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H Boat
Designer: Hans Groop  ·  Builder: Artekno/Botnia Marin  ·  First built: 1967
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About the H Boat

Designed by Hans Groop and first launched in 1967, this Finnish sailboat represents one of Scandinavia's most successful small keelboat designs. With 6,000 boats built over its production run by Artekno and later Botnia Marin, the H Boat has earned a devoted following throughout Northern Europe and beyond. The design strikes an appealing balance between performance and practicality in its 27-foot package. Its fractional sloop rig and fin keel with spade rudder configuration delivers responsive handling and competitive speed, making it equally suited for club racing and spirited day sailing. The moderate displacement of 3,190 pounds, with exactly half carried as ballast, provides both stability and lively performance characteristics that reward skilled helmsmanship. Built in fiberglass, these boats have proven remarkably durable over the decades. The design's relatively high sail area to displacement ratio of 19.54 indicates strong light-air performance, while the conservative comfort ratio suggests it's best suited for coastal waters and protected sailing areas. The H Boat remains popular in one-design racing fleets across Europe, where its proven hull shape and reliable construction continue to attract both competitive sailors and weekend cruisers seeking an engaging sailing experience.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 27.25 ft / 8.31 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.67 ft / 6.30 m
Beam 7.17 ft / 2.19 m
Max Draft 4.33 ft / 1.32 m
Displacement 3,190.00 lb / 1,447 kg
Ballast 1,594.00 lb / 723 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 264.00 ft² / 24.53 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Hans Groop
Builder Artekno/Botnia Marin
First Built 1967
Number Built 6000
Associations H-Boat Class
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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
 191
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
 19.54
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
 49.97
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
 161.26
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
 15.78
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
 1.95
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. 6.09 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
 3.29
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. 529.55 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. 17.58
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 24.50 ft / 7.47 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 7.92 ft / 2.41 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 28.54 ft / 8.70 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 9.84 ft / 3.00 m
SA Fore 97.02 ft² / 9.01 m²
SA Main 140.42 ft² / 13.05 m²
SA Total (100%) 237.44 ft² / 22.06 m²
Est. Forestay Length 25.75 ft / 7.85 m
Mast Height (DWL) 34.42 ft / 10.49 m
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