Design and Construction
BTM Marine Wassersport in Bitterfeld now builds the Gruben 17. The company bought the molds and rights from the former Gruben yard of Markdorf on Lake Constance three years before a 2023 feature. The original yard closed at the end of 2022 after more than 53 years.
The hull and deck are solid fiberglass, and the boat is advertised as capsizing-proof and unsinkable. Displacement is listed as 551 pounds, beam as 6 feet 8 inches, and lead ballast as about 88 pounds.
A 40-kilogram stainless steel centerboard provides ballast. Earlier boards were painted normal steel, but the current board is made from V4A stainless steel and is described as rustproof and saltwater-resistant. A six-part purchase makes it easy to raise.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop carries 128 square feet of sail area. Its light Proctor-Seldén mast is shared with Becker's Ixylon. One person can carry, step, and lower the mast without tools or help, and the builder claims a solo setup time of ten minutes.
The jib measures 4.3 square meters, while the mainsail has two reef points as standard. A tiller extension is also standard, as is a halyard bag that helps keep the cockpit clear.
The centerboard case is low enough to step across when tacking, easing movement around the cockpit.
Equipment and Accommodations
This is an open dinghy with no cabin accommodations. Standard equipment includes a four-step stainless steel boarding ladder, a swiveling motor mount, and a bow towing eye.
The Verdict
The Gruben 17 is a trailerable family dinghy with straightforward, single-handed rigging and a now corrosion-resistant ballast board. Its low centerboard case makes it easier for the crew to move across the boat, while the standard equipment covers lake sailing well.
Its limitations are those of a 17-foot open boat: there’s no cabin, the jib is small, and stability depends on a manually raised ballast board.
Pros
- Light mast and one-person, tool-free rigging
- Rustproof, saltwater-resistant V4A stainless centerboard ballast
- Low centerboard case for easier crew movement when tacking
- Strong standard equipment for day sailing and boarding
Cons
- Open dinghy with no cabin accommodations
- Small 4.3-square-meter jib limits foresail power
- Stability depends on a manually raised ballast board
