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Barnegat Bay Sneakbox
Designer: J. Howard Perrine  ·  Builder: J. Howard Perrine  ·  First built: 1918
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About the Barnegat Bay Sneakbox

Originally developed by J. Howard Perrine in 1918, this distinctive small craft emerged from the shallow waters and marshlands of New Jersey's Barnegat Bay region. The sneakbox design represents a uniquely American sailing tradition, purpose-built for navigating the challenging coastal waters and back bays of the mid-Atlantic coast. At just 15 feet overall, this compact vessel punches above its weight with its efficient gaff-rigged cat boat configuration and generous 156 square feet of sail area. The centerboard trunk design allows for versatile shallow-water exploration while maintaining decent sailing performance, with a theoretical hull speed of 4.83 knots. Despite its modest 400-pound displacement, the boat's wide 5.75-foot beam provides surprising stability for its size. The sneakbox excels in protected coastal waters, estuaries, and bay sailing where its shallow draft and responsive handling shine. Its traditional wood construction and classic lines appeal to sailors seeking an authentic connection to American maritime heritage. While not suited for offshore adventures, this design offers an ideal platform for daysailing, fishing, and exploring shallow waterways. The boat's low profile and efficient rig made it historically popular among hunters and fishermen who needed a craft that could navigate tight quarters while remaining seaworthy in moderate conditions.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
Beam 5.75 ft / 1.75 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Min Draft 0.50 ft / 0.15 m
Displacement 400.00 lb / 181 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 156.00 ft² / 14.49 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard (Trunk)
Rigging Type Gaff head Cat
Construction Wood
Designer J. Howard Perrine
Builder J. Howard Perrine
First Built 1918
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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
46.03
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
81.28
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
4.42
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
3.12
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. 4.83 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. 267.09 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Marsh Cat, Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod, Mystic River Catboat, West Wight Potter 15, Wivenhoe

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Barnegat Bay Sneakbox ★
15.0 ft
Marsh Cat
15.0 ft
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod
15.0 ft
Mystic River Catboat
15.0 ft
West Wight Potter 15
15.0 ft
Wivenhoe
15.0 ft
LWL
Barnegat Bay Sneakbox ★
13.0 ft
Marsh Cat
14.0 ft
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod
13.8 ft
Mystic River Catboat
West Wight Potter 15
11.8 ft
Wivenhoe
14.2 ft
Beam
Barnegat Bay Sneakbox ★
5.8 ft
Marsh Cat
6.9 ft
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod
5.4 ft
Mystic River Catboat
7.0 ft
West Wight Potter 15
5.5 ft
Wivenhoe
5.2 ft
Displacement
Barnegat Bay Sneakbox ★
400 lbs
Marsh Cat
1 lbs
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod
470 lbs
Mystic River Catboat
475 lbs
West Wight Potter 15
475 lbs
Wivenhoe
525 lbs
Ballast
Barnegat Bay Sneakbox ★
Marsh Cat
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod
Mystic River Catboat
West Wight Potter 15
165 lbs
Wivenhoe
70 lbs
Sail Area
Barnegat Bay Sneakbox ★
156 sq ft
Marsh Cat
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod
119 sq ft
Mystic River Catboat
West Wight Potter 15
Wivenhoe
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Barnegat Bay Sneakbox ★
46.0
Marsh Cat
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod
31.5
Mystic River Catboat
West Wight Potter 15
Wivenhoe
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Barnegat Bay Sneakbox ★
Marsh Cat
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod
Mystic River Catboat
West Wight Potter 15
34.7 %
Wivenhoe
13.3 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Barnegat Bay Sneakbox ★
4.4
Marsh Cat
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod
5.4
Mystic River Catboat
4.1
West Wight Potter 15
Wivenhoe
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Barnegat Bay Sneakbox ★
3.12
Marsh Cat
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod
2.79
Mystic River Catboat
West Wight Potter 15
Wivenhoe
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Barnegat Bay Sneakbox ★
81
Marsh Cat
212
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod
Mystic River Catboat
102
West Wight Potter 15
128
Wivenhoe
81
Hull Speed
Barnegat Bay Sneakbox ★
4.8 kts
Marsh Cat
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod
5.0 kts
Mystic River Catboat
4.8 kts
West Wight Potter 15
Wivenhoe
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