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- Sailboat Reviews
Ultimate 20
Here's a 20-footer that goes 20 knots. not only that, it's fairly easy to sail, too..
In the late 80’s, the landscape was littered with the remains of boatbuilding companies that couldn’t cut to fit. The conventional wisdom was that starting a new company was guaranteed to convert a large fortune to a small one. In this period, Jeff Canepa conceived the idea of entering the fracas with a pint-sized company based in Santa Cruz, California, that would introduce yet another performance 21-footer.
Canepa is the antithesis of the traditional boatbuilder, staid types who worked their way up the professional ladder by lofting lines, stoking steam boxes and laying planks. Rather, he is an experienced multihull sailor and marketing expert who envisioned catamaran performance in a monohull, identified an existing design that might do it, then assembled a team of experienced designers and builders to develop the final product. The result is the Ultimate 20, a boat finding great acceptance among a group of mid-level sailors seeking new levels of performance, and experienced sailors looking for big kicks on smaller boats. It also appeals to the budget-conscious shopper.
A college dropout with a penchant for water sports, Canepa began sailing in 1968 when he abandoned the classroom during sunny Monterey Bay afternoons and practiced sailing a Hobie Cat. By 1972, he’d captured the Hobie National Championships, followed in 1973 with the first of two World Championships. He then headed for Europe to conduct Hobie clinics until the late 70’s, then expanded his knowledge of the small-boat industry while working to introduce O’Neil Wetsuits to the international sailing community. He furthered his knowledge of the watersports market while setting up an American distribution system for a German sailboard manufacturer.
The first seeds of the U20 project were planted in 1986 when he crossed paths with Doug Hemphill, designer of the Hotfoot 20 and Hotfoot 27, reliable performance sloops built and sailed primarily in Canada. At the time, Hemphill was experimenting with the addition to the 20-footer of a bowsprit, asymmetrical spinnaker, and hiking racks. In 1988, with the sailboat market headed for what the Federal Reserve Board calls a hard landing, he purchased the molds for the Hotfoot 20 at a sheriff’s auction and placed them in a storage container.
“We were way ahead of our time,” he said, “hoping for a recovery. There had been too much money in the marketplace during the 80’s, but we felt that after a few years of cooling it would rebound, and that a niche in the small boat market would be strong.”
By early 1993, he was beginning to look like a soothsayer. J-Boats had successfully introduced a line of “sprit boats,” the Melges 24 was a big spot on the horizon, and trailerable boats were again making their presence felt. With that as a backdrop, Canepa formed Ultimate Sailboats International and began assembling his design and construction team.
For openers, he recruited Ron Moore, the well known Santa Cruz boatbuilder who carved a reputation building the Moore 24 and other ultra-light, ultra-fast boats, giving him responsibility for construction of a prototype, using the Hotfoot molds. Business associate John McWaid was enlisted to hitch the prototype to his car and head into the American hinterland.
Upon McWaid’s return, armed with input from sailors and sailmakers at all levels of the sport, a year long tweaking process began when naval architect Jim Antrim was commissioned to begin a massive overhaul of the design. Antrim’s recent successes include work as a member of the structural design team for Bill Koch’s America’s Cup winner, and the design of Aotea, a trimaran that recently set a record in the San Francisco-Hawaii single-handed race.
The designer’s first suggestion was to remove the transom and stretch the boat 9″ to 20′ 10″, without making radical changes to the basic hull shape—a fairly flat bottom that tapers out and up to a curved hull-deck flange. Freeboard was increased 2″ and the beam was increased to 8′ 6″, changes that improved the appearance while increasing leg room in the cockpit and sitting room belowdecks.
His next step was to increase the horsepower of the fractional rig by raising the mast height to 30′ above deck level, and eliminating the need for a permanent backstay by adding spreaders swept back 25 degrees. The changes increased the size of the full-roach, loose-footed mainsail to 205 square feet. A working jib carrying 100 square feet of sail is mounted on a Harken roller furler recessed below the deck.
Antrim redesigned the chord of the keel and added a flared bulb that resembles the whale’s tail design seen on many Cup boats. The keel was also moved aft 8″, resulting in an increase in forward buoyancy and improvements in trim and balance, making crew positioning less critical when attempting to maximize performance.
Because of built-in safety features, Antrim is especially pleased with the bowsprit arrangement. Like most, it is launched by pulling lines led aft from the pole tip to the cockpit, which is where similarities end. Most are housed belowdecks and launched through sealed through-hull fittings. By comparison, the U20’s is housed on deck in a molded slot and held in place by a fiberglass cover that is secured to the deck by six screws. So, while operation of the pole is similar to other boats, Antrim feels his design has two safety advantages: In the event of a collision, the sprit or housing will break under 1,700 pounds of pressure, before the hull is fractured; and, in the event the pole breaks the boat won’t be swamped. A deck-mounted pole also increases the amount of interior space, a consideration on any 21-footer. We tend to agree with his assessment, but this arrangement does detract from the overall appearance of the boat. As an alternative, sailors who wish to fly symmetrical chutes can tack the pole to the mast.
The modified design also incorporates the addition of curves and radiuses to the coachroof and cockpit, subtle changes that softened the edges to improve both appearance and ergonomics. The designer then reorganized the deck layout, and the result is a model of efficiency, enhanced by roller furling and the sprit/asymmetrical chute arrangement. Halyards are internal, led to cleats on the coachroof, so the only lines in the cockpit are main, jib and spinnaker sheets, a single roller furler control, and a line connected to the bowsprit.
Increasing the beam and length increased the cockpit width to 4′ and length to 7′ 8″, providing plenty of room for a typical crew of three, or four when sailing in heavy winds. Sailed with a crew of three, the driver steers from the aftermost position and controls the mainsheet, which attaches to Harken track and a swivel block recessed in the cabin sole. This leaves the trimmers with enough room to perform their tasks forward in the cockpit.
The rudder is a lightweight blade constructed of carbon fiber with fiberglass and wood reinforcement at the head, transom-mounted on pintles and gudgeons that appear to be adequate for the loads developed. By the time Antrim completed the remodeling, the rudder was about all that was left of the prototype.
Construction
Since he has 26 years of experience constructing performance boats designed to sail in rugged conditions, the selection of Moore as the builder was a propitious choice. Though found sailing primarily on the West Coast, his Moore 24 is a seasoned MORA winner, a sturdy boat that holds up well under the punishing conditions found in Pacific waters outside the Golden Gate and along the California coast.
