| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Lyle C. Hess |
| Location | United States |
| Year | 1967 |
| Builder(s) | Arthur Marine Coastal Recreation, Inc |
| Role | Cruiser |
| Name | Balboa 20 |
| Boat | |
| Displacement | 1,700 lb (771 kg) |
| Draft | 4.42 ft (1.35 m) with keel down |
| Hull | |
| Type | monohull |
| Construction | fiberglass |
| LOA | 20.00 ft (6.10 m) |
| LWL | 17.50 ft (5.33 m) |
| Beam | 7.08 ft (2.16 m) |
| Engine type | outboard motor |
| Hull appendages | |
| Keel/board type | swing keel |
| Ballast | 450 lb (204 kg) |
| Rudder(s) | transom-mountedrudder |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Bermuda rig |
| I foretriangle height | 20.70 ft (6.31 m) |
| J foretriangle base | 8.80 ft (2.68 m) |
| P mainsail luff | 21.00 ft (6.40 m) |
| E mainsail foot | 8.70 ft (2.65 m) |
| Sails | |
| Sailplan | masthead sloop |
| Mainsail area | 91.35 sq ft (8.487 m2) |
| Jib/genoa area | 91.08 sq ft (8.462 m2) |
| Total sail area | 182.43 sq ft (16.948 m2) |
| Racing | |
| PHRF | 276 |
TheBalboa 20 is an Americantrailerablesailboat that was designed byLyle C. Hess as acruiser, at the request of Richard Arthur and first built in 1967.[1][2][3]
The success of the Balboa 20 allowed Hess to become a sailboat designer on a full-time basis.[2][4]
The Balboa 20 hull design was used for two 1972 raised deck boats, theEnsenada 20 and theRK 20.[1][3][5][6]
The design was built byArthur Marine andCoastal Recreation, Inc in theUnited States, starting in 1967, but it is now out of production.[1][3][7]
The design goals for the boat were low cost and good seaworthiness.[4]
The Balboa 20 is a recreationalkeelboat, built predominantly offiberglass, with wood trim. It has afractionalsloop rig, a spoonedraked stem, an angledtransom, with alazarette, a transom-hungrudder controlled by atiller and alifting keel. It displaces 1,700 lb (771 kg) and carries 450 lb (204 kg) ofcast iron ballast.[1][3]
The boat has a draft of 4.42 ft (1.35 m) with the keel extended and 1.58 ft (0.48 m) with it retracted, allowingbeaching or ground transportation on atrailer.[1][3]
The boat is normally fitted with a small 3 to 6 hp (2 to 4 kW)outboard motor for docking and maneuvering.[1][3]
The design has sleeping accommodation for four people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin and two quarter berths in the main cabin. Thegalley is located on the starboard side just forward of thecompanionway ladder. Thehead is located under the bow cabin berth. Cabin headroom is 48 in (120 cm).[1][3]
The design has aPHRF racing average handicap of 276 and ahull speed of 5.6 kn (10.4 km/h).[3]
In 1977 it was reported that the designer's personal boat was a Balboa 20, namedGenesis.[4]
In a 2010 review Steve Henkel wrote, "Lyle Hess’s designs are usually thought to be prettier (or handsomer?) than most, but in this early design it is hard to see a clear distinction from many other trailer-sailers of the era. Worst features: The cast iron swing keel, weighing more than a quarter of the total boat and controlled by a winch in the cabin, is at best a maintenance headache and at worst could cause serious leakage in the hull due to strain."[3]
Related development