BoatsBeneteau Guppy

Beneteau Guppy

Fractional Sloop · Centerboard Dinghy · 1963–1966

Beneteau's earliest fibreglass production sailboat, this 3.6-metre fractional sloop is derived from a sardine dinghy

Designed by Andre Beneteau.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy

See her sail

The Beneteau Guppy, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Practical Sailor

Is it for you?

Character

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

TrailerableBeam 1.62 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 200 kg of hull, so roughly 800 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 200 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 0.25 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 7 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 7
CoastalBluewater

At 2.79 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.79
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 163
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 22.7

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

  • Heavier than ~96% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~85% of boats her size on file

Compared with 289 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

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
22.7
Displacement / length
162.5
Comfort ratio
6.7
Capsize screening
2.79
Hull speed
4.4 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
202
Hull
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1963–1966
Designer
Andre Beneteau
Builder
Beneteau

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

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.

Spindrift 134.06 mSame hull family0.5 m longerA Hubert Vandestadt-designed centerboard dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively, responsive sailing
Our Boat Got Stolen 😡… So We Built a New One (in just ONE Week)from WhiteSpotPirates
Several Under License 29er4.40 mSame hull family0.8 m longerA high-performance skiff designed by Julian Bethwaite, featuring a powerful fractional rig for competitive racing
Marie Rønningen, Olympic gold contender7:24from SEILmagasinet
McDougall Waszp3.35 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA one-design foiling dinghy featuring wings and an unstayed rig, built in the thousands for high-performance racing
Asker Sailing Club5:14from SEILmagasinet
Topper International Topper3.40 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterAn Ian Proctor-designed polypropylene dinghy featuring an unstayed cat rig and three versatile sail-area configurations
Isle of Dogs Sea Cadets race at London Regatta May 25 in blustery conditions,from City Sailing
Finn (Monotype)4.50 mSame hull family0.9 m longerA Richard Sarby-designed Olympic single-handed dinghy featuring an unstayed cat rig and a long history of competition
SEILmagasinet TV Episode 3 - 202551:39from SEILmagasinet
Lido 144.27 mSame hull family0.7 m longerA fractional sloop dinghy designed by Barney Lehman, updated in 1995 with a modern mold for improved longevity and safety
Restoring covid-quarantine project boats - a Lido 14 sailboat and Seaflite 179SS ski boat0:03from Ravenswing

The family

Boats like this

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

Beneteau GalionA 1966 fractional sloop featuring an optional inboard engine and a long keel, designed for both sailing and fishingJeanneau BeniguetA lightweight 1970 fractional sloop with a long keel and shallow draft, designed for nimble coastal explorationBeneteau FletanA 1966 fractional sloop with a keel-centreboard configuration, offered as either an open day sailor or a cuddy cruiserSparrow 16A Ron Holder-designed fractional sloop with a shallow draft, originally launched as the Guppy 16.

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