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Cornish Coble
Designer: Roger Dongray  ·  Builder: Cornish Crabbers (Uk)  ·  First built: 1976
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About the Cornish Coble

Built by Cornish Crabbers between 1976 and 2001, this 19-foot centerboard dinghy represents a classic approach to traditional British small boat design. Roger Dongray created a vessel that bridges the gap between pure daysailer and pocket cruiser, with its standing lug rig delivering both simplicity and performance. The Coble's relatively deep draft of 3.51 feet provides excellent stability and windward ability, while the centerboard configuration allows for shallow water exploration and easy beaching. With 380 hulls produced over its 25-year production run, the design clearly found favor among sailors seeking a boat capable of both spirited sailing and gentle family outings. This GRP construction makes for a low-maintenance craft suited primarily to coastal waters and protected bays. The generous beam provides good initial stability, while the moderate displacement keeps the boat responsive in light airs. The standing lug rig is particularly appealing to traditional sailing enthusiasts, offering straightforward handling without the complexity of modern rigs. While not designed for offshore passages, the Cornish Coble excels as a coastal explorer and weekend sailor, combining seaworthy characteristics with the charm of traditional British small craft design.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 13.25 ft / 4.04 m
Beam 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Max Draft 3.51 ft / 1.07 m
Min Draft 0.98 ft / 0.30 m
Displacement 599.66 lb / 272 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 131.00 ft² / 12.17 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Standing Lug
Construction GRP
Designer Roger Dongray
Builder Cornish Crabbers (UK)
First Built 1976
Last Built 2001
Number Built 380
Associations Cornish Crabber Owners
Owner Reviews

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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
29.52
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
115.08
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
5.68
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
2.85
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. 4.88 kn
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. 284.06 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Type Outboard well
LOD 16.50 ft / 5.03 m
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