Fractional Sloop · Lifting Keel · First built 1997
A lightweight, high-performance fractional sloop by Dudley Dix available as plans or a kit for home construction
Designed by Dudley Dix, built by Mboats International Ltd.
LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Lifting Keel
Is it for you?
Character
Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.
TrailerableBeam 2.47 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 1,000 kg of hull, so roughly 1,600 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 1,000 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 0.50 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 8 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.
Comfort ratio 8
CoastalBluewater
At 2.49 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.
Capsize screening 2.49
LightHeavy
65 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.
Displacement / length 65
EasygoingPowered-up
33.4 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.
Sail area / displacement 33.4
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
43.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
33.4
Displacement / length
64.8
Comfort ratio
8.3
Capsize screening
2.49
Hull speed
6.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
717
Hull
Hull type
Lifting Keel
Construction
Plywood Composite
Production
Years built
First built 1997
Designer
Dudley Dix
Builder
MBOATS INTERNATIONAL LTD
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.
Seascape 277.99 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Sam Manuard-designed performance fractional sloop with a high SA/D ratio and swing keel, now part of the Beneteau First range
Melges 247.32 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterA 7.32-metre sportboat with a lifting keel and a 32.09 sail-area-to-displacement ratio built for rapid planing
Seaward Yachts 26RK8.66 mSame hull family0.7 m longerA fractional sloop with a 1.83m lifting bulb keel, offering deep-water performance in a trailerable 8.66m package
Cal Boats 247.43 mSame hull family0.6 m shorterThe inaugural Jensen Marine Cal model, this fractional keel-centerboard sloop was built for shoal-water versatility
