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Challenger 74

Designer: Alex Mcgruer  ·  Builder: Challenger Yachts Ltd. (Can)  ·  First built: 1974
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About the Challenger 74

Designed by Alex Mcgruer and built by Challenger Yachts Ltd. in Canada from 1974 to 1980, this 24-foot sloop represents solid value in the vintage sailboat market. With 800 hulls produced during its six-year production run, the Challenger 74 gained a reputation as an affordable entry point into sailing for many families. The boat's fin keel and spade rudder configuration provides responsive handling, while the masthead sloop rig delivers straightforward sail management. At 4,000 pounds with over half that weight in ballast, she offers reassuring stability for coastal cruising and weekend adventures. The moderate sail area keeps her manageable in a breeze, making this an excellent choice for newer sailors or those seeking a relaxed sailing experience. Her fiberglass construction has proven durable over the decades, though buyers should inspect older hulls carefully for typical vintage boat issues. The Challenger 74 excels as a day sailor and light coastal cruiser, offering enough accommodation for overnight trips while remaining trailerable for those seeking sailing opportunities beyond their home waters. While not built for serious offshore work or racing, she provides an honest, capable platform for recreational sailing.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 24.33 ft / 7.42 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.17 ft / 6.76 m
Beam 8.17 ft / 2.49 m
Max Draft 3.42 ft / 1.04 m
Displacement 4,000.00 lb / 1,814 kg
Ballast 2,090.00 lb / 948 kg
Ballast Type Iron
Sail Area (Reported) 230.00 ft² / 21.37 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Alex McGruer
Builder Challenger Yachts Ltd. (CAN)
First Built 1974
Last Built 1980
Number Built 800
Related Sailboats Challenger 24 · Columbia 24 · Dolphin 24 Ss · Cal 24 · Pacific Dolphin 24
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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
 14.64
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 52.25
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
 163.88
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
 16.5
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
 2.06
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. 6.31 kn
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
 2.77
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. 647.19 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 14.27
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 26.50 ft / 8.08 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 9.50 ft / 2.90 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 23.80 ft / 7.25 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 8.25 ft / 2.51 m
SA Fore 125.88 ft² / 11.69 m²
SA Main 98.18 ft² / 9.12 m²
SA Total (100%) 224.06 ft² / 20.82 m²
Est. Forestay Length 28.15 ft / 8.58 m
How It Compares

vs. Cal 24, Challenger 24, Columbia 24, Dolphin 24 Ss, Pacific Dolphin 24

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Challenger 74 ★
24.3 ft
Cal 24
24.4 ft
Challenger 24
24.3 ft
Columbia 24
24.3 ft
Dolphin 24 Ss
24.2 ft
Pacific Dolphin 24
24.2 ft
LWL
Challenger 74 ★
22.2 ft
Cal 24
20.1 ft
Challenger 24
22.2 ft
Columbia 24
18.0 ft
Dolphin 24 Ss
19.0 ft
Pacific Dolphin 24
19.0 ft
Beam
Challenger 74 ★
8.2 ft
Cal 24
8.0 ft
Challenger 24
8.2 ft
Columbia 24
8.0 ft
Dolphin 24 Ss
7.7 ft
Pacific Dolphin 24
7.7 ft
Displacement
Challenger 74 ★
4 lbs
Cal 24
3 lbs
Challenger 24
4 lbs
Columbia 24
4 lbs
Dolphin 24 Ss
4 lbs
Pacific Dolphin 24
4 lbs
Ballast
Challenger 74 ★
2 lbs
Cal 24
1 lbs
Challenger 24
2 lbs
Columbia 24
1 lbs
Dolphin 24 Ss
1 lbs
Pacific Dolphin 24
—
Sail Area
Challenger 74 ★
230 sq ft
Cal 24
261 sq ft
Challenger 24
230 sq ft
Columbia 24
285 sq ft
Dolphin 24 Ss
—
Pacific Dolphin 24
297 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Challenger 74 ★
—
Cal 24
237 s/nm
Challenger 24
263 s/nm
Columbia 24
258 s/nm
Dolphin 24 Ss
247 s/nm
Pacific Dolphin 24
228 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Challenger 74 ★
14.6
Cal 24
20.1
Challenger 24
14.6
Columbia 24
18.0
Dolphin 24 Ss
—
Pacific Dolphin 24
18.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Challenger 74 ★
52.3 %
Cal 24
33.3 %
Challenger 24
—
Columbia 24
—
Dolphin 24 Ss
38.8 %
Pacific Dolphin 24
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Challenger 74 ★
16.5
Cal 24
13.6
Challenger 24
16.5
Columbia 24
19.7
Dolphin 24 Ss
—
Pacific Dolphin 24
21.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Challenger 74 ★
2.06
Cal 24
2.22
Challenger 24
2.06
Columbia 24
2.01
Dolphin 24 Ss
—
Pacific Dolphin 24
1.90
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Challenger 74 ★
163
Cal 24
166
Challenger 24
—
Columbia 24
—
Dolphin 24 Ss
276
Pacific Dolphin 24
—
Hull Speed
Challenger 74 ★
6.3 kts
Cal 24
6.0 kts
Challenger 24
6.3 kts
Columbia 24
5.7 kts
Dolphin 24 Ss
—
Pacific Dolphin 24
5.8 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Challenger 74 ★
2.8
Cal 24
3.5
Challenger 24
3.0
Columbia 24
—
Dolphin 24 Ss
—
Pacific Dolphin 24
2.0
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