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Ensenada 20
Designer: Lyle C. Hess  ·  Builder: Coastal Recreation Inc. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1972
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About the Ensenada 20

With limited technical specifications available, the Ensenada 20 represents a compact sailboat that likely emerged from the small-boat sailing market focused on accessible recreational sailing. Based on its 20-foot length designation, this vessel falls squarely into the trailerable sailboat category, making it an attractive option for sailors seeking portability and ease of launching. Boats in this size range typically excel at daysailing and weekend coastal adventures, offering an ideal platform for learning sailing fundamentals or enjoying casual outings on protected waters. The Ensenada 20 would be well-suited for small lakes, bays, and near-shore coastal sailing where its manageable size becomes an advantage rather than a limitation. While detailed historical records and specifications remain scarce, the name suggests possible connections to the Mexican sailing community or the famous Baja California port city. Small sailboats like the Ensenada 20 often prioritize simplicity and affordability over complex systems, making them appealing to new sailors or those seeking uncomplicated sailing experiences. Given the limited available information, prospective buyers should conduct thorough inspections and seek out owner experiences to better understand this boat's specific characteristics, construction quality, and sailing performance before making purchasing decisions.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 17.50 ft / 5.33 m
Beam 7.08 ft / 2.16 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement 1,600.00 lb / 726 kg
Ballast 550.00 lb / 249 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Swing Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Lyle C. Hess
Builder Coastal Recreation Inc. (USA)
First Built 1972
Last Built 1981
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
291
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
34.38
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
133.28
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. 2.66 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 1.75 ft / 0.53 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 8.79 ft / 2.68 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 180.00 ft² / 16.72 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) 133.28
How It Compares

vs. Balboa 20, Ranger 20, Windrose 20

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Ensenada 20 ★
20.0 ft
Balboa 20
20.0 ft
Ranger 20
20.0 ft
Windrose 20
20.0 ft
LWL
Ensenada 20 ★
17.5 ft
Balboa 20
17.5 ft
Ranger 20
16.0 ft
Windrose 20
16.0 ft
Beam
Ensenada 20 ★
7.1 ft
Balboa 20
7.1 ft
Ranger 20
7.9 ft
Windrose 20
7.5 ft
Displacement
Ensenada 20 ★
1 lbs
Balboa 20
1 lbs
Ranger 20
1 lbs
Windrose 20
1 lbs
Ballast
Ensenada 20 ★
550 lbs
Balboa 20
450 lbs
Ranger 20
550 lbs
Windrose 20
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Ensenada 20 ★
291 s/nm
Balboa 20
276 s/nm
Ranger 20
240 s/nm
Windrose 20
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Ensenada 20 ★
34.4 %
Balboa 20
26.5 %
Ranger 20
36.7 %
Windrose 20
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Ensenada 20 ★
133
Balboa 20
141
Ranger 20
163
Windrose 20
179
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