2687 Monterey

Obviously dated by today’s express cruiser standards, the Carver 2687 Monterey was actually a rather stylish design in her day with attractive hull graphics and an inexpensive price tag to go with her wide open interior. Construction was solid fiberglass, and an eight-foot beam made the Monterey trailerable in every state. (At 5,300 pounds, however, she’s no lightweight.) The interior was designed to accommodate the needs of a cruising family with berths for four, a standup head compartment, a well-arranged galley, and a convertible dinette. Storage space is at a premium, but the large cabin windows provide plenty of natural lighting below making the interior seem more spacious than many other small cruisers in her class. Visibility from the helm is very good, and while cockpit space is limited a companion seat and bench seating at the transom were standard. Among several single inboard and sterndrive power choices, she’ll cruise at 17–18 knots with a 260hp MerCruiser sterndrive (mid 20s top). An optional 270hp MerCruiser inboard runs a couple of knots slower while offering improved long-term dependability.