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Speedball 14
Designer: W. Shad Turner  ·  Builder: Laguna Yachts  ·  First built: 1980
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About the Speedball 14

A compact and nimble dinghy, the Speedball 14 is designed with performance and accessibility in mind, making it an appealing option for sailors looking to develop their skills or simply enjoy spirited time on the water. As the name suggests, this boat leans toward the lively end of the sailing spectrum, suggesting a hull optimized for responsiveness and speed in a variety of light to moderate conditions. Well-suited to inland lakes, sheltered bays, and calm coastal waters, the Speedball 14 is best enjoyed as a daysailer or entry-level racing platform where its size and handling characteristics can truly shine. The 14-foot length puts it in a class of boats that reward active sailing technique, requiring the helmsman to stay engaged with trim and balance rather than simply pointing and going. While detailed specifications remain limited, the Speedball 14 appears to occupy a niche as a fun, approachable craft for sailors who want excitement without the complexity of a larger vessel. Prospective buyers are encouraged to seek out class associations or current owners for firsthand insight into its performance traits and build quality.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 14.25 ft / 4.34 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 13.50 ft / 4.11 m
Beam 5.75 ft / 1.75 m
Max Draft 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
Min Draft 0.33 ft / 0.10 m
Displacement 225.00 lb / 102 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 128.00 ft² / 11.89 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer W. Shad Turner
Builder Laguna Yachts
First Built 1980
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
55.41
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
2.46
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
3.78
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. 4.92
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. 277.36
How It Compares

vs. Javelin 14 Fox, Laser 2, Trac 14

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Speedball 14 ★
14.3 ft
Javelin 14 Fox
14.0 ft
Laser 2
14.4 ft
Trac 14
14.1 ft
LWL
Speedball 14 ★
13.5 ft
Javelin 14 Fox
13.2 ft
Laser 2
13.8 ft
Trac 14
Beam
Speedball 14 ★
5.8 ft
Javelin 14 Fox
5.7 ft
Laser 2
4.7 ft
Trac 14
7.5 ft
Displacement
Speedball 14 ★
225 lbs
Javelin 14 Fox
475 lbs
Laser 2
170 lbs
Trac 14
195 lbs
Sail Area
Speedball 14 ★
128 sq ft
Javelin 14 Fox
125 sq ft
Laser 2
124 sq ft
Trac 14
148 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Speedball 14 ★
55.4
Javelin 14 Fox
32.9
Laser 2
64.7
Trac 14
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Speedball 14 ★
2.5
Javelin 14 Fox
5.4
Laser 2
2.4
Trac 14
1.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Speedball 14 ★
3.78
Javelin 14 Fox
2.91
Laser 2
3.37
Trac 14
5.18
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Speedball 14 ★
Javelin 14 Fox
92
Laser 2
Trac 14
50
Hull Speed
Speedball 14 ★
4.9 kts
Javelin 14 Fox
4.9 kts
Laser 2
5.0 kts
Trac 14
4.6 kts
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