A nimble fractional sloop designed by C. William Lapworth, originally introduced in 1965 as the Newport 16
Designed by C. William Lapworth.
LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Swing Keel
Is it for you?
Character
Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.
TrailerableBeam 1.91 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 408 kg of hull, so roughly 1,000 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 408 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 0.23 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 8 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.
Comfort ratio 8
CoastalBluewater
At 2.59 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.
Capsize screening 2.59
LightHeavy
146 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.
Displacement / length 146
EasygoingPowered-up
23.6 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.
Sail area / displacement 23.6
TenderStiff
22% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.
Ballast 22%
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
22.2%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
23.6
Displacement / length
146.4
Comfort ratio
8.4
Capsize screening
2.59
Hull speed
5.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
313
Hull
Hull type
Swing Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Iron
Production
Years built
1986–1989
Units built
1300
Designer
C. William Lapworth
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.
Sandpiper 154.72 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Breck Marshall-designed gaff-rigged catboat with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited light-air sailing
Farr 50005.08 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Bruce Farr-designed fractional sloop featuring a swing keel and a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively performance
Microtonner 195.50 mSame hull family0.8 m longerA high-performance fractional sloop designed by Nestor Volker to the International Micro Class rule for competitive racing
RS Quest4.29 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA 140kg fractional sloop with a centerboard trunk designed for stable, versatile training and family sailing
Drascombe Lugger5.72 mSame hull family1.0 m longerA John Watkinson-designed gunter-rigged dayboat with a centreboard, built since 1968 for versatile coastal exploration
Drascombe Dabber4.72 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA John Watkinson-designed sprit-rigged daysailer with a centreboard, built since 1970 for shallow-water versatility
