Grey Seal

Description

The Grey Seal, designed by Scottish naval architect Iain Oughtred during his 1986 residency at WoodenBoat magazine in Camden, Maine, is a robust, lapstrake plywood double-ender inspired by Danish spidsgatter fishing boats and the Swedish Folkboat, blending traditional aesthetics with modern glued-lapstrake construction for amateur builders seeking a seaworthy trailerable cruiser. Measuring 22 feet 2 inches LOA with an 18-foot-7-inch LWL, 7-foot-9½-inch beam, and 3,800-pound displacement (centerboard version; keel variant at 3,900 pounds), it draws 2 feet 3 inches board-up or 4 feet 4 inches down (3 feet 5 inches for keel), offering a D/L ratio of 264 for light cruiser/offshore racer performance and a motion comfort ratio of 19.2 that outshines 82% of peers for stability in rough water. Its gunter sloop rig provides 265 square feet of sail area (or 245 for Bermudan), enabling balanced handling up to 6 knots with a forgiving helm, while the interior accommodates two for weekending with V-berth forward, small galley, and portable head under 6 feet of headroom. Plans, available from the WoodenBoat Store for $477 (12 sheets requiring lofting), emphasize laminated oak frames and epoxy fillets for durability.