Tiburon (Jouët) Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The creation of the Tiburon aligns with Jouët's transition into fiberglass construction, a pivotal moment for the French shipyard that revolutionized boat building and enabled more efficient production. The Tiburon's production run, from 1963 to 1970, places it firmly within this era of material innovation for Jouët. Designed by Collin, the Tiburon's most defining feature is its twin keel hull type. This design choice reflects a pragmatic approach, aiming to provide good initial stability while allowing the boat to take to the ground and dry out, a valuable asset for cruising in tidal areas or for easy storage. While specific design philosophies from Collin for this particular model are not extensively documented, the twin-keel configuration itself speaks to a focus on versatile and practical shallow-water performance.

Sailing Performance and Handling

With a length overall of 16.17 feet and a waterline length of 15.19 feet, the Jouët Tiburon is a truly compact sailing vessel. For boats of this small size, traditional performance ratios like sail area to displacement or ballast to displacement are less directly applicable in describing nuanced sailing characteristics. The Tiburon is rigged as a fractional sloop, a common and efficient rig for boats of this size.

Its twin-keel hull design, while providing excellent shallow draft capabilities and the ability to stand upright when beached, also contributes to a stable and forgiving motion on the water. This design typically results in a boat that is relatively stiff and easy to handle, making it suitable for both novice sailors and those seeking a low-stress sailing experience. With a reported sail area of 161 square feet, the Tiburon is designed for pleasant day cruises and offers a hull speed of approximately 5.22 knots. Its lightweight displacement of 1,323 pounds, coupled with 408 pounds of ballast, suggests a design optimized for gentle cruising rather than high-performance racing.

Accommodations and Layout

Given its compact size of just over 16 feet, the Jouët Tiburon offers very basic accommodations, typical of a "mini cruiser" or "cabin cruiser" of its era. While detailed interior layouts are not readily available from public records, it can be inferred that the interior typically features a simple cuddy cabin arrangement. This would likely include a V-berth forward, providing sleeping space for one or two individuals, possibly with very limited sitting headroom. It is highly unlikely to offer standing headroom or a dedicated enclosed head compartment. The emphasis would have been on maximizing usable space within its small footprint, suitable for day sailing with shelter or very short overnight stays. Interior finishes would likely have been practical, utilizing materials common to fiberglass boats of the 1960s, focusing on durability and ease of maintenance.