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Gulf Coast 21
Designer: Martin Bludworth  ·  Builder: Gulf Coast Sailboats  ·  First built: 1972
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About the Gulf Coast 21

Designed for sailors seeking an affordable entry into coastal cruising, this compact sailboat emerged from the practical boatbuilding traditions of the American Gulf Coast region. The Gulf Coast 21 represents a straightforward approach to small boat design, prioritizing simplicity and seaworthiness over complexity. Built with a focus on durability and ease of handling, this vessel typically features a spacious cockpit relative to its size, making it comfortable for day sailing and weekend adventures. The boat's moderate proportions suggest it would be well-suited for protected waters, coastal exploration, and serving as an ideal trainer for developing sailing skills. While detailed specifications remain limited, the Gulf Coast 21 appears to embody the no-nonsense philosophy common among smaller American production boats of its era. Its design likely emphasizes practical accommodations within the constraints of a 21-foot hull, with basic creature comforts for overnight trips. For sailors considering this model, the Gulf Coast 21 would appeal most to those seeking an uncomplicated boat for learning, casual cruising in sheltered waters, or as an economical introduction to sailboat ownership. Its straightforward nature makes it particularly attractive to first-time buyers or those preferring minimal maintenance complexity.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 20.50 ft / 6.25 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 17.20 ft / 5.24 m
Beam 7.33 ft / 2.23 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Min Draft 0.82 ft / 0.25 m
Displacement 1,600.00 lb / 726 kg
Ballast 550.00 lb / 249 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 163.00 ft² / 15.14 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Swing Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Martin Bludworth
Builder Gulf Coast Sailboats
First Built 1972
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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
19.11
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
9.57
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
2.51
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. 5.56
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. 450.48
How It Compares

vs. Cal 21, Holder 20, Precision 21

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Gulf Coast 21 ★
20.5 ft
Cal 21
20.5 ft
Holder 20
20.3 ft
Precision 21
20.8 ft
LWL
Gulf Coast 21 ★
17.2 ft
Cal 21
16.7 ft
Holder 20
18.4 ft
Precision 21
17.5 ft
Beam
Gulf Coast 21 ★
7.3 ft
Cal 21
6.7 ft
Holder 20
7.8 ft
Precision 21
8.3 ft
Displacement
Gulf Coast 21 ★
1 lbs
Cal 21
1 lbs
Holder 20
1 lbs
Precision 21
1 lbs
Ballast
Gulf Coast 21 ★
550 lbs
Cal 21
360 lbs
Holder 20
260 lbs
Precision 21
600 lbs
Sail Area
Gulf Coast 21 ★
163 sq ft
Cal 21
196 sq ft
Holder 20
194 sq ft
Precision 21
203 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Gulf Coast 21 ★
Cal 21
261 s/nm
Holder 20
186 s/nm
Precision 21
243 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Gulf Coast 21 ★
19.1
Cal 21
29.5
Holder 20
28.2
Precision 21
21.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Gulf Coast 21 ★
Cal 21
32.7 %
Holder 20
22.4 %
Precision 21
32.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Gulf Coast 21 ★
9.6
Cal 21
7.6
Holder 20
6.1
Precision 21
9.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Gulf Coast 21 ★
2.51
Cal 21
2.59
Holder 20
2.98
Precision 21
2.68
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Gulf Coast 21 ★
Cal 21
106
Holder 20
82
Precision 21
156
Hull Speed
Gulf Coast 21 ★
5.6 kts
Cal 21
5.5 kts
Holder 20
5.8 kts
Precision 21
5.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Gulf Coast 21 ★
Cal 21
6.0
Holder 20
6.4
Precision 21
3.7
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