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Explorer 20
Designer: Carlo Bertorello  ·  Builder: Exsol (Ita)  ·  First built: 2005
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About the Explorer 20

Designed by Carlo Bertorello and built by Italian manufacturer Exsol starting in 2005, this 20-foot sailboat presents an intriguing blend of performance and versatility. The Explorer 20's most distinctive feature is its keel/centerboard configuration paired with dual rudders, creating exceptional shallow-water capability while maintaining good upwind performance when the board is deployed. With a fractional sloop rig carrying 269 square feet of sail area on a relatively light 1,653-pound displacement, this fiberglass boat delivers spirited performance with a theoretical hull speed of 5.92 knots. The sail area to displacement ratio of 30.85 indicates she's built for speed rather than heavy cruising, making her well-suited for coastal sailing, club racing, and day sailing adventures. The boat's low comfort ratio of 8.28 reflects her performance-oriented nature rather than cruising accommodations, while the capsize screening formula of 2.67 suggests reasonable stability for coastal waters. Her nearly 20-foot waterline length maximizes sailing length, and the 7.87-foot beam provides adequate stability without compromising speed. The dual rudder system offers excellent control and redundancy, particularly valuable when sailing in shallow areas where the centerboard configuration truly shines.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 20.28 ft / 6.18 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 19.52 ft / 5.95 m
Beam 7.87 ft / 2.40 m
Max Draft 4.59 ft / 1.40 m
Min Draft 1.64 ft / 0.50 m
Displacement 1,653.00 lb / 750 kg
Ballast 397.00 lb / 180 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 269.00 ft² / 24.99 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/CB w/dual rudders
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Carlo Bertorello
Builder Exsol (ITA)
First Built 2005
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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
 30.85
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
 24.02
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
 99.22
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
 8.28
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
 2.67
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. 5.92 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 5.98
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. 548.91 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 28.31
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 27.89 ft / 8.50 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 8.38 ft / 2.55 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 26.41 ft / 8.05 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
SA Fore 116.86 ft² / 10.86 m²
SA Main 129.94 ft² / 12.07 m²
SA Total (100%) 246.80 ft² / 22.93 m²
Est. Forestay Length 29.12 ft / 8.88 m
Engine & Accommodations
Water Capacity 9 gals / 34 L
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