Design and Construction
Com-Pac retained the Herreshoff America’s hull form but added a shallow keel and centerboard, then modified the deck and rig to suit the company’s shoal-draft approach. The original hull form and Com-Pac modifications underpin the Horizon Cat’s design.
This is a big 20-footer. An 8-foot 4-inch beam and a complete lack of overhangs give the boat more volume and presence than its length suggests. Displacement is 2,500 pounds, with a displacement-to-length ratio of 200. Its length-to-beam ratio of 2.4 places it firmly in the broad-beamed Cape Cod catboat tradition without going to cartoonish extremes.
Com-Pac builds the Horizon Cat with excellent detailing and the sparkle and finish for which the yard was known across its range. A pivoting kick-up rudder protects the blade from grounding damage by swinging aft on contact.
Rig, Sailing and Handling
The Horizon Cat is gaff rigged, as traditional catboats are, but the choice is practical rather than merely nostalgic. The gaff rig keeps the center of pressure low to help stability and reduces the complexity of the standing rigging—a real advantage aboard a trailerable pocket cruiser. The low center of pressure and simple standing rigging suit the boat’s intended use.
The sail has normal reef cringles for one traditional reef, keeping sail reduction straightforward. The centerboard’s aft position should help keep the boat well balanced. With the board up, draft is just 26 inches, allowing the Horizon Cat to wander into very shallow coves.
This cat is no rocket, but it won’t be a pig either. It will go to weather about as well as expected for a gaff-rigged boat and will provide a stiff ride for sailors who prefer to keep a boat on the flat side. Thirty-five miles is a darn good day’s run, reflecting a design that trades outright speed for manageable, companionable cruising.
The original drawings show wheel steering, another feature consistent with the Horizon Cat’s relaxed coastal-cruising focus rather than technical campaigning.
Cockpit and Accommodations
Below, the Horizon Cat has two berths and a forward compartment for a porta potty: a minimal but honest overnight layout for a 20-foot pocket cruiser. The two-berth cabin and forward porta-potty compartment cover the basic needs of a short cruise.
The cockpit is where the boat really lives. Four people can sit there comfortably. Boom gallows support the boom when the sail is lowered and allow it to serve as an ideal ridge pole for a cruising cockpit tent. That arrangement extends the boat’s usable shelter well beyond the small cabin—a thoughtful detail on a boat of this size.
Ownership and Maintenance
Ownership of a Horizon Cat centers on simplicity. The gaff rig, single traditional reef and uncomplicated standing rigging keep mast and sail work approachable. The shallow-keel and centerboard arrangement is mechanically simple, while the aft centerboard position is a design strength rather than a liability.
The wheel steering shown in the original drawings and the cockpit-tent-friendly boom gallows reinforce the boat’s relaxed cruising purpose. Com-Pac’s detailing and sparkle carry through the ownership experience, while the shoal draft invites exploration of waters closed to deeper keelboats.
The Verdict
The Horizon Cat 20 is a thoughtfully reworked catboat that respects its Cape Cod and Herreshoff America roots while adding Com-Pac’s shoal-draft practicality. It is a slow but stiff and balanced pocket cruiser, with an honest overnight cabin and a genuinely sociable cockpit.
Pros
- Shallow 26-inch board-up draft opens shoal waters and makes trailering easier
- Gaff rig lowers the center of pressure and simplifies the standing rigging
- Aft centerboard position aids balance under sail
- Excellent Com-Pac detailing and finish throughout
Cons
- Modest daily range of around 35 miles
- Gaff rig limits windward pointing compared with modern sloops
