Design and Construction
The 1260’s hulls are infused vinylester and polyester with a foam core, and the hull-deck joint is fiberglassed along its entire length to produce the most rigid structure possible anchor. A distinctive reverse sheer in the deck allows generous headroom in the belowdecks passageways while keeping freeboard low, and the proven Tri-Fold door system—a solid glass and metal structure—hinges up and out of the way to merge cockpit and saloon into one continuous space anchor. Narrow hulls and a deliberate effort to keep weight out of the ends minimize hobby-horsing, a trait that separates her from fuller-nosed charter cats.
Rig and Handling
The single-spreader aluminum mast and boom carry stainless steel wire rigging, with the main traveler lines mounted on a composite archway just aft and a hard Targa top stretching aft to that arch for helmsman protection anchor. Twin outboard helm stations let the driver sit well outboard for clear sightlines to the rig and course. A self-tacking jib makes tacking a matter of dropping the helm and walking to the other wheel. In testing, the boat easily made 7 knots hard on the wind at 45 degrees true in 15 knots on Biscayne Bay, and off the wind she logged 8-plus knots with only the working jib hoisted anchor.
Power and Propulsion
Twin 29hp Yanmar diesels drive the 1260; at 1,200 rpm they scooted the test boat along at 4.7 knots, and a moderate 2,000 rpm produced 6.9 knots anchor. With 126 gallons of fuel and 185 of water, the platform is set for extended coastal or bluewater stretches without constant replenishment.
Accommodations
Buyers choose between an owner’s three-cabin version, where the entire port hull becomes a single stateroom, and a four-cabin charter layout. An inline galley sits down in the starboard hull, freeing the saloon for a massive U-shaped settee that converts to a lounging day bed anchor. Paired massive hinged windows forward in the saloon deliver strong ventilation in heat while securing the space when needed.
The Verdict
The Seawind 1260 is a thoughtfully evolved cruising cat that trades maximum volume for rigidity, light-air performance, and a single-level indoor-outdoor living concept. The design by Richard Ward reflects a continued development from the 1160 and 1250 platforms.
Pros
- Fully fiberglassed hull-deck joint and foam-core infused hulls for structural rigidity
- Reverse sheer and narrow hulls cut freeboard and hobby-horsing
- Tri-Fold door creates one flush cockpit-saloon space
- Twin helms, self-tacking jib, and arch-mounted traveler simplify handling
- Strong light-air numbers (7 knots at 45° TWA in 15 knots)
Cons
- Working jib alone limits offwind speed potential versus a larger reacher
- Three-cabin owner layout sacrifices a hull’s berth count for stateroom space
