Design and Construction
The Gib'Sea 68 measures 22ft 7in overall, with a 19ft 6in waterline, an 8ft 1in beam, and a displacement of 3,220 lb. It’s a compact monohull conceived as a small family cruiser rather than a scaled-down racer.
Construction details for the 68’s hull and deck aren’t documented separately here beyond its specification. Its wing keel was available in lifting or fixed form, with draught ranging from 1ft to 4ft 6in. The lifting version offers the shallow-water flexibility implied by the 1ft minimum while providing 4ft 6in of grip when lowered.
Rig and Handling
The Gib'Sea 68 has a fractional sloop rig carrying 303 sqft of sail. The mast stands 32.5ft above the waterline, and the sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 23.2.
Yachting Monthly described the 68 as a fun lifting- or fixed-keel boat with good performance. Its light 3,220 lb displacement supports that assessment. The modest sail plan and choice of keel also make it an easy boat to handle in familiar waters.
Accommodation
Below, the Gib'Sea 68 provides simple but adequate weekending accommodation. The open-plan interior has four berths and a rudimentary galley.
With an 8ft 1in beam and no partitioned cabins, the interior feels like a single shared space. That arrangement suits short coastal trips with a small family. The four berths are useful, but the basic galley and overall simplicity point to weekends afloat rather than extended liveaboard use.
Verdict
The Gib'Sea 68 is a pragmatic little cruiser: an early Groupe Graal design refined in 1980, built in volume, and remembered as a fun weekender with good performance and a flexible wing-keel arrangement. It’s easy to trail, shallow to store, and straightforward below, though its basic accommodation is better suited to sheltered-water use than ambitious voyaging.
Pros
- Lifting or fixed wing keel, with 1ft to 4ft 6in draught for ramp and shallow-water access
- Good performance and fun handling for a 22ft family cruiser
- Simple, open-plan weekending layout with four berths
- Sold in large numbers, so examples are familiar to yards and owners
Cons
- Rudimentary galley and basic accommodation limit extended cruising
- Superseded in 1986, so it doesn’t reflect later Gib'Sea developments
