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Cornish Shrimper 19
Designer: Roger Dongray  ·  Builder: Cornish Crabbers (Uk)  ·  First built: 1979
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About the Cornish Shrimper 19

With over 1,000 hulls launched since 1979, Roger Dongray's Cornish Shrimper 19 has earned a devoted following among traditional sailing enthusiasts. Built by Cornish Crabbers in Devon, this characterful pocket cruiser embodies classic English boatbuilding philosophy with its distinctive gaff-rigged sloop configuration and seaworthy proportions. The Shrimper's substantial build quality shines through its impressive displacement of 2,350 pounds and generous ballast ratio, creating exceptional stability for such a compact vessel. Her deep keel and centerboard combination provides versatility for both deeper waters and shallow creek exploration, making her ideal for coastal cruising and weekend adventures. The traditional gaff rig delivers manageable sail handling while maintaining the authentic character that defines the Cornish Crabbers fleet. Designed primarily for coastal sailing and protected waters, the Shrimper 19 excels as a single-handed day sailer or intimate weekend cruiser for two. Her moderate sail area-to-displacement ratio ensures predictable performance without being overpowered, while the comfortable cockpit and practical cabin layout maximize usability within her compact dimensions. This is quintessentially British sailing at its finest—prioritizing seaworthiness, craftsmanship, and traditional aesthetics over pure speed.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 19.25 ft / 5.87 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 17.50 ft / 5.33 m
Beam 7.17 ft / 2.19 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Min Draft 1.50 ft / 0.46 m
Displacement 2,350.00 lb / 1,066 kg
Ballast 700.00 lb / 318 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 194.00 ft² / 18.02 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Gaffhead Sloop
Construction GRP
Designer Roger Dongray
Builder Cornish Crabbers (UK)
First Built 1979
Number Built 1000
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
 17.6
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
 29.79
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
 195.75
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
 14.6
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
 2.16
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. 5.61 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. 448.34 pounds/inch
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Yanmar (opt.)
Engine Model 1GM
Engine Type Diesel
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