The hull lay-up for the U20 is fairly straightforward, consisting of a 3/8″ core of Baltek balsa, to which 12-ounce layers of bi-directional woven roving knitted in 90-degree angles are applied on interior and exterior surfaces. The final exterior layer is .75 ounce mat. Hydrex vinylester resins are used on exterior skins, and Polyester C2849 on other layers. The deck also is constructed with a Baltek core, over which a 10-ounce layer of cloth is laid, followed by a .75-ounce mat. To enhance the structural integrity of the hull and deck at stress points, two 12″-wide panels of carbon fiber are laid under the keel area and across the width of the deck at the mast step and chainplates. The exterior surface of the hull is a smooth gelcoat surface, the interior a polyester enamel.
Composition of the cockpit sole is identical to the deck, except the core is 3/4″ Baltek.
The hull and deck are bonded with a syntactic slurry of polyester putty, mill fibers and microballoons. Since the deck joint overlaps an eggshell-shaped hull flange that is approximately 2″ wide, both the designer and builder are confident of the structural integrity of the bond, and feel that fasteners would be redundant. Unfortunately, because the joint is exposed, it detracts modestly from the appearance of the vessel and would seem to be vulnerable to collisions.
The bulb keel is raised and lowered by a patent- pending winch assembly that is removable. It can be locked in place by hand with six “Scotty” screws. Canepa said he was considering redesigning the locking device because some owners were shortcutting the procedure by only using four screws. The plate and keel box are fit to the foil with clearance allowed for impact.
Though the mast compression post and trunk for the lifting keel reduce space belowdecks, we didn’t find the U20 to be significantly less spacious or comfortable than similarly sized boats with fixed keels or centerboards, though quarters are reduced by the long cockpit. Surfaces are smooth, edges are rounded, and a bright white finish creates the illusion of spaciousness.
The forward V-berth is 94″ long, tapering to a 64″ width at the mid-section of the boat, which is functional as a large stowage space, or sleeping quarters for two average-sized persons. Below the berth, a fiberglass pan extends to the companionway, incorporating longitudinal stringers that provide support for the berth and separate the space into watertight compartments of 1,800 pounds positive buoyancy. Port and starboard quarterberths are 96″ long, 18″ wide.
A stowage area located below the companionway is large enough for two laundry-sized baskets, one functioning as a low-cost alternative to a spinnaker bag, the other for stowing loose gear. The outboard motor, fuel and dock gear can be stored in a 12″-deep compartment below the cockpit.
From a strictly utilitarian standpoint, most average-sized persons will find the space adequate for overnight camping trips or nights spent aboard during regatta weekends, as long as cooking and bathing facilities are available.
Performance
McWaid, a strapping 150-pounder, managed to have the boat rigged and ready to go sailing within 30 minutes of his arrival at a San Francisco Bay hoist on a blustery March afternoon. Following months of rain, temperatures had risen into the 60’s and winds were blowing 12-20 knots from the west, so we had perfect conditions to test the boat.
Rigging the Ultimate 20 is fairly simple. The mast cradle is elevated at the front of the trailer, which increases leverage during the hoist of the 45-pound mast while it is attached to the trailer winch. After that, preparing to sail is simply a matter of pinning the shrouds to the chainplates; lowering the keel by employing a patented gantry system that controls its passage between Delrin slides built into the hull; securing an aluminum cover to protect the keel from sliding upward while heeled; attaching the tiller; and heading for open water.
Sailing away from the dock, the first impression is of speed and lightness. The boat displaces only 1,100 pounds, 450 of which are in the keel, so it responds to any movement by the crew. Once we sorted out crew positions and settled down, the boat moved forward quickly in only 2-3 knots of wind as we were blanketed by buildings surrounding the marina.
The boat told us very quickly when we’d cleared the seawall and found fresh breezes by burying her shoulder into a 2′ chop, heeling 12-15 degrees, and squirting forward. We found the helm to be well balanced, even in heavy gusts when beating to weather. Clearly, this boat is happiest when it’s away from the parking lot.
Because we sailed without instruments, it was difficult to gauge speed or sail angle, but we felt as though we were sailing high and fast. When the breeze increased, we reduced headsail sag by tensioning a line led through a block on the furler. During tacks, the driver moves across the boat between the end of the tiller and the mainsail sheet while the trimmers duck underneath the boom.
We also noticed during a beat to weather that shorter crewmembers hiked out on the rail couldn’t reach the foot rests built into the cockpit, relying on the 2″ deck overhang for a handhold. The boat is not equipped with lifelines or hiking straps, a drawback. The deck overhang does deflect spray away from the boat, helping to keep the crew dry. Daysailors will find that sailing an asymmetrical spinnaker takes some getting used to, but the ease with which it is launched and the increase in speed justify its growing popularity, especially since it eliminates the need for an acrobat on the foredeck.
Hoisting the chute is a matter of snaking the tack forward to the end of the pole, sweating the halyard, footing off and holding on while the boat builds speed. Depending on sailing conditions, the jib may be furled or flown.
The boat is fairly forgiving but you have to think fast. While attempting to see how close we could sail to the wind, we nearly broached. Canepa yelled, “We’re going over,” eased the sheet as we rounded up, then trimmed the chute as it filled on a downwind course. Total time to crash, burn, and recover was less than 15 seconds. The key to jibing, we learned, is the release of large amounts of sheet before the main comes across; this way the chute fills in front of the headstay before being blanketed by the main.
We spent an hour putting her through her paces before heading back to the marina, during which time we were impressed with both upwind and downwind performance, as well as the degree to which she seems to meet Canepa’s objective of producing a boat that is both fast and friendly.
We’d feel comfortable sailing it in 20-knot winds and steep chop, but would think twice before taking the Ultimate 20 into open seas. Canepa related that he filled one boat with freshwater to test buoyancy and it didn’t sink. It can be fully enclosed with hatch boards, and there’s room for additional buoyancy.
Conclusions
We’d recommend shoppers take a careful look at the boat for several reasons, first of which is that we think it has a legitimate appeal to a vast audience of saltwater and freshwater sailors. The large cockpit, ease of handling, and speed will be appreciated by casual daysailors, so the boat won’t sit ignored in the parking lot. Racers will be able to push it hard while competing in a one-design fleet under strict class rules. It is well-constructed. Accommodations are adequate for overnighting, and it is easily trailerable.
Total weight of boat and trailer is 1,500 pounds, the keel is only 9″ deep when retracted, so it presents a low profile on the road.
Compared to other sprit boats, it is very affordable: Cost of the basic boat is $19,500, with sails adding $2,900, and a trailer $1,800. A 3-hp. Outboard provides plenty of auxiliary power.
