This technical advancement arrived just before a turbulent period for the builder. Wrighton Yachts entered liquidation in 2014. Recognizing the brilliance of the design, a trio of passionate owners acquired the tooling and resurrected the brand as Wrighton Bi-Loup SAS in 2015. Partnering with the renowned Shoreteam Yard in Caen and naval architect Vincent Lebailly, they renamed the model the Bi-Loup 78 to match its 7.8-meter hull length. While only a limited number of units were built before production permanently ceased around 2018, the Bi-Loup 265/78 remains a landmark design that redefined what a trailerable, drying-out family cruiser could achieve on the water.
Design Brief & Intent
The Bi-Loup 265 was engineered specifically for family coastal cruising in areas characterized by massive tidal ranges, such as the Atlantic coast of France, Brittany, and the southern waters of the United Kingdom. While competing manufacturers of the era—such as Jeanneau with the Sun Fast 26, or Beneteau with their lift-keel First models—relied on complex mechanical lifting foils to achieve shallow drafts, Wrighton stayed true to the twin-keel layout. The 265 allows owners to seek out secluded, shallow anchorages and settle directly on the sand or mud as the tide recedes, sitting perfectly upright on its dual foils without the need for auxiliary beaching legs or cradles.
To broaden its appeal, the shipyard focused heavily on light and volume. The coachroof features a signature 360-degree panoramic window design that floods the interior with natural light, creating the visual spaciousness of a much larger deck-saloon yacht. Impressively, the cabin provides 1.84 meters (6 feet) of headroom throughout the saloon and galley—an exceptional achievement for a hull under 26 feet. The interior layout accommodates up to six people across two dedicated cabins and a central saloon. The joinery is highly practical, prioritizing water-resistant, durable finishes over heavy solid-wood moldings to keep the overall displacement low.
Variations & Configurations
Throughout its production under both Wrighton and the subsequent Shoreteam partnership, the Bi-Loup 265 saw a few key structural and mechanical variations. The defining aspect of the hull is its twin-keel configuration. Rather than using traditional bolted-on iron fins, the 265 was built with its twin asymmetric-foil keels molded directly as part of the hull structure. These are paired with twin winglet-capped rudders designed to act as stable rear tripod legs when the boat dries out.
The propulsion system was offered in two distinct configurations. The standard and highly desirable cruiser option is an inboard 14 HP Yanmar diesel engine paired with a sail drive. This setup places the propeller directly in line with the hull's center of effort, enhancing thrust efficiency and maneuverability under power while minimizing structural vibration. For budget-conscious buyers, Wrighton also offered an outboard engine configuration mounted on a robust transom bracket.
The standard rig consists of an aluminum fractional mast. However, under the 2015-2018 Wrighton Bi-Loup SAS era, the builder introduced an exotic option for carbon fiber masts. This carbon rig shed significant weight aloft, adding tremendous stiffness and further enhancing the yacht’s righting moment. Additionally, the 265 was the first model in Wrighton's history to incorporate a structural bowsprit, allowing owners to fly a gennaker or asymmetric spinnaker off the wind.
The boat was also built in standard and certified "insubmersible" (unsinkable) packages. The unsinkable version incorporates dedicated watertight compartments packed with closed-cell polyurethane buoyancy foam. This design provided enough reserve buoyancy to keep the vessel afloat even when fully swamped, eliminating the regulatory requirement to carry a heavy liferaft for offshore passages under certain European maritime laws.
Sailing Performance & Handling
Historically, twin-keeled sailboats carried a reputation for sluggish, uninspiring sailing performance, particularly when pointing upwind. The Bi-Loup 265 shattered this stereotype. With a displacement of just 3,968 lbs, the hull is exceptionally light for a twin-keeler. The design compensates for the shallower draft of its twin foils by utilizing a modern hull shape with a displacement-to-length ratio of 107.84, signaling a nimble, semi-planing hull that responds quickly to gusts.
The boat's sail-area-to-displacement ratio is a powerful 26.11, largely due to a redesigned fractional rig that added 12 square meters of extra sail area compared to the older Bi-Loup 26. Carrying a large, square-top mainsail and a high-aspect genoa, the 265 possesses the power necessary to glide through light summer breezes where older bilge-keelers would stall. Off the wind, utilizing the bowsprit to deploy an asymmetric spinnaker allows the boat to easily reach its theoretical hull speed of 6.6 knots and slide down wave faces with stability.
