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Windjammer 17
Designer: Charles Wittholz  ·  Builder: Chesapeake Marine Industries  ·  First built: 1966
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About the Windjammer 17

A compact and approachable small sailboat, the Windjammer 17 is designed with entry-level and recreational sailors in mind. Built for calm coastal and inland waters, this boat offers a manageable platform for those looking to develop their sailing skills or enjoy relaxed day sailing without the complexity of a larger vessel. With limited specifications publicly available, much of the Windjammer 17's appeal can be inferred from its class and intended use. Boats of this size and style typically prioritize ease of handling and simplicity, making them well-suited for solo sailors or small crews navigating lakes, bays, and protected coastal areas. The modest scale encourages confidence-building on the water while still delivering a genuine sailing experience. For prospective buyers, the Windjammer 17 represents a practical choice as a first boat or a low-maintenance weekend companion. Those researching this model would benefit from connecting with owners and class associations to gain deeper insight into its performance characteristics and long-term ownership experience, as firsthand accounts often reveal the most telling details about a boat's true personality on the water.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 16.75 ft / 5.11 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 14.67 ft / 4.47 m
Beam 6.33 ft / 1.93 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Min Draft 0.75 ft / 0.23 m
Displacement 250.00 lb / 113 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 158.00 ft² / 14.68 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Charles Wittholz
Builder Chesapeake Marine Industries
First Built 1966
Related Sailboats Daysailer · Wildfire · Leisure 17 · Day Sailer Ii · Holder 17
Owner Reviews

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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
63.76
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
2.16
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
4.02
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. 5.13
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. 331.8
How It Compares

vs. Day Sailer Ii, Daysailer, Holder 17, Leisure 17, Wildfire

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Windjammer 17 ★
16.8 ft
Day Sailer Ii
16.8 ft
Daysailer
16.8 ft
Holder 17
17.0 ft
Leisure 17
17.0 ft
Wildfire
16.8 ft
LWL
Windjammer 17 ★
14.7 ft
Day Sailer Ii
15.5 ft
Daysailer
15.5 ft
Holder 17
15.0 ft
Leisure 17
14.0 ft
Wildfire
15.0 ft
Beam
Windjammer 17 ★
6.3 ft
Day Sailer Ii
6.3 ft
Daysailer
6.3 ft
Holder 17
7.3 ft
Leisure 17
7.0 ft
Wildfire
6.3 ft
Displacement
Windjammer 17 ★
250 lbs
Day Sailer Ii
575 lbs
Daysailer
575 lbs
Holder 17
950 lbs
Leisure 17
1 lbs
Wildfire
620 lbs
Ballast
Windjammer 17 ★
Day Sailer Ii
Daysailer
Holder 17
345 lbs
Leisure 17
550 lbs
Wildfire
250 lbs
Sail Area
Windjammer 17 ★
158 sq ft
Day Sailer Ii
Daysailer
Holder 17
147 sq ft
Leisure 17
148 sq ft
Wildfire
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Windjammer 17 ★
63.8
Day Sailer Ii
Daysailer
Holder 17
24.4
Leisure 17
18.3
Wildfire
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Windjammer 17 ★
2.2
Day Sailer Ii
Daysailer
Holder 17
6.7
Leisure 17
11.5
Wildfire
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Windjammer 17 ★
4.02
Day Sailer Ii
Daysailer
Holder 17
2.95
Leisure 17
2.46
Wildfire
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Windjammer 17 ★
Day Sailer Ii
68
Daysailer
68
Holder 17
Leisure 17
Wildfire
82
Hull Speed
Windjammer 17 ★
5.1 kts
Day Sailer Ii
Daysailer
Holder 17
5.2 kts
Leisure 17
5.0 kts
Wildfire
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