Hartley's Gull Weekender puts a ballasted centreboard into a compact cruising dinghy to add reassuring self-righting characteristics. The 3.35-metre design has a deep cockpit and a relatively high boom intended to leave comfortable room for an adult crew.

A different approach to the centreboard

The builder uses a galvanised-steel ballasted board in the Weekender, with foam-sandwich FRP hull construction and reinforced bulkheads. It lists hull weight at about 98 kilograms including the ballasted board.

A heavier board is a design feature, not a guarantee against capsize or a substitute for correct crew weight and sail reduction. Owners should practice recovery and follow the class's operating guidance.

An easy-to-handle sail plan

Hartley gives 5.12 square metres for the mainsail and 1.67 for the jib, with an optional spinnaker. Slab reefing and a furling headsail offer ways to reduce canvas when conditions change.

A reefing system is only useful if a skipper knows how to operate it before the wind rises. The chosen rig and equipment need to match the actual purchased boat.

Space for a short outing

An aft locker offers a place for appropriate lightweight kit, while the seating is arranged for one or two adults with room to enjoy sheltered-water cruising. The builder also lists a maximum outboard rating of 2.5hp.

An outboard, food and safety gear must be counted in the allowable load, especially in a short hull. The boat is not an overnight accommodation vessel or a substitute for suitable coastal shelter.

The family sailing context

The Gull comes from Ian Proctor's well-established small-boat design family, with Hartley developing its current versions. Owners comparing training and cruising dinghies should inspect the board, launch trolley and flotation arrangements.

These are manufacturer statements and a model-specific photo, not independently tested capsize findings. This feature is current-model coverage rather than a new delivery report.

Primary source: official manufacturer model information. Independently written by Leisure Boat Guide.