado vortex over a lake, with winds well over 100 knots. The foam and forward bulkhead kept the hull on the surface rather than letting it sink.
The Verdict
The Stuart Knockabout is a splendid example of its pedigree: a fiberglass interpretation of a Herreshoff timber daysailer that preserves the classic look while delivering a fast, forgiving, and uncomplicated sail. It suits sailors who want elegance without complication and shallow draft without surrendering stiffness or speed.
Pros
- Exceptionally fast and not perceptibly slowed by an oncoming sea
- Shallow draft of 2 feet 9 inches with the centerboard raised and 5 feet 6 inches with it lowered
- 50-percent ballast ratio, with added stiffness over the original
- Built-in foam and a forward bulkhead that keep a swamped hull afloat
- Uncluttered rig that’s easy to handle single-handed or short-handed
Cons
- Non-self-bailing cockpit requires crew vigilance when heeled
- Modest 265 square feet of working sail in the standard rig
