Mystic Catboat 20 Buyer's Guide
The Mystic Catboat 20 makes a distinctive entry in the used Mystic Catboat 20 market: a 20-foot fiberglass catboat designed by Peter Legnos and built by Legnos Boatbuilding Company from 1974 to 1987. She was styled as a 19th century gentleman's cruising cat rather than a working boat, which matters to buyers who want period looks without a full restoration project. Production ended decades ago, so every example on the brokerage market is an older boat whose condition turns on prior ownership.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most boats follow the standard cruiser layout: a double V-berth forward, a port-side galley at the companionway with a two-burner stove and sink, and a starboard head opposite. Cabin headroom is 47 inches, so the interior is strictly for sheltered overnighting rather than standing headroom. The fixed stub keel with retractable centerboard defines the hull form, and the keel-mounted rudder on a tiller is standard. Some boats carry the gaff cat rig with 282 square feet of mainsail; others were delivered as sloops with a bowsprit and jib, or with the mast stepped further aft.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Power varies widely. Many boats were delivered with a Japanese Yanmar 1GM diesel or another inboard gasoline engine, while others rely on a small 4 to 8 hp outboard for docking. When an inboard was fitted, an optional 20-gallon fixed fuel tank may be present. Buyers should confirm which drive a specific boat has, since engine access and fuel systems differ sharply between inboard and outboard configurations. Rig choices are the other major variable: the catboat rig is simplest, but the sloop option changes sail handling and deck layout.
What to Inspect
Period test reports note that the design lacks larger rudder and centerboard areas for better control, and lacks the broad aft shoulders that help resist broaching in heavy air and choppy seas anchor. On a used boat, check the centerboard pivot and trunk for wear, and inspect the keel-mounted rudder and tiller linkage for play. The modest ballast ratio and light displacement mean structural integrity of the stub keel and centerboard housing matters more than on a ballasted fin-keel boat.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The boat is a niche classic found through specialist brokers and owner networks rather than a common production listing. For a shopper, the short checklist is: confirm rig type and engine configuration, inspect centerboard and rudder gear for wear, verify galley and head fixtures are intact, and accept the boat's limited heavy-weather margins as part of her gentleman-cruiser character.
- Confirm cat vs. sloop rig and matching sail inventory
- Verify inboard diesel/outboard and fuel tank presence
- Inspect centerboard pivot, trunk, and rudder linkage
- Expect low ballast ratio and modest broaching resistance
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Mystic Catboat 20. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25 | 1 | $16,000 | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon Horizon Cat 20 | 20' | $ 29,500 | 19 | 4 |
| Pacific Seacraft Flicka 20 | 24' | $ 27,650 | 19 | 5 |