Cheaper to operate and simpler to maintain, these under-30-foot boats let you enjoy the water in a direct, uncomplicated way.
Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series on small boats. Next month’s installment will focus on small vessels designed for sailing and rowing.
We profile six versatile models between 17 and 25 feet: the Stagepoint 17, Mojito 18, Mathews Brothers Classic Bay Cruiser 22, Grady-White Freedom 225, Albury Brothers 23 and Ranger R-25SC.
Small boats make sense for many owners. They cost less to buy, fuel, store, trailer and maintain than larger yachts, and they get you on the water faster with far less hassle. In lean economic times, many boaters are downsizing—not because they want less, but because they value affordability, convenience and fun.
“There’s very little to break on a small boat,” says Renzo Rivolta, co-owner of Mojito Boats. “They’re more manageable, and fuel efficiency is a major plus.”
Jeff Messmer of Ranger Tugs adds that many owners remember the joy they had in a 20- to 25-foot boat decades ago. “Downsizers are finding that bigger isn’t always better,” he says.
Of course, larger vessels do offer advantages: more live-aboard comfort, longer-range cruising and a greater margin of safety in heavy weather. But those benefits come with higher slips, storage costs and more complex systems to maintain. “A large percentage of boats are essentially cottages,” says Stagepoint owner Ted Boynton. “They sit at the dock for most of the summer.”
For many boater lifestyles, day boats deliver independence and immediate access to the water. “You can just go, without a lot of fuss,” Boynton says. Small, shallow-draft hulls let owners explore skinny water and reach secluded fishing, diving and anchoring spots, and most of these boats are trailerable for greater range and flexibility.
Properly equipped and used on good days, a well-chosen small boat can safely travel 30 miles or more offshore. Small craft attract new boaters and seasoned sailors alike—some moving up, some moving down, and many keeping a larger vessel while using a small boat for family outings and short cruises.
The fleet
This roundup includes six boats from 17 to 25 feet: the Stagepoint 17, Mojito 18, Mathews Brothers Classic Bay Cruiser 22, Grady-White Freedom 225, Albury Brothers 23 and Ranger R-25SC. It’s a diverse mix—a panga-style skiff (Mojito), a diesel-powered Chesapeake cruiser (Mathews), and a small tug (Ranger) among them. You’ll find deep-vee and modified-vee hulls, planing and semi-planing designs, and even a stepped hull (Stagepoint).
These builders have regional roots across the Pacific Northwest, New England, the Chesapeake, North Carolina, Florida and the Bahamas. Aside from Grady-White, most are small East Coast yards that hand-lay fiberglass with core materials and polyester or vinylester resin. Engines are typically single powerplants: outboards are common, with one diesel inboard (Ranger) and one model accepting multiple propulsion options (Mathews).
Horsepower limits and performance vary: Grady-White supports up to 300 hp and tops out at about 49 mph, while the Stagepoint 17 is limited to 70 hp. All are fuel-efficient for their size—the Mojito Panga achieves nearly 8 mpg at 23 mph, while the Ranger and Mathews cruise around 5 mpg. Prices span from roughly $19,900 for the basic Mojito 18C with a 70-hp Suzuki and trailer to about $135,000 for a Mathews 22 with a 130-hp Volvo Penta I/O.
Stagepoint 17
The Stagepoint 17 traces its ancestry to 1970s Nova Scotia lobster skiffs, updated with a modern bottom, wider beam and a small step to help the boat plane. The 7-foot-4 beam gives the skiff strong stability; two adults can stand on one side without much roll. The boat’s classic profile—proud bow, tumblehome transom and teak console—appeals to buyers who want a distinctive boat at their dock.
Designed as a harbor cruiser and fishing platform, the center-console Stagepoint also tows skiers and tubers. With a Suzuki DF70 4-stroke it cruises near 25 mph and tops in the low 30s. The hull is hand-laid solid fiberglass with cored decks and transom. A Stagepoint 17 with a 70-hp Suzuki and teak console runs about $28,500; a more basic version with a 50-hp Suzuki is around $25,000.
Contact: Stagepoint Boats, (860) 399-2276. www.soundboatworksllc.com
Mojito 18
Rivolta Yachts, known for custom express and sedan cruisers, launched the Mojito line to bring panga-style seaworthiness to the small-boat market. The Mojito 18 keeps the high-rising bow of traditional pangas but adds extra beam (nearly 7 feet) and a finished liner for improved stability, safety and style.
