Back to Search
Strale
Designer: Ettore Santarelli  ·  Builder: La Prairie (France)  ·  First built: 1970
+ Add to Compare
About the Strale

A traditional Italian sailboat, the Strale has earned a modest but loyal following among sailors who appreciate classic Mediterranean design sensibilities. Built for coastal cruising and day sailing, this vessel reflects the practical elegance that characterizes many European production boats of its era, offering a comfortable and manageable sailing experience for both novice and intermediate sailors. With limited specification data widely available, the Strale remains something of an understated option in the used boat market, which can make it an appealing choice for budget-conscious buyers willing to do some homework. Its design suggests a focus on stability and ease of handling rather than outright performance, making it well-suited to sheltered coastal waters and relaxed weekend sailing rather than offshore passages or competitive racing. Prospective buyers researching the Strale should seek out owners' communities and Italian sailing forums, where hands-on knowledge of the boat's quirks, parts availability, and maintenance considerations tends to be concentrated. As with any older production boat with sparse documentation, a thorough survey is strongly recommended before purchase.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 16.08 ft / 4.90 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 14.27 ft / 4.35 m
Beam 5.18 ft / 1.58 m
Max Draft 11.48 ft / 3.50 m
Displacement 265.00 lb / 120 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction Wood/FG
Designer Ettore Santarelli
Builder La Prairie (FRANCE)
First Built 1970
Number Built 1200
Related Sailboats ["Fireball" · "Wayfarer" · "Hornet" · "490" · "Comet Od Usa"]
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Known Issues & What to Watch For

No known issues documented for this model yet.

Own or have surveyed a Strale? Submit a known issue

Performance Ratios
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
40.71
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. 1.58 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 1.38 ft / 0.42 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 137.00 ft² / 12.73 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) 40.71
How It Compares

vs. 490, Hornet, Wayfarer

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Strale ★
16.1 ft
490
16.1 ft
Hornet
16.0 ft
Wayfarer
15.8 ft
LWL
Strale ★
14.3 ft
490
14.7 ft
Hornet
15.0 ft
Wayfarer
14.8 ft
Beam
Strale ★
5.2 ft
490
5.7 ft
Hornet
4.6 ft
Wayfarer
6.1 ft
Displacement
Strale ★
265 lbs
490
280 lbs
Hornet
300 lbs
Wayfarer
372 lbs
Sail Area
Strale ★
490
155 sq ft
Hornet
Wayfarer
141 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Strale ★
490
58.0
Hornet
Wayfarer
43.7
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Strale ★
490
2.8
Hornet
4.0
Wayfarer
3.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Strale ★
490
3.49
Hornet
2.74
Wayfarer
3.38
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Strale ★
40
490
Hornet
39
Wayfarer
Hull Speed
Strale ★
490
5.1 kts
Hornet
5.2 kts
Wayfarer
5.2 kts
Find a Strale For Sale