| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Edward S. Brewer |
| Location | United States |
| Year | 1986 |
| Builder(s) | Nimble Boats |
| Name | Nimble 20 |
| Boat | |
| Displacement | 2,600 lb (1,179 kg) |
| Draft | 4.08 ft (1.24 m) withcenterboard down |
| Hull | |
| Type | monohull |
| Construction | fiberglass |
| LOA | 20.83 ft (6.35 m) |
| LWL | 19.75 ft (6.02 m) |
| Beam | 7.75 ft (2.36 m) |
| Engine type | outboard motor |
| Hull appendages | |
| Keel/board type | stub keel with centerboard |
| Ballast | 600 lb (272 kg) |
| Rudder(s) | transom-mountedrudder |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Ketch |
| Sails | |
| Sailplan | fractional riggedketch |
| Total sail area | 207.00 sq ft (19.231 m2) |
| Racing | |
| PHRF | 288 |
TheNimble 20, is an Americantrailerablesailboat that was designed byEdward S. Brewer as apocket cruiser and first built in 1986.[1][2][3]
The design was built byNimble Boats in theUnited States from 1986 until about 1991, but it is now out of production.[1][3][4]
The Nimble 20 is a recreationalkeelboat, built predominantly offiberglass, with wood trim. It has afractionalketch rig, a canoe hull, a roundedplumb stem, an angledtransom, a transom-hungrudder controlled by atiller and a fixed stubkeel with a retractablecenterboard. It displaces 2,600 lb (1,179 kg) and carries 600 lb (272 kg) of ballast.[1][3]
The boat has a draft of 4.08 ft (1.24 m) with the centerboard extended and 0.92 ft (0.28 m) with it retracted, allowingbeaching or ground transportation on atrailer.[1]
The boat is normally fitted with a small well-mounted 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 straight settees in the main cabin. Thehead is located in the bow cabin on the starboard side. Cabin headroom is 51 in (130 cm).[1][3]
The design has aPHRF racing average handicap of 288 and ahull speed of 6.0 kn (11.1 km/h).[3]
In a 2010 review Steve Henkel wrote, "...you can sail in strong winds without the main, under jib and 'jigger' (ie., the mizzen). You can control any tendency of the boat to dance around her mooring by hoisting the mizzen alone. You can sometimes balance the helm of an otherwise finicky boat by fine-tuning the mizzen sheet along with the centerboard ... Best features: Her traditional looks appeal to us ... Worst features: Her PHRF is at the high end, indicating that her overall speed potential is below that of her comp[etitor]s, despite her high-end [hull speed] due to her long waterline. Her speed performance under sail compared to comp[etitor]s is probably a result of a combination of small sail area, split rig, and her hard chine bull shape, which tends to pound a bit in a chop."[3]
