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Cottontail
Designer: Robert F. Matteson  ·  Builder: Holliday Yachts  ·  First built: 1959
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About the Cottontail

With limited technical specifications available, the Cottontail sailboat represents one of the more elusive designs in recreational sailing. This relative obscurity often indicates either a limited production run or a regional builder that didn't achieve widespread market penetration during its era. Based on typical naming conventions and design patterns from similar boats, the Cottontail likely emerged as a small to mid-sized recreational sailboat, probably intended for weekend coastal sailing and day trips. The whimsical name suggests a design philosophy focused on approachable, family-friendly sailing rather than serious offshore passage-making or competitive racing. Without detailed specifications, potential buyers should approach this boat with careful inspection of hull condition, rigging integrity, and overall maintenance history. The scarcity of available information could present challenges for sourcing replacement parts or finding knowledgeable repair facilities familiar with the design's specific requirements. For sailors seeking an uncommon boat with potential character and charm, the Cottontail might offer an interesting project. However, those prioritizing readily available support documentation, parts availability, and established resale values would likely find better options among more widely produced and documented sailboat models from recognized manufacturers.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 15.83 ft / 4.82 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
Beam 5.08 ft / 1.55 m
Max Draft 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
Min Draft 0.92 ft / 0.28 m
Displacement 286.00 lb / 130 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 120.00 ft² / 11.15 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Robert F. Matteson
Builder Holliday Yachts
First Built 1959
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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
44.27
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
3.48
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
3.09
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. 5.01
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. 254.12
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