Manta 19

Manta 19 was created by the Austrian designer Anton Miglich as a small cruiser/racer in the 1970's. David Hutchinson of Blakes Marine was showing their Kelpie yacht at the Friedrickshaven boat show in the early/mid 1970's when he first saw the Manta 19. He arranged to have a series of test sails on the local lakes near to the Austrian builders (Schoechl Yachts) home base and he was so impressed that he negotiated permission to build 200 Manta 19s in the UK under license.

The boat was advertised as a family cruiser, but for today standards is small to take the whole family on a cruise. However, it has 4 berths. It has relatively good performance, so some call it a cruiser/racer. The best definition, by today standards would be classic trailer-sailer.

It was very well built. Double skin construction was used for internal elements, which gave a nice finish, good insulation and eliminates condensation problems. In evidence of building quality, a great number of over thirty years old boats is still sailing all around the world. The lifting fin plate in the cast iron keel is a great compromise for sailing performance, practicality of use and maintenance, shallow waters capabilities. It allows easy retrieving, trailering and hence savings on mooring fees.

The maintenance is reduced to varnishing the wooden elements (companionway and tiller) and renewing the antifouling every year and occasional smaller repairs.

Although some say that a fiberglass boat is no real classic, whit such great lines, the Manta deserves such a title.

Since it has many happy owners all over the world, there is also a dedicated web page: http://www.manta19.miwd.co.uk

Data

LOA excluding rudder 5.66 m

LWL 5.03 m

Beam At Deck 2.07 m

Beam At Water Line 1.72 m

Draft Keel Only 0.485 m

Draft Keel and Plate 0.915 m

Displacement 680 Kg

Ballast 185 Kg

Sail Areas

Main Sail 5.48 sq.m

Working Jib 5.34 sq.m

No1 Genoa 7.4 sq.m

No2 Genoa 9.0 sq.m

Spinnaker 17.0 sq.m

General Info

Bunk Lengths 1.90 m

Cabin Interior Height 1.26 m

Foam Buoyancy 0.52 cu.m

Tweety

I bought a Manta 19 in spring of 2013. This particular Manta was built in the year 1978., the same as the current owner – myself. I found it in an advertisement and fell in love with her lines. After few months I had the opportunity to visit it, in another city, and I saw that it was in great shape.

Before me it had 2 owners: a pilot, who kept a systematic logbook, and a naval architect. No wonder if it is kept so well, I hope I am doing a good job too at preserving it.

The transport was arranged for few days later by truck. After the paperwork (complicated at the time), she was ready for the sea. In July of the same year we went for a 7 day cruise, 4 adults. I named it Tweety, like the little bird from the cartoon.

It is pretty multipurpose. I use it to host some friends for sailing and swimming during the summer. I use it for solo sailing, fishing, daily excursions, cruises of the duration of few days. At the end of the summer I lift it and keep it in the garden. I write down some lines of text to a logbook to remember this nice moments: who came, when, what we did, what we liked..

Of course, sometimes I wish a meter (or feet) more of comfort, or a knot more in speed, but it is like that for any boat owner.

Short video about Tweety

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIpCiSyRTFY