Wilderness 21 (Burns 21)

Description

The Wilderness 21 is a small American fiberglass trailerable racer/cruiser designed by Chuck Burns as a lightweight, high-performance fractional sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder. It was built by Wilderness Boat Works of Santa Cruz, California, starting in 1978 (with some boats later completed or rebadged as the Burns 21 after the company ceased operations). The design features hand-laid solid fiberglass construction, a very light displacement for spirited sailing, generous sail area for excellent light-air performance, and a simple interior suited to weekend or fast coastal cruising rather than heavy liveaboard use. Production ran in the late 1970s to early 1980s, during which approximately 80 boats were completed—a modest total reflecting its niche appeal as a fun, responsive daysailer/racer with a "bigger boat feel" despite its compact size. It has a reputation for being stiff under sail (thanks to a high ballast ratio), easy to single-hand, and surprisingly capable in moderate conditions, though it prioritizes performance and portability over bluewater ruggedness.