I've owned and sailed a Wayfarer. I now own a 20' open day sailer which is not as light as the Lite Boat, but it also has an unstayed mast. That's the first reason I would choose the Lite Boat. While the Lite Boat would not be as dry as the Wayfarer, it is lighter yet has a much longer waterline so it will be faster. Also easier to row. The Wayfarer was good in its day, and can take six people sailing, but for 2-4 people I would prefer the Lite Boat.
I learned to sail on a Wayfarer on the North Sea. My father purchased it from a Scotsman who sailed it across the English Channel. It was a great performing sailboat with plenty of storage, and you could stay fairly dry, especially if you added a spray deflector forward. Very important when cruising in the North Sea, where the water never really does warm up. My Wayfarer also came with a nice variety of sails and a good boom tent. I have sailed an open transom boat, one I designed and built, in the Florida 120 cruise in company, and while fast, it wasn't anywhere close to being a dry ride. When beaching, I quickly learned to jump out of the boat to avoid the swamping action of the following wake. The low freeboard also required a fairly high boom tent, compared to what I had on the Wayfarer, which didn't fare very well in a violent storm which came upon us.
I would choose Lite Boat. As pointed out below it has longer waterline length, set up to be much more suited to rowing, unstayed mast for simplicity of setup, technically more advanced hull and sail design when combined with LWL increase means more speed. Most of all, it has a two person covered sleeping space. It’s good to be able to sleep in a dry space and also it provides more easily accessed dry space for gear storage.
Both appear to be wholesome boats. Based on my needs, the LiteBoat gets my vote. As mentioned above, it has a cuddy and can be rowed. I am not so sure about the gennaker. This is a high performance boat with a lot of sail area for its size.
I have a Wayfarer (although I've not sailed it yet) and have wanted one all my life, so I'll go with the sentimental favorite. The Lite Boat definitely looks appealing, however.
I'd take the Wayfarer. I'm getting on in years and the Lite Boat, to be honest, appears a bit too sporty for me. Hiking out all day and wrestling with a spinnaker (the Devil's own sail) is better left to the more spritely sailors among us.
I voted for the light boat. Two features stand out: the cuddy and the genny. The row-ability seems good, too. Being able to move in light air is a plus, so is the ability to crawl under a hard shelter in a rain shower. A lot to be said for the Wayfarer, but things move on.
Fortunately for me, I have a filter when selecting sailboats: my garage. It really helps narrow down the available options for camp cruising sailboats. The Lite Boat won't fit in the garage, so I have to go with the Wayfarer. Another filter is my wallet, so again I have to go with the wayfarer (used).
On paper the Lite Boat seems like a really great boat: light, quick to rig, fast, decent rowing, a cuddy cabin. But there's something about it that just doesn't draw me in. I imagine taking my boat on far off adventures, pulling it up on some remote beach, collecting memories & hull patina over the years. Despite its design intentions, the Lite Boat feels more like a nice daysailer to me; its just too nice for camp cruising. I think the adventure pedigree and more salty looks of the Wayfarer win me over. I guess looks are important!
I own a Liteboat XP20 and my neighbour and sailing buddy has a beautiful all-wood Wayfarer from mid 1970s. They are quite different boats; both are capable adventure cruisers and come from the desks of accomplished designers Ian Proctor & Sam Manuard. The Wayfarer is a classic! Very stable and forgiving. The modern XP20 was inspired by the Race to Alaska. I appreciate the boat’s freestanding carbon mast which can be assembled and stepped in less than a minute. The boomless mainsail and furling jib contribute to a simple, safe rig that is easy to manage. Off the wind the gennaker can make the boat really fly. The small cuddy is a nice feature for extended camping trips. As a rower I like the sliding seat set-up and carry a pair of 2-piece sculling oars, that I store forward when not in use.
I don't think the 20' Lite Boat, with its 10sq meter mainsail, is a fair comparison to the Wayfarer. I think a better comp, a better updated Wayfarer, would be Welsford's fast cruiser AWOL (https://jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/general-purpose-boats/awol/).
I've owned and sailed a Wayfarer. I now own a 20' open day sailer which is not as light as the Lite Boat, but it also has an unstayed mast. That's the first reason I would choose the Lite Boat. While the Lite Boat would not be as dry as the Wayfarer, it is lighter yet has a much longer waterline so it will be faster. Also easier to row. The Wayfarer was good in its day, and can take six people sailing, but for 2-4 people I would prefer the Lite Boat.
