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Lapworth 24
Designer: William Lapworth  ·  Builder: Continental Plastics Corp.  ·  First built: 1958
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About the Lapworth 24

With limited specifications available in modern databases, the Lapworth 24 represents one of the many designs from the prolific naval architect Bill Lapworth, whose work significantly influenced recreational sailing in the mid-20th century. Lapworth gained recognition for creating boats that balanced performance with practicality, and this 24-footer likely follows that philosophy. Based on Lapworth's design principles and the era when this boat was conceived, the Lapworth 24 was probably intended as a versatile coastal cruiser suitable for weekend adventures and day sailing. Lapworth's designs typically featured clean lines, efficient hull shapes, and sensible accommodations that maximized the available space without sacrificing sailing characteristics. This boat would appeal to sailors seeking a manageable size for single-handed sailing or small crew outings, while still offering enough capability for extended coastal cruising. The Lapworth name carries weight among sailing enthusiasts who appreciate thoughtful design and proven seaworthiness over flashy marketing claims. Given the limited documentation available today, prospective buyers should thoroughly inspect any Lapworth 24 and verify construction details, as records from this era can be incomplete.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
Beam 7.50 ft / 2.29 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement 4,350.00 lb / 1,973 kg
Ballast 1,650.00 lb / 748 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 293.00 ft² / 27.22 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin Keel
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer William Lapworth
Builder Continental Plastics Corp.
First Built 1958
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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
255
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
17.64
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
21.65
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
1.84
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. 5.99
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
2.31
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. 535.97
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 24.5
J (Foretriangle Base) 9.0
P (Mainsail Luff) 30.5
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.0
SA Fore 110.25
SA Main 183.0
How It Compares

vs. Cal 2 24, Columbia 24 Contender, Islander 24

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Lapworth 24 ★
24.0 ft
Cal 2 24
24.0 ft
Columbia 24 Contender
24.0 ft
Islander 24
24.0 ft
LWL
Lapworth 24 ★
20.0 ft
Cal 2 24
19.2 ft
Columbia 24 Contender
18.3 ft
Islander 24
20.0 ft
Beam
Lapworth 24 ★
7.5 ft
Cal 2 24
7.8 ft
Columbia 24 Contender
7.8 ft
Islander 24
7.8 ft
Displacement
Lapworth 24 ★
4 lbs
Cal 2 24
3 lbs
Columbia 24 Contender
3 lbs
Islander 24
3 lbs
Ballast
Lapworth 24 ★
1 lbs
Cal 2 24
1 lbs
Columbia 24 Contender
1 lbs
Islander 24
1 lbs
Sail Area
Lapworth 24 ★
293 sq ft
Cal 2 24
271 sq ft
Columbia 24 Contender
288 sq ft
Islander 24
294 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Lapworth 24 ★
255 s/nm
Cal 2 24
Columbia 24 Contender
258 s/nm
Islander 24
237 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Lapworth 24 ★
17.6
Cal 2 24
18.2
Columbia 24 Contender
19.7
Islander 24
21.3
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Lapworth 24 ★
Cal 2 24
37.8 %
Columbia 24 Contender
44.4 %
Islander 24
51.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Lapworth 24 ★
21.7
Cal 2 24
18.1
Columbia 24 Contender
18.0
Islander 24
15.5
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Lapworth 24 ★
1.84
Cal 2 24
2.01
Columbia 24 Contender
2.05
Islander 24
2.11
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Lapworth 24 ★
Cal 2 24
234
Columbia 24 Contender
264
Islander 24
184
Hull Speed
Lapworth 24 ★
6.0 kts
Cal 2 24
5.9 kts
Columbia 24 Contender
5.7 kts
Islander 24
6.0 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Lapworth 24 ★
2.3
Cal 2 24
2.4
Columbia 24 Contender
2.3
Islander 24
3.2
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