Finally, the boat has been well-accepted in the marketplace: 40 boats have been ordered for delivery in the US and Europe since its introduction one year ago, so it appears likely that racing fleets will be developing.
RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR
Hello. I recently purchased a sailboat from a private party. He says its a Schock 20, built in 1972. I am trying to find replacement parts since I am restoring this boat. I was told the WD Schock company was sold by Ruth Schock. They (Ruth Schock) currently make power boats. She did give me the number to the people who bought the sailboat company, but I have left 2 messages and nobody returns my call. Can you be of any assistance in trying to figure this all out? I am going to refurbish regardless, but to actually KNOW this boats origin would be very helpful. Thank you for any assistance you can be
John White (951) 451-0404 Homeland CA
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Lake Norman Yacht Club 2024 Midwinter Regatta
What a great weekend for the LNYC Midwinters! 16 boats turned out. Saturday was cool and wet with an 8-10 knot breeze. Competitors were rewarded with sunny conditions and 15-20 knots of breeze on Sunday. Planing conditions! Yeehaw! Congratulations to BJ and Emily Jones on Rumbullion 1st Place. Tim Porter on Mighty Mouse in 2nd and Mark Allen on Junta in 3rd.
Results
2024 Richmond Yacht Club Midwinters and Big Daddy Regatta
Great sailing conditions on the San Francisco Bay for the Big Daddy Regatta on March 9-10 as the rains held off and the winds cooperated to bring some tight finishes. In the mark racing on Saturday, Denise Hammond and Phil Kanegsberg showed off their new Ullman sails to walk away with 1st place, but the boys from Utah on Marty Simhula’s Hard Drive were second, and Michael Eisenberg from Bend, Oregon came back from a bad start to finish third. On the round the rocks pursuit race on Sunday, among the U20s, John Wolfe on Breakaway had a clear win from start to finish by going clockwise around Alcatraz and then Angel Island. The weekend prior marked the end of the Richmond Yacht Club Small Boat Midwinters. Marty Smihula and the Hard Drive Crew one first with Michael Eisenberg and Toon Town in second and Donna Womble's Peabody in third.
Midwinter Results and Big Daddy Results
2023 North American Championship at Lake Norman Yacht Club
November 2023.
Lake Norman, North Carolina once again proved to be a great venue in the fall for the 2023 Ultimate 20 North American Championships held at LNYC. 26 boats registered meant that this would be the largest attended Championship in the history of the Class. With forecasted rain (which the area needed very much) and big breeze on tap, it didn’t disappoint. Four races were held on the first of a three day regatta in solid 15-20+ knot breeze with the afore mentioned rain. Steve Shaw with crew Tim Porter and Dave Rink aboard Mighty Mouse (#21) ran away with the day and a scorecard of 1,1,2,2. The following day of racing was met with much lighter breeze but still good sailing conditions. Mark Aspland (#88) with Thistle National Champion Brad Russell as crew were able to boat speed their way to the daily award while posting a 1,4,1. Sunday brought sunshine in the morning with blue skies and perfect 8-12 knot winds. The Mighty Mouse was in top form posting the final 1,4,1 to lock up the championship with wins in 5 of the 10 races held. This marked the second year in a row and third time total that Steve and Tim have paired to take the title. Be sure to make plans to be at next years event and try to take the top spot away!
The Three Bridge Fiasco, San Francisco Bay
January 2023.
The Annual Three Bridge Fiasco was held on January 28th on San Francisco Bay. Sponsored by the Single Handed Sailing Society, the long distance race is limited to single or double handed boats. The course is simple, start at the Golden Gate Yacht Club and round Blackaller at the Golden Gate; Yerba Buena Island near the Bay Bridge, and Red Rock near the Richmond Bridge—approximately 21 nm if done in a straight line. However, given that the race can take up to 10 hours and you can go in to any of the marks in any order you want; the decision on where to sail and when is dependent upon currents, tides, fog, and other boats. This year, over 300 boats took up the challenge. For the U20, it is usually a choice of how to sail under spinnaker for as long as possible and how to avoid being blanketed by bigger boats, especially at the start. This year four U20s, sailed the event so there was some internal competition as well. Getting to the start was challenge this year with no wind and plenty of fog. Having a handheld navigation map on one’s cell phone was a necessity as well as plenty of gas or batteries to reach the starting point from Richmond Yacht Club. It is a pursuit start sequence and U20s started just after the Moore 24s at 9:42 am. With the biggest fleet in the race, the Moore 24s were all over the line; trying to avoid getting flushed by the ebb current too early in the nearly non-existent wind conditions. Enter the U20s, and it was definitely a challenge to predict the rate at which the current was flowing towards the line and to stay on starboard tack. Three of the U20s were off at the appointed time—but where were Mark Allen and Trent Watkins in Junta? Their engine quit on the way over and they were quickly being taken by the ebb to the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge. Mark was busy taking the engine apart in the cockpit and Trent was attempting to keep the boat off the shore. When they finally got going again they found themselves 40 minutes from the start line—but what the heck, the Three Bridge is always full of surprises, so they kept going. The first mark chosen by the remaining U20s was Blackaller—it was a spinnaker run to the mark but there were also plenty of other boats headed that way whether they wanted to or not because of the current conditions at that time. To say the mark was crowded is an understatement with skippers yelling “Room” regardless of whether they were right or anyone else could accommodate them. Mike Josselyn and Howard Elfant on Uhoo! rounded first to starboard and then Donna Womble and Mark Gibbs on Peabody and Jeff Cook and David Pressley on Ubetcha. Uhoo! took off across the Gate to head north to Red Rock, but discovered the strong ebb still in play that earlier had taken Junta out. So, they quickly decided to go to the Bay Bridge, but were quickly behind both Peabody and Ubetcha who button hooked Blackaller and were on the way. The race to the Bay Bridge was against the current and wind direction. As result, boats hugged the shore along the City Front by short tacking. Decisions on how far to go out, how to avoid other boats on starboard tack, and vagaries of the wind and current meant that each of the boats led on this sequence. But at the end, Peabody came out ahead to round Yerba Buena Island first. On the northbound leg to Red Rock near the Richmond Bridge, the current and the wind direction aligned and the spinnakers (and finally the sun) came out. But the wind was light still and boats were in displacement mode. Peabody legged out and headed a bit west. That was certainly a key as to which boats were catch the westerly as it was predicted to build in during the afternoon. Finally it came when the U20s were about halfway there so that planing speeds were reached and we began to put other boats in the taillights. Junta was still out there and took advantage of the building wind. At Red Rock, the return was pretty obvious, head south and then follow the leaders down Raccoon Strait the separates Angel Island from the Tiburon Pennisula. Getting over there, Peabody was still in the lead, Uhoo! next, Ubetcha close behind and Junta far behind. Peabody entered the Straits and Uhoo! felt that it would be a 50/50 chance of overtaking in the tricky flood currents and sometimes fluky winds, especially near the western entrance to the straits. So, Uhoo! decided to break off and head to the east of Angel Island and to cross the main part of the Bay behind Alcatraz and then tack up the City Front again to the finish line. For Peabody, it seemed an easy passage with minimal waves but the western end did indeed cause problems as they kept getting flushed backwards as the wind declined. Ubetcha stayed on the southern side of the channel and made progress on Peabody, but not quite enough while Junta doggedly kept on coming. Meanwhile, Uhoo! found a dying ebb current along the east side of Angel Island and kept on going south in big waves and strong pressure—behind Alcatraz and then a bashing tack up the City Front. Would it be enough to beat Peabody? It turned out just enough and Uhoo! finished 3.5 minutes before Peabody after 6.5 hours of racing. Ubetcha was not too far behind at 20 minutes---and Junta finished 30 minutes behind the leader wondering only if the engine hadn’t given out would they have won. Another Three Bridge in the books and one of the most fun races on the planet. U20s can do well in this race and all of the boats finished in the top third of the boats entered. It was a big boat race this year as the winners were all superfast boats like the J125. But smaller boats like the Moore 24 were also up there. Choosing your own way to go, finding what works, and then realizing you can do better next year is addictive. Consider racing it next year!
