A New Old Sailboat - 1982 Sea Pearl 21

When I was a kid growing up in the 1980s in SW Florida , dad's had boats. Not just dads, but uncles and grandpas and just about every other male you knew. It was a right of passage, a punch in your man card and a tool for discovery and weekend fun with the family. We had a series of them, starting with a 17' aluminum center console fishing boat. After beating the rivets from it on countless fishing trips (one of which, an eight foot spotted eagle ray pulled us a couple of miles down river on an incoming tide before breaking the line and swimming off to become a big fish story), we got a 22' foot Auquasport center console shallow V fishing boat and a 27' Blackfin sport fisher with tuna tower and outriggers for trolling the big'ns on trips to The Keys. Uncle Jeff had a Carolina Skiff, Uncle Ric had an Auqasport, too (his eagle ray story involves one flying, breaking windshields and nearly knocking people out of the boat). Friend's dads had Boston Whalers, flats boats, cruisers, etc. Alas, no sailboats. But to me, any boat is fun. As long as you're not being a pest or hazard while using it.

Yesterday I became like those dads of my childhood memories. I bought a boat big enough to take my little family on. A boat that wasn't built in my garage from substandard materials and building skills. One I can pull to any of a half dozen sailable lakes within a two hour drive of our home. One I can camp on, solo sail or take a half dozen people out for the day. It's gonna be pretty darn cool.

Our new old sailboat, a cat ketch rigged 1982 Sea Pearl 21.

Sea Pearl 21

Sea Pearl 21

Sea Pearl 21

Sea Pearl 21

Sea Pearl 21

UPDATE: These boats are made by Marine Concepts, in Tarpon Springs, Florida. A little over two hours north of Ft. Myers, where I lived until I was 22. Another reason I wanted one.

Comments

Shawn said…
That looks like a fun family boat for sure- wise choice. Was just wondering what the end result was of your underlayment ply use in the Wa'apa- did it do ok? I'm getting frustrated with the difficulty and expense of finding marine ply in Hawaii.
Trevor said…
Shawn, I used SurePly underlayment from Lowes Hardware and it's held up pretty well. I only dry sail the outrigger, never leaving the boat in the water overnight. That, I think, along with being garage kept, has helped it stay intact. It's also been glassed over. I know others have left their underlayment boats out in the elements and they have delaminated.
Shawn said…
Cool- thanks. I think it's important to keep it encapsulated with resin, no matter what.
Anonymous said…
I'm looking at buying a 1982 Sea Pearl and she is without the water ballast that I was used to from my old one. Did you add ballast to this one or had someone added ballast in its earlier life? If so, how, what kind, etc. .....?
Thanks!
Trevor said…
No ballast. I either carry three 50lb bags of gravel stuffed into pillow cases, a cooler and my gear or none at all. It depends on the day and the winds forecast. I'm not really concerned with the ballast issue. I try and pay a lot of attention when sailing and reef ahead of when I really need to. I only ever have the sails cleated when the winds are very light, so I can let them run out in a gust by hand, when I need to.

If you are coastal sailing, then the ballast might not be a back thing to have. It adds something like 360lbs of water underneath you. I only sail on smaller man-made reservoirs and lakes.
Anonymous said…
Thanks for the info. Just saw the 1982 Pearl today and the hull looks just like yours....no wonder, this one is hull#30. Your rig is in much better shape and you have the newer rudder. The hull on the one I am looking at is amazingly in good shape, very little crazing, no soft spots. I was pleasantly surprised. I do live on the coast and will probably entertain the thought of some type of ballast in the future. Like the helmsman's seat you have. May try to talk you out of the dimensions at some time. Thanks for the response. Nice to know I am not the only one who is interested in 30 year old Sea Pearls...

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