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Firebird

Designer: Martyn Smith  ·  Builder: Modular Moldings  ·  First built: 1996
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About the Firebird

Built during an era when fiberglass construction was revolutionizing recreational sailing, the Firebird represents classic American sailboat design from the mid-20th century. This daysailer was conceived for weekend warriors seeking spirited performance on protected waters, combining responsive handling with forgiving sailing characteristics that made her popular among sailing clubs and families alike. The Firebird's design philosophy emphasized simplicity and fun over complexity, featuring clean lines and a well-balanced sail plan that delivers lively performance without being overpowering. Her moderate beam and relatively shallow draft made her well-suited for launching from beaches or small harbors, while her cockpit layout prioritized crew comfort during day trips and informal racing. Firebirds developed a loyal following among sailors who appreciated their honest sailing qualities and straightforward rigging. The boat's reputation centers on reliability and ease of handling, making her an excellent choice for intermediate sailors looking to hone their skills or experienced sailors wanting uncomplicated weekend sailing. While primarily designed for coastal day sailing and informal club racing, the Firebird's seaworthy hull form and solid construction have proven capable of handling moderate conditions with confidence.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 26.25 ft / 8.00 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
Beam 17.25 ft / 5.26 m
Max Draft 4.58 ft / 1.40 m
Min Draft 0.83 ft / 0.25 m
Displacement 1,000.00 lb / 454 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 382.00 ft² / 35.49 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Catamaran Twin Dbrd.
Rigging Type Frac. Sloop (Rotating Spar)
Construction FG
Designer Martyn Smith
Builder Modular Moldings
First Built 1996
Related Sailboats Dragonfly 800 · My Cat · J80 · Code 8 Racing · Didi 26
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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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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
61.23
How It Compares

vs. Code 8 Racing, Didi 26, Dragonfly 800, J80, My Cat

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Firebird ★
26.3 ft
Code 8 Racing
26.3 ft
Didi 26
26.3 ft
Dragonfly 800
26.3 ft
J80
26.3 ft
My Cat
26.1 ft
LWL
Firebird ★
25.0 ft
Code 8 Racing
26.3 ft
Didi 26
24.8 ft
Dragonfly 800
24.9 ft
J80
22.0 ft
My Cat
21.3 ft
Beam
Firebird ★
17.3 ft
Code 8 Racing
8.5 ft
Didi 26
8.1 ft
Dragonfly 800
19.9 ft
J80
8.3 ft
My Cat
18.5 ft
Displacement
Firebird ★
1 lbs
Code 8 Racing
2 lbs
Didi 26
2 lbs
Dragonfly 800
2 lbs
J80
2 lbs
My Cat
1 lbs
Ballast
Firebird ★
Code 8 Racing
1 lbs
Didi 26
959 lbs
Dragonfly 800
J80
1 lbs
My Cat
Sail Area
Firebird ★
382 sq ft
Code 8 Racing
423 sq ft
Didi 26
352 sq ft
Dragonfly 800
377 sq ft
J80
338 sq ft
My Cat
405 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Firebird ★
61.2
Code 8 Racing
40.3
Didi 26
33.3
Dragonfly 800
33.5
J80
26.7
My Cat
47.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Firebird ★
Code 8 Racing
57.6 %
Didi 26
43.5 %
Dragonfly 800
J80
48.3 %
My Cat
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Firebird ★
Code 8 Racing
7.5
Didi 26
8.3
Dragonfly 800
J80
11.6
My Cat
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Firebird ★
Code 8 Racing
2.61
Didi 26
2.49
Dragonfly 800
J80
2.32
My Cat
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Firebird ★
Code 8 Racing
53
Didi 26
64
Dragonfly 800
J80
121
My Cat
Hull Speed
Firebird ★
Code 8 Racing
6.9 kts
Didi 26
6.7 kts
Dragonfly 800
J80
6.3 kts
My Cat
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Firebird ★
Code 8 Racing
9.1
Didi 26
7.7
Dragonfly 800
J80
5.2
My Cat
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