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Sunspot 15
Designer: Arthur Howard  ·  Builder: Sun Yachts Ltd. (Uk)  ·  First built: 1977
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About the Sunspot 15

Designed by Arthur Howard and built by Sun Yachts Ltd. in the UK starting in 1977, this compact 15-footer represents a thoughtful approach to small boat cruising. The twin keel configuration makes the Sunspot 15 particularly appealing for shallow water exploration and drying out in tidal areas, where conventional deep keel boats would be restricted. With its masthead sloop rig and 104 square feet of sail area, this fiberglass trailer sailer offers respectable performance for coastal cruising and day sailing. The twin keels provide good directional stability while allowing access to beaches and shallow anchorages that would challenge deeper draft vessels. At 900 pounds displacement with 400 pounds of ballast, the boat maintains reasonable stability for its size class. The Sunspot 15's low comfort ratio of 8.72 and modest capsize screening value of 2.58 indicate this is primarily a fair weather coastal cruiser rather than an offshore passage maker. However, these characteristics make it an excellent choice for protected waters, weekend camping trips, and learning to cruise. The boat's compact dimensions and twin keel design create a forgiving platform for new cruising sailors while offering experienced sailors an affordable entry into the world of small boat adventure.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 15.09 ft / 4.60 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 13.45 ft / 4.10 m
Beam 6.23 ft / 1.90 m
Max Draft 1.97 ft / 0.60 m
Displacement 900.00 lb / 408 kg
Ballast 400.00 lb / 181 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 104.00 ft² / 9.66 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Twin Keel
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Arthur Howard
Builder Sun Yachts Ltd. (UK)
First Built 1977
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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
 17.88
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
 44.44
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
 165.13
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
 8.72
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
 2.58
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. 4.91 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 3.09
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. 299.40 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. 16.58
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 19.00 ft / 5.79 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 4.83 ft / 1.47 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 15.75 ft / 4.80 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 6.42 ft / 1.96 m
SA Fore 45.89 ft² / 4.26 m²
SA Main 50.56 ft² / 4.70 m²
SA Total (100%) 96.45 ft² / 8.96 m²
Est. Forestay Length 19.60 ft / 5.97 m
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