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Tornado Texas
Designer: John P. Fillip  ·  Builder: Fillip Mfg. Co. (Usa)  ·  First built: 1967
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About the Tornado Texas

Designed by John P. Fillip and first launched in 1967, this compact centerboard dinghy represents classic American small boat design from the Fillip Manufacturing Company. At just over 16 feet in length, the Tornado Texas packs impressive performance into a manageable package, making it an excellent choice for day sailing, sailing instruction, and recreational racing on protected waters. The fractional sloop rig configuration provides balanced handling characteristics, while the centerboard design allows for easy launching from beaches and shallow water exploration. With 160 square feet of sail area driving a lightweight 425-pound fiberglass hull, this boat delivers spirited performance and responsive handling that appeals to both novice and experienced sailors. The relatively high sail area to displacement ratio of 45.34 indicates this is a performance-oriented design that will move well in light to moderate conditions. The comfortable beam of 5.58 feet provides adequate stability for its size class, while the retractable centerboard system offers versatility for different sailing venues. This combination of portability, performance, and ease of handling makes the Tornado Texas well-suited for sailing schools, yacht club fleets, and sailors seeking an affordable entry into the sport or a fun weekend sailing companion.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 16.42 ft / 5.00 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 15.58 ft / 4.75 m
Beam 5.58 ft / 1.70 m
Max Draft 4.42 ft / 1.35 m
Min Draft 0.50 ft / 0.15 m
Displacement 425.00 lb / 193 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 160.00 ft² / 14.86 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer John P. Fillip
Builder Fillip Mfg. Co. (USA)
First Built 1967
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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
 45.34
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
 50.17
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
 4.2
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
 2.97
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. 5.29 kn
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. 310.63 pounds/inch
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