The German shipyard Sailart has been an established name in the segment for inland and sheltered coastal areas for many years with a wide range of trailerable small cruisers. The new Sailart 19 is now set to add a modern touch. Visually, the boat is already a real eye-catcher: a wide waterline with chines, which also promises fast planing with the planned gennaker on the fixed bowsprit. Positive stem in the style of the new Volvo ocean racers. Wide flared mainsail, with carbon fibre boom and laminated sails on request.
On deck, the small boat inspires confidence: high-quality fittings from Harken and Spinlock, a furling system for the headsail recessed in the deck, very solid railing supports and, as a smart gimmick, retractable cleats. There is space for the optional Torqeedo electric outboard motor in the forecastle, and the connections for the battery go into the forecastle via plugs. A clever handle on the outboard makes it easy to stow in the cockpit. The shipyard attached great importance to this, because otherwise the slack-side pusher would drag in the water when folded up.
Below deck, the ship is very spacious, partly due to the rather high-sided hull, with four berths offering a surprising amount of space (side berths 2.23 x 0.76 m, foredeck 2.00 x 2.00/approx. 0.5 m). Well-finished and inexpensive stowage pockets can be added according to the owner's requirements by means of an all-round slide rail. A clamping system for sliding plastic stowage boxes at the foot of the mast can extend the space. The storage space under the cushions is somewhat smaller, but the Sailart has foam-filled cavities that make the boat unsinkable - a good safety feature for a small cruiser. The hull and deck are sandwich laminates with a foam core.
Depending on preference, the boat is available with a fixed keel or a swing keel, which reduces the draught from 1.3 metres to just 60 centimetres. The 180-kilogram swing keel has a lead bomb, while the fixed keel version weighs 240 kilos. The workmanship below and on deck makes a very, very solid impression.
The 25-square-metre gennaker is used on a fixed gennaker nose and is designed to give the boat plenty of legs, but costs 1400 euros extra.
Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
