BoatsCatalina Yachts 16.5

Catalina Yachts 16.5

Fractional Sloop · Centerboard Dinghy · First built 1994

A 195-kilogram centerboard dinghy with a high 42.18 sail area-to-displacement ratio for responsive, active sailing

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
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 2.13 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 195 kg of hull, so roughly 800 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 195 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.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a beamy beam gives 3 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 3
CoastalBluewater

At 3.71 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 3.71
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 50
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 42.2

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

  • Draws more than ~90% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~93% of boats her size on file

Compared with 323 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
42.2
Displacement / length
49.9
Comfort ratio
3.1
Capsize screening
3.71
Hull speed
5.3 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
392
Hull
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1994
Builder
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.

Small Craft Ltd. Wayfarer4.82 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterAn Ian Proctor-designed centerboard dinghy with a high sail-to-displacement ratio, built since 1957 in wood and fiberglass
LaserPerformance 49er4.88 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn Olympic-class high-performance skiff featuring a massive sail-area-to-displacement ratio for elite racing
Aubin (Chantier Aubin) Snipe4.72 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA legendary William F. Crosby-designed fractional dinghy that remains one of the world's most active racing classes
Spindrift 134.06 mSame hull family0.9 m shorterA Hubert Vandestadt-designed centerboard dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively, responsive sailing
Ilca 7 (Laser-International)4.23 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterA Bruce Kirby-designed Olympic class dinghy featuring a simple unstayed cat rig and a lightweight, high-performance hull
Alcort Sunfish4.24 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterWith a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 47.02, this nimble 4.24-meter dinghy remains a benchmark for simple

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.

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Nothing filmed of this one yet

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