Preview: Virtues of a Small Boat, Gunkholing in a Sea Pearl 21

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Whether it’s 5,000 miles on the Great Eastern Loop or tucking into a quiet cove for the night – small boats like the Sea Pearl 21 have a lot to offer.

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40 Responses So Far to “Virtues of a Small Boat, Gunkholing in a Sea Pearl 21”

  • Bruce Kratky says:

    I’ve been studying boats for the past ten years hoping in my retirement to either build or simply purchase one. I purchased plans for three different small sailboats the GOAT and the Caledonia Yawl to mention the finalists. I have built cedar strip canoes, so I have the shop and tools, and experience to do so. However, upon seeing this video, considering my age, the time it would take to build a boat, and the fact that I just wanted to sail more than build, this video made up my mind. I just purchased a 1987 Sea Pearl 21 (3/2021)with almost all the whistles and bells. It does have the water ballast tanks installed. I am quite excited for the Upper Midwest lakes to thaw so I can put her in the water and hone my rusty sailing skills. I raced dinghies in my youth. Thank you for this excellent introduction to this fine, fine sailboat.

    • Steve Stone

      Steve Stone says:

      Awesome Bruce. Glad our videos helped your process. The Sea Pearl is a great boat. Just one thing about the Sea Pearl 21 — make sure you have the flotation figured out in the case of a capsize, including the possibility of a float at the top of the mast to keep her from turtling. See our two capsizing videos for thoughts.

    • Andrew Blodgett says:

      Bruce, there’s a great forum for Sea Pearl 21 owners with lots of knowledge on the boat. I’ve owned mine for a year and the forum has been very valuable!

      https://groups.io/g/seapearl

  • Jon Baldock says:

    To me this is where the action is,.great boat for exploration. Jon Baldock

  • Jack Campbell says:

    I joined up just to read the articles about the Sea Pearl 21 and any boats like it. I plan to buy
    one to use in the west coast florida area around Pine Island , Cayo Costa area and plan to sail south close to shore towards the 10,000 islands area. Looks like a great boat for it.

  • Christopher O'brien says:

    Best quote:11:46
    …Very important my wife is comfortable while sailing… she can read a book, drink a glass of wine, enjoy the sailing while I play pirate back there and we go exploring…

    so true…

  • Thomas Dalzell says:

    This is a lovely looking boat, and the hull is pretty simple if one wanted to do a ply version for which there are many designs that already exist, like Egret, or Birdwatcher. For myself I am building the Scarab 18 which is more complicated, but once made will be better in almost every respect. I hope. I have a 24 foot trimaran, but it is a mooring proposition, and I think the 18 may work for me solo. Sea Pearl looks nice enough but is basically less protected than a kayak.

  • Karl Williams says:

    I am currently finishing the restoration of a Pete Culler Sharptown Barge. (24’LOD, 5′ beam, 9″ draft) Bought from an estate, half-way through restoration with some mods. Rather than rig it as per Pete’s drawings with a lug main and a leg-o-mutton mizzen and balanced jib, it is rigged like this. IIRC, the sails are 95 and 75 sq.ft., and it has a 2×6 sticking out ahead another 30″ for a jib to mount to. Also, in lieu of a centerboard, it has leeboards, originally just under the shear. So, this video has confirmed my suspicions that he used the Culler design to build his own version. Included in papers was a letter from Phil Bolger, advising on placement of the leeboards, and also recommending a full jib over the balanced jib.

    Mods the original builder was in process of was first, moving the leeboard pivots onto brackets above the shear; and second, adding a cuddy. Also, sketches show the planned jib. I bought it in the summer of 2010, hopefully it hits the water by end of July.

    Thanks for this video, it really helps me understand what the original boat was!

    • Karl Williams says:

      Oh, this is funny. This vid seemed familiar when I ran across it today, so I played it again. Seems I met Chrstophe, and his friend Jonathan, in Rockland ME this past July 2016. They were trailering their boats, 2 Sea Pearls, after having spent a day sailing around the islands. Up to this point, I had suspicions that the gent who built my boat was following the rig of a Sea Pearl. After seeing theirs, I was convinced. Having just watched this again, I know I must finish it’s rebirth, and soon!

  • Daniel Jones says:

    Great video. Thanks. I’m finishing up a 20′ Catboat. Her name is Harmonica. I’m hoping to do some exploring of Tomalas Bay. And possibly the Sea of Cortez in Baja. Your video has inspired me.

  • Michael Ryan says:

    Yes, very cool. An inspiring pirate video and compliments on making it comfortable for your first mate, aye!

  • John Sims says:

    So, just when I think I have all the boats I want, here’s a new option to keep me awake nights! I mean, what IF . . . . ? Get your Viking on?? I’m IN!!
    Thanks for the great vid! Awesome boat! Very cool Dude!

