Cat (Marconi) · Centerboard Dinghy · First built 1921
A 1932 Olympic mono-type class dinghy, later refined by Edson Schock into a popular fibreglass trainer for junior sailors
Designed by Willis Reid, Schock & Edson B. Schock.
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 1.52 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 59 kg of hull, so roughly 650 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 59 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 0.12 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
CoastalBluewater
At 3.95 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.
Capsize screening 3.95
EasygoingPowered-up
63.6 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.
Sail area / displacement 63.6
Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.
The record
Full specifications
The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.
Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cat (Marconi)
Ratios
SA / displacement
63.6
Capsize screening
3.95
Hull
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1921
Units built
28
Designer
Willis Reid, Schock, Edson B. Schock
Builder
W. D. Schock Co, Schock W.D
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.
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
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
Cape Dory 103.20 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA lightweight Gunter-rigged centerboard dinghy from Andrew C. Vavolotis, built for nearly two decades of versatile sailing
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
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
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
