The SKYBIRD is the first of our range of fast centreboard cruisers. These are all of moderate displacement and feature either a pivotting centreboard or a sliding dagger board fabricated in steel. They all have a considerable amount of lead ballast externally to ensure strong self-righting. The Skybird has 3540lbs or 1600kg of lead on the outside fin with an all up displacement of 9164lbs.

The Skybird is an extremely beamy craft for its 9.14m length with a maximum beam of 11'3" (3.43m) which gives plenty of scope for internal accommodation. The plan shows a vee berth fore cabin with two bunks with toilet under the vee berths. Immediately after this in the main cabin there is a settee berth to starboard and to port a large curved settee berth working in with a drop leaf folding table which is hinged on the centreboard case. With the generous beam of the Skybird there is plenty of floor space around the centreboard case. Aft in the main cabin there is a stove and bench to port and sink bench to starboard as well as two generous quarter berths down each side of the cockpit. There are plenty of storage lockers throughout the craft which makes it an ideal family cruiser. The main cabin has a headroom of 5'9" (1.75m) while still keeping an almost flush deck cabin style which is very generous for a craft of this size. The Skybird is round bilge construction and is constructed over shadow frames with permanent fore and aft stringers overlaid on the frames. These are 33 x 32mm (1¹/₂x 1¹/₄") and the craft is double diagonal skinned in two layers of 8mm or ³/₈^" solid timber. We recommend fibreglass sheathing externally. The shallow external keel is nearly all lead with the centreboard slot moulded in. The finished hull has laminated floors which extend well up the bilge of the craft and these are closely spaced through the midship section to help support the centre case etc. There are bulkheads in the way of the mast and a permanent bulkhead on No. 1 station. An auxiliary engine can be fitted under the forward end of the cockpit and 5 to 10 h.p. diesels of up to 30 h.p. petrol engines can be fitted in this craft. There are two perspex hatches, one over the saloon and one in the fore cabin to admit light to the cabins as well as giving ventilation and easy access. The three-quarter rig has been designed to be easily handled by a small crew. There are three slab reefs shown on the sail plan and this combined with the relatively small headsail makes it an easily handled craft. The rig on the Skybird is ideal for a self-tacking headsail which for short handed cruising is a great advantage. There are two running backstays and these are kept well forward so they do not have to be left off when sailing windward.

The rudder is fully retractable for beaching and is a case type rudder with the blade held in place by shock cords so in the event of striking the bottom no damage is done to the case or rudder blade. Because of the beamy stern section of the Skybird the cockpit is large and roomy and this makes it ideal for day sailing or racing as well as family cruising.

The plan includes FULLSIZE PATTERNS of the frames, stem and transom plus detailed drawings on setting up, hull construction etc. plus written instructions.