Our neighbour Poland has been the engine of innovation for small yachts for years, with its shipyards constantly supplying us with new Deltanias, Fans, Henks, Skippis, Sportinas and Vikos. If it weren't for these companies, the flow of new products in the sub-28-foot segment would quickly dry up. Yet the largest sailing area in Poland is not the Baltic Sea, but the Masurian Lake District, which covers 1700 square kilometres. Special feature: the shallow water depth.
It is therefore understandable that the vast majority of small cruisers built in this country do not have a keel, but are equipped with a variable draught. Shallow banks can be reached, launching is uncomplicated and trailer transport is simple.
Convincing arguments that also had many supporters in Germany a few decades ago. Dinghy cruisers of all sizes were a familiar sight, both inland and offshore. No wonder, as this production method was not only perfect for mudflats, fjords and lakes, but also extremely cost-effective: the boats were light, the technology simple. Those who wanted a little more stability combined the centreboard with internal ballast. The gaff cutter "Dulcibella" from the "Riddle of the Sandbank" is the best-known representative of this type.
However, with ever larger, mass-produced keel yachts, the centreboard boat increasingly disappeared from the waters, and it is only in recent years that the centreboard cruiser has experienced a renaissance as an entry-level boat. The concept is simple: a centreboard box with an unprofiled steel centreboard sits amidships in a hull that is high enough to live in, with several hundred kilograms of iron granulate laminated into the bilge all around. Add to this an attached, folding rudder and you have a boat with sufficient stability for shallow waters.
But how safe is such a boat? We put it to the test.
In addition:
Construction: Is interior ballast less safe than classic concepts? A theoretical consideration.
Practice: When and how small cruisers capsize. Tests and comparison with old and new boat.
Knowledge: How good seamanship can reduce the risk of capsizing. Manoeuvring and practical tips.
Trend: Are keel yachts as safe as they were 20 years ago? Designers provide answers.
