Design and Construction
Both hull and deck are solid fiberglass, and the boat carries an iron ballast of about 882 pounds in a 37 percent ballast ratio, which combined with a displacement near 3,484 pounds gives a ballast-to-displacement relationship that leans toward a lively, easily driven hull rather than a heavy voyager. The length-to-beam ratio of 2.66 and a displacement-length ratio of 187 place her among slender, modest-volume coastal cruisers; the wetted surface is about 161 square feet. Three keel options were built, all with iron foils: a fin keel drawing 3.28 to 3.58 feet depending on load, a wing keel drawing 4.27 to 4.57 feet, and a stub/centreboard keel that lifts to just 1.97 to 2.27 feet and opens shallow-marina access the others cannot match.
Rig and Handling
The Edel 6 is built with a fractional rig and a sail-area-displacement ratio of 19.25, a figure that suggests she is quick to accelerate in a breeze for her size. Sheet sizing is modest and uniform: jib and genoa sheets run about 21.8 feet long at 3/8 inch diameter, the mainsheet is 54.5 feet of the same diameter, and spinnaker sheets are 48 feet. An outboard motor is often used for docking and maneuvering rather than an inboard. Her theoretical displacement-hull speed is 5.7 knots, and the Relative Speed Performance index is 50, while an immersion rate of about 520 pounds per inch shows how little she sits down under crew and gear.
Accommodations
Below, the Edel 6 provides a toilet facility and an interior finished in mahogany, consistent with small cruisers of the period. The beam of just over 8 feet and the 21.83-foot length keep the cabin compact, but the layout supports weekend coastal use rather than extended liveaboard plans.
Performance and Seakeeping Numbers
The capsize screening value is 2.37 and the Motion Comfort Ratio falls between 11.6 and 12.9, figures that describe a light, responsive boat with limited dampening of motion in a chop. A displacement-length ratio of 187 explains why she feels nimble rather than ponderous, and the 5.7-knot hull-speed ceiling is typical for a boat of her waterline.
The Verdict
The Edel 6 is a thoughtfully engineered small cruiser whose multiple iron-keel options let a buyer match draft to local waters, and whose light, narrow hull with a healthy sail plan makes her an engaging coastal sailor. The solid fiberglass construction and simple outboard-driven maneuvering keep ownership straightforward, though the modest beam and low comfort ratio mean she is best suited to protected cruising rather than offshore passage work.
Pros
- Three iron keel options including a shallow stub/centreboard for extreme draft reduction
- High sail-area-displacement ratio for a responsive, easily driven small sloop
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck with simple outboard maneuvering
Cons
- Low Motion Comfort Ratio limits motion damping in rough water
- Compact beam and length restrict interior volume
- Shallow draft keel options carry more draft than the centreboard but less versatility
