Design and Construction
The Klipper 17 is built primarily of solid fiberglass, with wood trim. Its hull form follows a nearly plumb stem and a slightly angled transom. Below the waterline, buyers could choose either a fixed shoal-draft fin keel or a keel-and-centerboard arrangement. A transom-hung rudder is controlled by a tiller.
The boat measures 16.83 feet overall, with a 14.83-foot waterline and an 8-foot beam. Displacement is 1,250 pounds, including 425 pounds of iron ballast, for a ballast-displacement ratio of 34 percent. Its modest weight makes the boat easy to handle ashore and undemanding to store.
Its 5.16-knot hull speed places the Klipper 17 firmly in the pocket-cruiser class. Its 2.97 capsize ratio and 7.84 comfort ratio describe a stable, forgiving platform rather than an offshore voyager.
Rig and Handling
The standard rig is a fractional sloop, while a catboat rig was optional. The Bermuda sailplan carries 150 square feet of sail, and the mast rises 25 feet above the waterline.
Period testers considered the sail area low. They also judged the shallow draft—1.58 feet on the fin-keel version—insufficient for good upwind performance in both the plain-keel model and the centerboarder. The shallow draft limits windward ability.
Early boats had too little rudder area for quick maneuverability. Later production years presumably addressed that trait, but buyers considering an early hull should note it.
Accommodations
The Klipper 17 sleeps four. A double V-berth fills the bow cabin, while two straight settee berths run along the main cabin.
The galley is arranged on both sides just aft of the bow cabin, with a sink to port. This compact layout keeps meal preparation close to the companionway. The head is centered aft in the bow cabin, beneath the V-berth, making efficient use of the pointed forepeak without taking living space from the main cabin.
For a 17-foot hull, four defined berths are a genuine step up from a daysailer and support weekend coastal camping.
Verdict
The Klipper 17 is a straightforward pocket cruiser whose strengths are its simplicity and light weight. The fractional sloop is easy to rig, and the shoal draft suits gunkholing. Its limited sail area and shallow keel, however, curb its windward ambitions. The undersized rudder on early hulls is the one design caveat worth checking.
As a trailered weekender, the Klipper 17 remains a practical, unpretentious choice.
Pros
- Sleeps four in a 17-foot hull, with defined berths in the bow and main cabins
- Solid fiberglass construction with wood trim
- Low 1,250-pound displacement eases trailering
- Optional catboat rig offers single-sail simplicity
Cons
- Shallow draft and low sail area limit upwind performance
- Early boats had undersized rudders that affected quick maneuvering
