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Lightning
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens  ·  Builder: Various  ·  First built: 1938
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Lightning
Photo: John Claridge / CC BY-SA 4.0
About the Lightning

One of America's most enduring one-design racing classes, this Sparkman & Stephens creation from 1938 has built an impressive legacy with over 15,000 hulls launched across eight decades. Originally crafted in wood and later adapted to fiberglass construction, the Lightning represents classic small-boat racing at its finest. At 19 feet overall with a beam of 6.5 feet, this fractional sloop-rigged centerboard dinghy strikes an ideal balance between performance and manageability. The modest 700-pound displacement keeps the boat responsive and exciting to sail, while 172 square feet of sail area provides ample power for spirited racing or recreational sailing. The centerboard configuration allows for trailer sailing and shallow water exploration, making it versatile for various sailing venues. Designed primarily for racing, the Lightning excels in competitive one-design fleets where crew skill determines the winner rather than equipment differences. The boat's relatively low comfort ratio of 5.46 reflects its racing pedigree, prioritizing speed and agility over creature comforts. With active fleets across North America, the Lightning remains popular among sailors seeking affordable, competitive racing in a boat that rewards precise sailing technique and tactical awareness.

Market Price Estimate Beta
$3,200 – $3,200
typical asking price
Median $3,200  ·  4 listings used (1 outlier excluded)
All listings
$3,200 – $3,200 4
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 15.25 ft / 4.65 m
Beam 6.50 ft / 1.98 m
Max Draft 4.95 ft / 1.51 m
Min Draft 0.42 ft / 0.13 m
Displacement 700.00 lb / 318 kg
Ballast 130.00 lb / 59 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 172.00 ft² / 15.98 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Wood or FG
Designer Sparkman & Stephens
Builder Various
First Built 1938
Number Built 15550
Associations Lightning Class (Int)
Related Sailboats ["Flying Scot" · "Rhodes 19" · "Vx One" · "Squib" · "Albin 57"]
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Known Issues & What to Watch For
High Hull/Deck
Older wooden Lightnings are prone to planking seam separation and rot at the transom and centerboard trunk. The centerboard trunk is a notorious water trap and should be carefully inspected for rot, delamination, or soft spots.
pre-1970 wooden hulls
Medium Hull/Deck
Fiberglass Lightnings built in the 1970s–1980s by various builders (Pearson, Customflex, etc.) often show deck delamination around the mast step and shroud chainplate areas due to stress cracking and water intrusion under deck fittings.
1970s–1980s fiberglass models
High Hull/Deck
The centerboard trunk on fiberglass models is frequently a source of stress cracks and leaking at the hull-trunk joint. Water intrusion here can lead to internal delamination that is difficult to repair properly.
Medium Rigging
The Lightning's aluminum mast is deck-stepped with a relatively simple mast partner that can wear and allow the mast to move under load, accelerating partner wear and cracking the surrounding deck structure.
High Hull/Deck
Class-legal buoyancy tanks (fore and aft) on older boats — particularly wooden hulls — can lose their integrity and no longer provide reliable flotation, creating a capsize recovery safety issue.
pre-1975 models
Medium Accommodations
The centerboard pendant and its attachment hardware inside the trunk corrode or rot (wood boats) and are often neglected. A seized or failed centerboard can make the boat uncontrollable in certain conditions.

Own or have surveyed a Lightning? Submit a known issue

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
 153
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
 34.96
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
 18.57
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
 88.11
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
 5.46
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
 2.93
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. 5.23 kn
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
 7.61
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. 354.18 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 38.44
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 6.91 ft / 2.11 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
SA Fore 69.10 ft² / 6.42 m²
SA Main 120.00 ft² / 11.15 m²
SA Total (100%) 189.10 ft² / 17.57 m²
Est. Forestay Length 21.16 ft / 6.45 m
How It Compares

vs. Rhodes 19, Squib, Vx One

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Lightning ★
19.0 ft
Rhodes 19
19.2 ft
Squib
19.0 ft
Vx One
19.0 ft
LWL
Lightning ★
15.3 ft
Rhodes 19
17.8 ft
Squib
17.0 ft
Vx One
18.8 ft
Beam
Lightning ★
6.5 ft
Rhodes 19
7.0 ft
Squib
6.2 ft
Vx One
7.2 ft
Displacement
Lightning ★
700 lbs
Rhodes 19
1 lbs
Squib
1 lbs
Vx One
450 lbs
Ballast
Lightning ★
130 lbs
Rhodes 19
415 lbs
Squib
827 lbs
Vx One
167 lbs
Sail Area
Lightning ★
172 sq ft
Rhodes 19
175 sq ft
Squib
172 sq ft
Vx One
—
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Lightning ★
153 s/nm
Rhodes 19
261 s/nm
Squib
—
Vx One
102 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Lightning ★
35.0
Rhodes 19
22.9
Squib
21.1
Vx One
—
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Lightning ★
18.6 %
Rhodes 19
—
Squib
—
Vx One
37.2 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Lightning ★
5.5
Rhodes 19
8.6
Squib
11.7
Vx One
—
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Lightning ★
2.93
Rhodes 19
2.53
Squib
2.16
Vx One
—
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Lightning ★
88
Rhodes 19
—
Squib
—
Vx One
30
Hull Speed
Lightning ★
5.2 kts
Rhodes 19
5.7 kts
Squib
5.5 kts
Vx One
—
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Lightning ★
7.6
Rhodes 19
4.9
Squib
—
Vx One
—
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