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Knickerbocker One Design
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens  ·  Builder: American Boatbuilding Corp.  ·  First built: 1964
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About the Knickerbocker One Design

With limited specifications available in modern databases, the Knickerbocker One Design represents a piece of sailing history that has largely faded from contemporary racing circuits. This classic one-design class emerged during an era when yacht clubs sought to create competitive fleets with standardized hulls, ensuring that sailor skill rather than boat modifications determined race outcomes. As a one-design vessel, this sailboat was purpose-built for club racing and competitive sailing within organized fleets. The design philosophy emphasized fair competition through identical boats, making it an ideal choice for sailors focused on honing their racing tactics and boat handling skills. Like many one-design classes of its era, the Knickerbocker likely featured a relatively simple rig and hull configuration that balanced performance with manageable sailing characteristics. The boat's name suggests ties to New York's sailing community, where the term "Knickerbocker" has deep historical roots. While detailed specifications remain elusive, the vessel's one-design heritage indicates it was crafted for spirited yet accessible racing, suitable for coastal waters and protected bays where yacht club competition typically flourished. Today, finding examples of this class presents a unique opportunity for sailors interested in classic yacht racing heritage.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 26.25 ft / 8.00 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
Beam 6.58 ft / 2.01 m
Max Draft 4.42 ft / 1.35 m
Displacement 4,030.00 lb / 1,828 kg
Ballast 2,050.00 lb / 930 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 337.00 ft² / 31.31 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Sparkman & Stephens
Builder American Boatbuilding Corp.
First Built 1964
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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
21.35
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
23.9
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
1.66
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. 5.84
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
2.42
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. 446.71
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 27.75
J (Foretriangle Base) 8.83
P (Mainsail Luff) 32.5
E (Mainsail Foot) 13.17
SA Fore 122.52
SA Main 214.01
How It Compares

vs. J/80, Luders 16, Pearson 26 One Design, Polaris 26 Tripp, Ranger 26 Mull

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Knickerbocker One Design ★
26.3 ft
J/80
26.3 ft
Luders 16
26.3 ft
Pearson 26 One Design
26.2 ft
Polaris 26 Tripp
26.3 ft
Ranger 26 Mull
26.3 ft
LWL
Knickerbocker One Design ★
19.0 ft
J/80
22.8 ft
Luders 16
16.3 ft
Pearson 26 One Design
21.7 ft
Polaris 26 Tripp
19.0 ft
Ranger 26 Mull
21.8 ft
Beam
Knickerbocker One Design ★
6.6 ft
J/80
9.4 ft
Luders 16
5.8 ft
Pearson 26 One Design
8.7 ft
Polaris 26 Tripp
7.8 ft
Ranger 26 Mull
8.7 ft
Displacement
Knickerbocker One Design ★
4 lbs
J/80
3 lbs
Luders 16
2 lbs
Pearson 26 One Design
5 lbs
Polaris 26 Tripp
4 lbs
Ranger 26 Mull
5 lbs
Ballast
Knickerbocker One Design ★
2 lbs
J/80
1 lbs
Luders 16
1 lbs
Pearson 26 One Design
2 lbs
Polaris 26 Tripp
Ranger 26 Mull
2 lbs
Sail Area
Knickerbocker One Design ★
337 sq ft
J/80
338 sq ft
Luders 16
224 sq ft
Pearson 26 One Design
321 sq ft
Polaris 26 Tripp
275 sq ft
Ranger 26 Mull
322 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Knickerbocker One Design ★
J/80
129 s/nm
Luders 16
256 s/nm
Pearson 26 One Design
Polaris 26 Tripp
Ranger 26 Mull
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Knickerbocker One Design ★
21.4
J/80
24.8
Luders 16
17.5
Pearson 26 One Design
17.2
Polaris 26 Tripp
15.6
Ranger 26 Mull
15.9
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Knickerbocker One Design ★
J/80
42.7 %
Luders 16
Pearson 26 One Design
42.3 %
Polaris 26 Tripp
Ranger 26 Mull
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Knickerbocker One Design ★
23.9
J/80
17.9
Luders 16
22.9
Pearson 26 One Design
19.7
Polaris 26 Tripp
22.7
Ranger 26 Mull
22.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Knickerbocker One Design ★
1.66
J/80
1.80
Luders 16
1.61
Pearson 26 One Design
2.00
Polaris 26 Tripp
1.85
Ranger 26 Mull
1.93
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Knickerbocker One Design ★
J/80
70
Luders 16
Pearson 26 One Design
228
Polaris 26 Tripp
Ranger 26 Mull
Hull Speed
Knickerbocker One Design ★
5.8 kts
J/80
6.9 kts
Luders 16
5.4 kts
Pearson 26 One Design
6.2 kts
Polaris 26 Tripp
5.8 kts
Ranger 26 Mull
6.3 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Knickerbocker One Design ★
2.4
J/80
Luders 16
1.8
Pearson 26 One Design
2.4
Polaris 26 Tripp
1.6
Ranger 26 Mull
2.0
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