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Fishers Island 31
Designer: Sidney Herreshoff  ·  Builder: Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1928
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About the Fishers Island 31

Built during the golden age of American yacht design, this classic sailboat emerged from the legendary Herreshoff Manufacturing Company between 1928 and 1946, with only fourteen hulls completing this exclusive production run. Sidney Herreshoff's design embodies the refined craftsmanship and seaworthiness that made the Herreshoff name synonymous with sailing excellence. The fractional sloop rig and traditional long keel configuration deliver exceptional stability and predictable handling characteristics, making this vessel particularly well-suited for serious coastal cruising and offshore passages. With a displacement of 18,000 pounds and substantial draft of six feet, she tracks beautifully in challenging conditions while maintaining the comfortable motion that comes with proper ballast distribution. Her wooden construction reflects the premium boatbuilding standards of the era, requiring dedicated maintenance but rewarding owners with the unmistakable feel and aesthetic of a genuine classic yacht. The generous beam provides comfortable accommodations below, while the moderate sail area ensures manageable sail handling for smaller crews. Modern sailors seeking an authentic connection to yachting's heritage will find this design offers both historical significance and genuine sailing capability, though prospective owners should be prepared for the specialized knowledge and ongoing commitment that wooden boat ownership demands.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 43.50 ft / 13.26 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 31.50 ft / 9.60 m
Beam 10.58 ft / 3.22 m
Max Draft 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Displacement 18,000.00 lb / 8,165 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 856.00 ft² / 79.53 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Wood
Designer Sidney Herreshoff
Builder Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. (USA)
First Built 1928
Last Built 1946
Number Built 14
Associations Herreshoff Marine Museum
Related Sailboats ["New York Yacht Club 30" · "Nicholson 45" · "Columbia 43" · "Nicholson 43" · "Swan 431"]
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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
 123
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
 20.02
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
 257.09
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
 34.24
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
 1.62
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. 7.52 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
 2.37
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. 1,190.81 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. 20.02
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 41.00 ft / 12.50 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 16.00 ft / 4.88 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 48.00 ft / 14.63 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 22.00 ft / 6.71 m
SA Fore 328.00 ft² / 30.47 m²
SA Main 528.00 ft² / 49.05 m²
SA Total (100%) 856.00 ft² / 79.53 m²
Est. Forestay Length 44.01 ft / 13.41 m
How It Compares

vs. Columbia 43, Nicholson 43, Nicholson 45

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Fishers Island 31 ★
43.5 ft
Columbia 43
43.3 ft
Nicholson 43
43.3 ft
Nicholson 45
43.7 ft
LWL
Fishers Island 31 ★
31.5 ft
Columbia 43
32.0 ft
Nicholson 43
30.0 ft
Nicholson 45
32.0 ft
Beam
Fishers Island 31 ★
10.6 ft
Columbia 43
12.3 ft
Nicholson 43
11.5 ft
Nicholson 45
11.9 ft
Displacement
Fishers Island 31 ★
18 lbs
Columbia 43
18 lbs
Nicholson 43
19 lbs
Nicholson 45
24 lbs
Ballast
Fishers Island 31 ★
—
Columbia 43
9 lbs
Nicholson 43
9 lbs
Nicholson 45
—
Sail Area
Fishers Island 31 ★
856 sq ft
Columbia 43
806 sq ft
Nicholson 43
867 sq ft
Nicholson 45
730 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Fishers Island 31 ★
123 s/nm
Columbia 43
111 s/nm
Nicholson 43
114 s/nm
Nicholson 45
117 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Fishers Island 31 ★
20.0
Columbia 43
18.2
Nicholson 43
19.0
Nicholson 45
13.9
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Fishers Island 31 ★
—
Columbia 43
50.3 %
Nicholson 43
49.9 %
Nicholson 45
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Fishers Island 31 ★
34.2
Columbia 43
29.1
Nicholson 43
34.9
Nicholson 45
39.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Fishers Island 31 ★
1.62
Columbia 43
1.86
Nicholson 43
1.70
Nicholson 45
1.64
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Fishers Island 31 ★
257
Columbia 43
257
Nicholson 43
328
Nicholson 45
335
Hull Speed
Fishers Island 31 ★
7.5 kts
Columbia 43
7.6 kts
Nicholson 43
7.3 kts
Nicholson 45
7.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Fishers Island 31 ★
2.4
Columbia 43
2.2
Nicholson 43
—
Nicholson 45
—
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