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Burns 21
Designer: Chuck Burns  ·  First built: 1980
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About the Burns 21

With extremely limited specifications available, the Burns 21 remains something of an enigma in the small sailboat market. This 21-foot vessel appears to be part of a lesser-documented lineage of recreational sailboats, making it a curiosity for those researching vintage or uncommon designs. Given its size classification, the Burns 21 would most naturally fit into the coastal cruising and day sailing category, though without detailed specifications, its exact capabilities remain unclear. Boats of this length typically offer a good balance between trailerable convenience and sailing performance, making them appealing to weekend sailors and those seeking an affordable entry into the sailing world. The scarcity of readily available information suggests this model may have had limited production runs or represents a regional builder's work that didn't achieve widespread distribution. For potential buyers, this could present both challenges and opportunities – challenges in finding parts or documentation, but opportunities to own something relatively unique. Anyone seriously considering a Burns 21 would be well-advised to conduct thorough physical inspections and seek out owner networks or specialized forums where hands-on experience with these boats might be shared among the sailing community.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 20.50 ft / 6.25 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 17.75 ft / 5.41 m
Beam 7.25 ft / 2.21 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement 1,870.00 lb / 848 kg
Ballast 1,070.00 lb / 485 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 209.00 ft² / 19.42 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Chuck Burns
First Built 1980
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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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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
22.08
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
11.11
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
2.36
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. 5.65
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
4.06
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. 459.81
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 25.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 8.7
P (Mainsail Luff) 25.0
E (Mainsail Foot) 8.0
SA Fore 108.75
SA Main 100.0
How It Compares

vs. Cal 21, Companion 21, Precision 21

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Burns 21 ★
20.5 ft
Cal 21
20.5 ft
Companion 21
20.5 ft
Precision 21
20.8 ft
LWL
Burns 21 ★
17.8 ft
Cal 21
16.7 ft
Companion 21
16.5 ft
Precision 21
17.5 ft
Beam
Burns 21 ★
7.3 ft
Cal 21
6.7 ft
Companion 21
7.1 ft
Precision 21
8.3 ft
Displacement
Burns 21 ★
1 lbs
Cal 21
1 lbs
Companion 21
3 lbs
Precision 21
1 lbs
Ballast
Burns 21 ★
1 lbs
Cal 21
360 lbs
Companion 21
1 lbs
Precision 21
600 lbs
Sail Area
Burns 21 ★
209 sq ft
Cal 21
196 sq ft
Companion 21
218 sq ft
Precision 21
203 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Burns 21 ★
Cal 21
261 s/nm
Companion 21
Precision 21
243 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Burns 21 ★
22.1
Cal 21
29.5
Companion 21
16.5
Precision 21
21.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Burns 21 ★
Cal 21
32.7 %
Companion 21
32.3 %
Precision 21
32.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Burns 21 ★
11.1
Cal 21
7.6
Companion 21
20.0
Precision 21
9.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Burns 21 ★
2.36
Cal 21
2.59
Companion 21
1.94
Precision 21
2.68
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Burns 21 ★
Cal 21
106
Companion 21
308
Precision 21
156
Hull Speed
Burns 21 ★
5.7 kts
Cal 21
5.5 kts
Companion 21
5.4 kts
Precision 21
5.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Burns 21 ★
4.1
Cal 21
6.0
Companion 21
Precision 21
3.7
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