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Indian
Designer: John G. Alden/Sam Crocker  ·  Builder: Lawson's Boat Yard, William Chamberlain (Ma) And Reed-Cook (Me) (Usa)  ·  First built: 1921
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About the Indian

Born from the drawing boards of legendary designers John G. Alden and Sam Crocker in 1921, this compact sailboat represents classic New England craftsmanship at its finest. With only 103 hulls built across several prestigious yards including Lawson's Boat Yard, William Chamberlain, and Reed-Cook, the Indian has earned a devoted following among traditional sailing enthusiasts. The boat's wood lapstrake construction combined with fiberglass components creates a distinctive aesthetic that harks back to sailing's golden age. Her fractional sloop rig and keel/centerboard configuration offer versatility for both shallow water exploration and deeper water sailing. At just over 21 feet overall with a beam of 6.25 feet, she strikes an ideal balance between manageable size and seaworthy capability. The Indian excels as a coastal cruiser and daysailer, perfectly suited for exploring harbors, bays, and protected waters. Her moderate displacement and comfortable cockpit make her an excellent choice for sailors seeking authentic traditional sailing experiences without sacrificing performance. The combination of proven design pedigree and quality construction has helped these boats maintain their value and desirability among collectors of classic small craft.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 21.17 ft / 6.45 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 16.75 ft / 5.11 m
Beam 6.25 ft / 1.91 m
Max Draft 3.83 ft / 1.17 m
Min Draft 1.50 ft / 0.46 m
Displacement 1,750.00 lb / 794 kg
Ballast 450.00 lb / 204 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 197.00 ft² / 18.30 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Keel/Cbrd.
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Wood lapstrake/FG
Designer John G. Alden/Sam Crocker
Builder Lawson's Boat yard, William Chamberlain (MA) and Reed-Cook (ME) (USA)
First Built 1921
Number Built 103
Related Sailboats Adams 21 · Gloucester 22 · Starwind 22 · Freedom 21 · Ranger 20
Owner Reviews

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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
303
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
21.75
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
25.71
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
166.24
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
13.02
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
2.08
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. 5.48 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. 374.06 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Adams 21, Freedom 21, Gloucester 22, Ranger 20, Starwind 22

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Indian ★
21.2 ft
Adams 21
21.2 ft
Freedom 21
21.7 ft
Gloucester 22
21.7 ft
Ranger 20
20.0 ft
Starwind 22
22.0 ft
LWL
Indian ★
16.8 ft
Adams 21
17.5 ft
Freedom 21
17.5 ft
Gloucester 22
18.7 ft
Ranger 20
16.0 ft
Starwind 22
19.0 ft
Beam
Indian ★
6.3 ft
Adams 21
7.9 ft
Freedom 21
8.0 ft
Gloucester 22
8.0 ft
Ranger 20
7.9 ft
Starwind 22
7.8 ft
Displacement
Indian ★
1 lbs
Adams 21
1 lbs
Freedom 21
2 lbs
Gloucester 22
2 lbs
Ranger 20
1 lbs
Starwind 22
2 lbs
Ballast
Indian ★
450 lbs
Adams 21
Freedom 21
500 lbs
Gloucester 22
800 lbs
Ranger 20
550 lbs
Starwind 22
775 lbs
Sail Area
Indian ★
197 sq ft
Adams 21
220 sq ft
Freedom 21
Gloucester 22
216 sq ft
Ranger 20
Starwind 22
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Indian ★
303 s/nm
Adams 21
Freedom 21
246 s/nm
Gloucester 22
192 s/nm
Ranger 20
240 s/nm
Starwind 22
273 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Indian ★
21.8
Adams 21
22.5
Freedom 21
Gloucester 22
19.3
Ranger 20
Starwind 22
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Indian ★
25.7 %
Adams 21
Freedom 21
25.0 %
Gloucester 22
33.3 %
Ranger 20
36.7 %
Starwind 22
29.8 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Indian ★
13.0
Adams 21
10.4
Freedom 21
Gloucester 22
11.9
Ranger 20
Starwind 22
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Indian ★
2.08
Adams 21
2.53
Freedom 21
Gloucester 22
2.39
Ranger 20
Starwind 22
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Indian ★
166
Adams 21
163
Freedom 21
166
Gloucester 22
164
Ranger 20
163
Starwind 22
169
Hull Speed
Indian ★
5.5 kts
Adams 21
5.6 kts
Freedom 21
Gloucester 22
5.8 kts
Ranger 20
Starwind 22
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