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Yachtsnet's archive of boat details and pictures
 

The following information and photographs are displayed as a service to anyone researching yacht types. HOWEVER THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND TEXT ARE COVERED BY COPYRIGHT, AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF YACHTSNET LTD. Details and photographs are normally based on one specific yacht, but could be a compilation. No reliance should be placed on other yachts of the same class being identical.  Where common variations exist, we have endeavoured to indicate this in these archive details. 

Limbo 6.6

Brief details

Builder

Zygal Boats, Whitstable, Kent

The Limbo 6.6 was designed in around 1975 by Andrew Stewart as a small fast coastal cruiser with potential for competitive racing as a one design 'mini-tonner'. Whilst most people now use them as club racers, in which role they are generally rated as faster than GK24s or Sonatas, both two foot longer, and neither slow boats themselves. A Limbo 6.6 was raced transatlantic in 1979, and completed the course. The boat illustrated is a drop keel version.

LOA

22' 3"

Sail area

239 sq ft

LWL

17' 0"

Rig

sloop

Beam

8' 2"

Cabins

1

Draught

2' 3" to 5' 0" keel down

Berths

4

Displacement

1,950 lbs

Engine

Mariner outboard

Ballast

850 lbs

BHP

5

Keel type

Iron drop keel

Zygal Boats built about 130 Limbo 6.6s between 1975 and the mid 80s, as well as a smaller number of the larger Limbo 9.9s. The hulls and decks are balsa sandwich GRP, and the drop keel is an aerofoil section iron casting, raised and lowered by a wire on a braked winch. An alternative fixed keel version with 4' 6" draught was also built, though the drop-keelers seemed to be more popular. The interior is simply fitted out with four berths and a small galley.

 

The heavy iron centreboard was designed to be raised as necessary when reaching or running to improve performance, although overall wetted area would not decrease much, frontal area and hence resistance would be reduced, as well as altering the balance and trim.

 

Yachts seen here are no longer for sale - the data is online as a free information service for buyers researching boat types. THE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE COVERED BY COPYRIGHT, AND MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF YACHTSNET LTD.

Go to our brokerage section for boats currently for sale

 

Powered usually comes from an outboard of 4-6 hp, with a separate fuel tank. The rudder blade is removed whist on the mooring, the blade being a daggerboard style foil which lowers into the rudder stock. The forward face of the rudder blade is angled forward slightly, giving a balanced rudder effect which keeps helm loads low.

"Practical Boat Owner" reviewed and test sailed the design, calling the drop-keel Limbo 6.6 ".... an efficient windward performer" and ".... light, responsive and well-balanced"

Right: The interior with berth cushions removed, rudder blade lying on the cockpit sole, and a spinnaker launch bag slung from the companionway

 

Below: cushions in place. Headroom below is "sitting headroom" rather than standing, and the design has no provision for a marine WC, instead a chemical toilet sits by the keel casing

The keel winch is a trailer-style wire winch mounted at the front of the drop keel casing

There are two quarterberths running back under the cockpit

With the ability to use cheaper drying moorings, the Limbo 6.6 makes a fairly cheap small yacht, although she will only dry out upright if the bottom is soft. She makes a useful small cruiser for someone moving up from dinghy sailing, and valuing performance, or for a relatively cheap way in to club-level cruiser racing.

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