Com-Pac Horizon Cat 20 Buyer's Guide
The Com-Pac Horizon Cat 20 on the used market is a pocket cruiser with catboat bloodlines, reworked by Com-Pac from the earlier Herreshoff America and slotted into the yard's shoal-draft family. For a shopper, what matters is a 20-foot boat with an 8-foot 4-inch beam, a kick-up rudder, and a gaff rig that keeps things simple. A careful viewing rewards a methodical eye.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Horizon Cat carries two berths below and a forward compartment set aside for a porta potty, a compact overnight footprint typical of the size anchor. The real living space is the cockpit, which seats four in comfort and uses boom gallows as a ridge pole for a cockpit tent when the boom is lowered. Buyers should expect the cabin to be minimal and the cockpit to be the heart of the boat.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Autopilots and biminis are commonly fitted to Horizon Cats offered for sale, reflecting the boat's casual cruising role. A chartplotter and a short-handed setup appear as occasional owner upgrades rather than standard gear. For a buyer, the autopilot matters on long steady reaches, the bimini extends warm-weather comfort, and any short-handed rigging changes should be inspected to confirm they were done without overloading the simple original standing rigging.
What to Inspect
The Horizon Cat's kick-up rudder is the one moving part worth real attention at a viewing. Work the blade through its pivot and confirm it swings freely and returns to center without slop in the hardware, since a worn pivot can let the blade wander and degrade steering feel. Check the shallow keel and centerboard trunk for signs of grounding impact, and confirm the centerboard itself moves smoothly on its pendants given its aft location and role in balance. The gaff rig's single traditional reef cringles should be examined for chafe and the standing rigging for any improvised alterations, since the original design deliberately minimized rig complexity.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are typically found in the United States. A short inspection checklist for a Horizon Cat 20:
- Work the kick-up rudder pivot for free swing and tight hardware
- Inspect keel and centerboard for grounding scars
- Confirm centerboard pendant movement is smooth
- Check gaff reef cringles and standing rigging for modifications
- Verify bimini and autopilot function if fitted
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Com-Pac Horizon Cat 20. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 9 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25 | 1 | $42,000 | — |
| Sep 25 | 4 | $38,450 | -8.5% |
| Oct 25 | 2 | $18,750 | -51.2% |
| Dec 25 | 2 | $26,825 | +43.1% |
| Jan 26 | 2 | $25,250 | -5.9% |
| Feb 26 | 2 | $52,000 | +105.9% |
| May 26 | 3 | $19,500 | -62.5% |
| Jun 26 | 2 | $19,000 | -2.6% |
| Jul 26 | 2 | $24,450 | +28.7% |
Where they're listed
Com-Pac Horizon Cat 20 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 19.
Country view
19 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $29,500 | 19 | 4 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reid Marine 20 | 20' | $ 13,934 | 20 | 4 |
| Horizon Horizon Cat 20You are here | — | $ 29,500 | 19 | 4 |