Design Philosophy and Hull Form
Ward has been consistent across all his designs: the Seawind range prioritizes open cockpit-to-saloon flow over pure speed, and the 1160 represents the sharpest expression of that principle yet. It sits between the more charter-oriented 1200 and the popular, open-feeling 1000 — a marriage of cruisability and the 1000's openness that Ward achieved through a set of three folding panel doors rather than a fixed wall.
The hulls themselves reflect Ward's performance philosophy. Asymmetrical hulls with flare on the inside of the bows, carried well aft above the waterline, add interior volume while Ward claims they cushion the ride and reduce bridgedeck slamming. The hull form uses near-plumb, sharp stems and sinuous transom curves. Hull length-to-beam ratio runs toward the wider end for production cruising cats — a deliberate trade-off that prioritizes payload capacity and a higher prismatic coefficient over top-end speed.
Construction in the production run evolved significantly. The hull and deck of early boats used conventional hand layup; newer Seawinds transitioned to resin infusion using closed molds, controlled-environment curing, and vacuum pressure, a partnership with New Zealand engineering firm High Modulus that reduced resin content, improved wet-out, and strengthened the core-to-skin bond. Later production shifted to Vietnam.
Rig and Sailing Behavior
The 1160's rig is uncomplicated and well-chosen. A fully battened, big-roach mainsail sheets to a traveler mounted on the arch, keeping the traveler accessible and the boom well clear of the cockpit. The headsail is a self-tacking jib on an arc of foredeck track, with blocks and fairleads set to maintain even tension across a useful range of headings. When more power is wanted, a fold-down bowsprit carries an optional screecher that can supercharge apparent wind speed.
Under sail in real conditions, the boat earns its performance credentials. In a seven-knot breeze, main and self-tacking jib produced three knots; substituting the reacher on a beam reach brought boat speed up to match wind speed. At twelve knots of true wind, the 1160 pointed with and out-footed a forty-foot monohull racer-cruiser during comparative trials. Delivery skippers consulted by Practical Sailor noted that the cat doesn't dive or sail around the leeward bow the way most multihulls do — a consequence of hull rocker, good-sized rudders, and a shallow forefoot that together make the boat tack easily and maintain its way through a tack more like a monohull than most production cats manage.
One handling point worth noting: early builds had a steering system that was harder to turn than testers liked. Seawind subsequently redesigned the tiller system with pull-pull cables to minimize friction, improving helm feel meaningfully.
Under power, twin Yanmar diesel saildrives deliver noise and vibration levels that are remarkably low even at high revs, with a cruise of 6.4 knots at 2,600 rpm and a top of 7.7 knots at 3,400 rpm. Twin-screw maneuverability is the expected benefit.
The Tri-Fold Saloon and Outdoor Living
The central architectural trick of the 1160 is its ingenious three-part partition that converts the saloon boundary into either a secure offshore enclosure or a fully open indoor/outdoor space. Folded and hoisted, the panels stow overhead against the rigid center section of the targa, yielding unhindered, single-level access between the roomy saloon and the open cockpit. Deployed and secured, the same assembly can be locked in place in heavy seas or when leaving the boat, with a doubly fail-safe mechanism using both lanyard and latch.
The helm arrangement is unconventional: twin helm stations sit opposite each other on the saloon bulkhead, with nav instruments accessible through an open window. The cook gets both light and a view through the hull window in the starboard hull galley, which features grey polystone counters, a three-burner propane stove, double stainless steel sinks, a front-opening refrigerator, and a dedicated deep freezer. Stowage is ample. The downside shared with virtually every cat in this class is shuttling dishes up and down between hull galley and main saloon.
Accommodations
The 1160 was offered in three- and four-cabin configurations. The three-cabin "owner's version" puts an athwartships queen forward in the port hull with easy egress for night watches and a generous head aft featuring a separate shower stall. The stand-up shower compartment behind plexiglass doors was singled out by reviewers as offering more elbow room than sailors generally expect on a boat of this size.
