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Crescent

Designer: Richard C. Hill  ·  Builder: M. E. Hill / Customflex (Usa)  ·  First built: 1953
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About the Crescent

Designed by Richard C. Hill and built by M. E. Hill and later Customflex from 1953 to 1974, this classic 24-footer represents thoughtful mid-century sailboat design with only 27 examples ever produced. The Crescent's wood and fiberglass construction reflects the transitional period when builders were experimenting with combining traditional and modern materials. With a displacement of 2,650 pounds and substantial ballast ratio, the Crescent offers reassuring stability for coastal cruising and weekend adventures. The fractional sloop rig provides manageable sail handling for small crews, while the fin keel configuration delivers respectable pointing ability and maneuverability in tight quarters. Her moderate beam of 6.5 feet keeps accommodations compact but functional for a boat of this era. The Crescent's comfort ratio of 16.78 suggests a relatively stiff, responsive boat that prioritizes sailing performance over interior volume. This makes her well-suited for day sailing, club racing, and coastal cruising where quick handling and good upwind performance matter more than spacious living quarters. The low capsize screening value of 1.88 indicates good stability characteristics, though her size and design keep her best suited for protected waters and fair weather sailing rather than offshore passages.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 18.50 ft / 5.64 m
Beam 6.50 ft / 1.98 m
Max Draft 4.08 ft / 1.24 m
Displacement 2,650.00 lb / 1,202 kg
Ballast 1,200.00 lb / 544 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 146.00 ft² / 13.56 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Wood/FG
Designer Richard C. Hill
Builder M. E. Hill / Customflex (USA)
First Built 1953
Last Built 1974
Number Built 27
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
222
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
12.23
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
45.28
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
186.85
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
16.78
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
1.88
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. 5.76 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. 429.67 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Cal 2 24, Columbia 24 Contender, Islander 24, Lark 24 Pearson, Shark 24

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Crescent ★
24.0 ft
Cal 2 24
24.0 ft
Columbia 24 Contender
24.0 ft
Islander 24
24.0 ft
Lark 24 Pearson
24.0 ft
Shark 24
24.0 ft
LWL
Crescent ★
18.5 ft
Cal 2 24
19.2 ft
Columbia 24 Contender
18.3 ft
Islander 24
20.0 ft
Lark 24 Pearson
18.5 ft
Shark 24
20.0 ft
Beam
Crescent ★
6.5 ft
Cal 2 24
7.8 ft
Columbia 24 Contender
7.8 ft
Islander 24
7.8 ft
Lark 24 Pearson
8.0 ft
Shark 24
6.8 ft
Displacement
Crescent ★
2 lbs
Cal 2 24
3 lbs
Columbia 24 Contender
3 lbs
Islander 24
3 lbs
Lark 24 Pearson
4 lbs
Shark 24
2 lbs
Ballast
Crescent ★
1 lbs
Cal 2 24
1 lbs
Columbia 24 Contender
1 lbs
Islander 24
1 lbs
Lark 24 Pearson
1 lbs
Shark 24
675 lbs
Sail Area
Crescent ★
146 sq ft
Cal 2 24
271 sq ft
Columbia 24 Contender
288 sq ft
Islander 24
294 sq ft
Lark 24 Pearson
283 sq ft
Shark 24
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Crescent ★
222 s/nm
Cal 2 24
Columbia 24 Contender
258 s/nm
Islander 24
237 s/nm
Lark 24 Pearson
Shark 24
236 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Crescent ★
12.2
Cal 2 24
18.2
Columbia 24 Contender
19.7
Islander 24
21.3
Lark 24 Pearson
17.2
Shark 24
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Crescent ★
45.3 %
Cal 2 24
37.8 %
Columbia 24 Contender
44.4 %
Islander 24
51.5 %
Lark 24 Pearson
41.9 %
Shark 24
30.7 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Crescent ★
16.8
Cal 2 24
18.1
Columbia 24 Contender
18.0
Islander 24
15.5
Lark 24 Pearson
20.7
Shark 24
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Crescent ★
1.88
Cal 2 24
2.01
Columbia 24 Contender
2.05
Islander 24
2.11
Lark 24 Pearson
1.97
Shark 24
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Crescent ★
186
Cal 2 24
234
Columbia 24 Contender
264
Islander 24
184
Lark 24 Pearson
303
Shark 24
122
Hull Speed
Crescent ★
5.8 kts
Cal 2 24
5.9 kts
Columbia 24 Contender
5.7 kts
Islander 24
6.0 kts
Lark 24 Pearson
5.8 kts
Shark 24
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Crescent ★
Cal 2 24
2.4
Columbia 24 Contender
2.3
Islander 24
3.2
Lark 24 Pearson
1.7
Shark 24
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