Gib'Sea 242 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

At just over 23 feet on the waterline, she combines near-vertical topsides, ample freeboard, and a chunky coachroof. Those proportions create her notably spacious interior and make her an obvious competitor for Beneteau's First 235 and Jeanneau's Tonic 23.

Design and Construction

The builder was determined to keep the 242 trailable. Her beam is limited to 2.48 metres so she can be towed, while the centreplate version draws just 1 foot 4 inches with the plate raised. In that configuration, she draws less than flush-bottomed rivals.

There is a trade-off, however. An external grounding plate carries most of the ballast, while an iron plate swings up into an enclosed case. The flat, unprofiled centreplate and grounding plate reduce hydrodynamic efficiency.

A fin-keel version was also available for sailors who didn't need shallow draught. Its iron fin draws about 4 feet 6 inches.

The hull and deck are solid fibreglass. Near-vertical topsides, generous freeboard, and the chunky coachroof produce the interior volume that defines the boat.

Rig and Handling

The 242 has a swept-spreader fractional rig, with inboard chainplates for the cap shrouds and lowers. This leaves the side decks clear for moving forward. A full-width traveller spans the bridgedeck, and a purchase on the split backstay provides a straightforward way to tune the rig.

The centreplate is raised by a 2:1 purchase led aft over the coachroof to a winch. The line clutches, however, are positioned well forward of the winch and ahead of the sprayhood, making them awkward to use.

The boat doesn't have a bad reputation under sail, but she is sensitive to being underpowered. When the keel generates no meaningful lift, she slows and bounces. With a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of about 17.6 on the reference sail, she is slightly underrigged compared with her peers.

The vertically lifting rudder is an unbalanced wooden blade that slides up the transom. It becomes heavy when the boat heels beyond roughly 20 degrees.

Accommodation

Interior space is probably the Gib'Sea 242's greatest asset. There are no bulkheads below, so the layout is completely open, including the stern double berth.

A compact galley sits to port, forward of a separate heads compartment. Opposite, there is a respectable chart table. A drop-leaf table tops the centreplate case, while the starboard settee berth extends into a child-size bow double. The galley shortens the port settee.

Without interior mouldings, the accommodation displays a fair amount of timber, with vinyl lining the hull sides. Headroom is 5 feet 3 inches—generous for a shallow hull of this length—although the low-level cooker is less comfortable to use.

Deck, Stowage, and Ownership

The shallow, open-fronted starboard locker houses the outboard's petrol tank. Warps and fenders can go in the full-depth port locker. At the bow, there is an anchor locker and a single bow roller, while a slotted aluminium toerail runs along the side decks.

The open-plan, timber-finished interior and simple rig controls make the 242 an approachable small cruiser to maintain.

Known Issues

The outboard well doesn't allow the engine to tilt clear of the water, so its leg remains immersed. Age may also show in places through a drooping vinyl headliner.

The guardwire stanchions stand no higher than most people's knees. The rudder's heaviness beyond about 20 degrees of heel is a handling caveat rather than a defect.

The Verdict

The Gib'Sea 242 succeeds as a trailable, family-oriented pocket cruiser whose interior volume and open layout punch above her 23 feet. The centreplate version sacrifices outright efficiency in exchange for ramp and creek access, while the low guardwires and rudder behavior beyond 20 degrees of heel require the skipper to remain attentive.

She is a sensible, unpretentious boat for sheltered-water cruising and trailer sailing.

Pros