Ultimate 20

Ultimate 20
Development
DesignerJim Antrim
Jeff Canepa
LocationUnited States
Year1994
Builder(s)Abbott Boats
Columbia Yachts
Moore Sailboats
Santa Cruz Yachts
W. D. Schock Corp
Ultimate Sailboats
RoleOne design racer
NameUltimate 20
Boat
Displacement1,100 lb (499 kg)
Draft5.00 ft (1.52 m) with keel down
Hull
Typemonohull
Constructionfiberglass
LOA20.83 ft (6.35 m)
LWL18.00 ft (5.49 m)
Beam8.00 ft (2.44 m)
Engine typeoutboard motor
Hull appendages
Keel/board typelifting keel
Ballast450 lb (204 kg)
Ruddertransom-mounted rudder
Rig
Rig typeBermuda rig
I foretriangle height26.08 ft (7.95 m)
J foretriangle base6.96 ft (2.12 m)
P mainsail luff27.32 ft (8.33 m)
E mainsail foot10.25 ft (3.12 m)
Sails
Sailplanfractional rigged sloop
Mainsail area140.02 sq ft (13.008 m2)
Jib/genoa area90.76 sq ft (8.432 m2)
Total sail area230.77 sq ft (21.439 m2)
Racing
PHRF138-159
← Hotfoot 20

The Ultimate 20 is a one design keelboat[1][2][3][4][5] built in the United States starting in 1994 in California by Moore Sailboats, which built the first 35 boats. Santa Cruz Yachts then built about 20 more, before production was assumed by Ultimate Sailboats until it went bankrupt. The class association then bought the molds and had the design built by Abbott Boats in Canada. After Abbott's plant was destroyed by fire in 2006, production was passed to Columbia Yachts, but few boats were completed. It was last constructed by W. D. Schock Corp, starting in the 2010s.[1][2][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]

Designed by Jim Antrim and Jeff Canepa 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 started to work on an evolved design. Ron Moore of Moore Sailboats built a prototype from the Hotfoot molds and it was taken on a racing tour by John McWaid, where he gathered feedback. Next naval architect Jim Antrim was enlisted to do an overhaul of the original Hotfoot 20 design. The boat was lengthened and the freeboard, mast height and beam increased. Swept spreaders and a jib roller furler were incorporated, the sail area increased, along with a redesigned keel. The coach house and deck were also redesigned.[15]

It is built predominantly of vinylester and polyester fiberglass with a 0.375 in (9.5 mm) core of Baltek balsa, a raked stem, an open reverse transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a lifting keel with a weighted bulb. The rudder is made from carbon fiber and fiberglass, with wooden reinforcement. The keel is raised and lowered by a winch.[1][2][15]

The boat has a draft of 5.00 ft (1.52 m) with the keel extended and 0.67 ft (0.20 m) with it retracted.[1][2]

It has sleeping accommodation for four people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin and a two straight settees in the main cabin.[15]

It has a fractional sloop and may be equipped with an asymmetrical spinnaker flown from the deck-mounted retractable bowsprit.[1][2][15]

It has a hull speed of 5.69 kn (10.54 km/h) .[2][3][16]

In a 1995 review for Practical Sailor, Darrell Nicholson wrote, "the boat is fairly forgiving but you have to think fast."[15]

In a 2013 Sailing World review Dave Reed wrote, "it offers one thing flashier new boats don't have: simplicity."[6]

It was named Sailing World's 1995 Boat of the Year in the PHRF/Sportboat category.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e McArthur, Bruce (2023). "Ultimate 20 sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Retrieved 16 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e f Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Ultimate 20". sailboat.guide. Retrieved 16 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  3. ^ a b InterVisionSoft LLC (2019). "Sailboat Specifications for ULTIMATE 20". sailingjoy.com. Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  4. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2022). "Jim Antrim". sailboatdata.com. Retrieved 16 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Jim Antrim". sailboat.guide. Retrieved 16 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ^ a b Reed, Dave (25 May 2013). "Ultimate 20: Ultimately Alive". Sailing World. Retrieved 16 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2022). "Schock W.D." sailboatdata.com. Retrieved 16 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  8. ^ Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Schock W.D." sailboat.guide. Retrieved 16 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2022). "Abbott Boats Inc". sailboatdata.com. Retrieved 16 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  10. ^ Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Abbott Boats Inc". sailboat.guide. Retrieved 16 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2022). "Ultimate Sailboats". sailboatdata.com. Retrieved 16 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. ^ Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Ultimate Sailboats". sailboat.guide. Retrieved 16 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  13. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2022). "Moore Sailboats". sailboatdata.com. Retrieved 16 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  14. ^ Sea Time Tech, LLC (2023). "Moore Sailboats". sailboat.guide. Retrieved 16 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  15. ^ a b c d e Nicholson, Darrell (15 October 1995). "Ultimate 20". Practical Sailor. Retrieved 16 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  16. ^ US Sailing (2023). "PHRF Handicaps". ussailing.org. Retrieved 16 March 2023.