Design and Construction
Built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim, the Seaward 24 was judged well constructed by period testers. Low freeboard and a springy sheer give it a sleek, salty appearance rather than the slab-sided profile common among many small cruisers of its era.
The boat measures 24 feet overall, with a 22-foot waterline and an 8-foot beam. It displaces 3,100 pounds, including 1,100 pounds of lead ballast—a ballast-to-displacement ratio of 35 percent. That ballast helps this modest trailerable hull feel steadier than its size might suggest.
The stub keel and centerboard are central to the boat’s cruising role. Draft is 2 feet with the board raised and 3.5 feet with it lowered, combining access to shallow water with more draft when sailing.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The Seaward 24 carries a fractional Bermuda sloop rig, with the mast rising 32 feet above the waterline. Its 258-square-foot sail area drives the hull to a theoretical top speed of about 6.3 knots. Available headsails range from a storm jib and working jib to a 150 percent genoa. Testers identified the generous sailplan and long waterline for her size as key parts of the boat’s performance character.
Its average PHRF rating is 261. That puts the Seaward 24 among the slower-rated small cruisers, consistent with a boat intended for trailerable cruising rather than club racing.
The tiller-steered, transom-hung rudder and shallow board-up draft also make the boat easy to handle in tight launching and landing situations. Propulsion is provided by an outboard motor.
Accommodations
The Seaward 24 sleeps five. A double V-berth fills the bow cabin, a straight settee provides a berth in the main cabin, and a convertible double berth runs along the port side.
The galley is to port, just forward of the companionway ladder, and includes a two-burner stove, icebox, and sink. A refrigerator was optional. The accommodations plan reviewed by testers also showed a gimballed stove with an oven and space for a refrigerator.
The head is on the starboard side, just aft of the bow cabin. This arrangement keeps the wet locker close to the forepeak and away from the main sleeping spaces. In a 24-foot hull, five berths and a defined galley make a deliberate cruising statement rather than a weekender’s compromise.
Verdict
The Seaward 24 is a thoughtfully designed small cruiser that trades racing sharpness for trailerable, shallow-draft freedom and a genuine five-person interior. Hake’s disciplined design gives it a recognizable profile and a ballast-led sense of stability. The stub-keel and centerboard arrangement is the practical key to the boat’s dual life afloat and on the road.
Pros
- Stub keel and retractable centerboard suit shallow water and trailering
- Sleeps five, with a defined galley and head in a 24-foot hull
- Low freeboard and springy sheer create a sleek, salty appearance
- Lead ballast equal to 35 percent of displacement steadies the small hull
Cons
- A PHRF rating of 261 makes it slow against dedicated racer-cruisers
- Propulsion is by outboard motor
