Design and Construction
Chrysler Marine built the 20 predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim, and the hull itself is fiberglass with a solid layup. Period assessments of the boat's build were favorable: in a 2010 review Steve Henkel described her as nicely constructed, with good finish, a smooth fiberglass cabin liner, and quality hardware such as Harken blocks anchor. The boat carries a raked stem and a nearly-plum transom, and she sits on a stub keel with a swing keel — a pivoting lifting keel that lets her sail both coastal and inland waters. With the board up her draft runs about 1.94 to 2.24 feet depending on load, so she can tuck into shallow marinas and be hauled on a trailer for ground transport.
Rig and Handling
The Chrysler 20 is rigged as a masthead sloop, and her sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18.25 marks her as a reasonably lively performer for her size. Her theoretical hull speed is 5.7 knots, and her wetted-surface area is about 172 square feet. The PHRF racing average handicap is 264, and two active class clubs — the Chrysler Sailing Association and the Chrysler Sailors — organize racing events for the design. Sheet specs are modest: jib and genoa sheets run 20 feet at 5/16 inch, the mainsheet is 50 feet at the same diameter, and the spinnaker sheet is 44 feet. The capsize screening value of 2.18 means she would not be accepted for ocean races, and her Motion Comfort Ratio is 13.4 with an immersion rate of about 444 pounds per inch.
Accommodations
Below, the Chrysler 20 provides sleeping accommodation for four people. A double V-berth fills the bow cabin, while two settee-style quarter berths lie in the main cabin. The head is an optional portable type stowed under the bow V-berth, which keeps the footprint simple for a trailerable weekender.
Known Issues
Steve Henkel's 2010 review singled out the inboard pivoting rudder as the boat's least attractive feature anchor. He noted that this rudder type is rarely used because it is complicated and therefore hard to repair, and it is prone to collecting weed and plastic bags on its leading edge. He argued a flip-up outboard rudder on the transom would have been the better choice.
The Verdict
The Chrysler 20 is a thoughtfully engineered small trailerable that punches above her length as a light racer and club racer, with a lifting swing keel for shallow exploration and a clean, well-finished interior for four. Her chief drawback is the unusual inboard pivoting rudder, which trades repair simplicity for a tidy underwater profile.
Pros
- Light, trailerable, and shallow-drafting with a pivoting swing keel for coastal and inland use
- Well-finished fiberglass construction with quality hardware per period review
- Sleeps four with bow V-berth and two quarter berths; optional portable head
- Active class clubs and a PHRF handicap supporting club racing
Cons
- Inboard pivoting rudder is complicated to repair and collects weed and debris
- Capsize screening value excludes her from ocean racing
