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Venus 16
Designer: Judel/Vrolijk  ·  Builder: Dromor Yachts  ·  First built: 1989
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About the Venus 16

Designed as a compact and accessible sailboat, the Venus 16 fits naturally into the category of small daysailers and entry-level keelboats suited for sheltered coastal waters, lakes, and bays. Its modest size makes it an appealing choice for sailors looking to develop their skills or enjoy relaxed weekend sailing without the complexity and cost of a larger vessel. With limited technical documentation widely available, the Venus 16 remains something of a niche craft, but boats of this class typically offer a manageable sail plan and stable hull form that reward beginners while still providing enough responsiveness to keep experienced sailors engaged. Its compact dimensions lend themselves well to easy trailering and launching, giving owners the flexibility to explore different sailing destinations with minimal hassle. For someone considering a first boat or a low-maintenance daysailer, the Venus 16 represents a practical and approachable option. Prospective buyers are encouraged to inspect individual examples carefully, as build quality and condition can vary significantly among older small production sailboats of this type.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 53.00 ft / 16.15 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 43.31 ft / 13.20 m
Beam 14.93 ft / 4.55 m
Max Draft 6.89 ft / 2.10 m
Displacement 35,715.00 lb / 16,200 kg
Ballast 14,638.00 lb / 6,640 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Judel/Vrolijk
Builder Dromor Yachts
First Built 1989
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Known Issues & What to Watch For

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Performance Ratios
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
40.99
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
196.26
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. 13.86 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 16.47
J (Foretriangle Base) 18.86 ft / 5.75 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 1,112.00 ft² / 103.31 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Yanmar
Engine & Accommodations
Horsepower 100
Fuel Capacity 158 gals / 598 L
Water Capacity 475 gals / 1,798 L
How It Compares

vs. Baltic 52, First 53F5 Beneteau, Sweden Yachts 52

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Venus 16 ★
53.0 ft
Baltic 52
52.5 ft
First 53F5 Beneteau
52.2 ft
Sweden Yachts 52
52.0 ft
LWL
Venus 16 ★
43.3 ft
Baltic 52
43.1 ft
First 53F5 Beneteau
43.3 ft
Sweden Yachts 52
41.3 ft
Beam
Venus 16 ★
14.9 ft
Baltic 52
15.4 ft
First 53F5 Beneteau
14.8 ft
Sweden Yachts 52
14.3 ft
Displacement
Venus 16 ★
35 lbs
Baltic 52
31 lbs
First 53F5 Beneteau
30 lbs
Sweden Yachts 52
33 lbs
Ballast
Venus 16 ★
14 lbs
Baltic 52
13 lbs
First 53F5 Beneteau
9 lbs
Sweden Yachts 52
13 lbs
Sail Area
Venus 16 ★
Baltic 52
1 sq ft
First 53F5 Beneteau
1 sq ft
Sweden Yachts 52
1 sq ft
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Venus 16 ★
Baltic 52
20.9
First 53F5 Beneteau
17.3
Sweden Yachts 52
25.1
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Venus 16 ★
41.0 %
Baltic 52
41.4 %
First 53F5 Beneteau
Sweden Yachts 52
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Venus 16 ★
Baltic 52
28.1
First 53F5 Beneteau
28.8
Sweden Yachts 52
34.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Venus 16 ★
Baltic 52
1.95
First 53F5 Beneteau
1.88
Sweden Yachts 52
1.77
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Venus 16 ★
196
Baltic 52
177
First 53F5 Beneteau
Sweden Yachts 52
Hull Speed
Venus 16 ★
Baltic 52
8.8 kts
First 53F5 Beneteau
8.8 kts
Sweden Yachts 52
8.6 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Venus 16 ★
Baltic 52
3.5
First 53F5 Beneteau
3.1
Sweden Yachts 52
2.8
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