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Paper Tiger
Designer: Ron Given  ·  Builder: Formula Sailcraft (Aus)  ·  First built: 1967
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About the Paper Tiger

Designed by Ron Given in 1967 and built by Formula Sailcraft in Australia, this compact catamaran represents an early entry into the small multihull market that was gaining momentum during the late 1960s. The plywood and fiberglass construction reflects the era's approach to building affordable yet seaworthy small catamarans for recreational sailors. At just under 14 feet overall with a beam approaching 7 feet, the Paper Tiger offers impressive stability and interior space relative to its length. The twin daggerboard configuration provides excellent upwind performance while allowing shallow water exploration, making this boat particularly well-suited for coastal sailing, day sailing, and small boat racing. The catamaran rig with rotating spar enhances aerodynamic efficiency and simplifies sail handling. With a displacement of only 160 pounds and 100 square feet of sail area, the Paper Tiger delivers an exciting sail area-to-displacement ratio of 54.32, promising spirited performance in moderate conditions. This lightweight design makes beach launching practical and appeals to sailors seeking responsive handling and the unique sailing characteristics that only multihulls can provide. The boat serves as an excellent introduction to catamaran sailing while offering enough performance to satisfy more experienced small boat enthusiasts.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 13.98 ft / 4.26 m
Beam 6.99 ft / 2.13 m
Displacement 160.00 lb / 73 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 100.00 ft² / 9.29 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Catamaran Twin Dbrd.
Rigging Type Cat (rotating spar)
Construction Plywood/FG
Designer Ron Given
Builder Formula Sailcraft (AUS)
First Built 1967
Associations Paper Tiger Catamaran International Association
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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
54.32
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
42.57
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
1.47
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
5.15
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. 4.62 kn
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. 1.78 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Dart Dinghy, Hobie 35, Windrush 14

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Paper Tiger ★
14.0 ft
Dart Dinghy
14.0 ft
Hobie 35
14.0 ft
Windrush 14
14.1 ft
Beam
Paper Tiger ★
7.0 ft
Dart Dinghy
5.0 ft
Hobie 35
6.0 ft
Windrush 14
7.5 ft
Displacement
Paper Tiger ★
160 lbs
Dart Dinghy
200 lbs
Hobie 35
230 lbs
Windrush 14
170 lbs
Sail Area
Paper Tiger ★
100 sq ft
Dart Dinghy
100 sq ft
Hobie 35
90 sq ft
Windrush 14
150 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Paper Tiger ★
54.3
Dart Dinghy
46.8
Hobie 35
38.4
Windrush 14
78.3
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Paper Tiger ★
1.5
Dart Dinghy
2.9
Hobie 35
2.6
Windrush 14
1.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Paper Tiger ★
5.15
Dart Dinghy
Hobie 35
3.92
Windrush 14
5.42
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Paper Tiger ★
42
Dart Dinghy
53
Hobie 35
60
Windrush 14
44
Hull Speed
Paper Tiger ★
4.6 kts
Dart Dinghy
4.6 kts
Hobie 35
4.6 kts
Windrush 14
4.6 kts
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