Griffiths, a former editor of Yachting Monthly, conceived the 26-footer as a seaworthy, spacious, affordable boat for the average sailor. He drew on the traditional Essex oyster smack, a shallow-draft, long-keel fishing type. Plans were offered to amateur and professional builders alike, with construction in wood, steel, and GRP, although marine plywood predominated.
Design and Construction
Griffiths designed the Eventide with a V-bottom, single-chine hull. It could be built with double-skin planking—diagonal inside and fore-and-aft outside—or in marine ply. The published plans included bilge keels or a fin keel as alternatives.
The bilge-keel model was intended for owners who wanted shallow draft and a boat that could sit on an even keel on a foreshore or trailer. Drawing 4 feet 6 inches, the fin-keel version suited sailors 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, although a good few were professionally built. No major yard ever mass-produced the type. As a result, individual boats can reflect their builders’ choices.
On the 8-foot-beam hull, raised sidedecks and a coachroof that is almost an extended doghouse create a remarkably spacious interior for a boat of this length. From the start, the Eventide was intended to be roomy both below and on deck.
Rig and Handling
The original Eventide carried a gaff rig of up to 400 square feet, divided among mainsail, topsail, staysail, and jib. It was easy to handle and reef as conditions changed, but produced more windage and heel than the alternative Bermudan rig, which used a triangular mainsail and genoa.
Writing in Yachting Monthly, testers found that her shallow draught and rather encumbered underwater area meant she struggles in light airs, particularly to windward. In a blow, she can develop serious weather helm. The twin keel provides stability and directional control, but also makes the boat difficult to turn and tack, while the large rudder requires more steering effort.
A low-aspect-ratio rig limits windward performance. Heavy displacement, together with shallow draft that reduces waterline length and hull speed, also keeps the Eventide from matching the speed of modern peers. On the other hand, one or two people can sail her without expensive systems.
Accommodation
The usual interior has four berths, with various galley and chart-table arrangements. The cabin includes a toilet and plenty of storage. Although interiors vary according to the builder’s preference, they follow Griffiths’ original scheme.
The spacious cockpit can seat up to six, and the generous beam carries the roominess outside as well as below. High freeboard helps keep the deck dry and safe. The sturdy hull was built to withstand rough seas and strong winds, and the design was intended for offshore conditions. According to the builder’s literature, it was also intended to be able to right if knocked down.
Known Issues
Two structural omissions have a direct bearing on safety. The Eventide lacks a quick-recovering hull after a knockdown, and it has no watertight bulkhead to isolate flooding caused by a leak or collision.
Together with the serious weather helm reported in strong winds, these are limitations a prospective owner should weigh against the boat’s offshore-intended stiffness.
Refits and Ownership
Because so many Eventides were custom-built from plans, the Eventide Owners’ Group remains an active resource, as does the association that holds Griffiths’ plans. Owners also use this network to share bowsprit additions and other efforts to improve balance.
Compared with other sailboats of similar size and class, the Eventide is relatively inexpensive to buy and maintain. It can be built or repaired in wood or fiberglass using simple tools—a practical advantage for an old design often owned by amateurs, even though it doesn’t reflect the latest yacht technology.
The Verdict
The Eventide 26 is a characterful Griffiths bilge-keeler. Its large owner base and the continued availability of plans help keep it affordable and supportable. However, sluggish performance in light airs, serious weather helm, and the lack of a 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 an extended-doghouse coachroof
- Proven, popular Maurice Griffiths design, with an active owners’ association and plans still available
- Simple and affordable to build and maintain
- Can be sailed short-handed without complex systems
- Offshore-intended stiffness and a sturdy hull in the original concept
Cons
- Struggles in light airs, especially to windward, with limited speed and windward ability
- Serious weather helm in a blow
- Difficult to turn and tack in twin-keel form
- No self-righting hull or watertight bulkhead—significant safety limitations
- No modern conveniences such as self-tailing winches, furling, GPS, or solar as standard
