BOATS
four adults, the position of the sheets
enables her to be easily single-handed.
The F20 only has provision for an
outboard but, thanks to the twin rudders,
this is positioned centrally on the transom.
While you won’t get any useful prop wash,
the outboard can be steered for
manoeuvring into tight spaces.
Below she has a spacious and practical
Windhunter 19
Built in Poland, the design of the
gaff-rigged, GRP Windhunter 19 was
inspired by the old Bristol Channel
working boats.
Though most compact trailer-sailers
have gone the swing-, or lifting-keel route,
usually with added water ballast, the WH19
has a long, fixed shoal keel containing
400kg (881lb) of lead ballast. This, plus the
additional stability created by her ample
beam, results in a stiff boat that is easily
capable of cruising northern European
coastal waters safely and in comfort.
Being a long keel also adds to her
directional stability too, something some
of the centre-boarders can lack, and deep
bilge-boards mean she can take the
ground safely and remain level – in fact
she’s pretty much a triple-keeler. The
downside of fixed ballast is extra towing
weight which, at around 1.5 tonnes calls
for a fairly powerful towing vehicle.
Her deep, self-draining cockpit isn’t
huge, but it’s secure with high coamings
and all sails can be easily controlled from
here with coaming-mounted jib sheet
winches and main sheet horse astern.
She has a transom-hung rudder and an
outboard well, into which a 5hp motor
mounts. Although the prop is ahead of the
rudder, being offset from the centrelinedoes mean you lose the benefit of
propwash over the rudder when close-
quarter manoeuvring.
Her rig is a simple sloop with a
high-peaked gaff mainsail and a smallish
jib tacked down on a wooden bowsprit.
Her sail area isn’t huge, but this is ideal for
those who want easy control when
single-handing. Spars can be of either
wood or aluminium.
Having a long cabin might reduceopen-plan layout with a structural inner
moulding creating the furniture, as well as
providing enough hull rigidity to do away
with bulkheads. There are bunks for four
adults on a vee-berth and settees, and
basic facilities for living aboard such as
dry stowage, a small galley cabinet and
an optional loo. Headroom is 1.45m (4ft
9in) maximum and there’s a privacycurtain across the forepeak.
Although not as easy to launch and
recover as some, due to her keel
protrusion when lifted, she is trailerable.
Having fixed ballast adds to the gross
towing weight, however, which is a hefty
1,500kg (3,307lb) all up.
Contact Beneteau Yachts,
http://www.beneteau.comcockpit space, but the payback is below,
where she feels like a 22-footer at least.
There’s a large vee-berth, a good galley
area with a GRP moulding containing sink,
hob and stowage and two lengthy quarter
berths. However, if you choose the 3-berth
model you get something that is very rare
in a boat of this size – a separate, private
heads compartment.
Contact Character Boats UK, 07976
406768, http://www.characterboats.co.ukJean Marie Liot/BeneteauWindhunter 19
is inspired by
Bristol Channel
working boatsBeneteau First 20 is a trailable,
modern, mini cruiser/racer