The Great Pumpkin
October 2023.
The Great Pumpkin was held on October 28 and 29 at the Richmond Yacht Club with six boats sailing in the windward leeward course on Saturday and the round the islands pursuit race on Sunday. Both days were blessed by sunny weather with temperatures in the 70s but sailors were challenged by the light to moderate winds and strong ebb current associated with the full harvest moon. On Saturday, Uhoo! (Josselyn) was the best at guessing the combination of current and light wind to end up in first place after three races, followed by Peabody (Womble) and Rush (Andrews). The pursuit race started out with all the boats heading to Angel Island, but were soon flushed backwards towards the start with most everyone starting their engines to return home as the wind died. The exception was Breakaway (Wolfe) who persisted until the strong ebb at Alcatraz ended their plan to be the only boat to finish by 5 pm.
Jack & Jill Race
Huntington Lake
It's not all serious racing the huntington lake u20 fleet held its inaugural jack & jill race this past saturday with 6 boats racing. the start was delayed due to morning rain, but the weather cleared and everyone enjoyed a fun race without spinnakers. three boats overlapped at the finish with ernie and cathy lopez taking first, jennifer and john andrew taking second and bob & monika comstock taking third. a fleet dinner was held at ernie and cathy lopez’s house that evening. a great time was had by all in this casual fun race weekend..
Ultimate 20 Class
Class contact information.
Click below
Class Email
Class Website
One-Design Class Type: Keelboat
Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Both
Approximately how many class members do you have? 50
Photo Credit:John Liebenberg
Photo Credit: John Liebenberg
About Ultimate 20 Class
The Ultimate 20 was the result of a team of sailors with impressive credentials. Jeff Canepa headed a team that included Jim Antrim of Antrim Associates-Naval Architects, sail maker and Olympic medalist Jay Glaser, and 505 builder and foil specialist Larry Tuttle.
Their idea was simple. Create a monohull with multihull performance. They wanted a dry and stable platform with safe interior space for kids or crew. They also wanted a lightweight trailerable to have responsive dinghy-like handling, all with the cockpit comfort of a 30 footer.
After years of prototype testing, the U20 team achieved the perfect blend of size and simplicity, creating the ideal boat for racing ONE DESIGN, PHRF or any weekend sail about. The U20’s design offers exceptional craftsmanship that is reliable, safe, economical, and fun to sail.
Boats Produced: 160 – North America
Class boat builder(s):
No present active builders in North America
Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 160
Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:
Active OD racing on the West Coast (Bay Area), Intermountain West, Kansas, Great Lakes, and East Coast.
Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? Yes
How many people sail as a crew including the helm? 3
Ideal combined weight of range of crew: Competitive with a range of crew weights. A weight limit is in place for class events.
Boat Designed in 1995
Length (feet/inches): 20′ 10″
Beam: 8′ 6″
Weight of rigged boat without sails: 1260
Draft: 5′ Down, 9 Inches Up
Mast Height: 30′
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- Sailboat Guide
Ultimate 20
Ultimate 20 is a 20 ′ 10 ″ / 6.4 m monohull sailboat designed by Jim Antrim and built by Schock W.D., Moore Sailboats, Abbott Boats Inc., and Ultimate Sailboats starting in 1994.
Rig and Sails
Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.
The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.
Classic hull speed formula:
Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL
Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL
Sail Area / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.
SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3
- SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
- D : Displacement in pounds.
Ballast / Displacement Ratio
A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.
Ballast / Displacement * 100
Displacement / Length Ratio
A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.
D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
- LWL: Waterline length in feet
Comfort Ratio
This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.
Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )
- D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
- LOA: Length overall in feet
- Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet
Capsize Screening Formula
This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.
CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)
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Ultimate 20
The U20 was created by a team that included Jim Antrim, Jeff Canepa, Jay Glaser, and Larry Tuttle. They wanted to create a monohull with multihull performance, with a dry and stable platform with safe interior space for kids or crew. They also wanted a lightweight trailerable to have responsive dinghy-like handling, all with the cockpit comfort of a 30 footer. Great for one-design of PHRF racing across the USA. LOA: 20 feet, 10 inches LWL: 18 feet Beam: 8 feet, 6 inches Draft - keel down: 5 feet Draft - keel up: 9 inches Displacement: 1,260 pounds Ballast: 450 pounds Mainsail: 205 square feet Jib: 100 square feet Class Spinnaker: 452 square feet
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Ultimate 20: Ultimately Alive
- By Dave Reed
- Updated: May 25, 2013
Ultimate 20
The Ultimate 20’s fans say it was cool way before sportboats were hip, and that even today, as the Jim Antrim design approaches its second decade, it offers one thing flashier new boats don’t have: simplicity. And it’s this trait, says U20 stalwart Don Corey, that keeps the class alive and active, even as it’s passed from one new builder to the next, the latest being W.D. Schock, which now builds U20s at its Corona, Calif., plant.
