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.

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
Catalina Yachts 22 MKII7.26 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn upgraded 1995 iteration of the classic trailerable cruiser, featuring a fin keel and transom-hung rudder
Halcyon 236.93 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA triple-keeled masthead sloop by Alan H. Buchanan, offering shallow-draft versatility based on the earlier Crystal 23
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 24.27.30 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Jacques Fauroux-designed fractional sloop built for coastal cruising with a stable fin-and-bulb keel
Sirius 7277.27 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA development of the Sirius 24, this fractional sloop features a fin keel with skeg-mounted rudder for balanced handling
Martinique 257.70 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA Brazilian-built masthead sloop with a 44% ballast ratio, offering a stiff and stable platform for coastal cruising

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

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