The RM Yachts RM 890 Twin keel Twin keel 2013 vs RM Yachts RM 970 Twin keel Twin keel 2016 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.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The RM Yachts RM 970 Twin keel Twin keel 2016 measures 34,8 feet overall (2016), giving it roughly 5,6 additional feet of deck space compared to the RM Yachts RM 890 Twin keel Twin keel 2013 at 29,2 feet (2013). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the RM Yachts RM 970 Twin keel Twin keel 2016 tips the scales at 11 354 lbs — 2 095 lbs less than the RM Yachts RM 890 Twin keel Twin keel 2013 at 9 259 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.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The RM Yachts RM 970 Twin keel Twin keel 2016 is rated for 10 passengers, while the RM Yachts RM 890 Twin keel Twin keel 2013 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the RM Yachts RM 970 Twin keel Twin keel 2016 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The RM Yachts RM 970 Twin keel Twin keel 2016 displaces 11 354 lbs — a 2 095-lb difference over the RM Yachts RM 890 Twin keel Twin keel 2013 at 9 259 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The RM Yachts RM 970 Twin keel Twin keel 2016 draws 5,5 ft, compared to 4,1 ft for the RM Yachts RM 890 Twin keel Twin keel 2013. That 1,4-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 RM Yachts RM 890 Twin keel Twin keel 2013 uses Sloop rigging. Helm style differs too: the RM Yachts RM 890 Twin keel Twin keel 2013 uses a 1 tiller versus a 1 tiller (helm wheel in option) on the RM Yachts RM 970 Twin keel Twin keel 2016. Wheel helms give better leverage and visibility on larger boats; tillers offer direct feedback and simplicity on smaller ones.
Hull speed is rated at 7,3 knots for the RM Yachts RM 970 Twin keel Twin keel 2016 and 7,2 knots for the RM Yachts RM 890 Twin keel Twin keel 2013.
Bottom line: The RM Yachts RM 970 Twin keel Twin keel 2016 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 11 354 lbs displacement and 35 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The RM Yachts RM 890 Twin keel Twin keel 2013 at 9 259 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.