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Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens  ·  Builder: Cape Cod Shipbuilding  ·  First built: 1940
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About the Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod

Cape Cod's maritime heritage comes alive in the Mercury 15 Cb, a compact centerboard sailboat that embodies the practical sailing traditions of New England's coastal waters. This small daysailer represents the kind of unpretentious, seaworthy design that has served generations of sailors exploring protected bays, harbors, and nearshore waters. Built with simplicity and reliability in mind, the Mercury 15 Cb features a retractable centerboard that makes it ideal for shallow water exploration and easy trailer launching. This versatile keel configuration allows sailors to venture into skinny waters where fixed-keel boats fear to tread, while still providing adequate lateral resistance for spirited sailing in open water. The boat's straightforward rigging and manageable size make it an excellent choice for beginning sailors, sailing instruction, or experienced sailors seeking an uncomplicated day on the water. Its Cape Cod lineage suggests thoughtful attention to seaworthiness and weather capability, traits essential for boats designed to handle New England's variable coastal conditions. Whether used for sailing instruction, casual day sailing, or exploring protected coastal waters, the Mercury 15 Cb offers an accessible entry point into the rewarding world of small boat sailing.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 13.83 ft / 4.22 m
Beam 5.42 ft / 1.65 m
Max Draft 3.25 ft / 0.99 m
Min Draft 0.50 ft / 0.15 m
Displacement 470.00 lb / 213 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 119.00 ft² / 11.06 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Wood/FG
Designer Sparkman & Stephens
Builder Cape Cod Shipbuilding
First Built 1940
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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
31.54
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
5.39
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
2.79
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. 4.98
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. 267.84
How It Compares

vs. Albacore, Mercury 15 Fk Cape Cod, Mutineer 15, Precision 15 Cb, West Wight Potter 15

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod ★
15.0 ft
Albacore
15.0 ft
Mercury 15 Fk Cape Cod
15.0 ft
Mutineer 15
15.0 ft
Precision 15 Cb
15.0 ft
West Wight Potter 15
15.0 ft
LWL
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod ★
13.8 ft
Albacore
14.8 ft
Mercury 15 Fk Cape Cod
13.8 ft
Mutineer 15
14.1 ft
Precision 15 Cb
13.8 ft
West Wight Potter 15
11.8 ft
Beam
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod ★
5.4 ft
Albacore
5.1 ft
Mercury 15 Fk Cape Cod
5.4 ft
Mutineer 15
6.0 ft
Precision 15 Cb
7.0 ft
West Wight Potter 15
5.5 ft
Displacement
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod ★
470 lbs
Albacore
240 lbs
Mercury 15 Fk Cape Cod
730 lbs
Mutineer 15
410 lbs
Precision 15 Cb
390 lbs
West Wight Potter 15
475 lbs
Ballast
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod ★
Albacore
Mercury 15 Fk Cape Cod
300 lbs
Mutineer 15
Precision 15 Cb
West Wight Potter 15
165 lbs
Sail Area
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod ★
119 sq ft
Albacore
Mercury 15 Fk Cape Cod
Mutineer 15
150 sq ft
Precision 15 Cb
130 sq ft
West Wight Potter 15
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod ★
31.5
Albacore
Mercury 15 Fk Cape Cod
Mutineer 15
43.5
Precision 15 Cb
39.0
West Wight Potter 15
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod ★
Albacore
Mercury 15 Fk Cape Cod
41.1 %
Mutineer 15
Precision 15 Cb
West Wight Potter 15
34.7 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod ★
5.4
Albacore
Mercury 15 Fk Cape Cod
Mutineer 15
4.1
Precision 15 Cb
3.2
West Wight Potter 15
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod ★
2.79
Albacore
Mercury 15 Fk Cape Cod
Mutineer 15
3.23
Precision 15 Cb
3.83
West Wight Potter 15
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod ★
Albacore
32
Mercury 15 Fk Cape Cod
123
Mutineer 15
Precision 15 Cb
West Wight Potter 15
128
Hull Speed
Mercury 15 Cb Cape Cod ★
5.0 kts
Albacore
Mercury 15 Fk Cape Cod
Mutineer 15
5.0 kts
Precision 15 Cb
5.0 kts
West Wight Potter 15
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