Design and Construction
Konkol chose moderate hull lines rather than a broad stern and deliberately avoided squeezing a double berth into the stern quarters moderate lines and no stern double berth. The hull has a partially flat bottom and a small centreplate made from profiled glassfibre. Weighted just enough to give it negative buoyancy, the plate stays down when needed but raises cleanly.
Internal ballast weighs 661 pounds, leaving the centreplate mechanism uncluttered and the hull easy to manage. The hull is built from hand-laid laminate, spending four days in the mould before curing for 30 days at no less than 18°C.
A full interior moulding carries the accommodation layout. It’s capped by a headliner that still allows access to the deck-fastening nuts, while the builder makes the stainless steel work in its own shop. A practical plastic rubbing strake protects the hull-to-deck flange, although testers noted that dirt collects inboard of it.
With the centreplate raised, draught is 1'1"; lowered, it increases to 4'5". This shallow board-up draught allows the boat to dry out and helps make trailing practical.
Rig and Handling
The 620 carries a gunter-gaff hybrid that the designer calls the “Huari gaff.” It’s a high-peaked, high-aspect gaff flown on a single halyard, with a flexible gaff, mast slider, and adjustable loop for controlling sail shape single-halyard gaff with shape control.
The short mast requires no spreaders and can be lowered using a built-in system designed for one person. The builder’s literature claims the mast can be dropped in ten minutes. For heavy air, a conventional triangular mainsail can be substituted.
Under sail, testers found that the adjustable, kick-up balanced rudder blade kept the helm light. The balanced hull lines made the boat responsive, well behaved, and commendably stiff for an internally ballasted design. The 620 recorded speeds in the mid-to-high 4s close-winded, with a tacking angle of roughly 90 degrees, and exceeded 6 knots off the wind. Its pace to windward is modest, and its character is closer to that of a motorsailer than a lively daysailer.
Accommodation and Stowage
The interior feels larger than expected for a 20-footer. Headroom is 6 feet, and Polish oak finishes the cabin around the moulded liner.
A dinette to port seats two and converts into a double berth. Opposite is a small but functional galley. A generous V-berth fills the forward end of the cabin, while an enclosed head sits aft—a rare concession in a boat of this length. Altogether, the accommodation provides four berths.
Stowage includes a half-height hanging locker abaft the dinette and full-depth cockpit lockers to port and starboard. The cockpit itself is on the small side and is comfortable for three people, though its narrow beam allows crew to brace their feet against the opposite seat.
Trailering and Ownership
Trailering is central to the Haber 620’s design. The dedicated HABER HT 1800 trailer weighs 320 kg, and the standard boat-and-trailer package remains under 1,650 kg, making it towable by many family cars.
The transom-mounted outboard accepts engines from 4–10 hp, with 4–6 hp recommended. It swings clear for road travel, and the lowered mast extends only a metre beyond the transom. A stainless steel fuel tank can be built into the starboard locker. Boats bound for the UK also receive an anchor roller.
For owners who prefer a different arrangement, twin rudders and a cockpit outboard well are offered as an alternative.
Known Issues
The only documented annoyance is minor and cosmetic: grime collects inboard of the plastic rubbing strake at the hull-to-deck flange.
The Verdict
The Haber 620 is a thoughtful trailer-sailer that trades outright speed for simplicity, towability, and accommodation that feels generous for a 21-foot boat. It’s an economical, well-mannered introductory cruiser with a clever rig, light helm, and a genuinely enclosed head.
Pros
- Retractable centreplate gives 1'1" draught with the board raised and 4'5" with it lowered, allowing the boat to be trailed and dried out
- Roomy, oak-finished interior with four berths and an enclosed head
- Single-halyard gaff rig, short mast, and built-in lowering system suit solo trailering
- Light, balanced helm and stiff, well-behaved handling under sail
Cons
- Small cockpit limits comfortable capacity to three
- Rubbing strake collects dirt at the hull-to-deck joint
- Modest close-winded pace and a motorsailer character rather than that of a lively daysailer