I learned to sail on a Wayfarer on the North Sea. My father purchased it from a Scotsman who sailed it across the English Channel. It was a great performing sailboat with plenty of storage, and you could stay fairly dry, especially if you added a spray deflector forward. Very important when cruising in the North Sea, where the water never really does warm up. My Wayfarer also came with a nice variety of sails and a good boom tent. I have sailed an open transom boat, one I designed and built, in the Florida 120 cruise in company, and while fast, it wasn't anywhere close to being a dry ride. When beaching, I quickly learned to jump out of the boat to avoid the swamping action of the following wake. The low freeboard also required a fairly high boom tent, compared to what I had on the Wayfarer, which didn't fare very well in a violent storm which came upon us.
wayfarer because sailing is principally an aesthetic endeavor, and life is too short for ugly boats. :-) Not that she's a beauty queen but ...
I would choose Lite Boat. As pointed out below it has longer waterline length, set up to be much more suited to rowing, unstayed mast for simplicity of setup, technically more advanced hull and sail design when combined with LWL increase means more speed. Most of all, it has a two person covered sleeping space. It’s good to be able to sleep in a dry space and also it provides more easily accessed dry space for gear storage.
Both appear to be wholesome boats. Based on my needs, the LiteBoat gets my vote. As mentioned above, it has a cuddy and can be rowed. I am not so sure about the gennaker. This is a high performance boat with a lot of sail area for its size.
I have a Wayfarer (although I've not sailed it yet) and have wanted one all my life, so I'll go with the sentimental favorite. The Lite Boat definitely looks appealing, however.
I’m choosing the Lite Boat for a sporty ride that also rows well.
I'd take the Wayfarer. I'm getting on in years and the Lite Boat, to be honest, appears a bit too sporty for me. Hiking out all day and wrestling with a spinnaker (the Devil's own sail) is better left to the more spritely sailors among us.
I voted for the light boat. Two features stand out: the cuddy and the genny. The row-ability seems good, too. Being able to move in light air is a plus, so is the ability to crawl under a hard shelter in a rain shower. A lot to be said for the Wayfarer, but things move on.
I'm old fashioned, and like a "traditional" boat. Life is too short to sail an ugly boat....
Fortunately for me, I have a filter when selecting sailboats: my garage. It really helps narrow down the available options for camp cruising sailboats. The Lite Boat won't fit in the garage, so I have to go with the Wayfarer. Another filter is my wallet, so again I have to go with the wayfarer (used).
On paper the Lite Boat seems like a really great boat: light, quick to rig, fast, decent rowing, a cuddy cabin. But there's something about it that just doesn't draw me in. I imagine taking my boat on far off adventures, pulling it up on some remote beach, collecting memories & hull patina over the years. Despite its design intentions, the Lite Boat feels more like a nice daysailer to me; its just too nice for camp cruising. I think the adventure pedigree and more salty looks of the Wayfarer win me over. I guess looks are important!
I own a Liteboat XP20 and my neighbour and sailing buddy has a beautiful all-wood Wayfarer from mid 1970s. They are quite different boats; both are capable adventure cruisers and come from the desks of accomplished designers Ian Proctor & Sam Manuard. The Wayfarer is a classic! Very stable and forgiving. The modern XP20 was inspired by the Race to Alaska. I appreciate the boat’s freestanding carbon mast which can be assembled and stepped in less than a minute. The boomless mainsail and furling jib contribute to a simple, safe rig that is easy to manage. Off the wind the gennaker can make the boat really fly. The small cuddy is a nice feature for extended camping trips. As a rower I like the sliding seat set-up and carry a pair of 2-piece sculling oars, that I store forward when not in use.
"Lite" boat. Dang auto-correct.
Lite Boat for its extra length and cuddy.
Unstayed, modern rig, day play boat, like my old sunfish.
I don't think the 20' Lite Boat, with its 10sq meter mainsail, is a fair comparison to the Wayfarer. I think a better comp, a better updated Wayfarer, would be Welsford's fast cruiser AWOL (https://jwboatdesigns.co.nz/plans/general-purpose-boats/awol/).