The Cherry 16 is with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
4.9 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
Ballast / Displacement
18.6%
Light ballast — tends to be tender; reef earlier than the numbers suggest.
Displacement / Length
86
Ultralight — responsive and fast, but carries less stores.
Comfort Ratio
3.8
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Hull Speed
4.9kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
2lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
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.
Comfort Ratio
3.8
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Cherry 16.
| Cherry 16 | Com-Pac 16 | Fireball | Leeward 16 Luger | Rebel 16 | Wayfarer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 16.0 | 16.0 | 16.2 | 16.0 | 16.1 | 15.8 |
| LWL | — | 14.0 | 13.3 | 15.0 | — | 14.8 |
| Beam | 7.2 | 6.0 | 4.4 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 6.1 |
| Displacement | 485 | 1 | 170 | 650 | 700 | 372 |
| Ballast | 90 | 450 | — | — | — | — |
| Sail Area | — | 113 | 123 | 140 | 166 | 141 |
| Performance | ||||||
| SA/Disp | — | 17.0 | 64.2 | 29.9 | — | 43.7 |
| Bal/Disp | 18.6 | 40.9 | — | — | — | — |
| Comfort | 3.8 | 10.6 | 2.6 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 3.4 |
| Capsize | — | 2.33 | 3.19 | 2.89 | — | 3.38 |
| Hull Speed | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 5.2 |