A GRP centerboard dinghy by George O'Brien Kennedy that evolved from a Gunter rig to a versatile Bermudian sloop
Designed by George O'Brien Kennedy.
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 1.47 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 75 kg of hull, so roughly 650 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 75 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 1.07 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
CoastalBluewater
At 3.52 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.
Capsize screening 3.52
EasygoingPowered-up
39.9 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.
Sail area / displacement 39.9
Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.
Draws more than ~76% of boats her size on file
Compared with 291 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
Gunter
Ratios
SA / displacement
39.9
Capsize screening
3.52
Hull
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1965–1988
Units built
1173
Designer
George O'Brien Kennedy
Builder
John Baker Ltd, Chris Clarance Marine
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.
International 144.27 mSame hull family0.6 m longerA high-performance development racing dinghy that has served as a testing ground for innovations like the trapeze since 1928
RS Feva3.64 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Paul Handley-designed fractional dinghy with a high power-to-weight ratio, widely raced in its XL configuration
Spindrift 134.06 mSame hull family0.4 m longerA Hubert Vandestadt-designed centerboard dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively, responsive sailing
Alcort Sunfish4.24 mSame hull family0.6 m longerWith a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 47.02, this nimble 4.24-metre dinghy remains a benchmark for simple
Super Sunfish4.22 mSame hull family0.6 m longerAn unstayed cat-rigged evolution of the classic Sunfish, designed for a more performance-oriented sailing experience
Ilca 4 (Laser 4.7)4.23 mSame hull family0.6 m longerA Bruce Kirby-designed dinghy sharing the classic Laser hull, optimized with a smaller sail plan for lighter sailors
