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Cape Cod Cat
Designer: Charles Whittholz  ·  Builder: Cape Cod Shipbuilding Co.  ·  First built: 1971
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About the Cape Cod Cat

Built as a traditional catboat design that honors New England's maritime heritage, this sailboat embodies the classic characteristics that made catboats beloved by coastal sailors for generations. The Cape Cod Cat features the distinctive single-masted configuration with a large gaff-rigged mainsail that defines the catboat family, offering straightforward sailing with minimal complexity. This design excels in protected waters, shallow bays, and coastal cruising where its shoal draft and responsive handling shine. The wide beam typical of catboats provides exceptional stability and a roomy cockpit, making it an excellent choice for day sailing, sailing instruction, or casual family outings. The boat's forgiving nature and simple sail plan make it particularly appealing to newer sailors while still offering enjoyment for experienced hands. Like traditional catboats, the Cape Cod Cat likely draws inspiration from the working boats that once populated Cape Cod waters, where fishermen and oystermen relied on these versatile craft. The design prioritizes ease of handling and practical seamanship over racing performance, embodying the workboat heritage that values reliability and comfort over speed. This makes it ideally suited for those seeking an authentic sailing experience rooted in American maritime tradition.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 16.42 ft / 5.00 m
Beam 7.92 ft / 2.41 m
Max Draft 4.83 ft / 1.47 m
Min Draft 1.67 ft / 0.51 m
Displacement 2,200.00 lb / 998 kg
Ballast 500.00 lb / 227 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 250.00 ft² / 23.23 m²
Headroom 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Gaff head Cat
Construction FG
Designer Charles Whittholz
Builder Cape Cod Shipbuilding Co.
First Built 1971
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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
23.7
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
13.01
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
2.44
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. 5.43
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. 464.67
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