The Black Skimmer is one of the most popular of Phil Bolger's designs. Black Skimmer is a 25' 6" leeboard sharpie, a fast and able shoal-draft cruiser. You'll find an absolutely mesmeric photo of her in '30-Odd Boats'. Photos on this page are all of Chas Andrew's boat.

There are two rigs, the original with a permanent 34'6" mainmast, and the Solent lug rig in these photos which makes it feasible to trail the boat.

Her leeboards make for good control even in shoal water without weakening the hull with centerboard arrangements and without disrupting the cabin arrangements (that means all the cabin is useable, folks).

This particular boat has successfully cruised Canada's North Channel two summers running, including singlehanding. The cat yawl rig lends itself to singlehanding, with precise manoeuvering control. Here's Chas's description of the boat:

..."She was built 1986 with excellent workmanship on Long Island. Construction is AC fir ply, epoxy and polyester resins. Her topsides to bottom are sealed using epoxy/spun polypropylene, and finished with System Three's WR LPU--looks very sharp. Her bottom is sealed in polyester resin and finished with red sloughing anti-fouling. This is OK for her current use, being hauled out for winter, but she would need a bottom repaint if she were moored year-round. She carries 500 lb of concrete ballast (excellent condition, no trolls)"...

..."I re-rigged her with the Solent Lug leg-o-mutton main-sail originally designed for David Young by Phil Bolger. There is a simple block-and-tackle arrangement to raise the mast in its tabernacle. She can be fully rigged by one person and ready to launch in 20-30 minutes, not allowing for how many questions you have to answer from interested bystanders"...

..."She trails on a beautiful, custom aluminum trailer with surge brakes built by Trailex of Canfield Ohio, with her leeboards mounted and supported by custom trailer fittings. The full weight of boat and trailer, loaded, is about 2900 lbs."...

..." Fittings and extras include 9' oar and locks; boathook; anchor, chain and rode; life-jackets; fitted bunk-cushions with beautiful new zippered covers; nice two-burner propane camp stove; porta-potti; plastic storage bins secured with shock cords; two 5-gallon water bags. A small outboard can be fitted: I've found a 3hp electric sufficient"...