Southerly 115 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Northshore built the 115 as a solid hand-laid fiberglass hull below the waterline, with balsa-cored topsides and deck except in load areas where plywood core was substituted anchor. The hull-to-deck joint sits at the top of a bulwark, through-bolted and chemically bonded, and is capped by a teak rail — a detail that also frames the teak-capped raised bulwarks enhancing deck safety. A fiberglass floor and furniture pan covers the swing-keel well, and a separate fiberglass headliner finishes the overhead. Early boats were Carter's work; later Series I through III and the Mk II onward became a collaboration between Carter, Humphreys, and Northshore. The Mk I carried a cast-iron "pancake" of 4,962 pounds inside, plus a hydraulically operated 2,016-pound iron swing keel for 6,978 pounds total ballast. Humphreys' modifications for the Mk II and later added keel weight, raising total ballast to 7,597 pounds while giving the foil greater depth and lift anchor.

Rig and Handling

The rig is a deck-stepped Seldén double-spreader aluminum mast carried on a cabin compression post, with all chainplates inboard toward the wide cabin trunk that restricts sidedeck space. A single chainplate anchors upper and intermediate shrouds each side, lowers attach aft, and the masthead backstay splits to port and starboard chainplates with a block-and-tackle adjuster. The Seldén boom carries internal reefing lines and a rigid vang; a Lewmar halyard winch sits port of the mast, with foldout steps both sides. A short stainless sprit to port sets an asymmetric spinnaker tack forward of the headstay. On the water, test sailors found her making just over 6 knots on a beam reach and 5.5 knots to windward at 35 degrees apparent anchor; the builder claimed she can be sailed safely with the keel up or down. The Mk I's single shallow rudder ventilated as she heeled, a fault Humphreys corrected by fitting twin rudders that hold directional control when heeled while keeping shallow draft anchor.

Accommodations

Below, the 115 is richly finished with teak ceiling and well-made joinery. Forward, an over/under pair of comfortable singles replaces the usual cramped V-berth. The saloon's U-shaped port settee wraps a table on the compression post; the L-shaped galley forward of the companionway to port has a two-basin sink with teak cover. Aft, a step up leads to a spacious owner's stateroom with a nearly king-size berth. One owner report notes headroom is limited, partly to house the swing-keel mechanism anchor. The cockpit and deck are plainly laid out for North Sea and Channel cruising rather than marina lounging.

Known Issues

The Mk I rudder's ventilation tendency is a historical design defect resolved in later models. Cosmetic care varies by color: light blue gelcoat options fade and craze faster than white anchor. The cast-iron keel and plate must be periodically refinished, as rust eventually works through primer and barrier coats. Original boats lacked GFCI interior outlets, and the factory shaft seal used a light-gauge bronze hose barb that grows fragile with age. Cockpit entry and exit, especially under a dodger or bimini, was awkward in period testing — a consequence of the North Sea-inspired cockpit geometry.

Refits and Ownership

Late Mk IV boats added a joystick for the bow thruster at the pedestal, where keel-raise/lower controls already lived alongside the Whitlock cable-and-quadrant steering. A helm display helps assess keel depth, and the hydraulic keel system makes the draft change quick and easy. Surveyed examples carried Yanmar diesels on shaft drive. The Lewmar Torque Tube steering is regarded as nearly bulletproof and oversized for the displacement.

The Verdict

The Southerly 115 is a thoughtfully engineered variable-draft cruiser whose successive generations corrected early steering faults and grew ballast for offshore poise. Its interior is unusually refined for the draft flexibility it offers, and the later twin-rudder hulls are the ones to seek.

Pros