Ultimate 20
The Ultimate 20 is a trailerable sailboat that was designed by Jim Antrum as a sportsboat first built by Ultimate Sailboats in 1995. It is a one-design racing keelboat recognized by the International Sailing Federation.
 | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Jim Antrum |
| Year | 1995 |
| Builder(s) | Ultimate Sailboats, Moore Sailboats, Abbott Boats Inc., W. D. Schock Corp |
| Boat | |
| Boat weight | 1,260 lb (570 kg) |
| Draft | Keel Down 5 ft 0 in (1.52 m) Keel Up 0 ft 9 in (0.23 m) |
| Hull | |
| Type | Monohull |
| Construction | Fiberglass |
| LOA | 20 ft 10 in (6.35 m) |
| LWL | 18 ft 0 in (5.49 m) |
| Engine type | Outboard motor |
| Hull appendages | |
| Keel/board type | bulb keel/daggerboard |
| Ballast | 450 lb (200 kg) |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Bermuda rig |
| I (foretriangle height) | 24 ft (7.3 m) |
| J (foretriangle base) | 8.6 ft (2.6 m) |
| P (mainsail luff) | 10.18 ft (3.10 m) |
| E (mainsail foot) | 27.5 ft (8.4 m) |
| Sails | |
| Sailplan | Fractional rig Sloop |
| Mainsail area | 205 sq ft (19.0 m2) |
| Jib/genoa area | 100 sq ft (9.3 m2) |
| Spinnaker area | 452 sq ft (42.0 m2) |
| Racing | |
| PHRF | 144 (average) |
| Former class of World Sailing | |
Production
It weighs 1,260 pounds and carries a 205-square-foot mainsail, a 100-square-foot roller furling jib and a 452-square-foot asymmetrical spinnaker. [1] A deck-mounted retractable sprit makes it possible for a short-handed crew to safely use the spinnaker. It can be raised, jibed, and lowered by one person without leaving the cockpit. The relatively wide beam of eight feet, the flat planing hull and 450-pound bulb keel/daggerboard for ballast. The hull-deck joint folds outboard forming a three-inch lip that makes a great hand-hold when the boat is heeled over. That lip also doubles as a deflector for any spray that would normally find its way into the boat.
The Ultimate 20 has had several builders since inception including: Ultimate Sailboats, Moore Sailboats, Abbott Boats Inc., and W. D. Schock Corp. [2]
Design
The boat came about when 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. The philosophy behind this boat can best be summed up by Jeff Canepa, president of Ultimate Sailboats International: ``Back in the late 1980s, we looked at the keelboat market and saw big, expensive sailboats that were long on cost and short on excitement. We discovered there was a large group of sailors looking for a boat that was fun, affordable, trailerable and easy to launch and sail.
Operational history
In 1995 the Ultimate 20 was named "Boat of the Year" by Sailing World as a PHRF/Sportboat. [3]
A detailed boat review including the history of the design by Practical Sailor: "Here's a 20-footer that goes 20 knots. Not only that, it's fairly easy to sail, too." [4]
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. [5]
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. [6]
References
- InterVisionSoft LLC (2019). "Sailboat Specifications for Ultimate 20". Sailing Joy.
- SAILBOATDATA.COM (2019). "Ultimate 20". sailboatdata.
- Bonnier Sailing Group (2019). "1995 Boat of the Year". Sailing World.
- Practical Sailor (2019). "Boat Review Ultimate 20". Practical Sailor Magazine.
- Dave Reed (May 24, 2013). "Ultimate 20: Ultimately Alive". Sailing World Magazine.
- Sail1Design Editor (February 2, 2016). "Ultimate 20". Sail1Design.