Design and Construction
The Aquarius 21 measures 21 feet overall, with a 7.82-foot beam and a displacement of 1,900 pounds. She carries 665 pounds of ballast and has a centerboard keel that draws 1 foot with the board up and 4.5 feet with it down. These figures place her among the lighter, trailerable coastal cruisers of her era.
Peter Barrett gave the boat a spooned, raked stem and an angled transom. The hull is solid fiberglass rather than a cored laminate. Her ballast-to-displacement ratio is 35 percent, and her capsize screening value is near 2.53. The displacement-length ratio of 139.55 indicates a relatively heavy, low-powered hull for its length.
A retractable centerboard and transom-hung, tiller-steered rudder provide the shallow-draft flexibility expected of a trailer-sailer, allowing the Aquarius 21 to gunkhole where fixed-keel boats can’t.
Rig and Handling
The Aquarius 21 carries a fractional sloop rig—a Bermuda-rigged, fractionally stayed arrangement—with 163 square feet of sail. Her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 17, and her hull speed is around 5.72 knots. These numbers point to gentle coastal sailing rather than speed.
Her PHRF racing average handicap of 273 puts her firmly at the slow end of the racing spectrum, consistent with her ballast-heavy, short-waterline hull form.
Accommodations
Below, a pop-top cabin provides standing room. The boat sleeps four, with a double V-berth forward and two quarter berths beneath the cockpit in the main cabin.
The galley is on the port side, just forward of the companionway ladder, and includes a stove and sink. The head is tucked beneath the port side of the forward V-berth. It’s a compact but functional arrangement for weekending, and the quarter berths make practical use of the space under the cockpit sole.
The Verdict
The Aquarius 21 is a straightforward small coastal cruiser. Her appeal lies in the versatility of her shallow-draft centerboard, simple outboard power, and usable sleeping layout, all in a trailerable package. She isn’t a strong performer by racing standards, but her documented proportions and accommodations make her a sensible entry-level boat or pocket cruiser.
Pros
- Retractable centerboard provides a 1-foot draft for launching and gunkholing
- Pop-top cabin, double V-berth, and two quarter berths provide sleeping space for four
- Simple fractional sloop rig and outboard motor make for straightforward ownership
Cons
- A PHRF handicap of 273 confirms that she is slow relative to other racing boats
- The low sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 17 limits light-air performance
- Compact galley and head are suited only to minimal cruising needs
