The Bellboy 17 is aggressively canvassed for its weight.
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
SA / Displacement
25.2
Performance-oriented — carries a lot of canvas for its weight.
Capsize Screening
2.70
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
SA/Disp (Calculated)
24.0
Computed from measured I/J/P/E rather than reported sail area.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Capsize Screening Formula
2.70
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Bellboy 17 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Hunter 170
Montgomery 17
Vagabond 17
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Bellboy 17 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghosting
0–5 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
5–16 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
16–24 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
24+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Bellboy 17.
| Bellboy 17 | Com-Pac Sun Cat | Holder 17 | Hunter 170 | Montgomery 17 | Vagabond 17 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 17.0 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 17.1 | 17.1 | 17.0 |
| LWL | — | 15.0 | 15.0 | 12.1 | 15.8 | 15.0 |
| Beam | 7.3 | 7.5 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 7.3 | 7.3 |
| Displacement | 1 | 1 | 950 | 478 | 1 | 950 |
| Ballast | — | 650 | 345 | — | 550 | 345 |
| Sail Area | 186 | 162 | 147 | 150 | 154 | — |
| Performance | ||||||
| PHRF | — | — | — | 258 | 264 | 270 |
| SA/Disp | 25.2 | 16.6 | 24.4 | 39.3 | 19.7 | 13.6 |
| Bal/Disp | — | 33.3 | 36.3 | — | 39.3 | 36.3 |
| Comfort | — | 13.1 | 6.7 | 4.1 | 9.4 | — |
| Capsize | 2.70 | 2.40 | 2.95 | 3.58 | 2.62 | — |
| Hull Speed | — | 5.2 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 5.3 | — |