BoatsDC 20

DC 20

Fractional Sloop · Keel/centreboard · 1963–1979

A light-displacement fractional sloop by Silvant and Lebrun, designed for lively performance and shoal-water versatility

Designed by Georges Silvant & Jacques Lebrun.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.

Is it for you?

Character

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

TrailerableBeam 2.25 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 800 kg of hull, so roughly 1,400 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 800 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draught shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draughtDraws 0.35 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 10 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 10
CoastalBluewater

At 2.45 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.45
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 117
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 24.7
TenderStiff

18% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 18%

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

  • Draws less than ~80% of boats her size on file

Compared with 612 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
Ballast / displacement
17.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
24.7
Displacement / length
117.4
Comfort ratio
9.6
Capsize screening
2.45
Hull speed
5.8 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
497
Hull
Hull type
Keel/Cbrd.
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1963–1979
Units built
400
Designer
Georges Silvant, Jacques Lebrun
Builder
Georges Silvant, Jouet

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.

RS 216.40 mSame hull family0.3 m shorter
Training Sea Cadet Instructors | RS21 Keelboat Sailing – Welsh Harp1:37from City Sailing
Dufour Yachts T66.15 mSame hull family0.6 m shorterA lightweight 800kg fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited performance in light air
Who I am and why the sea is part of my life0:56from NAUTICPIOLI
Microtonner 195.50 mSame hull family1.2 m shorterA high-performance fractional sloop designed by Nestor Volker to the International Micro Class rule for competitive racing
I Met the Man Who Puts Sailboats Inside the São Francisco River | #SAL #4256:23from Hashtag Sal
Catalina Yachts 227.26 mSame hull family0.6 m longerA prolific masthead sloop with 15,000 built, offering a versatile swing-keel design for trailerable coastal cruising
The ZERO KEEL and ALPHA RUDDER - Are Kraken Yachts Really THAT GOOD?9:27from Practical Sailor
Melges 247.32 mSame hull family0.6 m longerA 7.32-metre sportboat with a lifting keel and a 32.09 sail-area-to-displacement ratio built for rapid planing
New clubhouse, Tønsberg Sailing Association0:57from SEILmagasinet
Marshall Marine Corporation Sanderling5.54 mSame hull family1.2 m shorterA gaff-rigged catboat based on a 1941 design, featuring a shallow-draft keel-centerboard hull for versatile day sailing
The History of Beneteau Boats11:37from Practical Sailor

The family

Boats like this

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

Jouet 600A nimble fractional sloop from Berret-Racoupeau with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited light-air sailingJouet 24A high-performance masthead sloop by Daniel Tortarolo, featuring a stiff 47% ballast ratio for spirited coastal sailingJouet 680A lively Berret-designed fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited club racing

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 DC 20

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