Practical Boat Owner’s comparison with the Corribee Mk II placed the Mk III among the more pleasing low-cost pocket cruisers afloat. It described a pretty boat with serpentine curves and a reputation as a tough little vessel.
Design and Construction
Redesigned in 1967, the Mk III introduced a round bottom and all-GRP construction, marking a clean break from earlier mixed-material builds. She measures just over 17 feet, with a waterline length of 14 feet and a beam of 6.58 feet. Her light 1,288-pound displacement includes 450 pounds of iron ballast.
Most Mk IIIs are bilge keelers, although some boats left the mold with a fin keel. This configuration identifies her as a small coastal cruiser rather than a racer. Most examples observed in service have a skeg ahead of a rudder mounted beneath the hull instead of on the transom. The review noted that this underbody arrangement brings both advantages and significant disadvantages, while the skeg provides some protection for the rudder stock.
The transom incorporates a marvellous semi-outboard well. This distinctive cutout allows the engine to sit semi-inboard rather than hanging from a bracket on the stern.
Rig, Handling, and Power
The masthead-sloop rig carries 165 square feet of sail area. The round-bilge hull prioritizes seaworthiness and trailability over cabin volume.
Under power, the semi-inboard outboard installation is a defining feature. It is less prone to cavitation than an engine on a transom bracket, is easy for the crew to reach and raise, and avoids burdening the stern with excess weight. The installation is also less vulnerable when the boat is moored.
Practical Boat Owner found the Silhouette the better of the two pocket cruisers when motoring or motor-sailing—a useful quality for a couple gunkholing in light-air estuaries.
Accommodation
The Silhouette Mk III is essentially a two-person boat, well suited to a couple who can travel light. Even then, the cabin is compact, and it becomes cramped with small children aboard.
The limited interior reflects the boat’s 6.58-foot beam and round-bilge hull. She wasn’t conceived as a family weekender for four; instead, the accommodation plan suits a pair prepared to accept the constraints of a 17-foot hull.
Trailing and Ownership
Silhouettes often come with a trailer, but they’re heavy boats. Launching and recovery are significant operations that require careful planning and execution rather than a casual visit to the ramp.
For a mainly solo sailor, the Silhouette’s toughness and attractive curves have clear appeal. However, her weight and underwater profile mean she’s no easy trailer-sailer, despite trailers frequently being included in sales packages.
Verdict
The Silhouette Mk III is a pretty, tough little cruiser with bilge keels, a clever semi-inboard outboard well, and a hull that rewards careful handling. She’s best suited to a couple who value character and coastal capability more than cabin space—and who can manage the realities of towing, launching, and recovering a heavy small boat.
Pros
- All-GRP, round-bottom hull
- Bilge keels, with a rare fin-keel option
- Semi-inboard outboard well reduces cavitation and makes the engine easier to reach
- 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; launching and recovery require planning
- Underbody rudder has noted disadvantages compared with transom-hung types
