Thistle is a 16 meter long range off shore cruising yacht designed with comfort, sea worthness and short handed sailing in mind. She has a maximum draft of 3.4m however, with a hydraulic lifting keel draft can be reduced to 1.2m for sheltered anchoring or shallow water exploring. Sailing systems are electric hydraulic controlled for cockpit for ease of operation. She is constructed of strip planked cedar, fiberglass sheathed inside and out with composite structurals and integral carbon fiber chain plates.