The North Haven Dinghy is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air.
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
SA / Displacement
20.7
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Capsize Screening
2.06
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Capsize Screening Formula
2.06
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the North Haven Dinghy — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–18 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
18–26 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
26+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the North Haven Dinghy.
| North Haven Dinghy | Biscayne Bay 14 | Cape Dory 14 | Peep Hen | Rascal 14 | Skipjack 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 14.5 | 14.4 | 14.5 | 14.2 | 14.4 | 14.6 |
| LWL | — | — | 14.0 | 13.3 | 13.8 | — |
| Beam | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.3 | 6.3 | 6.0 | 5.3 |
| Displacement | 875 | 1 | 200 | 650 | 400 | 340 |
| Ballast | 356 | — | 50 | 200 | — | — |
| Sail Area | 118 | 122 | 85 | 115 | 121 | — |
| Performance | ||||||
| SA/Disp | 20.7 | 19.6 | 39.8 | 24.6 | 35.7 | — |
| Bal/Disp | — | — | 25.0 | 30.8 | — | — |
| Comfort | — | 14.0 | 3.2 | 6.4 | 4.1 | 4.4 |
| Capsize | 2.06 | 2.00 | 2.91 | 2.93 | 3.26 | — |
| Hull Speed | — | 4.7 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.7 |