“This is our sixth builder,” says Corey, who currently owns three U20s. “I don’t know if it’s anything to brag about, but if it was a bad boat, it would have died a long time ago.”
The W.D. Schock chapter continues the U20’s storied history. According to Corey, Ron Moore built the first 35 boats in Santa Cruz, then Santa Cruz Yachts built the next 20 or so, and Ultimate Sailboats International produced the bulk in the late 1990s before going bankrupt.
That’s when Corey stepped in to buy the molds on behalf of the class. “I did it to keep the boat around,” says Corey, who shipped the molds to Abbott Boatworks in Sarnia, Ontario. After a fire leveled Abbott’s factory in 2006, the molds went back west to Columbia Yachts. That, too, was short-lived. “They weren’t really into it,” says Corey, “so we started looking around for a different builder.”
The search led them to Schock, where Corey is confident the boat’s future is in good hands. “It’s a simple boat to build because it’s so well-designed,” says Corey. “The old ones are holding up really well. W.D. Schock recognized it was an active class and still worth building.”
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Ultimate 20
February 2, 2016 by Sail1Design Editor Leave a Comment
The Ultimate 20 is a 20′ 10″ high-performance keelboat. Its high-aspect-ratio keel is fully retractable so it can be trailered like a centerboarder. It carries 306 square feet of fully battened mainsail and roller furling jib, and flies a 452 square foot asymmetrical spinnaker.
The Ultimate 20 was the result of a team of sailors with impressive credentials. Jeff Canepa headed a team that included Jim Antrim of Antrim Associates-Naval Architects, sail maker and Olympic medalist Jay Glaser, and 505 builder and foil specialist Larry Tuttle.
After years of prototype testing, the U20 team achieved the perfect blend of size and simplicity, creating the ideal boat for racing ONE DESIGN, PHRF or any weekend sail about. The U20’s design offers exceptional craftsmanship that is reliable, safe, economical, and fun to sail. http://u20class.org/
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Ultimate 20
The ultimate 20 is a 20.83ft fractional sloop designed by jeff canepa/jim antrim and built in fiberglass by schock w.d. since 1994..
The Ultimate 20 is an ultralight sailboat which is a very high performer. It is very stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a racing boat.
Ultimate 20 for sale elsewhere on the web:
Main features
| Model | Ultimate 20 | ||
| Length | 20.83 ft | ||
| Beam | 8 ft | ||
| Draft | 0.67 ft | ||
| Country | United states (North America) | ||
| Estimated price | $ 0 | ?? |
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| Sail area / displ. | 36.56 | ||
| Ballast / displ. | 40.91 % | ||
| Displ. / length | 84.20 | ||
| Comfort ratio | 5.65 | ||
| Capsize | 3.10 |
| Hull type | Monohull lifting keel | ||
| Construction | Fiberglass | ||
| Waterline length | 18 ft | ||
| Maximum draft | 5 ft | ||
| Displacement | 1100 lbs | ||
| Ballast | 450 lbs | ||
| Hull speed | 5.69 knots |
We help you build your own hydraulic steering system - Lecomble & Schmitt
| Rigging | Fractional Sloop | ||
| Sail area (100%) | 243 sq.ft | ||
| Air draft | 0 ft | ?? | |
| Sail area fore | 90.76 sq.ft | ||
| Sail area main | 140.02 sq.ft | ||
| I | 26.08 ft | ||
| J | 6.96 ft | ||
| P | 27.32 ft | ||
| E | 10.25 ft |
| Nb engines | 1 | ||
| Total power | 0 HP | ||
| Fuel capacity | 0 gals |
Accommodations
| Water capacity | 0 gals | ||
| Headroom | 0 ft | ||
| Nb of cabins | 0 | ||
| Nb of berths | 0 | ||
| Nb heads | 0 |
Builder data
| Builder | Schock W.D. | ||
| Designer | Jeff Canepa/Jim Antrim | ||
| First built | 1994 | ||
| Last built | 0 | ?? | |
| Number built | 0 | ?? |
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Ultimate 20 Deck Layout
Strong, lightweight Carbo fiddle, singles, and ratchet block make up this 4:1 system which easily handles the 19 m² (205 ft²) mainsail. The ratchet's 144 swivel base rotates to keep the mainsheet in easy reach. The free-rolling, high-load traveler car rides on 22 mm Small Boat track. Double sheave end controls provide a 3:1 purchase that leads to both sides of the cockpit for easy trimming by skipper or crew.
The Small Boat furler quickly rolls the jib out of the way at dockside and unfurls easily at the leeward mark. The 2:1 jib sheets use 29 mm T2™ blocks lashed directly onto the clew of the sail. 75 mm Carbo ratchets shackled onto the jib lead offer an exceptional 15:1 holding power.
If you would like to link to or reprint this article please contact [email protected]
Class History
The Ultimate 20 is a manageable 21-footer that is a great choice for sailors who want sportboat speeds without feeling overpowered and intimidated. Jeff Canepa headed up the U20 star-studded design team, developing a wide-beamed boat with an open cockpit that provides crew a stable platform upwind, but gets up and moves off wind without ever feeling out of control. Features include a partially full-battened mainsail, a roller furling jib and large asymmetric spinnaker set on a sprit. The keel is fully retractable for trailering. Below, a forward V-berth and 2 mid-quarter berths provide quarters for weekend adventures.
Links Ultimate 20 Class McLube™
Boat Specifications
LOA: 20 ft. 10 in. LWL: 18 ft. Draft (keel down): 5 ft. Draft (keel up): 9 in. Displacement: 1260 lbs. Ballast: 450 lbs. Mainsail: 205 ft. sq. Jib: 100 ft. sq. Class Spinnaker: 452 ft. sq. PHRF (max. sugg.): 485 ft. sq. Bow Sprit: 6.0 ft.
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Ultimate 20
I am planning to sell my u20 sailboat around mid-August this year. I am asking $20,000 for the boat, trailer and the equipment listed below plus lines and other miscellaneous. I plan to be in Embden, Maine, where the boat is located from late June through mid-August. The boat will be available then for inspection and trial sailing. Please let me know if you are interested in more information or in seeing the boat.
Allen Townsend
Contact Information: [email protected] ; 978.475.9575 (home); 978.852.8742 (mobile).
It is a one design class keel sportboat which is easy to sail and trailer. The U20 was named Sailing World's 1995 Boat of the Year in the PHRF / Sportboat category. The class association is active. The class website, u20class.org , has a lot of information including detailed description and specifications for the U20. There are also a number of YouTube videos.
