17′ Salish Voyager
Named after the Salish Sea it was designed to explore, the Salish Voyager is a unique vessel truly made for adventure.
Smooth sailing. Ample dry storage. Optional tandem rowing seats.
As long-distance rowing and sailing has become more popular in recent years, we’ve started receiving a lot of requests for a truly expedition-worthy sailboat with tandem sliding rowing seats. Our Jersey Skiff and Melonseed are already two standouts, and now we’ve blended the two together into one epically capable small craft.
Starting with the fast, forgiving and capable Jersey Skiff hull, we’ve created a new interior that supports a Lug rig as we use with the Melonseed for ease of assembly and forgiving sail attributes. Of equal importance, the lug rig’s forward mast location opens up the interior to create a long footwell for tandem sliding seats.
This new boat also has enclosed storage for increased stability, seaworthiness and utility. We also designed it with a self-bailing floor, so in rough seas or heavy rain you can focus your attention on sailing rather than bailing!
Long and short of it is, we think think the Salish Voyager will really answer the call for a reasonably priced ‘do everything well’ human- and sail-powered vessel.
Small Craft Advisor Magazine’s Review
“They say the best boat is one you actually use, and the easy trailering, rigging and launching, and especially the versatility of the Voyager, ought to get you on the water regularly. And when it comes time for a real sail-and-oar adventure cruise, you and your crew can load the lockers with gear and rations, check the tidal currents, and shove-off having left the outboard engine and every other unpleasant thing behind.”
– Small Craft Advisor Magazine
Salish Voyager Full Specifications
| LOA: | 16’11” | |
| BEAM: | 67″ | |
| DISPLACEMENT: | 440 lbs | |
| (Displacement shown is fiberglass, kevlar is unavailable in this model) | ||
| SAIL AREA: | 100 sq ft | |
| Model-Specific Options: |
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Blog Posts about the Salish Voyager:
Salish Voyager Gallery
Overhead view of the sailing version with optional storage hatches.
The footwell is long enough for one person to sleep aboard. (Falk is about 6'2" and has room to spare.)
Stern view (photo by Debra Colvin of Small Craft Advisor Magazine)
The Salish Voyager sails responsively even in light air
Looks just as good on the trailer as on the water. (Caution: You may attract a lot of attention on the road!)
Here we're cruising at about 10 knots.
Optional tandem sliding rowing seats available
Pretty as a picture beached on the sandspit at Vaughn Bay
The Salish Voyager can be rowed even while the sail is up. Plenty of headroom underneath the boom.
The mast partners arch is an essential and permanent structure in the sailing version. (The rowing version doesn't have it.)
Tuck a sleeping bag in the dry storage, then get it out at night and stay toasty tucked in the footwell.
The flat bottom makes for easy beaching (optional stainless steel keel strip recommended)
Add a tandem sliding rowing seat for efficient rowing with a partner
The balanced lug rig is easy for one person to sail singlehanded
The Salish Voyager has excellent sailing performance
Overhead view of the sailing version with optional storage hatches.
Trouble launching in sheltered harbors? Just grab your oars and row until you hit the wind.
Bow view with the Salish Voyager at a typical level of heel under sail