"Niche" Lyman-Morse 40' Sloop for Offshore and Thin Water!

I am excited to see one of my favorite sailing yachts come back on the market. Her hull and deck were built on a custom basis by Cabot Lyman in Thomasten, Me. and them completed by David Crane at the Todd Boatworks in Oxford, Maryland to a Craig Walters design. Craig pulled on a design philosophy melding offshore performance with significant shoal draft by means of a centerboard and retractable rudder.

Part of my recall of Niche is that of sailing upwind in 18 to 20 knots with the owner/builder sailing the boat using only a trim-tab on the trailing edge of the rudder.

Niche is a remarkable boat and can be seen on jack stands in a covered building on the Maine Coast.