Design and Construction
The Gruben 17 is built by BTM Marine Wassersport in Bitterfeld, which bought the molds and rights from the former Gruben yard of Markdorf on Lake Constance three years before a 2023 feature anchor; that original yard closed at the end of 2022 after over 53 years. The hull and deck are solid fiberglass, and the boat is advertised as capsizing-proof and unsinkable anchor. A 40-kilogram stainless steel centerboard acts as ballast anchor, formerly painted normal steel but now V4A stainless, rustproof and saltwater-resistant anchor, raised easily on a six-part purchase anchor. The stated specification lists about 88 pounds of lead ballast alongside 551 pounds displacement and 6 feet 8 inches beam.
Rig and Handling
The rig uses a light Proctor-Seldén mast shared with Becker's Ixylon anchor; one person can carry, step, and lower it without tools or help anchor, and the builder claims a solo setup in ten minutes anchor. The jib is 4.3 square meters, the mainsail has two reef points as standard, and a tiller extension plus halyard bag keeping the cockpit clear are standard anchor.
Accommodations and Equipment
The centerboard case is low enough to step across when tacking anchor. Standard gear includes a four-step stainless boarding ladder, a swiveling motor mount, and a bow towing eye anchor. The fractional sloop carries 128 square feet of sail area.
The Verdict
The Gruben 17 is a trailerable family dinghy whose virtues are single-handed rigging and a now corrosion-resistant ballast board; the low trunk aids crew movement and standard kit covers lake sailing. Limits are those of a 17-foot open boat: no cabin, small jib, board-dependent stability.
Pros
- One-person, tool-free rigging with a light mast
- V4A stainless centerboard ballast, rustproof and saltwater-resistant
- Low centerboard case for easy crew movement when tacking
- Strong standard equipment for day-sailing and boarding
Cons
- Open dinghy with no cabin accommodations
- Small jib at 4.3 square meters limits foresail power
- Stability depends on a manually raised ballast board
