Design & Construction
The 32RK’s profile is distinct and purposeful. It carries a traditional curvy sheer line, a plumb bow with a short bowsprit, and a slightly forward-raked transom. A swim platform aft does double duty as the mounting position for the outboard rudder, which can also be raised to achieve minimal draft. The heart of the concept lies in the retracting keel, raised and lowered by a simple electric winch. In the fully down position, the keel draws six feet, six inches, providing great stability and plenty of lift when sailing upwind. The versatility extends to downwind sailing, where a half-raised keel enhances performance by reducing wetted surface, and to gunkholing, where the fully raised keel allows navigation in less than two feet of water.
Rig & Handling
The deck layout is configured for short-handed sailing with all lines running aft from the mast through line stoppers to winches on the cabin top. The main sheet traveler is located on the coach roof forward of the companionway and dodger, keeping it out of the cockpit, and the mainsheet itself runs to a cabin-top winch. A single wheel gives the helmsman access to sheet winches on both sides while maintaining good visibility of the sails. For cruising duties, the boat comes equipped with a full anchoring system that includes a chain locker, an electric windlass, and an anchor roller integrated into the bowsprit.
Accommodations
Despite the compact dimensions inherent to a trailerable 34-foot hull, the interior is arranged to serve a cruising couple or small family. The forward cabin contains a V-berth, with a small head compartment located just aft of it to port. A second double berth is tucked under the cockpit aft on the port side. The saloon centers around a U-shaped dinette with a drop-leaf table that can seat four, while across from it, a combination settee and easy chairs with a small table between them converts to a child’s berth with a removable cushion in place. The cockpit itself is compact but spacious enough for six adults, and a small folding table allows for meals and sundowners on deck.
Galley & Systems
The galley is laid out for practical meal preparation at sea. It features a two-burner gimballed stove with space for a microwave oven beneath it. A side-loading fridge sits just aft of the stove, while large double sinks are positioned forward and nearly on the boat’s centerline, which helps with drainage on either tack.
The Verdict
The Seaward 32RK is a specialized tool for the adventurous cruiser who values access over all-out blue-water heft. It sacrifices some interior volume and the simplicity of a fixed keel to gain the ability to explore thin water, dry out on a beach, or hitch a ride on a trailer to a distant cruising ground. The Island Packet lineage promises solid construction, and the deck layout supports genuine short-handed sailing. For the right owner, the 32RK is less a compromise and more a key to a different kind of cruising life.
Pros
- Retracting keel enables upwind stability at 6’6” draft and navigation in under 2 feet of water when raised
- Raisable rudder and swim platform allow true shoal-draft capability and beaching
- Deck layout optimized for single or short-handed sailing with lines led aft
- Build quality backed by the craftsmen of the Island Packet family
- Trailerable design expands cruising range beyond a single home port
Cons
- Interior volume and berth sizes are modest, reflecting the trailerable hull form
