Design and Construction
Gillmer's Seawind carries a long keel with a transom-hung rudder, trading tight-quarter agility for directional stability. The hull is solid hand-laid fiberglass with extra-thick laminates in the bilge. Lead ballast is encapsulated in the keel layup and glassed over, bypassing external keel bolts. The hull-to-deck joint uses outward-turned flanges through-bolted on five-inch centers with sealant, glassed inside, and capped by an aluminum rubrail. Bulkheads tab directly to the hull. Decks use a balsa core.
Rig and Handling
The original Seawind was primarily a ketch. The foretriangle is 217.93 sq ft on a 35'7" hoist and 12'3" base; mainsail 206.90 sq ft; mizzen 85.76 sq ft. Sail-area/displacement is 15.38, displacement/length 387.52, ballast/displacement 34.0%, capsize screening 1.62, comfort 36.91—a heavy, stiff cruiser not built for speed.
Accommodations
Pre-1979 boats have woodgrain Formica veneer; later ones carry natural wood finishes. Build year predicts the trim.
Known Issues
The balsa-cored deck is the principal vulnerability: leaks at through-deck fittings rot the core from inside with little surface sign. Encapsulated ballast means keel-impact repair requires cutting into the laminate rather than withdrawing bolts.
Refits and Ownership
Later boats gained natural-wood interiors without structural change. The twenty-year span yields same lines, differing only in trim era.
The Verdict
A conservative ketch prioritizing ballast security over pace; balsa deck is the caveat.
Pros
- Encapsulated lead ballast, no external bolts
- Robust hull laminate in bilge
- Long-keel directional stability
- Clear early/late interior distinction
Cons
- Balsa deck rot if fittings leak
- Keel repair needs laminate cutting
