Christina — Pacific Seacraft Dana 24 Cutter

As described by Sailing Magazine:

“Pocket cruisers have always attracted sailors for a variety of reasons, whether they’re young people first entering the market, empty-nesters making the decision to downsize or simply enthusiasts seeking entry to shallower bays, coves and harbors.

Ideally, these little yachts offer a blend of cruising comfort and performance in an efficient package.

The challenge is finding the right blend without too many compromises, and that’s exactly what designer W.I.B. “Gentleman Bill” Crealock had in mind when he designed the Dana 24, built by Fullerton, California-based Pacific Seacraft.

Crealock’s years of cruising experience and distinctive designs have made him one of the world’s leading authorities on performance cruisers. He has commented on the importance of control and balance, particularly when the yacht is short-handed on a bluewater voyage—and that performance is only one of numerous aspects that must be included in the design mix.

Given the punishment a bluewater boat may have to endure, integrity in construction is also a critical factor, and Crealock considered Pacific Seacraft to be just the right manufacturing partner.

Long known for solid construction and attention to detail, Pacific Seacraft has produced more than 2,000 boats to date, from the Crealock 44 to the Dana 24.”

Christina is an excellent example of the Dana 24 and should be given serious consideration by anyone seeking a boat that’s equally capable of crossing oceans as it would be gunk-holing in quiet coves.

Hull, Deck, Cabin and Cockpit Construction

• Full keel with cut-away forefoot and keel-hung rudder underwater configuration
• Self-bailing cockpit
• Construction techniques for the Dana mirror those employed in the construction of other Pacific Seacraft boats.
• The layup schedule calls for a coat of ISO-NPG gelcoat mat laminated in vinylester resin. The skin coat is 3-oz mat followed by three layers of 2415 bi-axial roving. Additional layers of 2415 are applied at the keel, rudder post, and chainplates. The hull is 5/8-in. thick at the bottom.
• The hull is solid fiberglass
• Transom is cored with plywood to produce stiffness for the stern ladder and steering vanes.
• The interior is constructed of plywood-reinforced fiberglass faces that form the furniture and a bulkhead matrix, all of which are bonded with bi-axial roving. The process produces a strong grid that also allows access to the hull behind cabinetry.
• The hull-deck joint consists of opposing flanges on the hull and deck molds, joined to form a bulwark. The joint is bedded in 3M 5200 and through-bolted, after which an aluminum toe rail is bedded in 3M 5200 and bolted through the joint.
• Deck coring is 1/2-in. Baltek AL-600 balsa encapsulated in layers of 3-oz mat and 24-oz woven roving. Additional plywood reinforcement is laminated in all areas where deck hardware will be installed.
• Ballast is 3,200 lb. of pre-cast lead bonded into the interior of the keel fin.

Deck, Cabin and Cockpit Hardware and Features

• Stainless steel bow pulpit with integral navigational lighting
• Varnished Teak bow/anchor platform atop bow sprit
• Bow sprit with Bronze headstay fitting
• Double roller anchor roller
• Bronze bow docking line chocks port and starboard
• Bronze bow docking line cleats port and starboard
• Stainless steel life line stanchions port and starboard
• Stainless steel wire upper and lower lifelines with gate openings port and starboard
• Stainless steel stern rails port and starboard aft
• Integral stern light on port aft stern rail
• Stainless steel boarding / swim ladder with Teak treads
• FRP Decks and cabin with molded non-skid and smooth surfaces
• Raised bulwarks / toe rails with varnished Teak cap rail
• Stainless steel, exterior mounted shroud chain plates port and starboard
• Bronze max beam docking cleats port and starboard
• Varnished Teak taff rail
• Bronze stern docking line chocks port and starboard aft
• Bronze Stern docking line cleats port and starboard at aft ends of cockpit coamings
• Bronze opening ports port and starboard on cabin sides (2 large / 2 small)
• Varnished Teak cabin eye brows port and starboard
• Varnished Teak hand rails port and starboard on cabin top
• Opening hatch on forward cabin top
• Harken stay sail sheet traveler on forward cabin top (aft of opening hatch)
• Bronze pad eye (stay sail sheet dead end) to port of staysail sheet traveler
• Schaeffer stand-up stay sail sheet turning block to starboard of stay sail traveler
• Stay sail sheet led aft to sheet stoppers at aft end of cabin top to starboard
• Stainless steel mast step on cabin top (aft of stay sail sheet traveler)
• FRP sea hood / companionway hatch garage
• FRP Sliding companionway hatch
• Varnished Teak companionway trim
• Varnished Teak companionway drop boards
• Stainless steel staysail fitting
• Bronze deck fill (WATER) port forward bow
• Wash-down hose bib port forward bow
• Bronze chain / hawse pipe starboard bow
• Bronze deck fill (DIESEL) at starboard companionway bridge deck
• Schaeffer main sheet traveler, blocks and can cleat
• Bronze hinges and latches on sail lockers port and starboard
• Bronze deck fill (WASTE) at aft end of starboard cockpit coaming
• Sail Lockers port and starboard in cockpit

