Design Brief & Intent
The primary mission of the Seaward 46 RK is to enable blue-water capability alongside absolute shoal-draft freedom. It was designed to cater to the cruising couple or family who refuses to be restricted by draft limitations when navigating the thin waters of the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, the Chesapeake, or the Great Lakes, yet demands the structural integrity of an offshore passagemaker. The boat is characterized by a solid fiberglass laminate schedule below the waterline, transitionally merging into a Divinycell foam-cored composite structure on the topsides and deck to save weight and maximize strength. The core structure is reinforced by a massive, curved composite bulkhead integrated into the interior to distribute the substantial loads of the rig and the heavy keel.
Below deck, the boat departs from traditional layout conventions to deliver a highly functional, raised pilothouse design. The cabin sole is split into levels, with the raised central salon offering near-panoramic, 360-degree views of the horizon 9. This area houses a dedicated interior navigation station with a deluxe leather command chair, complete with secondary engine and autopilot controls, allowing the captain to stand a watch protected from the elements. Forward, the master stateroom feels spacious, benefiting from an island queen berth, a dedicated vanity, and a private en suite head with a separate shower stall. Two double aft guest staterooms flank a second head to port. The midship galley features hand-crafted joinery, teak and holly soles, and unique cane-covered cabinet doors designed to permit airflow in humid marine environments. Standard luxury amenities, such as built-in espresso machines and icemakers, speak to the boat’s premium identity.
Variations & Configurations
The hallmark of the Seaward 46 RK is its extraordinary adaptability under the water. The standard keel is a vertically lifting high-aspect-ratio foil tipped with a 7,500-pound lead bulb. By utilizing a heavy-duty electric winch and high-molecular-weight plastic guide sleeves, the draft can be adjusted on the fly from a deep-water stance of seven and a half feet down to a mere two feet and five inches. This allows it to easily dry out on its flat bottom or beach. The twin rudders are likewise vertically retracting and transom-hung, meaning they can be adjusted to match the keel’s draft or raised completely out of the water at the dock to eliminate the need for anti-fouling paint.
Auxiliary power is another area where Hake Yachts offered interesting configurations. Buyers could choose between a standard single 75-horsepower turbocharged Yanmar diesel driving a single propeller protected by a skeg, or twin 54-horsepower Yanmars driving twin screws. The twin-engine option provides unparalleled redundancy and exceptional, catamaran-like maneuverability in tight marinas through opposite-rotating propellers. The sail plan is similarly optimized for short-handed crews, featuring a double-spreader masthead sloop rig with a standard self-tacking jib on an electric furler and either a traditional fully battened mainsail with a stack pack or an in-boom furling system.
Sailing Performance & Handling
Under sail, the Seaward 46 RK delivers a highly responsive, well-balanced ride that contradicts the slow-motion stereotypes of many centerboard cruisers. With a light-to-medium displacement-to-length ratio of 113.97, the hull is easily driven and shows minimal resistance, routinely reaching its theoretical hull speed of approximately nine knots and even surfing into double digits on a broad reach in a favorable swell. The generous sail area-to-displacement ratio of 19.9 provides plenty of power to drive the 23,000-pound monohull through choppy waters, keeping it remarkably nimble even in light-to-moderate air.
With the keel fully deployed, the high-aspect-ratio foil offers incredible lift, allowing the boat to tack through ninety degrees and hold its line close-hauled with minimal leeway. The twin-rudder design yields fingertip control and eliminates any tendency to stall out or round up, keeping the helm balanced up to thirty-five degrees of apparent wind. Off the wind, raising the keel halfway minimizes wetted surface area, resulting in a dramatic reduction in drag and boosting light-air performance. In terms of motion and safety, a capsize screening value of 1.86 ranks well below the offshore safety threshold, while a comfort ratio of 24.86 indicates a lively, modern cruiser motion that feels secure without being sluggish. The low center of gravity afforded by the concentrated lead bulb ensures that the boat maintains excellent righting moment regardless of draft position.
Known Issues & Triage
While the Seaward 46 RK is highly engineered, its mechanical complexity requires diligent maintenance. The core point of failure is the electric lifting keel mechanism. Raising and lowering the massive keel places immense tension on the electric winch and the high-strength stainless steel lift strap. Owners must inspect the strap regularly for fraying or corrosion; if the strap fails, the keel can drop, risking structural damage to the trunk. The winch motor must also be monitored for electrical wear and kept dry, although its location high above the waterline helps mitigate saltwater exposure.
The keel trunk itself is a critical maintenance zone. Lined with ultra-high-molecular-weight plastic guide pads, the tight clearances between the keel blade and the trunk can become clogged with marine growth if the boat remains stationary in warm, tropical waters for long periods. This growth can cause the keel to stick or jam during operation. To prevent this, owners must "exercise" the keel regularly by cycling it up and down, and periodically dive on the boat or beach it on a sandbar to clear any barnacles or algae from inside the trunk. Additionally, the twin retractable rudders operate via complex mechanical steering linkages combined with lift lines. These systems must be kept lubricated, and the rudder cassette tracks must be cleaned of debris to ensure smooth vertical movement.
Modernization & Upgrades
Because the Seaward 46 RK was built in small numbers for a very specific, tech-savvy clientele, many existing hulls are heavily customized and constantly updated. A major area of modernization for veteran owners is the transition to advanced electrical systems. Replacing older AGM batteries with large-capacity lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) banks has become a standard refit. This conversion is highly beneficial for powering the high-draw electric keel winch, electric sail-furling winches, and multiple zones of air conditioning without requiring continuous generator support.
In tandem with battery upgrades, owners frequently integrate higher-output solar arrays. Given the clean, uncluttered side decks and the large stainless steel arch over the cockpit—which houses the traveler—installing high-efficiency solar panels (often exceeding 350 watts) on top of the arch is a common and practical modification. Navigation electronics have also seen widespread upgrades, with owners replacing early Raymarine HybridTouch units with modern Axiom multifunction displays, solid-state radar, and forward-looking sonar, which is an invaluable asset when negotiating the extremely shallow anchorages this boat is uniquely capable of entering.
The Verdict
The Seaward 46 RK is a highly specialized, masterfully designed vessel that defies the traditional boundaries of monohull cruising. It represents a bold compromise-free solution for the offshore sailor who wants to explore the shallowest estuaries and coral reefs without sacrificing speed, safety, or structural integrity. While its complex mechanical systems demand careful maintenance and a higher degree of technical oversight than a standard fixed-keel cruiser, the payoff is a yacht of unparalleled versatility. For those who can find one on the secondary market, it stands as a unique, highly sought-after prize.
- True shoal-draft flexibility allowing entry into depths of under three feet.
- High-quality, robust construction from reputable builders with a strong glass-to-resin ratio 5.
- Excellent blue-water safety margins, backed by a low capsize screening value and balanced hull design.
- Catamaran-like maneuverability and redundancy with the twin-engine configuration.
- Spacious, panoramic raised pilothouse interior with excellent liveaboard amenities.
- Easily managed short-handed sail plan with self-tacking head sails and electric winches.
Cons
- High mechanical complexity with the lifting keel and dual rudder cassettes.
- Prone to keel jams if the internal trunk is not routinely cleared of marine growth.
- Scarce on the brokerage market, commanding a premium price when available.
- Steering linkages require more frequent inspection and lubrication than traditional single-rudder setups.
