Design and Construction
As an early Groupe Graal design, the Gib'Sea 68 reflects a compact coastal cruiser concept. The 68's own hull and deck construction details are not separately documented beyond her specification, but her wing keel configuration, offered in lifting or fixed form, gives her the shallow-water flexibility implied by the 1ft minimum draught while retaining 4ft 6in of grip when lowered. At 22ft 7in LOA on a 19ft 6in waterline she is a small family cruiser by intent rather than a scaled-down racer.
Rig and Handling
The Gib'Sea 68 is a fractional sloop carrying 303 sqft of sail area, with a mast standing 32.5ft above the waterline and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 23.2. Yachting Monthly characterized her as a fun lifting or fixed keelboat with good performance anchor, and her light 3,220 lb displacement supports that verdict. The modest sail plan and flexible keel make her an easy boat to handle in familiar waters.
Accommodations
Below, the Gib'Sea 68 offers simple but adequate weekending accommodation in an open plan layout, with four berths and a rudimentary galley. The open plan and modest beam of 8ft 1in mean the interior reads as a single shared space rather than partitioned cabins, which suits short coastal trips with a small family. The rudimentary galley and adequate berth count signal a boat built for weekends afloat, not extended liveaboard use, and the simplicity is consistent with her role as a small family cruiser sold in large numbers.
The 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, good-performing weekender with a flexible wing keel. She is easy to trail, shallow to store, and straightforward below, but her accommodations argue for sheltered-water use rather 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- Superseded in 1986, so later Gib'Sea developments are not represented
