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Herreshoff 20
Designer: N. Herreshoff  ·  Builder: Bristol Boat Co. (Usa)  ·  First built: 2010
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About the Herreshoff 20

Classic elegance meets modern construction in this beautiful fractional sloop that carries forward the legendary Herreshoff design legacy. Built by Bristol Boat Company starting in 2010, this 19.83-foot yacht features cold-molded wood construction with fiberglass reinforcement, combining traditional aesthetics with contemporary durability. The design showcases quintessential Herreshoff proportions with a long keel configuration that provides excellent tracking and seaworthiness. At 2,950 pounds with 1,625 pounds of ballast, she offers reassuring stability for coastal cruising and day sailing. The fractional sloop rig with 212 square feet of sail area delivers respectable performance while remaining manageable for smaller crews. Her comfort ratio of 19.75 indicates a relatively stiff, performance-oriented boat that won't hobby-horse in choppy conditions, while the capsize screening formula of 1.91 suggests good stability characteristics for protected waters and near-coastal sailing. The long keel design enhances directional stability and provides a forgiving sailing experience, making her well-suited for sailors who appreciate traditional handling characteristics. This modern interpretation of classic Herreshoff styling appeals to sailors seeking a quality day sailer or weekend cruiser that honors maritime heritage while incorporating proven contemporary construction methods.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 19.83 ft / 6.04 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 17.00 ft / 5.18 m
Beam 6.83 ft / 2.08 m
Max Draft 3.08 ft / 0.94 m
Displacement 2,950.00 lb / 1,338 kg
Ballast 1,625.00 lb / 737 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 212.00 ft² / 19.70 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Wood, cold molded w/glass
Designer N. Herreshoff
Builder Bristol Boat Co. (USA)
First Built 2010
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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
16.53
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
55.08
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
268.06
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
19.75
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
1.91
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. 5.52 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. 414.87 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Celebrity, Com-Pac Horizon Cat, Harbor 20, Hurley 20, Seaward Fox

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Herreshoff 20 ★
19.8 ft
Celebrity
19.8 ft
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
20.0 ft
Harbor 20
20.0 ft
Hurley 20
20.0 ft
Seaward Fox
19.8 ft
LWL
Herreshoff 20 ★
17.0 ft
Celebrity
15.8 ft
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
17.8 ft
Harbor 20
17.0 ft
Hurley 20
15.9 ft
Seaward Fox
14.8 ft
Beam
Herreshoff 20 ★
6.8 ft
Celebrity
6.3 ft
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
8.3 ft
Harbor 20
7.0 ft
Hurley 20
7.7 ft
Seaward Fox
8.0 ft
Displacement
Herreshoff 20 ★
2 lbs
Celebrity
800 lbs
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
2 lbs
Harbor 20
1 lbs
Hurley 20
2 lbs
Seaward Fox
1 lbs
Ballast
Herreshoff 20 ★
1 lbs
Celebrity
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
900 lbs
Harbor 20
900 lbs
Hurley 20
1 lbs
Seaward Fox
450 lbs
Sail Area
Herreshoff 20 ★
212 sq ft
Celebrity
172 sq ft
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
192 sq ft
Harbor 20
220 sq ft
Hurley 20
185 sq ft
Seaward Fox
170 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Herreshoff 20 ★
Celebrity
252 s/nm
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
Harbor 20
222 s/nm
Hurley 20
Seaward Fox
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Herreshoff 20 ★
16.5
Celebrity
32.0
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
16.7
Harbor 20
23.8
Hurley 20
17.2
Seaward Fox
22.9
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Herreshoff 20 ★
55.1 %
Celebrity
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
36.0 %
Harbor 20
50.0 %
Hurley 20
Seaward Fox
34.6 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Herreshoff 20 ★
19.8
Celebrity
6.2
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
12.4
Harbor 20
11.6
Hurley 20
13.4
Seaward Fox
7.7
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Herreshoff 20 ★
1.91
Celebrity
2.73
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
2.46
Harbor 20
2.30
Hurley 20
2.36
Seaward Fox
2.93
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Herreshoff 20 ★
268
Celebrity
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
199
Harbor 20
163
Hurley 20
Seaward Fox
177
Hull Speed
Herreshoff 20 ★
5.5 kts
Celebrity
5.3 kts
Com-Pac Horizon Cat
5.7 kts
Harbor 20
5.5 kts
Hurley 20
5.3 kts
Seaward Fox
5.2 kts
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