Design and Construction
The GK 24 is a purposeful small racer-cruiser rather than a pocket cruiser shaped by compromise. Its flush deck and 9 ft 4 in beam provide a surprising amount of space below for a 24-footer, although the hull is conservative by modern standards and was of moderate displacement for its day.
Westerly built the GK 24 to Lloyd's Series Production standards from the company's founding, continuing its lineage of certified GRP construction. It has a solid fiberglass hull and iron ballast.
The model was offered in two forms: Quarter Ton race trim and cruiser-racer trim, the latter with a smaller rig and shallower draught. Buyers could also choose an outboard or an inboard diesel. The cruiser-racer sacrificed some sail power for easier handling and a shoaler keel, but both versions retained the same essential character: a wide, responsive hull.
Rig, Sailing Performance, and Handling
As one reviewer put it, the GK 24 is definitely a sailing boat, thanks to its Quarter Ton racing ancestry. That heritage shows in its relatively large rig; the fractionally rigged example had a 35-foot mast.
Under sail, the GK 24 responds readily to the helm and never becomes particularly heavy, even when heeled. However, it carries some weather helm when beating and lacks a great deal of inherent directional stability. The helm therefore needs fairly constant attention or an autopilot, although it can be lashed for short periods.
Off the wind, the boat becomes more demanding. On a beam reach under spinnaker, the helm often has to be held hard over to fend off a broach. The powerful rig also calls for early reefing: compared with similar small cruisers, the GK 24 needs to be reefed sooner to shed power.
In light air, it is genuinely quick and can outpace many cruising boats, including 30-footers. Under mainsail and No. 1 genoa, it heels noticeably but can hold full sail in 15–18 knots apparent.
The boat's initial tenderness is evident at the dock, where it heels as soon as someone steps aboard. In a choppy sea, its short length produces rapid pitching that can stall progress in light winds. Beyond exposed headlands, where the wave period lengthens, it rides over the seas without losing much way.
Accommodation
Below, the broad beam pays off in usable space. The GK 24 sleeps four or five and has a separate heads compartment, a notable concession to cruising in a 24-foot, racer-derived hull.
The trade-off is headroom. There is only sitting headroom throughout, which keeps the flush deck low and the center of gravity down but limits comfort for taller owners. That compromise is central to the design: this is a wide, low, quick hull that puts sailing ability and berth count ahead of standing room.
Engine and Close-Quarters Handling
The 7 horsepower engine—whether the original inboard diesel or the outboard variant—pushes the hull to about 5.5 knots maximum in flat water with a 7x13 propeller. The rudder remains balanced under forward power, while good maneuverability astern helps with single-handed approaches to a pontoon.
Known Issues
The principal documented structural weakness concerns the steering. On a pair of sister boats, the stainless straps securing the rudder cracked and failed in heavy seas. Any survey should inspect the rudder attachment straps closely, particularly on boats that have been used offshore or in rough water.
Aside from this issue, the period record focuses more on handling quirks than on systemic defects.
Ownership and Cruising Use
The GK 24 suits a sailor who wants an easily handled, capable cruising yacht without the enormous lightweight overlapping genoas used during its racing days. Once stripped of those extreme racing sails, it makes an excellent small cruiser.
Its responsiveness and modest power demands favor an owner who sails often and expects the boat to reward attention rather than forgive its absence.
The Verdict
The GK 24 wears its Quarter Ton bloodline openly. It is quick, responsive, and roomy for its length, but it is also directionally loose and depends on an attentive helm. This is a sailor's 24-footer rather than a lounger’s, and the rudder-strap issue is the principal fault a buyer must reckon with.
Pros
- The wide beam provides four or five berths and a separate heads in a 24-foot hull.
- Light-air speed exceeds that of many larger cruising boats.
- It is easily handled as a cruiser without its extreme racing genoas.
- Good maneuverability astern helps with single-handed docking.
Cons
- Rudder attachment straps have failed in heavy seas on multiple boats.
- Limited directional stability requires constant attention at the helm.
- There is only sitting headroom throughout.
- The short hull pitches rapidly in chop and can stall in light air.
