BoatsM. E. Hill Crescent

M. E. Hill Crescent

Fractional Sloop · Fin Keel · 1953–1974

A pioneering fiberglass fractional sloop born from a garage project and refined for the Crescent Sail Yacht Club

Designed by Richard C. Hill.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin Keel

Is it for you?

Character

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

TrailerableBeam 1.98 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 1,202 kg of hull, so roughly 1,800 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.
LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a narrow beam gives 17 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 17
CoastalBluewater

1.88 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.88
LightHeavy

187 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 187
EasygoingPowered-up

12.2 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 12.2
TenderStiff

45% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 45%

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

  • Lighter than ~81% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~97% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1387 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
Ballast / displacement
45.3%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
12.2
Displacement / length
186.8
Comfort ratio
16.8
Capsize screening
1.88
Hull speed
5.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
430
Hull
Hull type
Fin Keel
Construction
Wood
Production
Years built
1953–1974
Units built
27
Designer
Richard C. Hill
Builder
M. E. Hill, Customflex

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.

Gilbert Marine Tequila7.20 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Philippe H. Harle-designed masthead sloop that claimed the 1971 Quarter Ton Cup with her prototype performance
C&C Yachts 247.32 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA lively 1975 masthead sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio, designed for responsive club racing
J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/247.32 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthThe world's most popular one-design keelboat, featuring a light 1406kg displacement for responsive, agile handling
Merit 257.47 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA fractional-rigged 25-footer with a light displacement and high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for responsive sailing
Ranger Yachts 237.21 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthDesigned to rate at the IOR 18-foot level, this masthead sloop offered an optional tall rig starting in 1974
Beneteau First 2357.11 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Groupe Finot-designed fractional sloop built for performance, featuring a light displacement and high sail area ratio

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.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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