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Gk 24 Westerly
Designer: Laurent Giles/Chris Hawkins  ·  Builder: Westerly Marine Ltd. (Uk)  ·  First built: 1976
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About the Gk 24 Westerly

Built by respected British yard Westerly Marine from 1976 to 1981, this 24-footer represents solid coastal cruising capability in a compact package. The design collaboration between Laurent Giles and Chris Hawkins produced a well-balanced boat that earned a reputation for seaworthiness and practical accommodation during its five-year production run of 320 hulls. With her fin keel and transom-hung rudder configuration, the GK 24 offers responsive handling while maintaining the shallow draft advantage typical of coastal cruisers. The masthead sloop rig provides straightforward sail handling, making her appealing to both experienced sailors and those transitioning to larger boats. Her substantial displacement of 4,100 pounds, combined with 1,400 pounds of ballast, delivers the stability and motion comfort expected from British design philosophy of the era. The boat's comfort ratio of 15.48 suggests she'll provide a relatively easy motion in a seaway, while her capsize screening value indicates good stability characteristics for coastal and near-shore sailing. Built with Westerly's typical fiberglass construction quality, these boats have proven their durability over decades. The GK 24 suits sailors seeking a manageable yet capable coastal cruiser with accommodation for weekend or short-term cruising adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 19.58 ft / 5.97 m
Beam 9.33 ft / 2.84 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 4,100.00 lb / 1,860 kg
Ballast 1,400.00 lb / 635 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 260.00 ft² / 24.15 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/transom hung rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Laurent Giles/Chris Hawkins
Builder Westerly Marine Ltd. (UK)
First Built 1976
Last Built 1981
Number Built 320
Associations Quarter Ton Class
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 16.28
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 34.15
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 243.84
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 15.48
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.33
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 5.93 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.16
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 652.74 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 16.27
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 29.84 ft / 9.10 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 8.50 ft / 2.59 m
ISP (Spinnaker Luff) 2,984.00 ft / 909.52 m
SPL/TPS 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
SA Fore 149.20 ft² / 13.86 m²
SA Main 110.50 ft² / 10.27 m²
SA Total (100%) 259.70 ft² / 24.13 m²
Est. Forestay Length 31.47 ft / 9.59 m
Engine & Accommodations
Fuel Capacity 6 gals / 23 L
Water Capacity 6 gals / 23 L
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