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Skipper 20
 ·  Builder: Southern Sails Inc. (Us)  ·  First built: 1978
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About the Skipper 20

Built by Southern Sails Inc. between 1978 and 1981, this compact 20-footer represents a practical approach to small boat cruising and day sailing. The Skipper 20's shoal draft fin keel configuration draws just two feet, making it ideal for exploring shallow waters, gunkholes, and trailer sailing adventures where deeper keels fear to venture. With 800 pounds of ballast in her 2,000-pound displacement, the boat carries 40% of her weight low for stability while maintaining reasonable performance under her fractional sloop rig. The 143 square feet of sail area provides adequate power for leisurely coastal cruising without overwhelming novice sailors. Her moderate beam of 6.67 feet offers decent interior space for a pocket cruiser while keeping her trailerable. The fiberglass construction typical of late 1970s production boats ensures durability with straightforward maintenance requirements. Her comfort ratio of 14.95 suggests quick motion in a seaway, characteristic of lighter displacement designs, while the capsize screening value indicates she's best suited for protected waters and mild coastal conditions rather than serious offshore work. This makes the Skipper 20 an excellent choice for weekend sailors, sailing students, or anyone seeking an affordable entry into the cruising lifestyle with shoal water capabilities.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$4,500 – $4,500
typical asking price
Median $4,500  ·  3 listings used (1 outlier excluded)
All listings
$4,500 – $4,500 3
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) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
Beam 6.67 ft / 2.03 m
Max Draft 2.00 ft / 0.61 m
Displacement 2,000.00 lb / 907 kg
Ballast 800.00 lb / 363 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 143.00 ft² / 13.29 m²
Headroom 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin (shoal draft)
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Builder Southern Sails Inc. (US)
First Built 1978
Last Built 1981
Related Sailboats ["Cal 20" · "Ranger 20" · "Ensenada 20" · "Balboa 20" · "Sovereign 20"]
Owner Reviews

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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
 14.45
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
 40
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
 264.55
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
 14.95
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
 2.12
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. 5.19 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. 357.49 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Balboa 20, Ensenada 20, Ranger 20

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Skipper 20 ★
20.0 ft
Balboa 20
20.0 ft
Ensenada 20
20.0 ft
Ranger 20
20.0 ft
LWL
Skipper 20 ★
15.0 ft
Balboa 20
17.5 ft
Ensenada 20
17.5 ft
Ranger 20
16.0 ft
Beam
Skipper 20 ★
6.7 ft
Balboa 20
7.1 ft
Ensenada 20
7.1 ft
Ranger 20
7.9 ft
Displacement
Skipper 20 ★
2 lbs
Balboa 20
1 lbs
Ensenada 20
1 lbs
Ranger 20
1 lbs
Ballast
Skipper 20 ★
800 lbs
Balboa 20
450 lbs
Ensenada 20
550 lbs
Ranger 20
550 lbs
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Skipper 20 ★
—
Balboa 20
276 s/nm
Ensenada 20
291 s/nm
Ranger 20
240 s/nm
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Skipper 20 ★
40.0 %
Balboa 20
26.5 %
Ensenada 20
34.4 %
Ranger 20
36.7 %
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Skipper 20 ★
264
Balboa 20
141
Ensenada 20
133
Ranger 20
163
Find a Skipper 20 For Sale
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