Design and Construction
Built in glass-reinforced plastic, the Mk II has a 7ft 2in beam, a displacement above 2,000lb, and a low-profile hull with a pronounced stern overhang that owners describe as good looking.
Newbridge offered two keel configurations. The fin-keel model draws 3ft 0in, while the bilge-keel version draws just 2ft 2in. On the bilge-keel hull, ballast is encapsulated within the GRP keels, removing external ballast bolts from the equation. The boat can also be hauled or dried out upright on a hard or beach—a real advantage for owners who maintain their own bottoms.
Below the waterline, the rudder is protected by a skeg. On at least one well-documented example, the only skin fittings served the self-draining cockpit, keeping the through-hull count to a minimum and simplifying the underwater profile.
Rig and Handling
The masthead sloop rig carries between 154 and 175 square feet of sail. That’s modest canvas for a 20-footer, but it suits the boat’s weight and 16ft 3in waterline.
Owners who have sailed both keel types report that the fin-keel version will probably sail better than the bilge-keel model. The latter trades some upwind ability for the practical convenience of twin keels. The bilge-keel Corribee is well suited to running onto a beach or taking a drying mooring, and several boats in capable hands have used that ability on significant voyages. These include a double Atlantic crossing, a passage to the Azores, and circumnavigations of the UK.
Accommodation
Below decks, the Mk II has four berths, a sink, and a stove. Cabin headroom is 4ft 8in—enough, as one owner put it, to sit comfortably.
By modern standards, the space is minimal. The layout reflects the Corribee’s origins as a voyage-capable miniature rather than a weekender designed around standing headroom.
Known Issues
The same stern overhang that contributes to the Mk II’s looks isn’t ideal for mounting an outboard motor. Owners have noted this limitation even while praising the boat’s appearance.
The skeg-protected rudder and encapsulated ballast avoid some common small-boat failure points, but the stern geometry remains a practical constraint for anyone relying on transom-mounted auxiliary power.
Verdict
The Corribee Mk II is a small Tucker design with genuine voyaging credentials. Its bilge-keel option and encapsulated ballast make it particularly manageable for a do-it-yourself owner who dries out or beaches the boat.
Its modest dimensions, low headroom, and awkward outboard mounting are the price of that simplicity. Even so, the documented Atlantic and Azores passages show that the design can achieve far more than its length might suggest.
Pros
- Bilge-keel ballast encapsulated in GRP
- Dries out upright for easier maintenance
- Minimal skin fittings and a skeg-protected rudder
- Documented offshore passages, including a double Atlantic crossing
Cons
- Stern overhang is poorly suited to outboard mounting
- 4ft 8in headroom limits comfort below decks
- The fin-keel version probably sails better, making the bilge-keel model a handling compromise