At the helm, the 265 feels remarkably stiff and secure. Its ballast-to-displacement ratio of 33.34% provides a solid righting moment. While its capsize screening formula of 2.12 suggests it is optimized for coastal waters rather than extreme, deep-ocean storms, it handles coastal chops with confidence. With a motion comfort ratio of 14.2, the 265 behaves like a light-displacement sport-boat. It will feel lively and active over waves, rather than carving through them like a heavy cutter, but the wide, stable beam keeps the boat flat and ensures the twin rudders maintain excellent grip even when the boat is well heeled.
Known Issues & Triage
While the Bi-Loup 265 is a robustly engineered pocket cruiser, there are several model-specific technical areas that buyers and owners must inspect.
- Keel-Root Stress Fractures: Because the twin keels are molded directly into the hull structure, the boat lacks traditional keel bolts. While this eliminates the risk of bolt corrosion, repeated or hard groundings on rocky shores can transfer significant shear forces into the hull laminate. During haul-out, the areas where the keel roots meet the hull must be inspected closely for gelcoat crazing, stress fractures, or signs of internal fiberglass delamination.
- Panoramic Window Sealant Degradation: The stunning 360-degree panoramic coachroof relies on large plexiglass panels bonded directly to the fiberglass superstructure. Over time, UV exposure and the natural twisting of a light-displacement hull in a seaway can cause the adhesive sealant to degrade, leading to cabin leaks. Triage requires completely removing the panels, sanding down the mating surfaces, and rebonding them using high-grade marine structural polyurethane adhesives.
- Flotation Foam Water Log: On the "insubmersible" models, the closed-cell polyurethane foam is sealed inside the double-walled hull. If deck hardware leaks or minor hull damage goes unnoticed, water can slowly migrate into these sealed compartments. Over years, the foam can absorb moisture, adding deadweight to the boat, ruining its sailing performance, and causing structural soft spots. A moisture meter inspection of the inner hull is critical before purchase.
Modernization & Upgrades
Owners of the Bi-Loup 265 and 78 have successfully implemented several key retrofits to optimize the platform for modern cruising standards:
- Lithium (LiFePO4) Conversions: Because weight management is crucial on a light-displacement vessel with a 107.84 displacement-to-length ratio, replacing heavy lead-acid house batteries with compact lithium iron phosphate batteries is highly recommended. This swap sheds significant weight from the bilge while providing ample power to run efficient 12V refrigeration and modern navigation electronics during extended off-grid beaching.
- Feathering Propeller Upgrades: The standard fixed two- or three-blade propellers used on the sail drive models create substantial drag. Retrofitting a feathering or folding prop (such as a Max-Prop or Radice) dramatically cleans up the water flow under the stern. This reduces drag under sail, allowing owners to maximize the boat's high-performance 26.11 sail-area-to-displacement ratio in light air.
- Running Rigging and Block Upgrades: The square-top mainsail places high loads on the mainsheet and halyard systems. Upgrading to low-stretch Dyneema halyards and high-efficiency ball-bearing blocks makes hoisting and trimming the large mainsail much easier for short-handed family crews.
The Verdict
The Bi-Loup 265 is an exceptionally clever, modern take on the traditional coastal biquille. It manages to package stand-up headroom, family-friendly accommodations, and genuine unsinkable safety into a trailerable under-26-foot footprint, all while delivering sailing performance that can embarrass older, sluggish bilge-keelers. While its rare market presence makes finding one a challenge, it remains a premier choice for tidal sailors who refuse to sacrifice the joy of a responsive helm for the utility of beaching.
Pros
- Molded-in twin keels allow the boat to dry out perfectly upright on tidal flats without auxiliary legs.
- Outstanding light-air and off-the-wind performance compared to traditional bilge-keelers 3.
- Exceptional interior volume and 1.84 meters of standing headroom in a 25.6-foot boat.
- Insubmersible certification provides excellent safety and eliminates the need for an offshore liferaft.
- Bright, airy cabin with a 360-degree panoramic view of the anchorage.
Cons
- Very rare on the brokerage market due to limited production runs and high owner retention.
- Motion in a seaway can feel quick and lively, which may tire crews on long, choppy passages.
- Large panoramic windows are prone to UV degradation and require periodic rebonding to prevent leaks 7.
- Flotation foam in unsinkable models can become waterlogged if hull or deck leaks are left unchecked.
