Zygal Seafly Construction

Eric and Morris Arthur (Blakeney S.C.) with Hanni
Eric and Morris Arthur (Blakeney S.C.) with Hanni (photo P. Fullagar)

The April 1975 SDCA Newsletter described the method of construction for the new Zygal GRP hulls:

“The hull now consists of four mouldings:-

  1.  Hull – made from the same mould as South Devin Boatbuilders used.
  2. Blister tank – from SDBB mould.
  3. Deck and side tanks – brand new design and mould. Engineered by Zygal to suit their method of manufacture. The side tanks now have a floor moulded to them, this continues over the centreboard box making both floor and centre box double construction and up to the top of transome at stern. At the front it joins deck to floor.
  4. Seat or Thwart moulding.

“General construction – the blister tank is fixed into the hull mould and the hull then bonded to the deck mould, making the centre box and floor double construction and the transome a plywood sandwich between outer and inner moulds. Two large apertures are cut out at front by mast step, allowing stowage on top of blister tank or fitting a spinnake chute.

“Our impressions were that it is a very fine hull and a great improvement on the old G.R.P. design. The centre box, floor and front sections of the hull are very stiff and should meet all the criticisms levelled at older designs.”

When Peter and Daphne Fullagar from Canberra Yacht Club visited the UK during 1975 they saw a Zygal Seafly being built. The new hull illustrated in their photographs was sailed later that year by Morris Arthur and Eric Arthur as “Hanni” (C475), and finished 6th in the National Championships held at Plymouth. Unfortunately there appear to have been problems with the build quality for some boats and, over time, water entered into the double skin structure causing them to become over weight for racing. Nevertheless Zygal boats were successfully raced and with strong hulls they were also considered good cruising boats.

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