“Saros” is a Crealock 37 yawl built in 1978 in Costa Mesa, California. The molds were acquired in 1976 by a group called “Cruising Consultants” who produced the first sixteen Crealock 37s between 1977 and 1979. In 1980 Pacific Seacraft bought the molds and began steady production. By 1993 Pacific Seacraft had rebranded the model the Pacific Seacraft 37.
From the original sales brochure: “Designer W.I.B. "Bill" Crealock had the luxury of creating the Crealock 37 for himself without obligation to builder or dealer. On a hull just an inch short of 37 feet, the beam is 10' 10", creating a comparatively narrow hull that is easily driven.
"The 37 was, throughout, aimed at those people who, while wanting a pleasant boat to sail locally, just might want one day a boat able to take them in safety to any part of the world; and this with as much speed and comfort as possible without detracting from seaworthiness. I consider crew fatigue to be a major enemy of seaworthiness, and this meant an easy motion, dryness, strength, windward ability, a comfortable deep cockpit, a safe interior and, above all, ease of handling and balance with or without steering aids. With a small crew, possibly no longer athletically endowed, these are what make for fast passages." - Bill Crealock
The Crealock 37 is a handsome boat with a traditional look. It has a low freeboard, a large bow overhang, and a canoe stern. The rig is in a cutter configuration [note: some were yawl-rigged], a favorite among blue water cruisers. The comfortable motion of a 16,000 lb displacement boat combines with a turn of speed that endears this boat to its ocean-crossing owners. The enduring respect for this boat derives from its immense strength, shown in details like bulkheads that are bonded to both the deck and hull and hand-laid fiberglass construction. Under the waterline is a long fin keel and a strong well protected skeg hung rudder with a completely protected propeller. The design maintains the desirable characteristics of a long keel without the excessive wetted area of a true full-keel hull. The skeg-hung rudder contributes strength and good steering response.
The boat is well balanced, and can be easily handled by a small crew or single handed. The boat is narrow and heels early, lengthening its waterline significantly. Many cruisers report consistent 6 knots on long passages, maintaining speed when many lighter and theoretically faster boats get pushed around by building seas. On long passages, her sea-kindly nature in practice leads to a less fatigued crew which often equates to faster overall passages. Under storm conditions, the boat has a reputation of taking care of its crew.”
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When asked about the yawl-rigged version, Bill Crealock told me “I love the yawls, you can go for a sail without even having to take the cockpit awning down!”
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While this vessel (and others like it) are not as spacious or luxurious as newer production boats, they offer a distinct advantage in sea-kindliness and traditional aesthetics missing from more 'modern' designs. The fairly narrow beam reduces motion in a seaway, but the cutaway keel enhances maneuverability. "Saros" in particular has been outfitted with the finest in rigging, anchoring, and other critical systems while remaining relatively simple and easy to maintain.
