A 1970 cat-rigged dinghy featuring a class-approved 1978 rig modification designed to improve handling and performance
Designed by Frank W. Butler.
LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Dbrd. Dinghy
Is it for you?
Character
Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.
TrailerableBeam 1.50 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 66 kg of hull, so roughly 650 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 66 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 0.13 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
CoastalBluewater
At 3.75 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.
Capsize screening 3.75
EasygoingPowered-up
42.9 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.
Sail area / displacement 42.9
Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.
The record
Full specifications
The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.
Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cat (Marconi)
Ratios
SA / displacement
42.9
Capsize screening
3.75
Hull
Hull type
Dbrd. Dinghy
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1970
Units built
2400
Designer
Frank W. Butler
Builder
Capri Sailboats, Catalina Yachts
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.
RS Feva3.64 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Paul Handley-designed fractional dinghy with a high power-to-weight ratio, widely raced in its XL configuration
Alcort Sunfish4.24 mSame hull family0.3 m longerWith a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 47.02, this nimble 4.24-meter dinghy remains a benchmark for simple
Super Sunfish4.22 mSame hull family0.3 m longerAn unstayed cat-rigged evolution of the classic Sunfish, designed for a more performance-oriented sailing experience
Ilca 6 (Laser Radial)4.23 mSame hull family0.3 m longerAn Olympic-standard single-handed dinghy featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lighter sailors
Ilca 7 (Laser-International)4.23 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Bruce Kirby-designed Olympic class dinghy featuring a simple unstayed cat rig and a lightweight, high-performance hull
Laser 24.40 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA high-performance fractional dinghy designed by Bethwaite and Bruce, featuring a rapid sail-area-to-displacement ratio
