Design and Construction
Griffiths laid the Eventide out as a V-bottom, single-chine hull that could be built double-skin (diagonal inside, fore-and-aft outside) or in marine ply, and the published plans carried details for bilge keels or a fin keel as alternatives. The bilge-keel model was aimed at owners wanting a shallow-draft boat that sits on an even keel on a foreshore or trailer, while the fin-keel version — drawing 4 feet 6 inches — suited those with easy berthing who preferred a true keelboat. Most plywood, clinker-built, twin-keel examples were completed by home builders in the 1950s and 60s, though a good few were professionally built, and the type was never mass-produced by a major yard. The raised sidedecks topped by a coachroof almost an extended doghouse give the 8-foot-beam hull a remarkably spacious interior for its length, and the design was intended from the start to be roomy on deck as well as below.
Rig and Handling
The original Eventide carried a gaff rig of up to 400 square feet across mainsail, topsail, staysail and jib — easy to handle and reef in changing conditions, but creating more windage and heel than a Bermudan rig, which was also offered with triangular mainsail and genoa. Writing in Yachting Monthly, testers found her shallow draught and rather encumbered underwater area meant she struggles in light airs, particularly to windward, and in a blow she can show serious weather helm. The twin keel provides stability and directional control yet makes her hard to turn and tack, and the large rudder needs more effort to steer. A low aspect ratio rig limits windward performance, while heavy displacement and a shallow draft that reduces waterline length and hull speed keep her from being fast against modern peers — though she can be sailed by one or two people without expensive systems.
Accommodations
Below, the Eventide is usually a four-berth layout with various configurations of galley and chart table, the cabin including a toilet and plenty of storage space, and the interior can vary with the builder's preference while following Griffiths' original scheme. Above, the spacious cockpit can seat up to six, and the generous beam carries the roominess outside as well as in. High freeboard keeps the deck dry and safe, and the sturdy hull was built to withstand rough seas and strong winds — the design was intended to face offshore conditions and, per the builder's literature, to be able to right if knocked down.
Known Issues
Two structural omissions bear directly on safety: the Eventide lacks a quick-recovering hull after a knockdown, and there is no watertight bulkhead to isolate a leak or collision. Combined with the serious weather helm noted in strong winds, these are the limits a prospective owner should weigh against the boat's offshore-intended stiffness.
Refits and Ownership
Because so many hulls were custom-built from plans, the Eventide Owners' Group (and the association holding Griffiths' plans) remains an active resource; the same owners' network is where bowsprit additions and other balance fixes tend to be shared. The boat is relatively cheap to buy and maintain against other sailboats of its size and class, and can be built or repaired from wood or fiberglass with simple tools — a real advantage for an amateur-owned, old-design type that does not reflect the latest yacht technology.
The Verdict
The Eventide 26 is a characterful Griffiths bilge-keeler whose enormous owner base and plan availability keep it affordable and supportable, but its light-air sluggishness, weather helm, and lack of self-righting hull or watertight bulkhead mark it as a period coastal-and-offshore cruiser rather than a modern performer.
Pros
- Exceptionally spacious for 26 feet, with raised sidedecks and extended-doghouse coachroof
- Proven, popular Maurice Griffiths design with active owners' association and plans still available
- Simple, affordable to build and maintain; sail-able short-handed without complex systems
- Offshore-intended stiffness and sturdy hull in the original concept
Cons
- Struggles in light airs, especially to windward; limited speed and windward ability
- Serious weather helm in a blow; hard to turn and tack on the twin keel
- No self-righting hull or watertight bulkhead — real safety limits
- No modern conveniences (self-tailing winches, furling, GPS, solar) as standard
