Balboa are great little cruisers – mini-cruisers. There was a range of models from 20 to 28 feet, and all were designed for use with outboards, from 4 to 20 hp, depending the size of the sailboat.

The 20-foot and 23-foot Balboa are ideal for learning to sail, and also as compact trailer-sailers, as they have lift keels. The advantage of getting a boat of this size to learn on is that they are light, so if for example, you find that the bow is heading for the pontoon when you come into moor, you can just push it away with a hook, and then pull it in at the stern easily – you can't do that with larger cruising sailboats.

There is a compact cabin and a transom stern, with a transom mounted rudder that pivots up for coming ashore, except on the larger models, where the rudder is forward of the transom.

Balboa have been around for 30 years, and are well-designed craft. They have been made for many years.

The Balboa sailboat has a fine bow, are not too beamy and a clean stern. They are a good compromise between sailing ability and space below – it is difficult to provide

Article continued below...