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Splash
Designer: Koos De Ridder  ·  Builder: Splash Boats International  ·  First built: 1988
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About the Splash

Designed as an accessible and fun entry-level sailboat, the Splash has built a reputation as an ideal choice for beginner sailors and youth sailing programs looking for a responsive yet forgiving vessel. Lightweight and easy to handle, it is well suited to sheltered waters, inland lakes, and calm coastal environments where new sailors can develop their skills with confidence. The Splash is typically associated with single-handed sailing, offering a simple rig that keeps things manageable without sacrificing the sense of real sailing. Its lively handling gives beginners genuine feedback from the water, making it a genuinely educational platform rather than an overly tame learner's boat. This balance between responsiveness and stability is one of its most praised qualities among sailing instructors and program coordinators. While the Splash is not intended for offshore passages or serious racing campaigns, it excels in its intended role as a training and recreational dinghy. Sailors who learned on a Splash often speak fondly of the experience, and the boat continues to appear in youth programs and sailing clubs where affordability, simplicity, and enjoyment are the primary priorities.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 11.75 ft / 3.58 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 11.75 ft / 3.58 m
Beam 5.05 ft / 1.54 m
Max Draft 2.36 ft / 0.72 m
Displacement 155.00 lb / 70 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 59.00 ft² / 5.48 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Cat (unstayed)
Construction FG
Designer Koos de Ridder
Builder Splash Boats International
First Built 1988
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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
32.73
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
2.36
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
3.76
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. 4.59
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. 212.02
How It Compares

vs. Byte, Captiva Escape, Rs Neo

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Splash ★
11.8 ft
Byte
12.0 ft
Captiva Escape
11.5 ft
Rs Neo
11.6 ft
LWL
Splash ★
11.8 ft
Byte
10.5 ft
Captiva Escape
Rs Neo
Beam
Splash ★
5.1 ft
Byte
4.3 ft
Captiva Escape
5.0 ft
Rs Neo
4.7 ft
Displacement
Splash ★
155 lbs
Byte
99 lbs
Captiva Escape
195 lbs
Rs Neo
183 lbs
Sail Area
Splash ★
59 sq ft
Byte
58 sq ft
Captiva Escape
67 sq ft
Rs Neo
64 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Splash ★
32.7
Byte
43.4
Captiva Escape
Rs Neo
32.1
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Splash ★
2.4
Byte
2.0
Captiva Escape
3.4
Rs Neo
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Splash ★
3.76
Byte
3.68
Captiva Escape
Rs Neo
3.28
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Splash ★
Byte
38
Captiva Escape
93
Rs Neo
Hull Speed
Splash ★
4.6 kts
Byte
4.3 kts
Captiva Escape
4.2 kts
Rs Neo
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