Hi, my name is Sam Rowe and I am a student at Portsmouth University, studying Marine Sports Technology. For my business module this semester, I am required to write a (entirely fictional) business plan for a business in the marine industry. I thought about producing a yacht of my own, and did a bit of research. Then my Dad mentioned the GK24, and that maybe I could look into reproducing it? I have found the website very helpful so far, but there are a few questions I'd like to ask:

Does anybody know why production was ceased?
If a modern version of the GK24 was produced, would there be any interest for it? I know that some of the orginial fleet are still sailed and raced regularly, but does anybody think that a newer version of the boat would create a bit of a revival for the class and do it some good?

Any replies (positive or negative) are welcome and would be very much appreciated. Thanks for your time, Sam

I think that the reason Westerly stopped production was the fact that in 1979 as now the costs of making small boats are disproportionally large compared with larger ones. The only way out is to go to Eastern Europe and reduce the amount of materials in the hull to drop-keel Bavaria levels (there was another largish Bavaria AFAIR that hit the Brambles Bank on its maiden voyage and sank without its keel a few years back , as well as the rather more well publicised Baltic keel loss incident)

They also switched to making the J/24 as they thought that would make more sales, but missed the dual-role of the GK24. Westerly were never really good on the business plans and I think had one of their periodic bankruptcies as a result of the GK24 and confusions over marketing bigger boats.

The problem is that a new GK24 replacement would probably cost say ?30-50k and for that you can get a much bigger boat second hand.

But it is an interesting study - the GK24 suffers from being a Wide Load by todays trailer standards for a start, although it is easier to find SUV class towing vehicles that can cope with the weight.

I think an interesting concept would be to look at things like the Laser SB3
which trails with its keel retracted, and goes like the clappers for racing but could be slowed down for cruising. Crossing Lyme bay at nearer 8 knots than 5 would be a help when its getting boring. Either that or a feature to fast forward the bit where the tide is really against you for 3 hours.
But I dont want a catamaran. I have seen one flip in Southampton water. (racing admittedly but they were the only crews wearing life jackets as a matter of course)

I could imagine a boat where water ballast is featured along with a retractable ballast keel.
Where you could fill either one or both ballast tanks to port or starboard to either increase displacement and slow the boat , or to act as effective sailing ballast. Discuss ?

Boats that can stand up in the mud for creek crawling but sail well are also interesting.

Other newish boats that could be compared are the Mustang 30 and the new 30 foot trailer sailer being built on the IOW.

The GK24 has ended up as a low cost boat where the annual costs and purchase costs are low. There is a pool of boats already built and not falling apart very fast so not many replacements are needed.

And 4 people can sleep on it although the forecabin is friendly

I am interested in taking part in a discussion but like many GK24 owners I have reached the state where I only have a boat because I paid for it already, and have learnt to reduce the running costs to an affordable level. If I dont have Forethought, I dont have a cruiser. I have children now. You would find me in a 12 foot 6 inch wooden sailing dinghy ....