The Thompson 590 is aggressively canvassed for its weight.
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
SA / Displacement
51.0
Performance-oriented — carries a lot of canvas for its weight.
Capsize Screening
3.94
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Capsize Screening Formula
3.94
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Thompson 590 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Menger Cat 19
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Thompson 590 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghosting
0–5 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
5–16 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
16–24 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
24+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Thompson 590.
| Thompson 590 | Com Pac 19 | Cornish Coble | Cornish Shrimper 19 | Menger Cat 19 | Weta 44 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 19.2 | 19.0 | 19.0 | 19.3 | 19.0 | 19.0 |
| LWL | — | 16.3 | 13.3 | 17.5 | 18.4 | — |
| Beam | 9.1 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 7.2 | 8.0 | 11.5 |
| Displacement | 794 | 2 | 599 | 2 | 2 | 264 |
| Ballast | 309 | 800 | — | 700 | 600 | — |
| Sail Area | 273 | 145 | 131 | 194 | — | 123 |
| Performance | ||||||
| PHRF | — | — | — | — | 326 | — |
| SA/Disp | 51.0 | 14.7 | 29.5 | 17.6 | — | 48.1 |
| Bal/Disp | — | 40.0 | — | 29.8 | 20.7 | — |
| Comfort | — | 13.5 | 5.7 | 14.6 | — | — |
| Capsize | 3.94 | 2.22 | 2.85 | 2.16 | — | — |
| Hull Speed | — | 5.4 | 4.9 | 5.6 | — | — |