Design and Construction
The North Beach 24 carries a centreboard keel arranged as a shallow attached box keel of 15 cm width, fabricated from 12 mm steel with a 20 mm steel sole, into which a full-laminate centreboard disappears completely to permit drying out anchor. That board is fitted with Teflon wear strips and worked by rod and tackle, and its ballast is sufficient only to keep it down — it contributes nothing to stability. What gives the boat its footing is the hull itself: broad on the waterline with fairly hard bilges, the form delivers substantial form stability, which matters because the shoal arrangement trades deep-ballast security for draft flexibility. The hull and deck are of full foam-sandwich construction, while the standard palette pairs a dark-green hull with cream deck, superstructure, and cockpit. A short, low superstructure helps keep the profile modest, and the builder achieved real volume below through a large 80 × 80 cm sliding hatch above the companionway, giving 1.95 m standing headroom under a sprayhood and 1.65 m with the hatch closed.
Rig and Handling
The NB24 wears a cutter rig of intentionally simple character, with the backstay carried far aft so that running backstays could be omitted anchor. A roller-furling genoa lives on a retractable bowsprit meant for broad reaches and light air, while a self-tacking jib carries a reef for contracted sailing. The mast is easily struck using a sprenkel, and with the centreboard lifted the yacht draws as little as 2.79 ft, opening shallow creeks and tidal harbours. The 271 sq ft sail plan, set against a displacement of 6,173 lb with 46% ballast ratio, yields a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 12.88 — enough to keep her moving without demanding a large crew. Her capsize angle of 120 to 130 degrees and a capsize screening value of 1.79 place her firmly among stable seaworthy cruisers rather than dinghy-like dayboats.
Accommodations
Below, the North Beach 24 provides a proper cabin with sleeping space for five — three berths measuring 1.90 m and a pair at 2.00 m — though the two forward berths could be omitted on request. The chart table slides under the cockpit bench to free floor space, and the saloon table folds on both sides and can be swung entirely clear. The galley places stove and sink to port, while the toilet sits centrally forward where it keeps good fall and stays above the waterline. A 60 × 60 cm foredeck hatch turns the bow into useful stowage, and the cockpit itself is genuinely roomy: two-metre benches and a lowered bridgedeck, with wide side decks and a large foredeck surrounding it. The mandatory liferaft stows under the aft cockpit bench.
Refits and Ownership
The inboard diesel is a Yanmar of either 6.6 kW (9 hp) or 14 hp, set in a hull whose fuel tank is built into the keel, driving a cruising speed of six to seven knots. Sails could be had in white or cream on order. With only 45 built, the North Beach 24 remains a scarce but coherent proposition — a yacht conceived by a designer sailing his own lineage, not a marketing exercise.
The Verdict
The North Beach 24 is a thoughtfully resolved small cruiser: a shoal-draft centreboarder with real interior volume, sound form stability, and a simple, self-sufficient rig. Its scarcity and purpose-built details reward the buyer who values tidal range and sheltered-water exploration over speed or glamour.
Pros
- Centreboard retracts fully into a steel box keel for drying out and 2.79 ft minimum draft
- Broad waterline and hard bilges give strong form stability; capsize angle 120–130°
- Full five-berth interior with clever space-saving table and chart stowage
- Simple cutter rig with far-aft backstay needs no running backstays
Cons
- Only 45 built — limited second-hand availability
- Centreboard adds mechanical complexity versus a fixed keel
- Low superstructure and modest headroom when hatch is closed (1.65 m)
