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Gloucester 16
Designer: C. William Lapworth  ·  Builder: Gloucester Yachts Inc.  ·  First built: 1986
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About the Gloucester 16

Designed as a compact coastal cruiser, this 16-foot sailboat embodies the traditional characteristics of Gloucester's maritime heritage. With limited specifications available in current records, the Gloucester 16 appears to have been positioned as an entry-level cruising sailboat suitable for protected waters and near-shore sailing. The boat's modest size suggests it was intended for day sailing and short coastal hops rather than extended offshore passages. Its design likely prioritized stability and ease of handling over outright performance, making it an appropriate choice for beginning sailors or those seeking a simple, manageable sailing experience. The Gloucester name carries associations with New England's fishing and sailing traditions, suggesting the boat may have incorporated some of the practical, seaworthy qualities typical of that region's watercraft. Given its compact dimensions, the Gloucester 16 would have offered limited accommodations but potentially adequate space for basic overnight camping aboard. The boat's relatively small size would make it suitable for trailer sailing, allowing owners to explore different sailing venues. While detailed performance characteristics remain unclear due to limited available data, the design was likely conservative and forgiving, emphasizing safety and predictable handling over racing-oriented features.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 15.58 ft / 4.75 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
Beam 6.25 ft / 1.91 m
Max Draft 3.75 ft / 1.14 m
Min Draft 0.75 ft / 0.23 m
Displacement 900.00 lb / 408 kg
Ballast 200.00 lb / 91 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 137.00 ft² / 12.73 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Swing Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer C. William Lapworth
Builder Gloucester Yachts Inc.
First Built 1986
Last Built 1989
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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
23.56
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
8.36
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
2.59
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. 5.01
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. 312.65
How It Compares

vs. Bombardier Invitation, Neptune 16, Wayfarer

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Gloucester 16 ★
15.6 ft
Bombardier Invitation
15.6 ft
Neptune 16
15.8 ft
Wayfarer
15.8 ft
LWL
Gloucester 16 ★
14.0 ft
Bombardier Invitation
14.0 ft
Neptune 16
13.5 ft
Wayfarer
14.8 ft
Beam
Gloucester 16 ★
6.3 ft
Bombardier Invitation
5.0 ft
Neptune 16
6.2 ft
Wayfarer
6.1 ft
Displacement
Gloucester 16 ★
900 lbs
Bombardier Invitation
181 lbs
Neptune 16
900 lbs
Wayfarer
372 lbs
Ballast
Gloucester 16 ★
200 lbs
Bombardier Invitation
Neptune 16
200 lbs
Wayfarer
Sail Area
Gloucester 16 ★
137 sq ft
Bombardier Invitation
90 sq ft
Neptune 16
115 sq ft
Wayfarer
141 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Gloucester 16 ★
23.6
Bombardier Invitation
45.0
Neptune 16
19.8
Wayfarer
43.7
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Gloucester 16 ★
8.4
Bombardier Invitation
2.3
Neptune 16
8.7
Wayfarer
3.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Gloucester 16 ★
2.59
Bombardier Invitation
3.54
Neptune 16
2.56
Wayfarer
3.38
Hull Speed
Gloucester 16 ★
5.0 kts
Bombardier Invitation
5.0 kts
Neptune 16
4.9 kts
Wayfarer
5.2 kts
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