BoatsHobie Cat 405

Hobie Cat 405

Fractional Sloop · Centerboard Dinghy · First built 1992

A lightweight centerboard dinghy featuring a fractional rig and the versatility of symmetric or asymmetric spinnakers

Designed by Chris Benedict.

LOA
Beam
Displacement
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 1.38 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 64 kg of hull, so roughly 650 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 64 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draft shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draftDraws 0.27 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 2 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 2
CoastalBluewater

At 3.48 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 3.48
LightHeavy

29 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 29
EasygoingPowered-up

50.8 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 50.8

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Narrower than ~81% of boats her size on file

Compared with 367 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
50.8
Displacement / length
29.3
Comfort ratio
2.2
Capsize screening
3.48
Hull speed
4.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
209
Hull
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1992
Units built
200
Designer
Chris Benedict
Builder
Hobie Cat, Ultimate Sailboats

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Ilca 4 (Laser 4.7)4.23 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Bruce Kirby-designed dinghy sharing the classic Laser hull, optimized with a smaller sail plan for lighter sailors
Theodor Middelthon: An "ILCA Viking" on a steady course for the world summit11:48from SEILmagasinet
Ilca 6 (Laser Radial)4.23 mSame hull family0.2 m longerAn Olympic-standard single-handed dinghy featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lighter sailors
Jørgen Stang Heffermehl – World Sailing3:38from SEILmagasinet
Alcort Sunfish4.24 mSame hull family0.2 m longerWith a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 47.02, this nimble 4.24-meter dinghy remains a benchmark for simple
1953 Alcort Sunfish ZIP 17 Jun 20 Air Leak Test0:02from kentblairl
Super Sunfish4.22 mSame hull family0.2 m longerAn unstayed cat-rigged evolution of the classic Sunfish, designed for a more performance-oriented sailing experience
AMF Sunfish MADISON Sailing the James Riverfrom kentblairl
International 144.27 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA high-performance development racing dinghy that has served as a testing ground for innovations like the trapeze since 1928
Huff of Arklow - Uffa Fox-designed yacht featuring a fin and skeg, stepped sheerline0:30from Classic Yacht TV
McDougall Waszp3.35 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterA one-design foiling dinghy featuring wings and an unstayed rig, built in the thousands for high-performance racing
Asker Sailing Club5:14from SEILmagasinet

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Hobie BravoCat (unstayed) · 3.66 mHobie 16The most popular sailing catamaran ever built, featuring a rotating spar and boardless hull for high-speed beach sailingHobie 18A high-performance catamaran with a rotating fractional rig and twin daggerboards, designed for speed and agilityHobie 3.5A scaled-down version of the Hobie 14 with a rotating cat rig, designed specifically for younger sailors under 140 lbsHobie 17A single-handed performance catamaran featuring a wingsail-style rotating mast and twin daggerboards for upwind speedHobie WaveA rugged, roto-molded catamaran designed for resort durability and simple, high-performance cat-rigged sailing

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