Seaward 46RK, the innovative variable-draft cruiser designed e built by Nick Hake.
The Seaward 46RK is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim. It has a masthead sloop rig; a plumb stem; an open, walk-through, reverse transom; twin transom-hung rudders controlled by a wheel and an electrically actuated lifting keel with a weighted bulb. The boat has a wheelhouse with duplicate electronic helm and engine controls, as well as a navigation station. It displaces 23,000 lb (10,433 kg) and carries 7,500 lb (3,402 kg) of ballast.
Video from BoatTube.
The design of the Seaward 46RK has a draft of 7.00 ft (2.13 m) with the keel extended and 2.42 ft (0.74 m) with it retracted, allowing operation in shallow water. The bulb keel fully retracts into a recess in the hull, allowing the boat to be beached.
The Seaward 46RK is fitted with two Japanese Yanmar 54 hp (40 kW) diesel engines or a single Yanmar 75 hp (56 kW) turbo diesel 4JH4-TE for docking and maneuvering, with the propellers protected by skegs. The fuel tank holds 180 U.S. gallons (680 L; 150 imp gal), the freshwater tank has a capacity of 180 U.S. gallons (680 L; 150 imp gal) and the holding tank has a capacity of 70 U.S. gallons (260 L; 58 imp gal).
For sailing downwind the Seaward 46RK may be equipped with a roller furling asymmetrical spinnaker on the forward forestay and a self-tacking jib on the aft forestay. The mainsheet is mounted on a stainless steel arch.
The design has sleeping accommodation for eight people, with a queen-sized double “V”-berth in the bow cabin, a main cabin dinette table that drops down to form a double berth and two aft cabins each with a double berth. The galley is located on the port side just forward of the companionway ladder. The galley is equipped with a two-burner stove, refrigerator, freezer and a double sink. There are two heads, one just aft of the bow cabin and one on the starboard side aft.
The design has a hull speed of 8.97 kn (16.61 km/h).