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12 Square Meter Sharpie
Designer: Krogen Brothers  ·  First built: 1931
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About the 12 Square Meter Sharpie

Originally designed by the Krogen Brothers in 1931, this distinctive centerboard dinghy represents a classic interpretation of the traditional sharpie hull form. With its shallow 0.96-foot draft and lightweight 510-pound displacement, the 12 Square Meter Sharpie excels in shallow water exploration and protected coastal sailing where deeper-keeled boats cannot venture. The gunter rig configuration provides an efficient sail plan that's easy to handle while offering respectable performance, evidenced by the healthy sail area to displacement ratio of 34.39. This makes the boat particularly well-suited for day sailing, sailing instruction, and small-boat cruising in bays, rivers, and coastal waters. The traditional wood construction delivers the classic aesthetic and pleasant sailing characteristics that wooden boat enthusiasts cherish. At nearly 20 feet overall with a beam under five feet, this sharpie maintains the sleek proportions that define the type while providing sufficient stability for comfortable sailing. The centerboard configuration allows for easy launching and retrieval, making it ideal for sailors who trailer their boats or keep them on moorings in shallow areas. With its low comfort ratio of 5.48, this design prioritizes performance and shoal-water capability over extended cruising accommodations.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 19.58 ft / 5.97 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 17.70 ft / 5.39 m
Beam 4.70 ft / 1.43 m
Max Draft 0.96 ft / 0.29 m
Min Draft 3.17 ft / 0.97 m
Displacement 510.00 lb / 231 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 137.00 ft² / 12.73 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Gunter
Construction Wood
Designer Krogen Brothers
First Built 1931
Associations Australian Lightweight Sharpie Association
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 34.39
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 41.06
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 5.48
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.35
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 5.64 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 297.25 pounds/inch
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