GibSea 352

[George666]

Has anyone experience of this boat?

 

[stevebrassett]

I sailed on one on my Day Skipper course. It had plenty of space on it, but it sailed like a pig. Didn't want to tack, and waves slapped against the bottom something rotten - and it was a fin keeler.

 

[bobgoode]

Nice boats....sailed Dart Sailing Schools "Dartagnian" many years ago. Comfy inside and fine under power but nothing to write home about under sail, but then again nothing too bad under sail either.

 

[stevebrassett]

That was the one I sailed on. We had strong winds all week 6/7+, and I didn't like its sailing capabilities at all.

 

[KREW2]

[ QUOTE ]
Didn't want to tack

[/ QUOTE ]
What you, or the boat?

 

[stevebrassett]

Primarily the boat, but after a few attempts, I wasn't too keen, either.

 

[kengill]

Yoy'll find that the Gib'sea 96 Master has a larger stern cabin with longer bunks and it sails superbly. Raced in a gale in the Baltic and around the east coast. Lift keel version goes just about anywhere. Fin keel version will hold its own against all but the most modern of superslicky racers IMHO.

Its also £20,000 cheaper!!!!

 

[George666]

Thanks to all respondents. Has anyone else experience of the Gib'Sea 96 (Master)?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Sailed one a few times, and it seemed quite a nice boat... fun to helm....

 

[KathyD]

We bought our boat having read these comments. We have a gibsea master 35 which is the single aft version. Fortunately we have found it to sail and tack very well. Ours has has a shoal draft,long fin, heavy keel. Very light on the helm and well balanced. Spacious, comfortable accommodation. Really nice boat to sail and easily sailed single handed.

 

[Sybarite]

I sailed its ancestor, the GibSea 105 and it sailed just fine. Had up to gale force winds in it too.

 

[Tony D]

Has anyone experience of this boat?

I have sailed about 300 miles now in my new GibSea 352. She tacks efficiently given sufficient boat speed, as with other yachts. It is noted that the earlier criticism in this thread was from a sailing school experience. One can only presume that the keen students were attempting to set the Genoa sail on the other tack too early, which would tend to stall the turn.

The "sea slap" noise in harbour from wavelets hitting the stern quarter is a common condition on modern yachts. If it starts to bother me or my crew I propose using swimming pool "noodles" as waterline booms.

We sailed back from France in the Autumn with wind forward of the beam, about Force 5/6, 2nd reef set, half Genoa, at over 7 knots SOG without tidal assistance. The tiller remained light. Earlier in the year, having raised all plain sail, we were hit by a squall. Instead of a dangerous broach the yacht rounded up into the wind, allowing us to reef down the sails and continue our passage. I haven't used the storm jib yet, which hanks on to the detachable inner forestay.

I'm looking forward to some longer passages and cruises this year.