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BY DAVE ELLISThe 5.2 Boston WhalerHarpoon. Photo byWayne Birkemeyer.Right: The hull weighs over 400pounds, with the whole packagecoming in at around 565pounds. There are many 17-footsailing craft today much lighter.But, perspective is gained whenthe Thistle, also at 17 feet inlength, weighs 500 pounds.Photo by Tom Buddenbohm.Above: The Elvstrom bailers onthe Harpoon are installed so thatthe cockpit drains even when theboat is sitting still. Some ownershave reported that they havecompletely swamped the boatand were able to keep sailingslowly, and eventually the boatdrained and sailed on. Photo byDerek Atkinand around the bailers. Many have cut five inches off thetiller to give more cockpit room. Also, the original centerboardlines were inside the trunk and not easily viewed forwear. The website shows a good upgrade.Steve Mercer, originally from Cape Cod and now sailingin Florida, has owned a number of Boston Whaler boatsover the years, including all three sailing versions.Currently, he is refurbishing a Harpoon that was built in1979. “If one comes on the market, they sell very quickly,”he reported.There are a number of innovations on the Harpoon. Atfirst the boat had a cuddy cabin up front. Starting in 1978 aversion without the cuddy was offered, opening up the boatfor much more cockpit room and the ability to walk right upthe bow safely, just like the power versions. Some ownersconverted their cuddy to be removable for big groups andreinstalled them in big winds or longer cruises. Pretty neat.Somebody was thinking when a prominent ridge wasdesigned down the centerline of the hull. This makes guidingon a center roller up on the trailer a cinch. The mast hasa tabernacle pivot point, and the shrouds remain attached.The mast can be easily walked up and then the forestayattached for rigging.The Elvstrom bailers on the Harpoon are installed sothat the cockpit drains even when the boat is sitting still.Some owners have reported that they have completelyswamped the boat in a big wave or knockdown and wereable to keep sailing slowly, and eventually the boat drainedand sailed on.At over seven feet wide, there is built-in form stability.Sitting out there to windward gives plenty of leverage for awind. They can capsize, of course. Almost any small boat(and some big ones) do. The original mast had foam inside,and the original sail had a foam patch at the head to assistin keeping the capsized boat from turtling upside down. Itwould behoove a crew to step over onto the centerboard inthe unlikely event of an imminent capsize, as it is a longway up to the board from the water on this wide boat. Thatis why an assisting righting line was suggested from earlyon in the Harpoon’s owner’s information.Those who own Harpoons are delighted with theirboat. They find that they need less maintenance than manysimilar boats. The really wide cockpit is ample for a familyand provisions, and it has a respectable turn of speed.The hull weighs over 400 pounds, with the whole packagecoming in at around 565 pounds. There are many 17-foot sailing craft today much lighter. But, perspective isgained when the Thistle, also at 17 feet in length, weighs 500pounds. Of course, the Harpoon was not designed as a racingboat, so it has much less sail area than a Thistle. And itis considerably more comfortable. The Portsmouth handicapof a Harpoon is 96.0—comparable with a CatalinaCapri, Precision 15 and Laser Radial. In good wind theHarpoon will plane on reaches and runs, especially when aspinnaker is used.An annual regatta for Harpoons is held in April at theOcala Sailing Club on Lake Weir in mid-Florida with friendlyracing and good company. Harpoon owners come fromall over the eastern half of the country and from as far westas Texas. There are even a couple of sailors from the islandof Jamaica who fly up and borrow boats for the event.So, if you see a nice-looking 17-foot sloop with asail insignia of a circle with a harpoon blazed through it,take a second look. Sailors who own them really love them.News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS September 2011 37