BoatsIndependence 20

Independence 20

Frac. Sloop (Free standing) · Fin w/transom Hung Rudder · First built 1999

A 943kg fin-keel sloop with a free-standing rig, engineered for accessibility and ease of handling

Designed by Gary Mull, built by Freedom Yachts.

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.

TrailerableBeam 2.44 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 944 kg of hull, so roughly 1,550 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a beamy beam gives 11 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 11
CoastalBluewater

At 2.51 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.51
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 166
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 22.6
TenderStiff

43% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 43%

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

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
43.3%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Frac. Sloop (Free standing)
Ratios
SA / displacement
22.6
Displacement / length
166.0
Comfort ratio
10.8
Capsize screening
2.51
Hull speed
5.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
507
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/transom hung rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1999
Designer
Gary Mull
Builder
Freedom Yachts, Pearson Yachts USA, Catalina Yachts

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 6066.50 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA lightweight 6.5-meter fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited coastal sailing
J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/247.32 mSame hull family1.1 m longerThe world's most popular one-design keelboat, featuring a light 1406kg displacement for responsive, agile handling
J J/77.04 mSame hull family0.8 m longerA 2024 fractional sloop with a shallow 1.16m draft and a high 23.55 sail-area-to-displacement ratio for responsive daysailing
J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/226.86 mSame hull family0.6 m longerA high-performance fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio designed for competitive one-design racing
Santana 206.16 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-performance fractional sloop with a 1996 deck redesign that added an open transom and a roomier cockpit
Sirius 7277.27 mSame hull family1.0 m longerA development of the Sirius 24, this fractional sloop features a fin keel with skeg-mounted rudder for balanced handling

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.

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