BoatsBombardier Invitation

Bombardier Invitation

Cat (unstayed) · Dbrd. Dinghy · First built 1973

A Canadian-built cat-rigged dinghy from 1973 featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively performance

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Dbrd. Dinghy

Is it for you?

Character

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

TrailerableBeam 1.52 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 82 kg of hull, so roughly 700 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Shoal draughtDraws 0.91 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 moderate beam gives 2 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 2
CoastalBluewater

At 3.54 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 3.54
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 29
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 45.0

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
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cat (unstayed)
Ratios
SA / displacement
45.0
Displacement / length
29.4
Comfort ratio
2.3
Capsize screening
3.54
Hull speed
5.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
250
Hull
Hull type
Dbrd. Dinghy
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1973
Builder
Bombardier

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 family0.4 m shorterA high-performance skiff designed by Julian Bethwaite, featuring a powerful fractional rig for competitive racing
Marie Rønningen, Olympic gold contender7:24from SEILmagasinet
Laser 24.40 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA high-performance fractional dinghy designed by Bethwaite and Bruce, featuring a rapid sail-area-to-displacement ratio
Laser 2 Sailing, A guy a girl and a small dog0:20from Wicked Salty
Beneteau First 144.30 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA Samuel Manuard-designed performance dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited, responsive sailing
Med Mooring with Mooring Lines in Alimos Marinafrom Epic Navigator
Ilca 6 (Laser Radial)4.23 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterAn Olympic-standard single-handed dinghy featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lighter sailors
Line Flem Høst started the season with 5th place in the World Championshipfrom SEILmagasinet
Ilca 7 (Laser-International)4.23 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA Bruce Kirby-designed Olympic class dinghy featuring a simple unstayed cat rig and a lightweight, high-performance hull
Theodor Middelthon: An "ILCA Viking" on a steady course for the world summit18:40from SEILmagasinet
LaserPerformance 49er4.88 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn Olympic-class high-performance skiff featuring a massive sail-area-to-displacement ratio for elite racing
Anders Kristensen - building on last year's successes15:51from SEILmagasinet

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Bombardier 3.8A lightweight cat-rigged dinghy marketed in Sweden as the Triss Racer, built for responsive and spirited sailingBombardier 4.8A high-performance fractional centerboard dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited sailingImpulse DinghyAn Arthur Caldwell-designed Australian single-hander built for home construction in wood or fiberglass

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 Bombardier Invitation

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