Shipmate Senior Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull Type

Monohull · centerboard

Rig

Fractional Sloop

LOA

16.25' · 4.95 m

Disp.

970 lbs · 440 kg

First year

1970

The Shipmate Senior, designed by the late Bill Beavis and primarily produced during the 1970s and 1980s, stands as a definitive example of the British "pocket cruiser" philosophy. Built largely by Shipmate Boats in the United Kingdom, this 16foot (4.83m) microyacht was engineered to bridge the gap between a highperformance dinghy and a coastal cruiser. Its design reflects the specific demands of the UK’s East Coast and the Norfolk Broads—areas requiring a shallow draft for tidal navigation but enough displacement to handle choppy estuaries. Constructed of heavyduty Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) often accented with substantial teak or mahogany brightwork, the Senior achieved a loyal following among sailors who prioritized traditional aesthetics and trailerability over modern planing speeds.