Standard features include a jack plate to reduce draft, a folding center-console top for easy access to wiring and batteries, and practical deck storage that can serve as live-well or fishbox space. The Mojito performs well with a 90-hp Suzuki (around 6.5 mpg at 29 mph, top speed about 37 mph) and also runs nicely on a 70-hp outboard. The hand-laid Mojito 18 with a 90-hp Suzuki and trailer sells for about $25,900; the stripped 18C with a 70-hp Suzuki and trailer is $19,900.
Contact: Mojito Boats, (941) 345-6131. www.mojitoboats.com
Mathews Brothers Classic Bay Cruiser 22
The Mathews Brothers Classic Bay Cruiser 22 is a small yacht born of Chesapeake tradition. Since its 1998 debut, the 22 has been prized for river and bay cruising, short overnights and elegant runs to waterfront dining. Its raised trunk cabin, distinctive sheer and wood-framed windshield give it a vintage, handcrafted appeal.
Teak accents and woodwork run through the design, while the hull’s sharp entry transitions to a mild deadrise, aided by hard chines for stability. With a 110-hp Yanmar diesel the 22 cruises at about 20 mph while burning 4 gph (roughly 5 mpg). With a 130-hp Volvo Penta I/O it can reach 31 mph and deliver about 7 mpg. The cabin includes a 6-foot-7 V-berth and space for a portable marine head. Prices range from about $102,500 to $135,000 depending on engine choice.
Contact: Mathews Brothers LLC, (410) 479-9720. www.mathewsboats.com
Grady-White Freedom 225
The Freedom 225 is a family-friendly dual-console that blends fishing capability with protection from the elements. Launched in its current form in 2003, the 225 offers a large cockpit, built-in fishbox and live-well, wraparound bow seating and a head in the port console. Ample foam flotation and self-bailing decks ensure safety and positive buoyancy.
Grady-White outfits the 225 for single-outboard power—Yamaha F200, F250 or F300—mounted on a bracket to free interior space. The SeaV2 hull (variable deadrise) provides confident wave-piercing and stability. The boat cruises efficiently—about 3.5 mpg while running 24–31 mph—and with an F250 the Freedom 225 lists near $83,220.
Contact: Grady-White, (252) 752-2111. www.gradywhite.com
Albury Brothers 23
Built in the Bahamas since 1952, the Albury 23 is a no-nonsense center console favored for its ride, simplicity and versatility. Many owners discover Alburys while renting in the Bahamas and then seek the same straightforward, reliable design at home. The open deck has minimal seating by design, maximizing fishing, diving and general-transport functionality.
With rounded bilges and moderate stern deadrise, the 23 planes early and cruises smoothly in varying sea angles. A 225-hp Suzuki delivers about 3.4 mpg at 28 mph and a top speed around 45 mph. The hull uses solid fiberglass bottoms and PVC-cored topsides, with vinylester skin coats for blister protection. Base prices start near $62,995 for a 23 with a Suzuki 225; the forward-seating layout is about $65,995.
Contact: Albury Brothers, (561) 863-7006. www.alburybrothersboats.com
Ranger R-25SC
The Ranger R-25SC is a compact pilothouse tug that can be equipped like a much larger cruiser—air conditioning, generator, watermaker and comfortable accommodations—allowing owners to cruise in a small, easily handled package. Its semidisplacement, hard-chine hull delivers stability and lift while keeping draft shallow (about 26 inches), so the R-25SC remains trailerable without special permits.
The redesigned SC model increases cockpit volume and reduces pilothouse noise by locating the engine entirely under the cockpit sole. Interior amenities include a compact galley, head with shower, convertible dinette berth and forward V-berth. The 150-hp Yanmar cruises at about 16 mph using 3–4 gph (roughly 4.6 mpg) and offers a range near 331 miles on a 90-gallon tank. The R-25SC is built with a solid fiberglass hull and PVC-cored decks, and its base price with the 150-hp Yanmar is around $129,937.
Contact: Ranger Tugs, (253) 839-5213. www.rangertugs.com
This article originally appeared in the August 2010 issue.