Fractional Sloop · Centerboard Dinghy · First built 1968
An aluminium centreboard dinghy designed by William H. Shaw with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively sailing
Designed by William H. Shaw.
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 2.03 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 145 kg of hull, so roughly 750 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 145 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 0.18 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 3 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.
Comfort ratio 3
CoastalBluewater
At 3.90 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.
Capsize screening 3.90
LightHeavy
47 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.
Displacement / length 47
EasygoingPowered-up
51.0 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.
Sail area / displacement 51.0
A capable offshore cruiser with an easy motion when the sea gets up.
Beamier than ~90% of boats her size on file
Compared with 327 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
51.0
Displacement / length
46.9
Comfort ratio
2.6
Capsize screening
3.90
Hull speed
5.1 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
346
Hull
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy
Construction
Aluminum
Production
Years built
First built 1968
Designer
William H. Shaw
Builder
Grumman Boats, Pearson Yachts
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.
Hunter Marine 154.42 mSame hull family0.5 m shorterA lightweight fractional centerboard dinghy designed for easy handling and high performance
Lido 144.27 mSame hull family0.7 m shorterA fractional sloop dinghy designed by Barney Lehman, updated in 1995 with a modern mold for improved longevity and safety
LaserPerformance 49er4.88 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn Olympic-class high-performance skiff featuring a massive sail-area-to-displacement ratio for elite racing
Melges 195.79 mSame hull family0.9 m longerA Reichel-Pugh designed fractional dinghy with an exceptionally high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for rapid planing
Small Craft Ltd. Wayfarer4.82 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn Ian Proctor-designed centreboard dinghy with a high sail-to-displacement ratio, built since 1957 in wood and fibreglass
