Baltic 67

1996 March 6
By Robert H. Perry

Performance cruiserr

This exciting design combines the design work of two offices. Bruce Farr's group was responsible for the hull, appendages and rig design, while R&J Design in Bosund, Finland, did the styling, deck layout and interior design. R&J could be considered Baltic's in-house design group. The design requirements were that this be a fast cruising boat. That could be interpreted in many ways, but you can imagine how Farr read this.

Combining cruising comfort with Faff's well-honed vision of performance required using prepreg carbon skins over a PVC foam core. The layup was post-cured to 185 degrees Fahrenheit under vacuum. Rudder and stock are carbon, as are chainplates and spars. The main structural bulkheads are also pre-preg laminates over foam panels. General interiorjoinery consists of foam-cored panels with a teak overlay.

This structural approach allows this design to weigh in at 40,786 pounds, with 15,653 pounds of ballast. The D/L is 88.43. Beam is 17.78 feet and is carried to the stem with little taper to the deck plan. Note in the hull profile that there is a distinct flattening of the rocker right in the way of the keel. This may have been done in an effort to smooth out the area curve in the way of the keel's additional volume.

It takes little imagination to realize that this will be a very fast boat.

The keel is the typical Farr model that we see on almost all his current designs. Note the large fillet radii at the root. It takes little imagination to realize that this will be a very fast boat.

The deck shows the shape that made Baltic synonymous with great styling. The wedge trunk is cut away to form a well deck forward and a bridgedeck area aft. The cockpit is wide enough to allow two wheels and clear access to the swim step. Note the centrally located coffee grinder. The grinder can stand in the well and look aft to the tailer for grinding instructions. "Put your back into it, dear." The accommodations appear to be laid out for an owner's party of three couples or one couple with

The SA/D for this cruiser is a whopping 29.04. This puts it on a horsepower-per-pound level with many racing yachts, but that is undeniably the trend today.

four kids. There is a stateroom aft that I would guess is for the skipper and the cook, while there are pipe berths forward for two more hands. There's a total of four heads, and two have ad oining shower stalls. It's as sensible and comfy a layout as I could imagine. Cruising the Baltic 67 will involve little hardship.

The SA/D for this cruiser is a whopping 29.04. This puts it on a horsepower-per-pound level with many racing yachts, but that is undeniably the trend today. Bulb keels and lightweight construction with carbon spars allow boats to carry a lot of sail. Today's hull shapes are also more forgiving when hard pressed. Still, with an I dimension of 87.5 feet, this rig will be capable of creating some exciting moments. I can see this boat cruising under a 95 percent jib and still easily blowing past just about anything on the water.

With auxiliary power provided by a 140-horsepower Yanmar, this 67-footer will probably do about 10 knots under power. There you have it, speed under sail, speed under power, comfort below and good looks. Now what about the price tag?