Designed by William Crosby in 1933, this compact centerboard dinghy represents classic small boat design from sailing's golden age. Built from plans intended for amateur constructors, the Skimmer features traditional wood planked construction with single chine hull form that balances simplicity with seaworthiness.
At just under 11 feet overall, this nimble dinghy excels in protected waters, harbors, and coastal sailing where its shallow 1.83-foot draft allows exploration of thin water areas larger boats cannot access. The catboat rig with its single sail configuration makes the Skimmer particularly appealing for solo sailing or teaching new sailors, eliminating the complexity of managing multiple sails while maintaining excellent control.
With a displacement of only 300 pounds and 65 square feet of sail area, the boat delivers spirited performance in light to moderate conditions. The generous beam of 4.5 feet provides stability despite the compact size, while the centerboard design allows for easy trailering and beach launching.
The Skimmer's capsize screening formula of 2.69 indicates reasonable stability for a small dinghy, though like all boats of this size, it requires attentive seamanship. This design suits recreational sailors seeking an affordable, manageable boat for day sailing adventures in sheltered waters.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall)
10.92 ft / 3.33 m
Beam
4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Max Draft
1.83 ft / 0.56 m
Min Draft
4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Displacement
300.00 lb / 136 kg
Sail Area (Reported)
65.00 ft² / 6.04 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type
Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type
Cat (Marconi)
Construction
Wood planked, single chine
Designer
William Crosby
Builder
from plans for amateur builder
First Built
1933
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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
23.23
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
167.47
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
6.36
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.
4.08 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.
0.9 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.
24
