A versatile 4.17-meter centerboard dinghy sold under four different brand names during its brief mid-80s production run
Designed by Ron Holder, built by Coast Catamaran.
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 1.88 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 120 kg of hull, so roughly 700 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 120 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 0.15 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 3.84 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.
Capsize screening 3.84
LightHeavy
61 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.
Displacement / length 61
EasygoingPowered-up
35.5 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.
Sail area / displacement 35.5
Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.
Draws more than ~82% of boats her size on file
Beamier than ~84% of boats her size on file
Compared with 373 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
35.5
Displacement / length
60.6
Comfort ratio
2.8
Capsize screening
3.84
Hull speed
4.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
276
Hull
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1983–1986
Designer
Ron Holder
Builder
Coast Catamaran, Hobie Cat
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.
LaserPerformance 49er4.88 mSame hull family0.7 m longerAn Olympic-class high-performance skiff featuring a massive sail-area-to-displacement ratio for elite racing
Fairey Marine Firefly3.66 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterThe 1948 Olympic single-handed class, this Uffa Fox design was the first sailboat ever produced by Fairey Marine
Spindrift 134.06 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Hubert Vandestadt-designed centerboard dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively, responsive sailing
Small Craft Ltd. Wayfarer4.82 mSame hull family0.7 m longerAn Ian Proctor-designed centerboard dinghy with a high sail-to-displacement ratio, built since 1957 in wood and fiberglass
Aubin (Chantier Aubin) Snipe4.72 mSame hull family0.6 m longerA legendary William F. Crosby-designed fractional dinghy that remains one of the world's most active racing classes
Topper International Topper3.40 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterAn Ian Proctor-designed polypropylene dinghy featuring an unstayed cat rig and three versatile sail-area configurations
