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Balboa 24
Designer: Shad Turner/William Downing  ·  Builder: Laguna Yachts/Coastal Recreation Inc. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1981
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About the Balboa 24

Designed by the collaborative team of Shad Turner and William Downing, this compact 24-footer emerged in 1981 as a well-balanced coastal cruiser built by Laguna Yachts and later Coastal Recreation Inc. The fiberglass construction features a fin keel with transom-hung rudder configuration, creating responsive handling characteristics that make her equally at home day sailing or weekend cruising. With a displacement of 2,600 pounds and 900 pounds of ballast, the Balboa 24 strikes an appealing balance between stability and performance. Her fractional sloop rig carries 220 square feet of sail area, providing spirited sailing without being overwhelming for a small crew. The 8.33-foot beam offers surprising interior space for her size, while the 2.92-foot draft allows access to shallow anchorages and launching ramps. The comfort ratio of 11.32 reflects her motion in a seaway—quick but not uncomfortable for coastal adventures. Her capsize screening value of 2.43 indicates solid stability for protected waters and moderate offshore conditions. This design appeals to sailors seeking an affordable, trailerable boat capable of genuine cruising performance rather than just day sailing, making her particularly attractive to those transitioning from smaller dinghies to more substantial sailing.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 23.58 ft / 7.19 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
Beam 8.33 ft / 2.54 m
Max Draft 2.92 ft / 0.89 m
Displacement 2,600.00 lb / 1,179 kg
Ballast 900.00 lb / 408 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 220.00 ft² / 20.44 m²
Headroom 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/transom hung rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Shad Turner/William Downing
Builder Laguna Yachts/Coastal Recreation Inc. (USA)
First Built 1981
Related Sailboats ["Laguna 24S" · "Laguna 24St" · "Moore 24" · "Precision 23" · "Mirage 236"]
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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 240
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 18.66
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 34.62
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 145.09
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 11.32
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.43
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 5.99 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 3.69
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 595.28 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 18.71
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 8.80 ft / 2.68 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 23.00 ft / 7.01 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
SA Fore 105.60 ft² / 9.81 m²
SA Main 115.00 ft² / 10.68 m²
SA Total (100%) 220.60 ft² / 20.49 m²
Est. Forestay Length 25.56 ft / 7.79 m
How It Compares

vs. Laguna 24St, Moore 24, Precision 23

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Balboa 24 ★
23.6 ft
Laguna 24St
23.6 ft
Moore 24
23.8 ft
Precision 23
23.4 ft
LWL
Balboa 24 ★
20.0 ft
Laguna 24St
20.0 ft
Moore 24
21.8 ft
Precision 23
20.0 ft
Beam
Balboa 24 ★
8.3 ft
Laguna 24St
8.3 ft
Moore 24
7.2 ft
Precision 23
8.5 ft
Displacement
Balboa 24 ★
2 lbs
Laguna 24St
2 lbs
Moore 24
2 lbs
Precision 23
2 lbs
Ballast
Balboa 24 ★
900 lbs
Laguna 24St
1 lbs
Moore 24
1 lbs
Precision 23
850 lbs
Sail Area
Balboa 24 ★
220 sq ft
Laguna 24St
251 sq ft
Moore 24
247 sq ft
Precision 23
248 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Balboa 24 ★
240 s/nm
Laguna 24St
246 s/nm
Moore 24
158 s/nm
Precision 23
243 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Balboa 24 ★
18.7
Laguna 24St
20.3
Moore 24
24.6
Precision 23
21.9
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Balboa 24 ★
34.6 %
Laguna 24St
—
Moore 24
48.8 %
Precision 23
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Balboa 24 ★
11.3
Laguna 24St
12.2
Moore 24
10.3
Precision 23
10.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Balboa 24 ★
2.43
Laguna 24St
2.37
Moore 24
2.26
Precision 23
2.53
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Balboa 24 ★
145
Laguna 24St
—
Moore 24
88
Precision 23
—
Hull Speed
Balboa 24 ★
6.0 kts
Laguna 24St
6.0 kts
Moore 24
6.3 kts
Precision 23
6.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Balboa 24 ★
3.7
Laguna 24St
3.7
Moore 24
5.7
Precision 23
4.3
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