Interior Layout and Accommodations

Part of the Dana 24’s appeal is its traditional appearance, from its beefy bow pulpit and sweet sheer line to the bronze deck hardware and teak loop handrails on the cabin house. This classic feel extends belowdecks, where the saloon exudes the warmth of hand-rubbed oiled teak, with teak joinery and cabinets above a teak-and-holly sole.

With 6.08’ headroom, the Dana 24 feels like a much larger yacht. Stepping down the companionway, to port you will find a full galley with a gimbaled two-burner propane stove with oven and broiler, a large, well-insulated icebox, a 10-inch-deep sink with hand-pump and a fold-up extension to the counter space. To starboard is the walk-in head compartment, which incorporates the head, a sink with hand pump, an integral shower pan and a hanging locker for wet gear.

Four people can sleep comfortably aboard the 24, with two 6-foot, 6-inch settees and a forward berth that is 6 feet, 8 inches long and 6 feet, 9 inches wide. The yacht offers additional storage with two large drawers and a drop locker beneath the berth, cabin shelving with removable fiddles and a hanging locker with a louvered door for extra ventilation. A dining table slides out from under the V-berth. With a clever hinged center, it fits neatly around the interior post, and it can be used fully or partially extended.

Galley Equipment and Features

• Gimbaled Force 10 propane 2-burner stove and oven
• Stainless steel sink basin with hot and cold pressure fresh water supply
• Manual salt water pump
• Well insulated under-counter ice box
• Storage for dishes, glassware, cutlery, pots, pans and dry goods in drawers and lockers.

Spars and Rigging

• Single-spreader, masthead-rigged, deck-stepped, cutter sail plan configuration
• Aluminum, single spreader mast with painted finish
• Aluminum spreaders with painted finish
• Aluminum boom with painted finish
• Masthead combination tri-color / anchor light
• Combination steaming / deck light
• Stainless steel, 1x19 wire standing rigging (shrouds and stays)
• Stainless steel turnbuckle adjusters

Sail Trim and Sail Handling Equipment

• Harken roller-furling head stay
• Roller-furling fairleads at stanchions along starboard side
• Hank-on stay sail with Camber-Spar boom system
• Dutchman mainsail flaking system
• Camber Spar staysail boom system
• Halyard Winches: Lewmar bronze #8 single-speed winches port and starboard on mast.
• Halyard cleats: Jam cleats below halyard winches port and starboard on mast (2ea / side)
• Adjustable spinnaker / whisker pole track on mast
• Schaeffer head sail tracks with adjustable leads port and starboard
• Schaeffer foot / turning blocks for head sail sheet leads port and starboard
• Primary Winches: Lewmar #30, 2-speed, self-tailing bronze sheet winches port and starboard at cockpit coamings
• Schaeffer main sheet traveler, blocks and can cleat

Sails and Canvas

• Roller-furling head sail
• Hank-on stay sail
• Full Battened main sail

Electronics and Navigational Equipment

• Ritchie bulkhead mounted helm compass starboard cabin bulkhead (aft)
• Cape Cod Weather Instruments Marine Barometer
• Garmin GPSmap XS chart plotter display port cabin bulkhead (aft)
• Garmin GPSmap 76Cx GPS
• Garmin multi display (AWI / KM / DS) starboard cabin bulkhead (aft)
• Autohelm / Raymarine ST2000+ Tiller Auto-Pilot
• Uniden UM380 VHF Radio
• West Marine hand-held VHF Radio

