BoatsIndependence 20

Independence 20

Frac. Sloop (Free standing) · Fin w/transom Hung Rudder · First built 1999

A 943kg fin-keel sloop with a free-standing rig, engineered for accessibility and ease of handling

Designed by Gary Mull, built by Freedom Yachts.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/transom Hung Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

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

TrailerableBeam 2.44 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 944 kg of hull, so roughly 1,550 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a beamy beam gives 11 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 11
CoastalBluewater

At 2.51 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.51
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 166
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 22.6
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
43.3%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Frac. Sloop (Free standing)
Ratios
SA / displacement
22.6
Displacement / length
166.0
Comfort ratio
10.8
Capsize screening
2.51
Hull speed
5.7 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
507
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/transom hung rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1999
Designer
Gary Mull
Builder
Freedom Yachts, Pearson Yachts USA, Catalina 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.

Ranger Yachts 226.86 mSame hull family0.6 m longerAn IOR mini-ton racer with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio, built for competitive performance in a compact hull
Starting a New Life at Sea | #SAL #3263:34from Hashtag Sal
Bavaria Yachts 6066.50 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA lightweight 6.5-metre fractional sloop with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited coastal sailing
Captain's Log Day 3: Things That Go Bump in the Night (3/10)4:19from Be The Captain
Gilbert Marine Tequila7.20 mSame hull family1.0 m longerA Philippe H. Harle-designed masthead sloop that claimed the 1971 Quarter Ton Cup with her prototype performance
Lost at Sea Sailing Couple From YouTube Dies in Life Raft - Ep 307 - Lady K Sailing0:45from Lady K Sailing
Rio 206.10 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA lightweight, high-performance masthead sloop designed by Roberto Barros with a lively sail area-to-displacement ratio
João Basilio: Sea Scout Antonina8:03from Podcast Maré Sonora ®
Beneteau First 2357.11 mSame hull family0.9 m longerA Groupe Finot-designed fractional sloop built for performance, featuring a light displacement and high sail area ratio
Sailing is Not Expensive - Full Cost Breakdown - ep 2813:07from Lady K Sailing
Abbott Boats Inc. Yngling6.35 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 6.35-metre fractional sloop that served as the Olympic class for women sailors from 2004 through 2008
Kristian Nergaard - most medals in 202410:10from SEILmagasinet

The family

Boats like this

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

Catalina Yachts Aero 20Designed by Gary Mull for sailors with limited mobility, this 6.25-metre fractional sloop features a unique Aero RigIndependent Yachts 20A masthead sloop with a keel-centerboard configuration that shares its hull and rig with the later fixed-fin 20-2Freedom Yachts 21A Garry Hoyt design featuring an unstayed cat rig and versatile configurations including twin lifting keelsFreedom Yachts 21 SLPA Garry Hoyt-designed fractional sloop featuring a free-standing mast and a unique retractable twin-wing keel variant

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Independence 20

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