Its defining features are a retractable bulb keel and matching transom-hung lifting rudder. Together, they let this 8,300-pound yacht explore shallow water and travel overland on a trailer. At the same time, its 30-foot-6-inch waterline, 43-foot mast, and 460-square-foot masthead-sloop sail plan give it the proportions of a substantial coastal cruiser. It was designed and entered production in 2006.
Design and Construction
The 32RK carries several established Hake signatures: a plumb stem, classic sheer, and vertical walk-through transom. Its solid-fiberglass hull has a lifting keel with a weighted bulb. Ballast is 2,400 pounds, giving the boat a ballast-to-displacement ratio of about 29 percent.
With a beam of 10 feet 6 inches, moderate displacement, and a hull speed of 7.41 knots, the boat is best understood as a beamy coastal cruiser rather than a racer.
An electric winch operates the lifting keel. With the keel down, the draft is 6.42 feet; retracted, the boat draws just 1.67 feet. That shallow draft allows it to operate in thin water or be transported overland on a trailer.
Rig and Handling
The boat carries a Bermuda-rigged masthead sloop sail plan with a bowsprit and 460 square feet of sail. Its transom-mounted lifting rudder is wheel-controlled. Paired with the lifting keel, it allows the boat’s entire underwater profile to be raised or lowered.
Tester reports describe “RK” as meaning “retracting keel.” They also note that sailors can lower the keel to whatever depth they want, then raise it again as the water begins to get thin. The keel can be adjusted to suit the available depth. A simple electric winch handles the work, keeping it from becoming a manual chore at the dock or anchorage.
Accommodations
The 32RK sleeps six in three double berths. A double V-berth fills the bow cabin, the U-shaped dinette converts into another double, and an aft cabin to port contains the third double berth. The head is also to port, just aft of the bow cabin.
An L-shaped galley sits to starboard, immediately forward of the companionway ladder, and includes a two-burner stove and double sink. The navigation station is opposite the galley, also to starboard. This arrangement groups the working stations on one side while leaving the port side for the head and sleeping space.
Machinery, Tankage, and Deck Features
A 29-horsepower Yanmar 3YM30 diesel provides auxiliary power. The 20-gallon fuel tank and 65-gallon fresh-water tank provide modest coastal range.
The vertical walk-through transom serves as more than a boarding platform. It includes a swimming ladder and a hot-and-cold shower, making it easier to rinse off without tracking water through the cabin.
Together, the retractable keel and rudder, electric keel winch, and transom shower shape the boat’s day-use character as much as its sail plan does.
Verdict
The Seaward 32RK is a specialized coastal cruiser for sailors who value shallow-water access and trailerability alongside accommodations for six. Its retracting keel and rudder are practical features rather than novelties, while the Hake-designed hull provides a roomy, useful interior within a 34-foot footprint.
The trade-off is the complexity and draft compromise inherent in a lifting-keel cruiser. Within its intended niche, however, the 32RK is coherent and well resolved.
Pros
- Retracting keel and rudder provide a 1.67-foot retracted draft and allow trailering
- Sleeps six in separate bow, dinette, and aft double berths
- Walk-through transom includes a swim ladder and hot-and-cold shower
- Electric keel winch reduces manual effort
Cons
- The 6.42-foot keel-down draft restricts access to some moorings compared with fixed-keel rivals of shallower draft
- The 20-gallon fuel capacity is limited for extended cruising