Auxiliary Propulsion and Fuel Systems Equipment

• Yanmar 2GM20F / FW Cooled / 20 HP / diesel inboard engine
• Kanzaki manual transmission with straight drive shaft
• Stainless steel propellor shaft
• Dripless stuffing box
• Vari-Prop DF-80 folding propellor
• Fresh water / sea water heat exchange engine cooling
• Remote coolant tank in starboard sail locker
• Raw water strainer
• Water-Lift style muffler
• Yanmar ignition panel with key switch, tachometer and engine status alarms at aft end of cockpit well
• Single lever engine throttle and transmission control starboard cockpit well
• Engine shut-off at aft end of cockpit well
• Engine hour meter at aft end of cockpit well
• Engine Hours: 1,224 Hours (July 2026)
• Engine access under cockpit sole hatch and removable panel behind companionway ladder.
• Fuel Capacity: 18 Gallon / Aluminum tank
• Fuel gauge
• Racor / Parker fuel filter

Electrical Systems and Equipment

• 12-Volt DC ships systems
• Separate battery banks for lighting and engine start
• Lighting Battery Bank: 12-Volt DC heavy duty marine batteries (2ea) in starboard sail locker
• Engine Start Battery Bank: 12-Volt DC heavy duty marine battery (1ea) in port sail locker
• Cole-Hersee rotary-style, 4-position master battery switch
• Blue Seas 12-Volt DC distribution panel
• Blue Seas 12-Volt DC distribution sub-panel
• Battery charging by engine alternator
• West Marine battery charging controller
• 120-Volt AC shore power systems
• Blue Seas 120-Volt AC distribution panel
• 110-Volt AC / 30Amp shore power inlet port cockpit coaming
• 110-Volt AC / 30 Amp shore power cord in starboard sail locker

Plumbing and Sanitation Systems and Equipment

• Freshwater Capacity: 40 gallon / stainless steel tank
• Tank Gauge
• Hot and cold pressure water supplied to stainless steel sink basins in galley and head
• Hand-held shower in head area with collection sump and overboard / pump discharge
• Hot water supplied by 110-Volt AC (shore power) power to water heater and / or heat exchange from engine
• Manually operated (hand pump) salt water at galley sink
• Manually operated MSD (marine toilet) plumbed for discharge overboard and / or to holding tank.
• FRP holding tank
• Holding tank plumbed for shore-side pump-out and / or manual pump-out overboard outside federal 3-mile limit

Steering Systems and Equipment

• Keel-hung FRP rudder with bronze pintals and heel fitting
• Varnished Ash tiller
• Autohelm / Raymarine ST2000+ Tiller Auto-Pilot with power supply and ram attachment point at starboard aft cockpit

Ground Tackle Systems and Equipment

• Delta claw style, galvanized primary anchor with chain and rode
• Electric anchor windlass with foot control
• Anchor Rode (in bag)
• Anchor pennant and buoy
• Anchor chain and rode
• Rocna anchor #6
• Anchor grapnel folding style
• Anchor catenary weight

Dewatering Equipment

• Rule electric / automatic bilge pump with float switch
• Rule bilge pump control switch
• Whale Gusher manual bilge pump at starboard cockpit
• Manual bilge pump in starboard sail locker
• Thirsty-Mate hand / manual bilge pump in port sail locker
• Thirsty-Mate hand / manual bilge pump for ice box drain
• Thirsty-Mate hand / manual bilge pump in dinghy

Safety Equipment

• Port, starboard and stern navigation lights at deck level
• Masthead combination tri-color / anchor light
• Combination steaming / deck light
• Webbing-style jack lines
• PFD / Type II (1ea)
• Maraas Safety Cylinder vented propane locker
• Fire extinguishers (3ea)
• Flares Kit
• Emergency boarding / safety ladder
• Manual horn

Additional Equipment

• 10’ Trinka dinghy with sailing rig
• Aluminum adjustable boat hook
• Mooring lasso
• Wash-down hose in starboard sail locker
• Dock lines (4ea) and fenders (4 large / 2 small)
• Deck brush
• Stainless steel bucket with miscellaneous deck cleaning supplies
• Canvas bucket
• Edson boarding step
• Manuals
• Tools and Spares