BoatsHerreshoff 31 (Cat Ketch 31)

Herreshoff 31 (Cat Ketch 31)

Cat Ketch (unstayed) · Fin w/transom Hung Rudder · 1979–1986

An unstayed cat ketch designed by Halsey Herreshoff, featuring a shoal-draft fin keel for easy handling and stability

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

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/transom Hung Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 18 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 18
CoastalBluewater

2.11 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.11
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 154
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 9.9
TenderStiff

44% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 44%

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

  • Draws less than ~90% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2608 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
44.3%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cat Ketch (unstayed)
Ratios
SA / displacement
9.9
Displacement / length
154.2
Comfort ratio
18.1
Capsize screening
2.11
Hull speed
7.1 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1032
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/transom hung rudder
Construction
Wood
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1979–1986
Units built
100
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.

Bavaria Yachts 3009.55 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA 9.55-metre fractional sloop from 1989, featuring a deep 1.65-metre fin keel and bulb for efficient coastal sailing
X-Yachts X-959.24 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Niels Jeppesen-designed IOR half-tonner with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio and an optional taller rig
Beneteau First 3109.45 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 9.45-meter fractional sloop with a 1.8-meter fin keel, optimized for a light displacement of 3,199 kilograms
RM Yachts 8908.90 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA high-performance fractional sloop with a deep bulb keel and dual rudders, optimized for speed and stability
Jeanneau Rush 319.13 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Ron Holland-designed IOR half-tonner that served as the official boat for the Tour de France à la Voile
Beneteau First 3009.05 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA Groupe Finot-designed fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio built for spirited club racing

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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