  • Steve Stone

    Steve Stone says:

    Dude, you and Shane have me dreaming of sailing the Caledonia Yawl to the Bahamas. It’s only 50 miles to a first stop in Bimini. Seriously.

    • Christophe Matson says:

      Steve,

      A Sea Pearl with Skipper and Crew just made the FL-Bahamas trip last month. No engine, cruised over in a favorable weather window, spent over a week exploring, and sailed back.

      The CY is also a very capable boat. The water is warm, the beaches reached by shoal-draft boats are quiet.

      • Steve Stone

        Steve Stone says:

        Dude. Stop messing with my head. Next you’re going to send over fair maidens for the voyage…
        Got a link for a blog or anything on the Sea Pearl FL-Bahama voyage?

        • Christophe Matson says:

          At this time there is no consolidated trip report, just some sporadic posts repeated off facebook, and a few pictures at the Yahoo Sea Pearl group:

          https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/seapearl/photos/photostream

          I can’t remember if you can view pictures without being a member.

          Seems like a fantastic time. They hit a great weather window. Coast Guard swung by and checked them out too.

    • Paige McIntire says:

      Do you think the sea pearl or the CY would be a better boat for sailing the east coast (of the U.S.) to the the Bahamas?

      Thanks, Tom

  • Ellen Massey Leonard says:

    Amazing how much he’s able to fit in there! Thanks for sharing.

  • Burton Blais says:

    Christophe, you are a true waterman’s poet. Thank you from a former Seapearler (off on other small boat adventures)!

  • Dale Clark says:

    Please do more small boat actual trips, point A to point B and stops along the way.

  • Joe Doyle says:

    This is the kind of video that makes me happy that I am a subscriber here. Nice job folks.

  • William Fanning says:

    Noted in his equipment list are the accommodations distinctly for when his partner accompanies him. Nice touch Christophe !

  • John Lowe says:

    Many afternoons on Eggemoggin Reach the southwest breeze may come up around 15 knots, how well are you able to handle those days?

    • Christophe Matson says:

      John,

      Right around 12+kts of wind or so is when I start putting in wraps in the sail for reefing. She moves right along at 15kts of wind with two wraps on the main without complaint. Quite frankly, she hums right along in these conditions. A sailor can really reef the Sea Pearl right on down. Her mizzen is a powerful driving sail, so as the wind pipes up and if the skipper has left her over canvassed she’ll often overpower her rudder and round up. Sea Pearls have sailed all over in all sorts of conditions with grace. The boats comes with water ballast tanks since 1987 (IIRC), and many people enjoy the extra weight to punch her through chop, but I’ve been very happy with no ballast too.

      Christophe

      • Chris Noto says:

        Sea Pearls came stock with the ballast tanks then, but they were available as an option much earlier. I bought a 1983 boat a couple of months ago, and she came with the water ballast tanks, thank God. She handles much better in a breeze with 350 pounds of water down low.

  • Ken Strangward says:

    There’s a lot to be said for a small boat, especially being able to walk out your back door & do the odd job.
    Great video, keep em coming, thanks.

  • Stephen Conklin says:

    Those interested in the capabilities of the Sea Pearl design would do well to check out “The Adventures of Ginny and Steve.” A map of their voyage can be seen at: http://ginnyandsteve.blogspot.com/p/voyage-map.html

    Steve Ladd also completed an impressive small boat journey from 1990 to 1993 in “Squeak”, a self designed and built twelve foot sailing and rowing craft. The website and book are a great read, and can be found at: https://sites.google.com/site/threeyearsina12footboat/

  • Vance Scott says:

    Thanks for that wonderful vid ‘Gunkholing in a Sea Pearl 21’ . Epitomized everything I love about sailing.
    Christophe Matson has got it right as far as I am concerned.
    Keep up the great work with more vids like this.
    Cheers
    Vance
    Western Australia

    • Antony Rieck says:

      Hi Vance, where in WA are you?. I’m in Perth

  • Thomas Cockrell says:

    It always makes it a better day when I get a post from OCH. Thanks!

    T.

  • Jim Hansen says:

    I like dis guy! Man, I can smell the saltwater from here. And beautifully filmed and edited. Thank you.

  • Jerry Rose says:

    I have a friend in Florida who cruises in a Sea Pearl 21. He customized his boat with outriggers with small pontoons and increased the sail area of the main with a larger full batten main – the boat flies in light winds with little fear of capsizing.

  • Glenn Holland says:

    Thanks, I’ve always wanted to know a little something about these boats. There seem to always be one or two in the Everglades Challenge so they must be tough vessels.
    Glenn Holland

    • Erick Singleman says:

      It’s great to see how others use the space in their boats so efficiently, it gives me ideas. Thanks for sharing

      Erick Singleman.

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