Jack Dale wrote:
Does anyone have any knowledge / opinions about mid 198O's, 45'
Lancer Sloop, designer Herb David? One of my sailing students is
looking for input. I know nothing about them.


When helping a friend shop for a boat a couple of years ago, I poked
into th guts of a mid-30-footer Lancer of that vintage. Build quality
was laughably poor... it was like a textbook example of "how not to
build a fiberglass boat." I don't know if their bigger boats are done by
the same people but I'd be suspicious.

If one is seriously shopping for a boat, get a book on surveying. My
personal recommendation is Ian Nicholson's "Surveying Small Craft" (he
means boats under 100 tons) which gives very good details & pictures of
what's good & bad in yacht build quality. It would be a good idea to
check the public libraries on the subject.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King