My U20, hull number 7, was built in 1994 as one of the original boats built by Ron Moore. Ron Moore is widely considered one of the best builders of U20s.
I purchased this boat in September of 1999. At that time, it had not been used very much which led to its sale. Since I have owned it, it has been used solely for day sailing in fresh water. My sailing season in Maine is short, typically 4 to 6 weeks of vacation sailing per year. The racing crew size is 3, and it can accommodate 4 for day sailing. I do most of my sailing single handed. The lift keel and kick up rudder allow me to keep the boat on a boatlift out of the water, and the asymmetrical spinnaker allows me to sail with the spinnaker single handed. The electric motor with twist handle reverse and very low speed capability is far superior to a small gasoline outboard for tight maneuvering in heavy and light air.
The boat has been well maintained. Winter storage has been inside for all but one year when it was shrink wrapped. in 2019/20 the boat had extensive refreshing which included fiberglass repairs to the hull and cabin top; the center support in the watertight compartment was also repaired and the interior deck repaired; other improvements included new windows, new interior hatches, new cockpit hatch, sheet bags, covers, tiller pilot, gel coat repairs, new dutchman rig for the mainsail, new main sheet block, new code zero sail with top down furler, new Torqeedo 1103c electric motor in 2022 and new 915kwh battery in 2023.
- 2 suits of sails: main and jib. One set made by Doyle Boston is in very good condition; the other is older but serviceable. There are 3 spinnakers, one of the spinnakers is larger than class legal. Two of the main sails are equipped with a Dutchman self-furling rig, https://dutchmar.com , for quick take downs in higher winds.
- 1 code Zero sail by Doyle Boston, equipped with a top down furler and control loop.
- Lift rudder which allows the rudder to be locked in the down position or lifted and held to clear the water from the cockpit. With the rudder and keel up, the boat draws less than 1 ft and can be motored onto a boat lift.
- Torqeedo 1103 C electric motor, new in 2022 and 915 kwhr battery new in 2023. Lift-up motor mount allows the motor to clear the water.
- Full lifelines: in addition to the standard rear stations, they include extended side stations and a bow pulpit.
- Raymarine Speed and Depth gauges. Through Hull transducers and bulkhead mounted combined display, and Raymarine ST1000 tiller pilot with custom mounting bracket and wiring.
- Canvas covers for the jib; main sail; and the companionway. Fiberglass covers for around the keel in the lifted position. A boat cover for use with the mast up needs repair.
- Boom kicker
- LED Running lights that clamp onto the stations
- Battery bilge pump
- Custom built Trailer
- Mast lifting assist. https://youtu.be/2c-3knkxrqg
Available for sale separately: Hewett Cantilevered boat lift with Heavy duty winch
The boat is currently in winter storage in Maine. I do not have recent detailed close-up pictures. However, I will take detailed pictures and have them available later.
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10 Best Small Sailboats (Under 20 Feet)
Compact, easy to trailer, simple to rig, easy to maintain and manage, and affordable, the best small boats all have one thing in common: they offer loads of fun while out there on the water.
So whether you're on a budget or just looking for something that can offer ultimate daytime rides without compromising on safety, aesthetic sensibilities, alternate propulsion, and speed, the best small sailboats under 20 feet should be the only way to go.
Let's be brutally honest here; not everyone needs a 30-foot sailboat to go sailing. They come with lots of features such as electronics, entertainment, refrigeration, bunks, a galley, and even a head. But do you really need all these features to go sailing? We don't think so.
All you need to go sailing is a hull, a mast, rudder, and, of course, a sail. And whether you refer to them as daysailers, trailerable sailboats , a weekender sailboat, or pocket cruisers, there's no better way to enjoy the thrills of coastal sailing than on small sailboats.
There are a wide range of small boats measuring less than 20 feet available in the market. These are hot products in the market given that they offer immense thrills out on the sea without the commitment required to cruise on a 30-footer. A small sailboat will not only give you the feel of every breeze but will also give you the chance to instantly sense every change in trim.
In this article, we'll highlight 10 best small sailboats under 20 feet . Most models in this list are time-tested, easy to rig, simple to sail, extremely fun, and perfect either for solo sailing or for sailing with friends and family. So if you've been looking for a list of some of the best small sailboats , you've come to the right place.
So without further ado, let's roll on.
Table of contents
{{boat-info="/boats/hunter-15"}}
The Marlow-Hunter 15 is not only easy to own since it's one of the most affordable small sailboats but also lots of fun to sail. This is a safe and versatile sailboat for everyone. Whether you're sailing with your family or as a greenhorn, you'll love the Hunter 15 thanks to its raised boom, high freeboard, and sturdy FRP construction.
With high sides, a comfortable wide beam, a contoured self-bailing cockpit, and fiberglass construction, the Hunter 15 is certainly designed with the novice sailor in mind. This is why you can do a lot with this boat without falling out, breaking it, or capsizing. Its contoured self-baiting cockpit will enable you to find a fast exit while its wide beam will keep it steady and stable no matter what jibes or weight shifts happen along the way.
This is a small sailboat that can hold up to four people. It's designed to give you a confident feeling and peace of mind even when sailing with kids. It's easy to trailer, easy to rig, and easy to launch. With a price tag of about $10k, the Hunter 15 is a fun, affordable, and versatile boat that is perfect for both seasoned sailors and novices. It's a low-maintenance sailboat that can be great for teaching kids a thing or two about sailing.
Catalina 16.5
{{boat-info="/boats/catalina-16-5"}}
Catalina Yachts are synonymous with bigger boats but they have some great and smaller boats too such as Catalina 16.5. This is one of the best small sailboats that are ideal for family outings given that it has a big and roomy cockpit, as well as a large storage locker. Designed with a hand-laminated fiberglass sloop, the Catalina 16.5 is versatile and is available in two designs: the centerboard model and the keel model.
The centerboard model is designed with a powerful sailplane that remains balanced as a result of the fiberglass centerboard, the stable hull form, and the rudder. It also comes with a tiller extension, adjustable hiking straps, and adjustable overhaul. It's important to note that these are standard equipment in the two models.
As far as the keel model is concerned, this is designed with a high aspect keel as the cast lead and is attached with stainless steel keel bolts, which makes this model perfect for mooring or docking whenever it's not in use. In essence, the centerboard model is perfect if you'll store it in a trailer while the keel model can remain at the dock.
All in all, the Catalina 16.5 is one of the best small sailboats that you can get your hands on for as low as $10,000. This is certainly a great example of exactly what a daysailer should be.
