BoatsSidewinder 16

Sidewinder 16

Fractional Sloop · Centerboard Dinghy · First built 1969

The most successful model from Sidewinder, this 1969 fractional centerboard dinghy offers a high power-to-weight ratio

Designed by J. R. Macalpine-Downie & Dick Gibbs, built by MFG Boats.

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 1.37 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 79 kg of hull, so roughly 700 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 79 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 0.13 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 narrow beam gives 2 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 2
CoastalBluewater

At 3.22 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 3.22
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 27
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 55.0

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

  • Narrower than ~90% of boats her size on file

Compared with 366 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
55.0
Displacement / length
26.6
Comfort ratio
2.5
Capsize screening
3.22
Hull speed
5.1 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
230
Hull
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1969
Designer
J. R. Macalpine-Downie, Dick Gibbs
Builder
MFG Boats

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.

Several Under License 29er4.40 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA high-performance skiff designed by Julian Bethwaite, featuring a powerful fractional rig for competitive racing
Spindrift 134.06 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterA Hubert Vandestadt-designed centerboard dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively, responsive sailing
Alcort Sunfish4.24 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterWith a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 47.02, this nimble 4.24-meter dinghy remains a benchmark for simple
LaserPerformance 49er4.88 mSame hull family0.2 m longerAn Olympic-class high-performance skiff featuring a massive sail-area-to-displacement ratio for elite racing
MacKay Boats Ltd. 49erfx4.88 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA high-performance skiff utilizing the 49er hull with a downsized rig specifically optimized for lighter crews
Ilca 4 (Laser 4.7)4.23 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA Bruce Kirby-designed dinghy sharing the classic Laser hull, optimized with a smaller sail plan for lighter sailors

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.

The newsletter

New boats, new stories, from everywhere.

One email from the fleet — boats newly added, videos newly analyzed. No noise.

Report an issue