GK29 What do people think?

[Boathunter]

I am interested in peoples views.

I currently own a Bolero 25 which is about to go on the market and I am interested in spending up to Circa £16K-17K on a 28-29ft Cruiser that has good sailing performance so that I can carry on enjoying the racing at my local club, but will also be suitable for cruising around the Solent with my wife and 2 kids.

I have been giving consideration to an MGC27 and this is still a possibility, but I am also considering the GK29.

What do people think of the GK29? What do they sail like and if I go to look at one what things should I be looking out for?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

 

[mrming]

The MGC27 is a very competitive little club racer.

I don't know much about the GK29, but you don't see them out racing much which is probably a clue. There are 3 versions and I believe the tall fractional rig one with the deep lead keel is the quickest.

The Bolero is a fantastic sailing boat and you may find many a bit sluggish in comparison. The Impala 28 (also a David Thomas design) is the all conquering club racer at the next size up if you can cope with the slightly spartan interior.

 

[Boathunter]

Thanks for your thoughts,

It's the Spartan interior which is driving the sale of my Bolero. A great little sailing boat with which I have had some good club results but not very comfortable for sailing with the kids and wife.

I guess the key thing that doesn't appeal about the MGC 27 is the open plan nature down below. I must admit the idea of a separate cabin foreward is appealing.

If you know of anyone who may be interested in a Bolero with good sails etc point them in my direction.

 

[roblpm]

How about a Parker 275. There's a couple of us racing on the Forth and doing ok on PY. Used to be expensive but this one has been on sale for a while in Gosport at £17,500.
http://www.parkerseal.org.uk/forsale/dreamer.aspx
Active owners club in the solent i think. Not quite so active up here in the icy north!

 

[Aeolus]

You should also look at a Seamaster 925. A bit more spacious than a GK29 but was considered quite nippy in its day.

 

[typhoonNige]

I owned a GK29 for 4 seasons and entered it into 2 Cowes Weeks. It wasn't perhaps the right boat at that level but was a good performer in our club races, winning a fair bit of silverware. Having viewed several of them before I bought mine it was apparent that the racier half tonners were usually damp down below, presumably due to water getting in around the keel stepped mast. I went for the family racer version as although not as racy with a smaller rig and a shallower draft all iron keel the deck stepped mast meant dry accomodation. The original Petter twin engines are being replaced on many of the GK's. I had a Lombardini which performed well.

I loved the boat but at around 35 years old they are getting on a bit now and are not as heavily constructed as some Westerlys so be sure to get a thorough survey. Strengthening of the hull above the keel should be considered if not already done. Mine showed signs of movement and this is a common problem. Also check the rudder pintle is properly secured as the original clamp can stretch and slip allowing the bottom of the rod to rise up out of the lower bracket. Not funny when it pops out while you are surfing in a force 6 (ask me how I know!)

There is an owners group website - not sure how active it is now.
www.gk29.org.uk

 

[typhoonNige]

The MGC27 is a very competitive little club racer.

I don't know much about the GK29, but you don't see them out racing much which is probably a clue. There are 3 versions and I believe the tall fractional rig one with the deep lead keel is the quickest.

The Bolero is a fantastic sailing boat and you may find many a bit sluggish in comparison. The Impala 28 (also a David Thomas design) is the all conquering club racer at the next size up if you can cope with the slightly spartan interior.

I considered the Impala too but the GK29 was a very comfortable cruiser - as you would expect from Westerly. The Impala is a superior racer I agree but not a good place for a young family to holiday, which mattered at the time

There were two versions of the GK29. The often described third one with the fractional rig was owner modified with a Hunter Impala rig grafted on!

 

[vyv_cox]

GK29 makes a super cruising boat. it is a surprisingly spacious boat for 29 ft thanks to the high decks. From Anglesey we cruised ours to Scotland, Fastnet, Scillies and Brittany. Good performance under sail. Keel attachment to the hull is the weak point: ours was strengthened twice but still seemed rather suspect as evidenced by leakage into the boat on a windy beat.

 

[Alan_B]

GK29 makes a super cruising boat. it is a surprisingly spacious boat for 29 ft thanks to the high decks. From Anglesey we cruised ours to Scotland, Fastnet, Scillies and Brittany. Good performance under sail. Keel attachment to the hull is the weak point: ours was strengthened twice but still seemed rather suspect as evidenced by leakage into the boat on a windy beat.

There is a GK29 in our club that performs very well. She has a good sail wardrobe and in a blow will out sail anything else in the club. Not heard any reports of leakage in her, but I can't remember which version she is.

 

[vyv_cox]

There is a GK29 in our club that performs very well. She has a good sail wardrobe and in a blow will out sail anything else in the club. Not heard any reports of leakage in her, but I can't remember which version she is.

Not Good Knews, is she? That was my boat many years ago, which I understand is now in Ireland.

 

[EuanMcKenzie]

Whats the 29' equivalent of a sigma 33. which is what it sounds like you really need to satisfy both briefs

 

[Boathunter]

Thanks, everyone for your input. Check the keel on a GK29 seems to be the general view. Sigma 292 would be nice but I believe they go for £20k plus which is more than I have to spend.

 

[scotjack]

This thread is probably no longer relevant to the original questioner, but in case someone else has a similar question, may I offer my recent observation.

Earlier this month, I bought a GK29, unseen, in Corinth Greece. It far exceeded my expectation for such an inexpensive small yacht.
After a superb two day hand-over from the previous owner, I sailed from Corinth (south of the canal) to Montenegro in 12 days - sailing when I could, motoring when no wind, or wind right on my nose. (Fuel consumption when motoring at 1500 rpm was <1.5 l/hr, giving about 4'5 - 5 knots depending on chop) Distance, according to iNautica of just over 900NM. I could easily have cut the time by 2 days, as 4 of them were very short, and wasted almost a whole day in Saranda after the short 10NM hop from Kalinas. Met a wonderful agent in Saranda, if anyone else is going there - so helpful - even bought me food for my ongoing journey!
Conditions in Gulfs of Corinth and Patra, and Ionian Sea, and southwest Adriatic, ranged from morning flat calms to the dreaded Bora on my last morning, during which the racing inspired GK29 really showed her mettle - a wonderful boat.
Down below, the Tardis comes to mind. Over 6' headroom, masses of storage and sleeps five comfortably - six in a pinch.
If you are on a budget (~8K euros) and want a superb boat suited for any conditions, the GK29 will not disappoint.