Design and Construction
The Mk III was redesigned in 1967 with a round bottom and all-GRP construction, a clean break from any earlier mixed-material builds. She is a bilge keeler by type, though some examples left the mold with a fin keel instead, and most of the boats observed in service carry a skeg ahead of a rudder mounted underneath the hull rather than transom-hung. That underbody arrangement carries both advantages and significant disadvantages, as the review noted, though the skeg itself adds a measure of protection to the rudder stock. The transom is distinguished by a marvellous semi-outboard well cut out of its structure, a detail that lets the engine sit semi-inboard rather than bolted to the stern.
Rig and Power
The masthead-sloop rig spans 165 square feet of sail area. Under power, the semi-inboard outboard placement is the defining trait: it is less prone to cavitation than a transom bracket, easy for the crew to reach and raise, and it does not load the stern with excess weight. The installation is also less vulnerable when the boat is moored. Practical Boat Owner found that when motoring or motor-sailing, the Silhouette is the better of the two pocket cruisers compared, a useful attribute for a couple gunkholing in light-air estuaries.
Accommodations
Below, the Silhouette Mk III is more of a two-person boat ideal for a couple, but a bit cramped even with little kids. The compact interior matches the 6.58-foot beam and the round-bilge hull, which prioritizes seaworthiness and trailability over cabin volume. She is not conceived as a family weekender for four; the accommodation plan rewards a pair who can travel light and accept the constraints of a 17-foot hull.
Trailing and Ownership
Silhouettes often come with a trailer, but they are heavy, and launch and recovery are a significant operation that will require careful planning and execution rather than a casual ramp visit. For the mainly solo sailor, the boat's toughness and curves have their appeal, yet the weight and the underwater profile mean she is no easy trailer-sailer despite the frequent presence of a trailer in the sales package.
The Verdict
The Silhouette Mk III is a pretty, tough little bilge-keel cruiser with a clever semi-inboard outboard well and a hull that rewards careful handling. She is best suited to a couple who value character and coastal capability over space, and who can manage the realities of a heavy small boat on a trailer.
Pros
- All-GRP round-bottom hull with bilge-keel or rare fin-keel option
- Semi-inboard outboard well reduces cavitation and eases engine access
- Better motoring manners than comparable pocket cruisers
- Tough construction and attractive serpentine lines
Cons
- Cramped below even for a couple with small children
- Heavy for a trailer-sailer; launch and recovery need planning
- Underbody rudder has noted disadvantages versus transom-hung types
