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Hood 20
Designer: Warwick Hood  ·  Builder: Stoddart Bros Marine (Au)  ·  First built: 1967
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About the Hood 20

Designed by renowned Australian naval architect Warwick Hood and built by Stoddart Bros Marine beginning in 1967, this compact 20-footer represents classic Australian yacht design from the late 1960s. With its fin keel and spade rudder configuration paired with a fractional sloop rig, the Hood 20 delivers responsive handling characteristics that made it popular among weekend sailors and yacht club racers. The boat's proportions reveal a design optimized for spirited day sailing and short coastal cruises. At 2,000 pounds displacement with 900 pounds of ballast, she carries sufficient weight low for stability while remaining light enough for good acceleration. The fractional rig spanning 206 square feet provides versatile sail handling, allowing crews to depower easily in building conditions. Her fin keel and spade rudder arrangement offers excellent maneuverability in tight quarters, making marina handling straightforward. The 8-foot beam provides reasonable stability and interior volume for a boat this size, though accommodations remain basic given her compact dimensions. Best suited for protected coastal waters, bay sailing, and club racing, the Hood 20 appeals to sailors seeking an affordable entry into keelboat sailing or those wanting a responsive day sailor with classic Australian pedigree.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 17.50 ft / 5.33 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
Displacement 2,000.00 lb / 907 kg
Ballast 900.00 lb / 408 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 206.00 ft² / 19.14 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Warwick Hood
Builder Stoddart Bros Marine (AU)
First Built 1967
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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
 20.81
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
 45
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
 166.6
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
 10.61
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
 2.54
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. 5.61 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. 500.24 pounds/inch
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