In 1986 Ferenc Mate' published the second volume of "The Worlds Best Sailboats". One of the selected boat is the Sam L. Morse, Bristol Channel Cutter 28, designed by Lyle Hess. Here is the opening of what Ferenc Mate' had to say.

"Some boats look elegant and lean, like the lady of your dreams, and some boat just look fast and mean, then there are boats that look like true friends, and Sam Morse's little cutters seem like the best friends you can find."

Accommodations

The interior has accommodations for 3 adults. There is one quarter berth aft The galley is also aft across from the quarter berth. Mid-cabin there is a full size settee to starboard. Across on the portside there is a short settee. and the diesel heater and outboard there is a full length pilot-berth. All the way forwards is an enclosed head with vanity and sink.

Storage has been maximized throughout the interior. Because of the short overhangs bow and stern and a relativly wide beam for a boat of this age, the interior volume is comparable to many boats that are in the 32' to 34' size of the same age.

Barometer, electronic — Meteoman

Barometer, mechanical — Howard Miller

Ship’s clock, key-wound — Howard Miller

Heater, gravity-fed diesel — Refleks 66MK

Cabin fans, 12v (three) — Hella

Head

• Marine head — Airhead composting toilet (no need for holding tank)
• Sink with vanity
• Manual freshwater

Galley

• Origo 2 burner stove with oven (non presurized alcohol)
• Sink with manual freshwater and manual saltwater
• Isolated icebox

Mechanical

• Max Prop — PYI, with a Shaft Shark line cutter
• Yanmar 3YM30 engine, 530 hours (installed 2010)
• Alternator — Balmar hi-output alternator & regulator, 2023
• SS shaft seal (PMax Prop — PYI, with a Shaft Shark line cutter)

Electrical

• 12 volt DC Batteries — three house plus one start, all Lifeline AGMs
• 30 amp 120 volt with AC shore power with cord
• Wind generator — Air Breeze
• Updated electrical panel
• Xantrex Battery Charger XC3012
• Solar panels (two) — SolarLand

Electronics

• VHF radio — Standard Horizon GX2000
• Depth Sounder
• Compass: Ritchie Navigator
• Radar — Raytheon RL72
• Chartplotter — Si-Tex 1010C
• AIS — Vesper Watchmate
• Self-steering, tiller pilot — Simrad TP32 (new 2023, not installed)
• Dynaplate

Deck & Hull

• Bilge pumps (three) — Whale SuperSub 650; Rule 2000; Rule 3500
• Self-steering, mechanical — Monitor (Scanmar)
• Anchors — Rocna 25 kg (55 lbs) (with custom bow roller)
• CQR (spare) and Danforth (spare)
• Windlass, manual — ABI
• Jacklines — Wichard Lyf-Safe 7052
• Lifeline netting
• Water Tanks replaced in 2010
• Bowsprit and tiller (both new in 2014)
• Dodger
• Cockpit Sun Awning from Dodger to boom gallows with 3 phifertex shade screens that attach to lifelines.

Sails and Rigging

• Sail inventory (*new in 2017, made by Carol Hasse of Port Townsend Sails, all with sail bags)
• Headsail — Yankee, on Harken MK-IV roller furler
• Mainsail, fully battened, fitted for double-reefing
• Stays’l, hank-on
• Storm stays’l, hank-on (on stays’l stay) 
• Mainsail track, new 2017 — Strong Track system (from Tides Marine)
• Lazy jacks, 2013
• Preventer (runs to bow from bail on boom)
• Standing Rigging replaced in 2000
• Forestay replaced 2016
• Staysail stay replaced 2013
• There’s also a set of old sails (2001), which are in pretty serviceable condition: furling headsail genoa; furling staysail; mainsail. Note that the mainsail won’t fit on the new Strong Track; and the stays’l was for a furler that has been removed.

ENGINES