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Ford 20
Designer: F. S. Ford  ·  Builder: Anchor Reinforced Plastics/Mfg Boats  ·  First built: 1969
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About the Ford 20

Designed by F. S. Ford and first launched in 1969, this compact 20-footer represents solid mid-century small boat design principles wrapped in practical fiberglass construction. Built by Anchor Reinforced Plastics, the Ford 20 features a centerboard trunk configuration that allows for versatile shallow-water exploration while maintaining respectable sailing performance in deeper waters. The fractional sloop rig delivers a well-balanced sail plan that's manageable for small crews, while the generous beam of 7 feet provides stability and cockpit space that belies the boat's modest overall length. With a displacement of just 950 pounds and 205 square feet of working sail area, this lightweight design offers spirited performance in light to moderate conditions, making it an excellent choice for day sailing, sailing instruction, or weekend coastal adventures. The boat's moderate comfort ratio of 5.8 suggests it's optimized more for performance than extended cruising, while the capsize screening value of 2.85 indicates good stability characteristics for protected waters. The centerboard design makes launching from beaches or exploring thin water particularly appealing, and the boat's size makes single-handing quite manageable for experienced sailors. This Ford 20 suits sailors seeking an honest, straightforward boat for nearshore sailing adventures.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 18.50 ft / 5.64 m
Beam 7.00 ft / 2.13 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Min Draft 0.67 ft / 0.20 m
Displacement 950.00 lb / 431 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 205.00 ft² / 19.05 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard (Trunk)
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer F. S. Ford
Builder Anchor Reinforced Plastics/MFG Boats
First Built 1969
Associations MFG Sailboats
Owner Reviews

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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
 34
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
 66.98
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
 5.8
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
 2.85
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. 5.76 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. 462.72 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
Mast Height (DWL) 24.25 ft / 7.39 m
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