I recommend the Gull as a cruising boat whole heartedly. I have sailed her back from the IOW in very strong winds and reefed she has no difficulty. I have also crossed  Langstone bar at the exactly wrong time. On the flip side I have rowed her for many miles without issue. Launch and recovery are easy due to her light weight.

She does however have her vices, but I suspect these are the same for many small dinghies. This is not intended to put people off the Gull just a few observations and things to look out for. 

The Jib – the jib has been the cause of my only sailing capsize (I was racing) and two near misses. If you don’t release the jib going into a tack she will put you in. The near misses were the result of sudden violent gusts up river and with the jib cleated the gunwale dipped. This is not an issue it’s just something to be mindful of and ensuring the sheets are tidy and accessible.

Bow Buoyancy – she is not a Wayfarer, you can’t be walking on the foredeck. The first time I went out I reached forward of the mast, obviously over to one side, and she went over. I was putting the anchor rode in the fairlead – I now do this with a boat hook.

Downwind – probably no different to other dinghies but rocking dead down wind is uncomfortable. I use a dangly pole to goose wing and sit well aft, I have added a removable thwart further aft, this also is used for the bed boards. Without this sailing reach to reach is much better than dead down wind.

Slot gasket – there isn’t one, in lumpy conditions water will come in through the slot. It is worse aft of the board handle as seams to ricochet off the back of the case and produces jets of water. I am experimenting with ways of closing of the case with the board down and will write a separate post.

Room – the initial adverts had a family of four on board, I consider her a single handed boat. I’m 80kg and in oil skins (cruising attire rather than summer shorts jolly) being the crew in the front is OK but it’s tight. I worry that if hit by a sudden gust the crew might to be able to react quickly enough. I have however sailed two up (me crew) in a good breeze without issue. 

Buoyancy – as a documented in my early Gull posts the MK1 GRP needed work on the tanks. 

For her size she is an excellent sea boat, I think the full bows, low after volume and double chine all contribute to this.