{{boat-info="/boats/hobie-16"}}
There's no list of small, trailerable, and fun sailboats that can be complete without the inclusion of the classic Hobie 16. This is a durable design that has been around and diligently graced various waters across the globe since its debut way back in 1969 in Southern California. In addition to being durable, the Hobie 16 is trailerable, great for speed, weighs only 320 pounds, great for four people, and more importantly, offers absolute fun.
With a remarkable figure of over 100,000 launched since its debut, it's easy to see that the Hobie 16 is highly popular. Part of this popularity comes from its asymmetric fiberglass-and-foam sandwiched hulls that include kick-up rudders. This is a great feature that allows it to sail up to the beach.
For about $12,000, the Hobie 16 will provide you with endless fun throughout the summer. It's equipped with a spinnaker, trailer, and douse kit. This is a high-speed sailboat that has a large trampoline to offer lots of space not just for your feet but also to hand off the double trapezes.
Montgomery 17
{{boat-info="/boats/montgomery-17"}}
Popularly known as the M-17, The Montgomery 17 was designed by Lyle C. Hess in conjunction with Jerry Montgomery in Ontario, California for Montgomery Boats. Designed either with keel or centerboard models, the M-17 is more stable than most boats of her size. This boat is small enough to be trailered but also capable of doing moderate offshore passages.
This small sailboat is designed with a masthead and toe rail that can fit most foresails. It also has enough space for two thanks to its cuddly cabin, which offers a sitting headroom, a portable toilet, a pair of bunks, a DC power, and optional shore, and a proper amount of storage. That's not all; you can easily raise the deck-stepped mast using a four-part tackle.
In terms of performance, the M-17 is one of the giant-killers out there. This is a small sailboat that will excel in the extremes and make its way past larger boats such as the Catalina 22. It glides along beautifully and is a dog in light air, though it won't sail against a 25-knot wind, which can be frustrating. Other than that, the Montgomery 17 is a great small sailboat that can be yours for about $14,000.
Norseboat 17.5
{{boat-info="/boats/norseboat-17-5"}}
As a versatile daysailer, Norseboat 17.5 follows a simple concept of seaworthiness and high-performance. This small sailboat perfectly combines both contemporary construction and traditional aesthetics. Imagine a sailboat that calls itself the "Swiss Army Knife of Boats!" Well, this is a boat that can sail and row equally well.
Whether you're stepping down from a larger cruiser or stepping up from a sea kayak, the unique Norseboat 17.5 is balanced, attractive, and salty. It has curvaceous wishbone gaff, it is saucy, and has a stubby bow-sprit that makes it attractive to the eyes. In addition to her beauty, the Norseboat 17.5 offers an energy-pinching challenge, is self-sufficient, and offers more than what you're used to.
This is a small, lightweight, low-maintenance sailboat that offers a ticket to both sailing and rowing adventures all at the same time. At about 400 pounds, it's very portable and highly convenient. Its mainsails may look small but you'll be surprised at how the boat is responsive to it. With a $12,500 price tag, this is a good small sailboat that offers you the versatility to either row or sail.
{{boat-info="/boats/sage-marine-sage-17"}}
If you've been looking for a pocket cruiser that inspires confidence, especially in shoal water, look no further than the Sage 17. Designed by Jerry Montgomery in 2009, the Sage 17 is stable and should heel to 10 degrees while stiffening up. And because you want to feel secure while sailing, stability is an integral feature of the Sage 17.
This is a sailboat that will remain solid and stable no matter which part of the boat you stand on. Its cabin roof and the balsa-cored carbon-fiber deck are so strong that the mast doesn't require any form of compression post. The self-draining cockpit is long enough and capable of sleeping at 6 feet 6 inches.
The Sage 17 may be expensive at $25k but is a true sea warrior that's worth look at. This is a boat that will not only serve you right but will also turn heads at the marina.
{{boat-info="/boats/laserperformance-laser-sb3"}}
Having been chosen as the overall boat of the year for 2008 by the Sailing World Magazine, the Laser SB3 is one of the coolest boats you'll ever encounter. When sailing upwind, this boat will lock into the groove while its absolute simplicity is legendary. In terms of downwind sailing, having this boat will be a dream come true while it remains incredibly stable even at extraordinary speed.
Since its debut in 2004, the Laser SB3 has surged in terms of popularity thanks to the fact that it's designed to put all the controls at your fingertips. In addition to a lightweight mast, its T- bulb keel can be hauled and launched painlessly. For about $18,000, the Laser SB3 ushers you into the world of sports sailing and what it feels to own and use a sports boat.
{{boat-info="/boats/fareast-18"}}
As a manufacturer, Fareast is a Chinese boat manufacturer that has been around for less than two decades. But even with that, the Fareast 18 remains a very capable cruiser-racer that will take your sailing to the next level. In addition to its good looks, this boat comes with a retractable keel with ballast bulb, a powerful rig, and an enclosed cabin.
Its narrow design with a closed stern may be rare in sailboats of this size, but that's not a problem for the Fareast 18. This design not only emphasizes speed but also makes it a lot easier to maintain this boat. Perfect for about 6 people, this boat punches above its weight. It's, however, designed to be rigged and launched by one person.
This is a relatively affordable boat. It's agile, safe, well-thought-out, well built, and very sporty.
{{boat-info="/boats/chuck-paine-paine-14"}}
If you're in the market looking for a small sailboat that offers contemporary performance with classic beauty, the Paine 14 should be your ideal option. Named after its famous designer, Chuck Paine, this boat is intentionally designed after the classic Herreshoff 12.5 both in terms of dimensions and features.
This is a lightweight design that brings forth modern fin keel and spade rudder, which makes it agile, stable, and faster. The Paine 14 is built using cold-molded wood or west epoxy. It has varnished gunnels and transoms to give it an old-time charm. To make it somehow modern, this boat is designed with a carbon mast and a modern way to attach sails so that it's ready to sail in minutes.
You can rest easy knowing that the Paine 14 will not only serve you well but will turn heads while out there.
{{boat-info="/boats/wd-schock-lido-14"}}
Many sailors will attest that their first sailing outing was in a Lido 14. This is a classic sailboat that has been around for over four decades and still proves to be a perfect match to modern small boats, especially for those still learning the ropes of sailing.
With seating for six people, the Lido 14 can be perfect for solo sailing , single-handed sailing, or if you're planning for shorthanded sailing. While new Lido 14 boats are no longer available, go for a functional used Lido 14 and you'll never regret this decision. It will serve you well and your kids will probably fall in love with sailing if Lido 14 becomes their main vessel during weekends or long summer holidays.
