Design and Construction
The hull form remained the same as the Herreshoff America, but Com-Pac added a shallow keel and centerboard and modified the deck and rig to suit its own shoal-draft ethos anchor. What resulted is a big 20-footer: an 8-foot 4-inch beam and a total lack of overhangs, paired with a displacement of 2,500 pounds and a displacement-to-length ratio of 200, give the boat more volume and presence than its length suggests. The length-to-beam ratio of 2.4 places it firmly in the Cape Cod fatso tradition without going to cartoonish extremes. Com-Pac builds the Horizon Cat with excellent detailing, the kind of sparkle and finish the yard was known for across its range. A kick-up rudder protects the blade from grounding damage by pivoting aft on contact.
Rig and Handling
The Horizon Cat is gaff rigged, as catboats traditionally are, and that choice is deliberate rather than nostalgic. The gaff rig keeps the center of pressure low to help stability and minimizes the complexity of the standing rigging, a real advantage for a trailerable pocket cruiser anchor. The boat is rigged with normal reef cringles for a single, traditional reef, keeping sail reduction simple. The aft location of the centerboard should help keep this cat well balanced, and the board-up draft of 26 inches lets her wander into the thinnest of coves. The boat is no rocket but won't be a pig either, will go to weather about as well as expected for a gaff-rigged boat, and will offer a stiff ride for those who like to sail on the flat side. Thirty-five miles is a darn good day's run in this cat, which tells you the design trades outright speed for manageable, companionable cruising.
Accommodations
Below you have two berths and a forward compartment for a porta potty, a minimal but honest overnight layout for a 20-foot pocket cruiser anchor. The cockpit is where the boat lives, though: four can sit in this cockpit in comfort, and boom gallows hold the boom when the sail is lowered and make the boom the ideal ridge pole for a cockpit tent while cruising. That tent arrangement extends the usable shelter well beyond the small cabin, a thoughtful detail for a boat this size.
Known Issues
The kick-up rudder is a pivot-type blade introduced in the Com-Pac redesign. The shallow keel and centerboard arrangement is mechanically simple, and the aft-centerboard balance feature is a design strength rather than a liability.
Refits and Ownership
Ownership of a Horizon Cat centers on its simplicity. The gaff rig with a single traditional reef and uncomplicated standing rigging keeps mast and sail work approachable, while the wheel steering shown on the original drawings and the cockpit-tent-friendly boom gallows speak to a boat meant for relaxed coastal cruising rather than technical campaigning. Com-Pac's detailing and sparkle carry through the ownership experience, and the shoal draft invites exploration of waters closed to deeper keelboats.
The Verdict
The Horizon Cat 20 is a thoughtfully reworked catboat that honors its Cape Cod and Herreshoff America roots while delivering 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 easy trailering
- Gaff rig lowers center of pressure and simplifies standing rigging
- Aft centerboard placement aids balance under sail
- Com-Pac's excellent detailing and finish throughout
Cons
- Modest daily range at around 35 miles
- Gaff rig limits windward pointing versus modern sloops
