Design and Construction
Robert Tucker’s hull lines give the Mk I her slender, overhung profile, and the narrow beam that defines the class. At a 37 per cent ballast-to-displacement ratio and a capsize screening figure of 2.41, the hull carries 416 lb of lead low, which helps explain Yachting Monthly’s verdict that she is an excellent sea-boat for her length. The magazine’s test report of November 1968 found her reasonably well built, and the Atlantic crossings and round-Britain passages under professional racers speak to a hull that earns its “proper little yacht” label rather than merely wearing it.
Rig and Handling
The Mk I is a fractional sloop of 20 ft 3 in overall, drawing 3 ft 2 in with the centerboard down and far less with it raised. Yachting Monthly described her as fast for her time, and the same authority counted several Atlantic crossings under her belt as evidence of offshore capability. Those passages, alongside the round-Britain voyages that launched MacArthur and Miller, place the design among the more accomplished small yachts of her era rather than a sheltered-water dayboat.
Accommodations
Below the narrow deck, space is at a premium by definition. The hull’s restricted beam limits volume, yet Mallon Boats arranged the berths, galley and chart table, the last with a chemical toilet beneath it. The layout is a study in compaction: nothing is wasted, but nothing is generous, and the squeeze is the direct consequence of Tucker’s slender hull rather than any omission by the builder.
Known Issues
The only documented constraint is the one imposed by geometry: the narrow hull restricts the available space below decks, a limitation designed in rather than a fault that emerges in service.
The Verdict
The Corribee Mk I is a slim, elegant 20-footer that punches far above her length. Tucker’s narrow hull and modest weight of 1,120 lb with 416 lb of lead ballast produce a sea-boat Yachting Monthly called excellent for her size, and the class’s Atlantic and round-Britain record under names like MacArthur and Miller confirms the judgment. She is cramped below, but she is a proper little yacht.
Pros
- Cheap entry to offshore sailing with a documented Atlantic-crossing and round-Britain record
- Excellent sea-boat for her length per Yachting Monthly, reasonably well built
- Slim, elegant Tucker hull with long overhangs and a practical if compact four-berth layout
Cons
- Narrow hull restricts below-decks space
- Very small by modern standards; only a chemical toilet specified
