1995 Morris Frances

A 1995 Morris Frances, designed by Chuck Paine and built by Tom Morris for personal use, this 26-foot double-ended cruiser combines traditional North Sea styling with classic New England construction. The full keel hull delivers a soft, comfortable motion through the water—notably forgiving for extended time at the helm compared to modern light-displacement designs. A Volvo Penta diesel of 9 horsepower provides auxiliary propulsion, with a cruising speed of 4.5 knots under sail.

The open interior layout is straightforward and fully capable of extended cruising and single-handed sailing. The boat's design and sea-kindly characteristics have proven themselves across diverse waters, including passages to Bermuda and extended cruising on Lake Michigan.

The Frances was finished in 1996 and spent her early years sailing in Rhode Island Sound. She was then trailered to Chicago in 2004, where she completed two decades of fresh-water sailing on Lake Michigan, stored indoors each winter. Currently the boat is in Cataumet, Massachusetts, hauled out and protected.