Due to its oversized hull windows, the 1160 is exceptionally bright belowdeck, which compensates for an interior that reads as more functional than traditionally warm in some builds. The fixed side windows in the main hull don't allow for cross ventilation — a real limitation in the tropics, partially addressed by overhead hatches and fans. Air-conditioning ducts are built into the structure, making a retrofit straightforward.
The four-cabin layout substitutes a second head for the nav station and fits doubles at the ends of each hull. The after cabins in this configuration are described as tight, with berths not much over six feet, though inward-facing opening ports improve airflow.
Known Issues and Practical Concerns
Several issues recur across both reviews. Engine access in the saildrive configuration is said to be on the tight side — one example cited is accessing the dipstick via a panel in the head, which reviewers found convoluted. Buyers planning to live aboard should audit service access points before purchase and consider the outboard alternative, which eliminates the saildrive access problem entirely.
Helm visibility drew criticism. The helmsman's forward sight line runs through the saloon windows; one reviewer noted that helmsmen were seen sitting on one butt cheek near the winches to view forward — a workable but imperfect solution that represents a genuine ergonomic compromise.
Interior finish quality varied with build year. Early examples had carpeted patches below and lackluster woodwork; the criticism is that for a boat at its price point, some areas did not match expectations. Later builds from the Vietnam facility improved upholstery options and finishes, making build-year awareness important when evaluating a specific hull.
The wide hull beam, which delivers interior volume, comes at a performance cost. The 1160's hull length-to-beam ratio of 7.7 places it among the more beamy production cats, comparable to the Prout 38. This limits top-end speed and adds parasitic drag in light air — an honest trade-off for a boat aimed at family cruising rather than passage racing.
Refits and Long-Term Ownership
The stub-keel arrangement, a consistent Seawind design choice, has tangible maintenance benefits. The keels are thick glass, making any damage easily repaired. They also provide standing-off protection for rudders and propellers when grounding on sand — a realistic scenario for a boat commonly sailed in the Whitsundays and other shoal-dotted cruising grounds. Ward's explicit rationale for choosing keels over daggerboards prioritizes practicality, simplicity, and grounding protection over the upwind efficiency daggerboards offer.
The transition from hand layup to resin infusion mid-production means hull condition assessment should account for build year: foam core with vinylester resin infusion in later hulls offers improved laminate integrity. The water tankage of 185 gallons and 95-gallon fuel capacity are reasonable for extended passages, though an offshore passage-making campaign would benefit from a watermaker installation. The boat carried a report of weathering a three-day storm in the Tasman Sea, which Practical Sailor cited as evidence of structural integrity under sustained load.
The Verdict
The Seawind 1160 is the product of a builder who understood what cruising families actually do aboard a boat rather than what marketing materials imagine. The seamless indoor-outdoor cockpit-saloon, the tri-fold door system, the self-tacking jib, and the capable-but-approachable rig make it genuinely easy to live on and sail short-handed. It is not the fastest cat in its class, and the wide hulls make that a permanent ceiling, not a tuning problem. Interior finish and engine access are real concerns on earlier hulls. But the structural reputation, the ergonomic intelligence of the layout, and the refinements introduced through the production run make the 1160 a serious choice for passagemaking families who value comfort and livability over upwind VMG.
Pros
- Tri-fold saloon partition enables true indoor-outdoor living without sacrificing offshore security
- Self-tacking jib and accessible traveler make single-handed operation practical
- Hull windows deliver exceptional below-decks brightness
- Stub keels protect rudders and drives; easy to repair after grounding
- Twin-screw maneuverability with remarkably low noise and vibration under power
- Resin-infusion construction on later hulls improves laminate quality
Cons
- Wide hulls limit top-end speed and light-air performance relative to narrower competitors
- Engine access in saildrive configuration is tight and convoluted on some service points
- Fixed side windows in main cabins restrict cross ventilation
- Forward visibility from helm requires awkward positioning to see past the saloon
- Interior finish on early builds does not match the price point
