Fractional Sloop · Centerboard Dinghy · First built 1987
A lightweight centreboard dinghy with a high 33.79 SA/D ratio, sharing her design lineage with the Mutineer 15
Designed by Rod Macalpine-Downie & Dick Gibbs.
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 272 kg of hull, so roughly 850 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 272 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 0.20 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 6 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.
Comfort ratio 6
CoastalBluewater
At 2.85 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.
Capsize screening 2.85
LightHeavy
96 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.
Displacement / length 96
EasygoingPowered-up
33.8 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.
Sail area / displacement 33.8
Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.
Heavier than ~93% of boats her size on file
Draws more than ~85% of boats her size on file
Compared with 377 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
33.8
Displacement / length
96.0
Comfort ratio
5.9
Capsize screening
2.85
Hull speed
5.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
302
Hull
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1987
Units built
6000
Designer
Rod Macalpine-Downie, Dick Gibbs
Builder
Gloucester Yachts Inc, Lockley Newport 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.
RS Venture4.98 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA 4.98-metre fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio, designed for agile, modern dinghy sailing
Aubin (Chantier Aubin) Snipe4.72 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA legendary William F. Crosby-designed fractional dinghy that remains one of the world's most active racing classes
LaserPerformance 49er4.88 mSame hull family0.3 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 family0.3 m longerA high-performance Olympic skiff featuring the 49er hull paired with a specialised rig tailored for lighter crews
Fairey Marine Swordfish4.57 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA hot-molded centerboard dinghy built using WWII-era aircraft techniques until fiberglass production costs took over
Beneteau First 144.30 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Samuel Manuard-designed performance dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited, responsive sailing
