Ultimate 24

Founded in 1993, Ultimate Sailboats has built a reputation as a builder of fast and durable sportboats. Their first design was the Ultimate 20, now 177 boats strong worldwide, with fleets in the Northwest, Northern California, Southeast and the Great Lakes. Next came the Ultimate 27 (originally called the Antrim 27 after designer Jim Antrim), with 25 boats built to date.

The latest from Jim Antrim's design desk is the new Ultimate 24, which makes its debut this month. Ultimate Sailboats goes after what was once the exclusive market of the J24 -- the affordable daysailor / racer-cruiser. The success of the new 24 is already assured (at least on the West Coast); the Olympic Circle Sailing Center in Berkeley, California has placed an order for 25 boats, and another half dozen private owners have deposits in and orders placed. OCSC will replace its fleets of J24s and Olson 25s with this new boat; both instruction and one design racing are planned for the Ultimate 24 fleet. OCSC based its decision on several factors, most importantly Ultimate's reputation for building a strong, dependable boat that can stand up to the rigors of constant use in a school, rental and racing environment, yet still provide a modern sprit design with great boatspeed. The San Francisco Bay area is an unforgiving environment that demands durability and ease of handling in rough conditions.

The Ultimate 24 is designed with a unique structural interior quadrant system that eliminates the need for space-compromising bulkheads. Built to strict one-design standards, all parts are hand laid, cored (balsa and foam) and vacuum bagged for consistent light weight without sacrificing strength and rigidity. Uni-directional carbon fiber reinforcements are used at critical load points.

The mast and boom are carbon fiber, built by Australian firm Composite Spars and Tubes. The bow sprit is fastened to the deck, is of course retractable and can be removed. It's not articulated like that on the Antrim 27. Winches and most deck hardware are from Harken, rope clutches are from Spinlock. The Ultimate 24 conforms to ORC Special Regulations with a molded toerail on deck and a waterproof forward hatch.

With a target market of weekending racer/cruisers, Jim Antrim has provided some interior amenities, including a V-berth forward (with a removable section that covers the porta-pottie john) with privacy curtain, a small sitting area suitable for a nav station or for a portable stove. The support arch under the mast eliminates the need for a mast compression post, giving a lot more room up front than one would expect. Storage for an outboard engine is under the cockpit floor, where there is also an area for a 60 quart cooler, accessible from the cabin.

The keel is retractable, using an innovative system that includes a tube and crank handle. Insert the tube into a pre-formed hole in the back of the keel trunk, attach the line to the top of the keel, and crank up the keel. This reduces draft by 2 1/2 feet, giving a keel-up draft of just 3 feet. Ballast is lead, with a weight of 750 pounds.

Standard sails are from Ullman, although buyers can buy the boat sans-sails and choose from any loft. There is a two year limited warranty on the hull and gear. Sailaway price with sails and trailer is $41,995, but there is a limited time pricing offer for $39,995.

The Ultimate 24 will be featured at the Pacific Sail Expo boatshow in April, but you can get a look at the boat before then:

Specifications

• 5:1 mainsheet purchase


• Adjustable forestay and rig tensioner


• Bow eye


• Carbon fiber mast and boom


• Cockpit sheet tail bags


• Custom stainless steel bow pulpit, stanchions and lifelines


• Dual purpose hideaway drop board / step


• Harken roller furling system


• Interior electrical panel


• Dome lights, gel battery, solar panel and regulator


• Lewmar foredeck hatch


• Removable carbon fiber rudder


• Running rigging, sheets, and control lines


• Harken jib tracks and cars


• Storage lockers with access hatches


• Spinlock rope clutches


• Spinlock telescoping tiller extension


• Vangmaster pneumatic rigid vang


• Porta-bottie, bump on the floor to hold it down

• Accessory bag kit (ruder bag, job sock)


• Class sails (choice of loft)


• Single axle galvanized trailer and Bearing Buddys