Design and Construction
Both the hull and deck are solid fiberglass, with no core to trap moisture. The boat displaces 3,200 pounds and carries 1,050 pounds of lead ballast. Her ballast ratio is 33 percent, compared with 24 percent for comparable designs.
Draft ranges from four to 4.3 feet, depending on load. That allows her to tuck into shallow marinas that would stop deeper fin-keelers.
The C&C 24’s 8.81-foot beam, spread over a 24-foot length, produces a length-to-beam ratio of 2.73. The beam is modest by modern standards but generous for the boat’s era. Period comparisons rated her as more spacious below than 76 percent of similar sailboats.
The underwater hull has about 182 square feet of wetted surface. An immersion rate of 597 pounds per inch indicates how little added weight it takes to change her trim.
Rig and Handling
The rig defines the C&C 24 on the water. The yachtdatabase review notes that she carries more sail-plan hardware than 99 percent of similar boats, which the source reads as significantly overrigged.
The standing and running dimensions bear that out. The mainsail, jib/genoa, and spinnaker halyards are each 63 feet long and 5/16 inch in diameter. The jib and genoa sheets are 24 feet long, while the mainsheet is 60 feet; all are 3/8 inch in diameter. An 8.5-foot cunningham, a 17-foot kicking strap, and a 17-foot clew outhaul complete a set of controls more commonly expected on a much larger racing boat.
Her sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18.57 and displacement-length ratio of 193 place her among “moderate racers.” She’s also relatively light: 62 percent of similar designs are heavier.
Performance and Intended Waters
The theoretical hull speed for a displacement boat of this length is 5.9 knots. Her motion comfort ratio is 13.0, meaning she rides more comfortably than 27 percent of similar designs. That isn’t plush, but it is credible for a boat of this size.
The capsize screening value is 2.39, which would bar the C&C 24 from ocean racing under the usual screening rule. Combined with her light displacement and shallow-ish fin keel, that figure frames her as a sheltered-water and coastal performer rather than a passage maker.
Accommodations
The beam-driven volume and the boat’s stated role as a small sloop suggest a compact yet usable cabin for weekend coastwise use. Period comparisons rated the interior as more spacious than most similar boats, though it remains the accommodation of a 24-foot sloop rather than a full cruising interior.
Known Issues
The principal caveats arise from the design rather than faulty construction. The overrigged sail plan calls for careful inspection of the mast and rigging, while the capsize screening value limits offshore ambitions.
The Verdict
The C&C 24 is a sharply styled, beamy little sloop that offers more sail-handling sophistication than her length might suggest. She reflects C&C’s mid-1970s design culture: light, quick, and with volume that embarrassed most rivals her size.
Pros
- Cabin volume exceeds that of 76 percent of comparable designs
- Lead-ballasted fin keel with shallow-enough draft for marina access
- Extensive sail controls for racing
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.39 excludes ocean-race eligibility
- Motion comfort is better than only 27 percent of comparable designs
- Light displacement limits heavy-weather and offshore scope
