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Hinckley 21
Designer: Carl Alberg/Alden  ·  Builder: Henry Hinckley  ·  First built: 1946
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About the Hinckley 21

Crafted by the prestigious Hinckley Company, this 21-foot sailboat represents the Maine builder's commitment to quality construction and timeless design. Known throughout the sailing community for their meticulous attention to detail and premium materials, Hinckley has built a reputation creating boats that combine traditional aesthetics with modern performance. This compact sailboat embodies the characteristics that make Hinckley vessels so sought after - clean lines, robust construction, and thoughtful engineering. The boat's size makes it ideal for day sailing, weekend coastal cruising, and as an excellent platform for sailors looking to hone their skills without the complexity of larger vessels. Its manageable proportions allow for single-handed sailing while still providing enough space for small crew outings. The Hinckley 21 would appeal particularly to sailors who appreciate craftsmanship and want a boat that will retain its value over time. While smaller than Hinckley's renowned offshore cruisers, this model carries the same DNA of quality construction and sailing performance. It's well-suited for protected waters, coastal exploration, and serves as an excellent choice for sailing clubs or experienced sailors seeking a refined day sailor with the Hinckley pedigree.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 28.50 ft / 8.69 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 4.58 ft / 1.40 m
Displacement 9,050.00 lb / 4,105 kg
Ballast 3,150.00 lb / 1,429 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Design & Construction
Hull Type Long Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Wood
Designer Carl Alberg/Alden
Builder Henry Hinckley
First Built 1946
Last Built 1950
Number Built 20
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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
240
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
34.81
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
436.26
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. 3.6 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 16.19
J (Foretriangle Base) 9.25 ft / 2.82 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 438.00 ft² / 40.69 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Gray
Engine & Accommodations
Fuel Capacity 27 gals / 102 L
Water Capacity 27 gals / 102 L
How It Compares

vs. Cambridge Cadet, Columbia 29 Mkii, Rhodes Ranger 29

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Hinckley 21 ★
28.5 ft
Cambridge Cadet
28.6 ft
Columbia 29 Mkii
28.5 ft
Rhodes Ranger 29
28.5 ft
LWL
Hinckley 21 ★
21.0 ft
Cambridge Cadet
Columbia 29 Mkii
22.5 ft
Rhodes Ranger 29
20.0 ft
Beam
Hinckley 21 ★
8.0 ft
Cambridge Cadet
8.6 ft
Columbia 29 Mkii
8.0 ft
Rhodes Ranger 29
8.0 ft
Displacement
Hinckley 21 ★
9 lbs
Cambridge Cadet
15 lbs
Columbia 29 Mkii
8 lbs
Rhodes Ranger 29
7 lbs
Ballast
Hinckley 21 ★
3 lbs
Cambridge Cadet
4 lbs
Columbia 29 Mkii
4 lbs
Rhodes Ranger 29
2 lbs
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Hinckley 21 ★
240 s/nm
Cambridge Cadet
Columbia 29 Mkii
Rhodes Ranger 29
239 s/nm
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Hinckley 21 ★
34.8 %
Cambridge Cadet
29.0 %
Columbia 29 Mkii
48.8 %
Rhodes Ranger 29
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Hinckley 21 ★
Cambridge Cadet
53.1
Columbia 29 Mkii
Rhodes Ranger 29
34.2
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Hinckley 21 ★
436
Cambridge Cadet
482
Columbia 29 Mkii
329
Rhodes Ranger 29
Hull Speed
Hinckley 21 ★
Cambridge Cadet
6.6 kts
Columbia 29 Mkii
Rhodes Ranger 29
6.0 kts
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