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Great South Bay Shore Bird
Designer: Charles D. Mower  ·  Builder: Samuel Newey (Usa)  ·  First built: 1923
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About the Great South Bay Shore Bird

Designed by Charles D. Mower in the early 1920s, this classic gaff-rigged sloop represents a charming piece of American sailing history from Long Island's Great South Bay. Built by Samuel Newey between 1923 and 1926, only 40 of these distinctive wooden boats were ever constructed, making them relatively rare finds today. At just over 21 feet overall with a 14-foot waterline, the Shore Bird strikes an appealing balance between manageable size and seaworthy capability. Her traditional gaff sloop rig carries 250 square feet of sail area, providing spirited performance for coastal cruising and daysailing. The keel/centerboard configuration offers versatility in shallow waters typical of bay sailing while maintaining reasonable stability offshore. With a displacement of 1,800 pounds and 350 pounds of ballast, she's built with the substantial feel characteristic of pre-war designs. The comfort ratio of 14.76 suggests a relatively stiff, quick motion suited to experienced sailors, while her capsize screening value of 2.08 indicates good stability for protected coastal waters. This design excels as a weekend coastal cruiser or spirited daysailer for those who appreciate traditional sailing characteristics and craftsmanship. Her wooden construction and classic lines make her particularly appealing to traditionalists seeking an authentic vintage sailing experience.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 21.08 ft / 6.43 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
Beam 6.33 ft / 1.93 m
Min Draft 1.50 ft / 0.46 m
Displacement 1,800.00 lb / 816 kg
Ballast 350.00 lb / 159 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 250.00 ft² / 23.23 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Gaffhead Sloop
Construction Wood
Designer Charles D. Mower
Builder Samuel Newey (USA)
First Built 1923
Last Built 1926
Number Built 40
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
27.09
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
19.44
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
292.85
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
14.76
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
2.08
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 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. 316.65 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Boothbay Harbor One Design, Great Lakes 21, Indian, Swampscott One Design Dory, Vineyard 21

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Great South Bay Shore Bird ★
21.1 ft
Boothbay Harbor One Design
21.0 ft
Great Lakes 21
21.0 ft
Indian
21.2 ft
Swampscott One Design Dory
21.0 ft
Vineyard 21
21.0 ft
LWL
Great South Bay Shore Bird ★
14.0 ft
Boothbay Harbor One Design
19.8 ft
Great Lakes 21
18.3 ft
Indian
16.8 ft
Swampscott One Design Dory
15.0 ft
Vineyard 21
16.3 ft
Beam
Great South Bay Shore Bird ★
6.3 ft
Boothbay Harbor One Design
5.5 ft
Great Lakes 21
5.8 ft
Indian
6.3 ft
Swampscott One Design Dory
6.0 ft
Vineyard 21
5.5 ft
Displacement
Great South Bay Shore Bird ★
1 lbs
Boothbay Harbor One Design
2 lbs
Great Lakes 21
1 lbs
Indian
1 lbs
Swampscott One Design Dory
1 lbs
Vineyard 21
2 lbs
Ballast
Great South Bay Shore Bird ★
350 lbs
Boothbay Harbor One Design
900 lbs
Great Lakes 21
Indian
450 lbs
Swampscott One Design Dory
300 lbs
Vineyard 21
Sail Area
Great South Bay Shore Bird ★
250 sq ft
Boothbay Harbor One Design
227 sq ft
Great Lakes 21
200 sq ft
Indian
197 sq ft
Swampscott One Design Dory
216 sq ft
Vineyard 21
200 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Great South Bay Shore Bird ★
27.1
Boothbay Harbor One Design
22.2
Great Lakes 21
21.7
Indian
21.8
Swampscott One Design Dory
32.5
Vineyard 21
18.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Great South Bay Shore Bird ★
19.4 %
Boothbay Harbor One Design
42.9 %
Great Lakes 21
Indian
25.7 %
Swampscott One Design Dory
27.3 %
Vineyard 21
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Great South Bay Shore Bird ★
14.8
Boothbay Harbor One Design
16.6
Great Lakes 21
14.1
Indian
13.0
Swampscott One Design Dory
9.3
Vineyard 21
21.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Great South Bay Shore Bird ★
2.08
Boothbay Harbor One Design
1.72
Great Lakes 21
1.89
Indian
2.08
Swampscott One Design Dory
2.33
Vineyard 21
1.66
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Great South Bay Shore Bird ★
292
Boothbay Harbor One Design
121
Great Lakes 21
130
Indian
166
Swampscott One Design Dory
145
Vineyard 21
Hull Speed
Great South Bay Shore Bird ★
5.0 kts
Boothbay Harbor One Design
6.0 kts
Great Lakes 21
5.7 kts
Indian
5.5 kts
Swampscott One Design Dory
5.2 kts
Vineyard 21
5.4 kts
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