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Dragonfly One Design
Designer: George O'brien Kennedy  ·  Builder: Nunn Brothers (Uk)  ·  First built: 1946
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About the Dragonfly One Design

Designed by George O'Brien Kennedy in 1946, this classic wooden dinghy represents traditional British small boat craftsmanship at its finest. Built by Nunn Brothers using traditional clinker construction, only 63 examples of this fractional sloop-rigged centerboard dinghy were ever produced, making it a relatively rare find today. At 14 feet overall with a 13-foot waterline, the Dragonfly One Design strikes an elegant balance between manageable size and sailing performance. The 225-pound displacement keeps her light and responsive, while the generous 125 square feet of sail area provides spirited performance in moderate conditions. Her 5-foot beam offers reasonable stability for crew comfort, and the 4.5-foot draft with centerboard configuration allows exploration of shallow waters while maintaining good upwind ability. The boat's comfort ratio of 3.06 and capsize screening formula of 3.29 indicate she's best suited for protected waters, day sailing, and club racing rather than extended coastal passages. Her SA/displacement ratio of 54.11 suggests lively performance in light to moderate winds. The clinker-built hull construction showcases the traditional boatbuilding methods that defined British small craft of the era, appealing to sailors who appreciate classic wooden boat character and the maintenance traditions that come with it.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 13.00 ft / 3.96 m
Beam 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Max Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Min Draft 0.67 ft / 0.20 m
Displacement 225.00 lb / 102 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 125.00 ft² / 11.61 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Wood (Clinker)
Designer George O'Brien Kennedy
Builder Nunn Brothers (UK)
First Built 1946
Number Built 63
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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
54.11
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
45.72
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
3.06
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
3.29
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. 4.83 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. 232.25 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Merlin Rocket, Redwing National Redwing, Yachting World Dayboat

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Dragonfly One Design ★
14.0 ft
Merlin Rocket
14.0 ft
Redwing National Redwing
14.0 ft
Yachting World Dayboat
14.0 ft
LWL
Dragonfly One Design ★
13.0 ft
Merlin Rocket
13.5 ft
Redwing National Redwing
14.0 ft
Yachting World Dayboat
13.7 ft
Beam
Dragonfly One Design ★
5.0 ft
Merlin Rocket
7.2 ft
Redwing National Redwing
5.0 ft
Yachting World Dayboat
5.7 ft
Displacement
Dragonfly One Design ★
225 lbs
Merlin Rocket
210 lbs
Redwing National Redwing
360 lbs
Yachting World Dayboat
450 lbs
Sail Area
Dragonfly One Design ★
125 sq ft
Merlin Rocket
Redwing National Redwing
145 sq ft
Yachting World Dayboat
132 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Dragonfly One Design ★
54.1
Merlin Rocket
Redwing National Redwing
45.9
Yachting World Dayboat
36.0
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Dragonfly One Design ★
3.1
Merlin Rocket
Redwing National Redwing
4.7
Yachting World Dayboat
5.0
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Dragonfly One Design ★
3.29
Merlin Rocket
Redwing National Redwing
2.81
Yachting World Dayboat
2.96
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Dragonfly One Design ★
45
Merlin Rocket
38
Redwing National Redwing
58
Yachting World Dayboat
78
Hull Speed
Dragonfly One Design ★
4.8 kts
Merlin Rocket
Redwing National Redwing
5.0 kts
Yachting World Dayboat
5.0 kts
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