BoatsDouglass Thistle

Douglass Thistle

Fractional Sloop · Centerboard Dinghy · First built 1945

A 1945 design featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for rapid acceleration in a lightweight hull

Designed by Sandy Douglass & Gordon K. (Sandy) Douglass.

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 1.83 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 234 kg of hull, so roughly 850 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 234 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 4 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 4
CoastalBluewater

At 3.00 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 3.00
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 47
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 47.6

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

  • Heavier than ~83% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~90% of boats her size on file

Compared with 306 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Douglass Thistle, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Douglass Thistle is a 5.2-meter fractional sloop, centerboard dinghy designed by Sandy Douglass and built since 1945 by multiple manufacturers including Douglass, McCloud, and Clark Boat Company. It has a beam of 1.8 meters, a draft of 1.4 meters, and a displacement of 233 kg. The Thistle features a spinnaker with an area of 220 square feet. The boat is actively raced, with participants like Christina, wife of the owner of the Pacific SEACRAFT 34 *Sea Change*, competing in events such as the Thistle Nationals.13:58

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
47.6
Displacement / length
46.8
Comfort ratio
4.3
Capsize screening
3.00
Hull speed
5.5 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
364
Hull
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy
Construction
Molded Ply/FG
Production
Years built
First built 1945
Units built
4000
Designer
Sandy Douglass, Gordon K. (Sandy) Douglass
Builder
Douglass, McCloud, Clark Boat Company

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.

Small Craft Ltd. Wayfarer4.82 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterAn Ian Proctor-designed centerboard dinghy with a high sail-to-displacement ratio, built since 1957 in wood and fiberglass
Behind the scenes at the Wayfarer factory – a tour of Hartley Boatsfrom practicalboatowner
LaserPerformance 49er4.88 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterAn Olympic-class high-performance skiff featuring a massive sail-area-to-displacement ratio for elite racing
From Kayak King to National Team Manager: Eirik Verås Larsen on Peiling på Seiling11:16from SEILmagasinet
Spindrift 134.06 mSame hull family1.1 m shorterA Hubert Vandestadt-designed centerboard dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively, responsive sailing
Our Boat Got Stolen 😡… So We Built a New One (in just ONE Week)from WhiteSpotPirates
Several Under License 29er4.40 mSame hull family0.8 m shorterA high-performance skiff designed by Julian Bethwaite, featuring a powerful fractional rig for competitive racing
Marie Rønningen, Olympic gold contender7:24from SEILmagasinet
CL Sailboats 144.32 mSame hull family0.9 m shorterA 109-kilogram fractional sloop built since 1980, offering a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively handling
HOW TO CHECK SAILING WEATHER - Ep 337 - Lady K Sailing1:35from Lady K Sailing
Aubin (Chantier Aubin) Snipe4.72 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA legendary William F. Crosby-designed fractional dinghy that remains one of the world's most active racing classes
A Story of Overcoming: 40 Years at Sea with Only One Legfrom Hashtag Sal

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.

Douglass HighlanderA high-performance fractional centerboard dinghy with a massive sail area, designed by Sandy Douglass for active racingFlying ScotA high-performance fractional centerboard dinghy with over 6,250 built since 1958 for active one-design racingSchwill Yachts Inc. Ds-18A high-performance fractional sloop with a shallow 0.46m draft, designed for spirited sailing in skinny waterDiscoverer 18A high-performance 1966 centerboard dinghy with a powerful sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited fractional sailing

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Douglass Thistle

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