The Gib Sea Gib'Sea 264 1995 vs Gib Sea Gib'sea 84 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Gib Sea Gib'Sea 264 1995 at 26,2 ft versus Gib Sea Gib'sea 84 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 at 27,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Gib Sea Gib'sea 84 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 tips the scales at 5 732 lbs — 1 543 lbs less than the Gib Sea Gib'Sea 264 1995 at 4 189 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The Gib Sea Gib'sea 84 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 tops out at 18 hp. Engine specs for the Gib Sea Gib'Sea 264 1995 aren't listed — confirm with a dealer before selecting an outboard.Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 16 gal and 13 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Gib Sea Gib'sea 84 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 is rated for 8 passengers, while the Gib Sea Gib'Sea 264 1995 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Gib Sea Gib'sea 84 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 could be the deciding factor.
Both boats sit in a similar displacement bracket — 4 189 lbs for the Gib Sea Gib'Sea 264 1995 and 5 732 lbs for the Gib Sea Gib'sea 84 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983. Comparable displacement means broadly similar seakeeping behaviour and load capacity, though hull form and ballast ratio will still produce noticeably different sailing characteristics.
Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Gib Sea Gib'Sea 264 1995 draws 6,8 ft, compared to 5,2 ft for the Gib Sea Gib'sea 84 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983. That 1,6-foot difference affects which anchorages you can access, which haul-out facilities will take you, and how carefully you need to read the tide tables in shallower cruising grounds.
The Gib Sea Gib'Sea 264 1995 uses Sloop rigging. The Gib Sea Gib'sea 84 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 has a documented auxiliary engine of 18 hp.
Hull speed is rated at 6,4 knots for the Gib Sea Gib'Sea 264 1995 and 6,4 knots for the Gib Sea Gib'sea 84 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983. For extended cruising, water capacity matters: the Gib Sea Gib'sea 84 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 carries 26 gallons versus 16 gallons on the Gib Sea Gib'Sea 264 1995 — a significant advantage on longer passages where watermaker or provisioning stops aren't guaranteed.
Bottom line: The Gib Sea Gib'Sea 264 1995 and Gib Sea Gib'sea 84 - Fin keel Fin keel 1983 are closely matched on paper. A sea trial on both in representative conditions is the only reliable way to find which one suits your sailing style, home port, and intended cruising ground.