 | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Brian Bennett |
| Location | United States |
| Year | 1996 |
| No. built | 400 |
| Builder(s) | Viper Boats Rondar Raceboats |
| Name | Viper 640 |
| Boat | |
| Displacement | 750 lb (340 kg) |
| Draft | 4.49 ft (1.37 m) daggerboard down |
| Hull | |
| Type | Monohull |
| Construction | Fiberglass |
| LOA | 21.08 ft (6.43 m) |
| LWL | 19.08 ft (5.82 m) |
| Beam | 8.17 ft (2.49 m) |
| Engine type | Outboard motor |
| Hull appendages | |
| Keel/board type | lifting keel with weighted bulb |
| Ballast | 262 lb (119 kg) |
| Rudder(s) | transom-mountedrudder |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Bermuda rig |
| I foretriangle height | 21.98 ft (6.70 m) |
| J foretriangle base | 7.48 ft (2.28 m) |
| P mainsail luff | 25.62 ft (7.81 m) |
| E mainsail foot | 10.07 ft (3.07 m) |
| Sails | |
| Sailplan | Fractional riggedsloop |
| Mainsail area | 129.00 sq ft (11.984 m2) |
| Jib/genoa area | 82.21 sq ft (7.638 m2) |
| Spinnaker area | 425 sq ft (39.5 m2) |
| Total sail area | 211.20 sq ft (19.621 m2) |
| Racing | |
| PHRF | 99 (average) |
TheViper 640 is an Americantrailerablesailboat, that was designed byBrian Bennett forracing and first built in 1996.[1][2][3]
The Viper 640 is an acceptedWorld Sailing class boat[4] and the officialone-design boat of theGulf Yachting Association for itsCapdevielle Series.[5]
The boat was originally built byViper Boats in theUnited States and then in 2005Rondar Raceboats of theUnited Kingdom was named the official class manufacturer. 400 examples had been completed by 2018.[1][3][6]
The Viper 640 was designed to combine theplaning performance of adinghy with the stability of akeelboat. The result is a small recreational planing keelboat, built predominantly offiberglass, withcarbon fiber spars. It has afractionalsloop rig, aplumb stem, an opentransom, a transom-hungrudder and a lifting findaggerboard-stylekeel, with a weighted bulb, with 220 lb (100 kg) of lead ballast. The keel is retained in the down position with two bolts while sailing. The design displaces 750 lb (340 kg) and is equipped with anasymmetrical spinnaker of 425 sq ft (39.5 m2) for downwind sailing.[1][3][4]
The boat has a draft of 4.49 ft (1.37 m) with the lifting keel extended and 1.83 ft (0.56 m) with it retracted, allowing ground transportation on atrailer.[1][3]
The boat may be optionally fitted with a smalloutboard motor for docking and maneuvering.[1][3]
The design has aPHRF racing average handicap of 99 with a high of 111 and low of 96. It has ahull speed of 5.85 kn (10.83 km/h).[3][7]
Cruising World magazine named the designOverall Boat of the Year and top Performance One-Design of 2002, stating "the panelists agreed that the Viper is inherently simple, offers quality construction at a great price, and is extremely fun to sail. An attractive looking boat, the Viper invites a wide range of sailors to an equally wide range of sailing."[8]
Similar boats
