BoatsHerreshoff 27 Cat Ketch

Herreshoff 27 Cat Ketch

Cat Ketch (unstayed) · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · First built 1982

A Halsey Herreshoff design featuring an unstayed cat ketch rig and a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively performance

Designed by Halsey C. Herreshoff, built by Cat Ketch Corp.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

Is it for you?

Character

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

Shoal draftDraws 1.17 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 12 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 12
CoastalBluewater

At 2.36 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.36
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 98
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 23.0
TenderStiff

52% of her weight is ballast — very stiff, carrying full sail in a blow.

Ballast 52%

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

  • Lighter than ~79% of boats her size on file
  • Draws less than ~82% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1987 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
52.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cat Ketch (unstayed)
Ratios
SA / displacement
23.0
Displacement / length
97.8
Comfort ratio
11.7
Capsize screening
2.36
Hull speed
6.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
859
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Wood
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
First built 1982
Designer
Halsey C. Herreshoff
Builder
Cat Ketch Corp

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 J/98.52 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA 2021-launched daysailer with a 24.13 sail-area-to-displacement ratio, built for rapid, responsive performance
Seaward 258.15 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA 1984 fractional sloop with a shallow 0.63m draft and fin keel, built for accessible coastal cruising
Abbott Boats Inc. Soling8.15 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA high-performance Olympic class keelboat designed by Jan Herman Linge for tactical three-person racing
Pogo 8.508.50 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA high-performance fractional sloop by Pierre Rolland featuring a wide beam and dual rudders for rapid offshore sailing
Verl 278.32 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthOriginally marketed as the Phillipa 27, this 1973 fin-keeler offers a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for her size
Albin Marine AB Vega 278.25 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthScandinavia's most popular production yacht of her size, this 8.25-metre masthead sloop defined coastal cruising from 1965 to 1979

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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