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Horizon Day Cat 20 Com Pac
Designer: H.herreshoff  ·  Builder: Com-Pac Yachts (Usa)  ·  First built: 2003
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About the Horizon Day Cat 20 Com Pac

Built by Com-Pac Yaghts from 2003 onward, this distinctive 20-footer showcases the timeless gaff-rigged catboat design refined by legendary naval architect H. Herreshoff. The Horizon Day Cat 20 delivers classic sailing character in a modern fiberglass package, featuring the traditional single-masted gaff rig that defines the catboat heritage. With its generous 8.33-foot beam and shallow 5-foot draft keel/centerboard configuration, this boat excels in coastal waters, protected bays, and shallow cruising grounds where deeper-draft vessels cannot venture. The gaff-rigged sail plan provides 205 square feet of working sail area, offering excellent light-air performance and the authentic feel of traditional sailing. At 2,500 pounds displacement with 600 pounds of ballast, the design prioritizes stability and ease of handling over ultimate speed. The comfort ratio of 12.45 indicates a motion that favors relaxed sailing over racing performance, while the capsize screening value of 2.46 suggests good initial stability for protected water sailing. This boat appeals to sailors seeking the romance and simplicity of traditional catboat sailing with modern construction reliability. It's ideally suited for day sailing, gunkholing, and casual coastal exploration where shallow water access and classic aesthetics matter more than racing performance.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 17.75 ft / 5.41 m
Beam 8.33 ft / 2.54 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Min Draft 2.16 ft / 0.66 m
Displacement 2,500.00 lb / 1,134 kg
Ballast 600.00 lb / 272 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 205.00 ft² / 19.05 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Gaff head Cat
Construction FG
Designer H.Herreshoff
Builder Com-Pac Yachts (USA)
First Built 2003
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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
 17.85
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
 24
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
 199.57
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
 12.45
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
 2.46
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. 5.65 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. 528.31 pounds/inch
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