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Despite Small Boat Liniage, the Abaco 350 is Big on Features

You want a pocket-sized "yacht" that cruises like a cruiser, fishes like a sportfisher and treats you like a king? Check out Scout's flagship, the 350 Abaco.

Yeah, I know, you remember when Scout Boats only built pint-sized center consoles. You can recall crouching down behind that miniscule windshield, feeling gunwales that hit barely above your ankles, and an absence of any sort of creature comfort.

But Scout left those days behind as it grew the size of its line, first into the 20-foot range and now beyond with the 350 Abaco. In fact, with this new boat, Scout says not only good-bye but also good riddance to the old days.

The 350 Abaco comes with many standard features – including a generator, air conditioning, bow thruster and power-assisted steering – that other manufacturers confine to the options list. I might recommend a few upgrades, such as a larger livewell. But overall, there's precious little not to like.

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Schock Ups the Comfort Quotient Aboard This Second-Generation Daysailer

"It was really fun to create a boat designed around a market, rather than a racing rule," says Tom Schock, the main driver behind Schock Corporation. "We took the owner feedback from the Harbor 20 and built its bigger sister to get more people back out on the water."

The "bigger sister" Schock is referring to is the Schock Harbor 25, an attractive daysailer that is really much more. Designed by Steve Schock, Tom's brother, it is targeted to experienced, affluent owners looking to extend their day on the water aboard a boat with a head and other creature comforts.

The California builder has created more than 90 cruising and racing designs and launched more than 13,000 hulls over five decades. In fact, the Harbor 20 saw 290 hulls launch in 10 years.

The small daysailer was designed for couples and single-handers to take advantage of summer afternoons and to race in simplicity and style. Half of the hulls landed in Newport Beach, California, but the rest headed as far away as Canada and Australia. And just about everywhere, owners' wives and girlfriends had suggestions: "Add a head and make the cockpit dry, and I'll join you more often."