Chebacco (#540)

Phil Bolger’s Chebacco originated as a small family of closely related boats designed in collaboration with Essex, Massachusetts boatbuilder Brad Story, evolving from Bolger’s earlier 15′ Harbinger catboat into a more capable and versatile daysailer with cruising potential. The original Chebacco was essentially a lengthened Harbinger—extended by about five feet—with the addition of a small mizzen to form an 18′ cat-yawl. Cold-molded and round-bilged, it featured slack bilges, pronounced flare, and a light, easily driven hull that excelled in light air while retaining a calm, deliberate feel on the helm. Despite modest size and displacement, the boat offered a notably large cockpit and a compact but comfortable cuddy, giving it the manners of a much larger keelboat while remaining simple enough to launch, rig, and sail alone.

As costs of cold-molded construction became prohibitive, Bolger and Story developed plywood versions that preserved the Chebacco’s essential handling and character while improving accessibility. First came a sheet-plywood model with a flat bottom, shoal keel, smaller centerboard, and a more convenient mast-stepping arrangement, followed by a lapstrake-plywood version that offered a more traditional appearance with similar performance and utility. Across all versions, the Chebacco series was defined by ease of handling, excellent balance under sail, shallow-draft versatility, and an unusually comfortable, open cockpit for its length. Bolger’s Chebacco stands as a clear expression of his design philosophy: a small, honest boat optimized for frequent use, real sailing pleasure, and practical cruising rather than racing or convention.

Photo Credits:
https://www.chebacco.com/chebacco-faq/