The 300 is a compact masthead sloop. At just over 26 feet overall, she has a waterline length of about 20.6 feet, an 8-foot beam, and a displacement near 4,410 pounds. She carries roughly 1,900 pounds of ballast in a fin-keel configuration.
Design and Construction
The hull and deck mouldings are hand-laid glass-reinforced polyester, using woven rovings and chopped fiberglass mat in high-grade marine resin. Balsa core and plywood stiffening reinforce the deck and coachroof against flexing under load.
Below, the accommodation is built on two fiberglass modules bonded directly to the hull for substantial structural strength. A double-skin headliner runs throughout, helping to resist condensation and reduce noise.
Underwater hull fittings use approved bronze seacocks with stainless-steel hose clips. The standard fin keel is 2,028 pounds of cast iron, through-bolted with 20 mm stainless-steel studs and plates, although a lead replacement keel was available at extra cost. The spade rudder has a 35 mm solid stainless-steel stock inside a strongly built GRP blade, with heavy stainless-steel and bronze tiller fittings intended for severe weather.
Rig, Sailing, and Auxiliary Power
The Trapper 300 carries a masthead rig on an anodised aluminium mast with streamlined spreaders and a spinnaker-pole track. The boom is set up for slab reefing. Standing rigging is 5 mm 1x19 stainless-steel wire with swaged terminals.
The sail plan is generous for a boat of this size. With a 135% genoa, the sail-area-to-displacement ratio reaches 17.6, and the design carries more rig than 82% of comparable sailboats. The standard sail inventory consists of a 111 sq ft mainsail and a 112 sq ft working jib, both made from 8 oz terylene.
Under power, the optional Yanmar YSE 8 diesel weighs about 125 kg and is fitted on flexible mountings with an alternator and dual starting. It gives a calculated maximum speed near 4.2 knots, while the theoretical hull speed for a displacement boat of this length is about 6.1 knots.
Depending on load, the fin keel draws roughly 4.9 to 5.2 feet, allowing access to shallow marinas.
Accommodation
The forward cabin has a double berth, stowage beneath, and shelves to port and starboard. The heads compartment can be fully enclosed, with a marine toilet and wet locker to starboard and a dry locker to port.
In the saloon, the dinette is to starboard above deep bins and lockers. The galley runs along the port side, with a deep sink, a gimballed gas cooker and grill, extensive counter space, and a deck-mounted flexible ventilator overhead. A permanent chart table provides stowage and room for instruments, while an ice box fits beneath the quarter berth.
The Trapper 300 sleeps five on 3-inch foam cushions covered in water-resistant fabric. Interior and exterior teak is lightly oiled to a matt finish, and the hardwood tiller is varnished.
Deck Equipment and Systems
Deck gear includes an anodised aluminium toerail, stainless-steel pushpit and pulpit, and an aluminium stemhead with a bow roller. Two Lewmar 16a two-speed sheet winches and two Lewmar 6a halyard winches handle the lines. The boat also has alloy genoa tracks and a mainsheet track with a slider and stops.
The electrical system uses a 55 amp-hour 12v battery behind a fused panel and isolating switch. It supplies six interior lights, international navigation lights, and a steaming light used with the engine.
Tankage consists of a 20-gallon double-skinned flexible water tank and a 4-gallon vented fuel tank, both with deck fillers. Ground tackle includes a 20 lb COR anchor, chain, warp, and fenders.
Verdict
The Trapper 300 is a thoughtfully engineered small cruiser-racer that turns a Kirby quarter-ton racer into a practical coastal cruiser without losing its lively rig or shallow-draft flexibility. Its bonded interior modules and cored deck provide substantial structural integrity for its length, while the enclosed heads and proper chart table are uncommon in this size bracket. The capsize screening value of 2.16 excludes her from ocean racing acceptance.
The modest speed under power and light-displacement character make it better suited to sheltered waters and coastal sailing than offshore passage-making.
Pros
- Generous masthead rig, with more sail area than most comparable boats of her size
- Bonded interior structure and cored deck provide stiffness and help control noise
- Fin keel draws no more than roughly 5.2 feet, easing access to shallow marinas
- Fully enclosed heads and permanent navigation station in a boat just over 26 feet long
Cons
- A capsize screening value of 2.16 excludes her from ocean-racing acceptance
- Calculated maximum speed under auxiliary power is a modest 4.2 knots
- Standard keel is iron rather than lead unless optionally upgraded
