Design and Construction
The 57 was built either in bakelized plywood glued over frames or in polyester fiberglass. The fiberglass version found remarkable success, but wood continued because it kept a lower cost price. Wood boats have removable deflectors; plastic-hull boats integrate them. The hull is a fiberglass-wood composite with solid core and composite deck, a centerboard keel, 0.4-foot minimum draft, 3.61-foot maximum, 16.24 feet overall, 3.84-foot beam, and 353-pound displacement. The sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 49.65 and capsize ratio 2.17.
Rig and Handling
Cornu gave the 57 a fractional sloop rig with a spinnaker in the basic inventory and Tergal sails in any color. Period reviews call it a sporty racing sailboat with a generous sail plan, and one account says it is much livelier under sail than a Zef anchor not needed. The builder credited it as fast and maneuverable in regattas without exceptional athletic demand, while comfortable for family promenading. An editorial contributor described it as a tamed model for family regattas, shorter and less heavily sailed than its predecessor, the ancestor of the 505.
Accommodations and Use
The 57 was conceived for day sailing and family outings, not overnight cruising. Its light weight and compact size ease trailing, and the open cockpit with built-in buoyancy tanks suits confined waters. The centerboard's draft range aids beaching yet works windward when lowered.
Known Issues
The 57 was not originally designed to carry an engine; a period reviewer was surprised at a powered example, since the installation was not planned at the start. Any engine on a specific hull is a later refit.
Refits and Ownership
Early after launch the sail area grew from 13.30 m² to 14.45 m². The construction split let owners choose lower-cost wood with removable deflectors or fiberglass with integrated ones. Free sail color and standard spinnaker suggest accessible family racing over one-design rigidity.
The Verdict
The Caneton 57 is a thoughtful small dinghy: Cornu added buoyancy tanks and opened the cockpit, delivering a stable, trailerable, quick boat that suits family sailing and mild racing.
Pros
- Excellent stability and good upwind ability for a five-meter dinghy
- Trailerable at 353 pounds with comfortable capacity for family crews
- Watertight side buoyancy tanks and no rear decking aid simplicity
- Lively yet forgiving; fast in regattas without extreme athletic demand
Cons
- Not originally engineered for an engine; any fitted power is a non-standard refit
- Wood and fiberglass versions differ in deflector integration