Bottom Line
There you have it; these are some of the best small sailboats you can go for. While there are endless small sailboats in the market, the above-described sailboat will serve you right and make you enjoy the wind.
Choose the perfect sailboat, invest in it, and go out there and have some good fun!
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Daniel Wade
I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.
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Ultimate 20 Sailboats. Welcome to the Ultimate 20! The Ultimate 20 Sailboat is the result of a team of sailors with impressive credentials. Jeff Canepa headed a colloboration that included Jim Antrim of Antrim Associates-Naval Architects, sail maker and Olympic medalist Jay Glaser, and 505 builder and foil specialist Larry Tuttle.
The Ultimate 20 Class Association hosts a North American Championship every year for the sailing community. Find out the location, date, and past winners of the regatta, and how to propose a venue.
Ultimate 20 is a 20-foot performance sloop with a bowsprit, asymmetrical spinnaker and hiking racks. It is based on the Hotfoot 20 design, but with many modifications by Jim Antrim and Ron Moore.
A boat with a BN of 1.6 or greater is a boat that will be reefed often in offshore cruising. Derek Harvey, "Multihulls for Cruising and Racing", International Marine, Camden, Maine, 1991, states that a BN of 1 is generally accepted as the dividing line between so-called slow and fast multihulls.
The boat was conceived by Hobie Cat champion sailor Jeff Canepa in the late 1980s. He was interested in the work done by Doug Hemphill, the designer of the Hotfoot 20 and Hotfoot 27 sailboats and especially his desire to add a bowsprit and asymmetrical spinnaker to the Hotfoot 20. Canepa ended up buying the Hotfoot 20 molds at a sheriff's auction. In 1993 he formed Ultimate Sailboats and ...
November 2023. Lake Norman, North Carolina once again proved to be a great venue in the fall for the 2023 Ultimate 20 North American Championships held at LNYC. 26 boats registered meant that this would be the largest attended Championship in the history of the Class.
About Ultimate 20 Class. The Ultimate 20 was the result of a team of sailors with impressive credentials. Jeff Canepa headed a team that included Jim Antrim of Antrim Associates-Naval Architects, sail maker and Olympic medalist Jay Glaser, and 505 builder and foil specialist Larry Tuttle. Their idea was simple.
As a service to the Ultimate 20 sailing community, the U20 Class Association maintains a resopurce to U20 sailboat news and events in the United States and Canada. Welcome!
The new year opened with strong winds at the Lake Norman Yacht Club for the Ice Bucket Pursuit Race. Ultimate 20 Fleet 2 made up nearly half of the competito...
Ultimate 20 is a 6.4 m monohull sailboat with a lifting keel and a sloop rig. It was designed by Jim Antrim and built by different yards since 1994. See its features, calculations, and photos.
Ultimate 20. The U20 was created by a team that included Jim Antrim, Jeff Canepa, Jay Glaser, and Larry Tuttle. They wanted to create a monohull with multihull performance, with a dry and stable platform with safe interior space for kids or crew. They also wanted a lightweight trailerable to have responsive dinghy-like handling, all with the ...
The W.D. Schock chapter continues the U20's storied history. According to Corey, Ron Moore built the first 35 boats in Santa Cruz, then Santa Cruz Yachts built the next 20 or so, and Ultimate ...
Ultimate 20. February 2, 2016 by Sail1Design Editor Leave a Comment. The Ultimate 20 is a 20′ 10″ high-performance keelboat. Its high-aspect-ratio keel is fully retractable so it can be trailered like a centerboarder. It carries 306 square feet of fully battened mainsail and roller furling jib, and flies a 452 square foot asymmetrical ...
The Ultimate 20 is a 20.83ft fractional sloop designed by Jeff Canepa/Jim Antrim and built in fiberglass by Schock W.D. since 1994. The Ultimate 20 is an ultralight sailboat which is a very high performer. It is very stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a racing boat.
Class History The Ultimate 20 is a manageable 21-footer that is a great choice for sailors who want sportboat speeds without feeling overpowered and intimidated. Jeff Canepa headed up the U20 star-studded design team, developing a wide-beamed boat with an open cockpit that provides crew a stable platform upwind, but gets up and moves off wind without ever feeling out of control. Features ...
Aluminum. Deck Material. E-glass. Year Restored. New Build. The Ultimate 20 was the result of a team of sailors with impressive credentials. Jeff Canepa headed a team that included Jim Antrim of Antrim Associates-Naval Architects, sail maker and Olympic medalist Jay Glaser, and 505 builder and foil specialist Larry Tuttle. Their idea was simple.
Looking for help on U20 Community Facebook page post about Sailboat Swap Shop. Started by Ryan Ericson. 2 Replies. 1019 Views. June 26, 2023, 03:51:14 PM. by Ryan Ericson.
I am planning to sell my u20 sailboat around mid-August this year. I am asking $20,000 for the boat, trailer and the equipment listed below plus lines and other miscellaneous. I plan to be in Embden, Maine, where the boat is located from late June through mid-August. The boat will be available then for inspection […]
A list of the best small sailboats under 20 feet for fun, affordability, and versatility. Learn about their features, designs, prices, and models such as Hunter 15, Catalina 16.5, Hobie 16, and more.
Alabama. $23,900. Description: 2003 Ultimate 20, Sail Number 183. Excellent condition. Includes: 2003 Ullman main & jib, 2005 Doyle-Boston main, jib & spinnaker (red), 2007 Doyle-Boston main, jib & spinnaker (white); 2010 C Tech carbon fiber mast and boom, 2003 Ballenger aluminum mast and boom; Zieman Trailer; 2003 Honda 2 hp outboard; Tac Tic ...
SM U-20 was a U-19 Type submarine that operated in the North Sea and the Irish Sea during World War I. She sank the Cunard passenger ship RMS Lusitania in May 1915, one of the major events that led to America's entry into the war.
PHRF (max. sugg.) 485 ft. sq. Bow Sprit 6.0 ft. The Ultimate 20 is a performance-driven, mono-hull boat designed to reach multi-hull speeds. Introduced in 1994, the Ultimate 20 was voted 1995 Boat of the Year by Sailing Word. When you're at the helm, you'll feel a quick, dinghy-like response combined with the stability normally expected on a ...
U-20 was a submarine that operated in the Black Sea during World War II. It sank 13 ships and was scuttled in 1944, but its wreck is a dive site and has been photographed.