Design and Construction
The Privateer 20 is a GRP trailer-sailer with a solid fiberglass hull. Her lifting keel is set unusually far forward—ahead of the mast—and that placement shapes much of her behavior under sail.
The designer recognized that the original boat was too light. Later examples appear to have gained permanent built-in ballast beneath the cabin sole, which early boats lack. Owners preparing for extended cruising report carrying at least 160 kg of additional ballast. With one person and gear aboard, that brings total displacement to around 1,500 kg, while the complete boat-and-trailer package remains under 2 tonnes.
Her displacement is roughly half that of a Cornish Shrimper or Cape Cutter 19, which is strikingly light for her footprint. When dried out on a falling tide, she rests almost upright on her small skeg—a welcome comfort at anchor or on the hards.
Rig and Handling
The gaff cutter rig is the heart of the Privateer 20. Her wooden mast is surprisingly light and steps into a tabernacle. Parrel beads or mast hoops control the gaff mainsail’s luff rather than a track. The total headsail area is divided between two small sails, so neither requires winches.
Under reduced sail, the boat balances particularly well on reefed main, staysail, and reefed jib. Compared with a Bermudian sail of equal area, the gaff main has a lower center of effort and therefore produces less heeling moment. It can also be depowered temporarily by scandalising: dropping the peak halyard so the gaff sags away.
One owner reports that, once the topping lift is set, reefing the gaff main from the cockpit takes 20 to 30 seconds. Heaving to is also routine: furl the jib, drop the peak, back the staysail, and put the tiller down. A low-aspect Bermudian rig was offered as well, but the gaff cutter is the version that distinguishes the boat.
The designer intended the drop keel to be used partially lowered as a trim tab, balancing the aft skeg, rather than fully lowered like a dinghy centerboard. That was the original design brief. In practice, however, the aft skeg is too small, and the boat makes meaningful leeway to windward. Lowering the keel fully with all sails set produces serious weather helm.
There is a useful trade-off: with the keel fully lowered, the boat can sail to windward under headsails alone. A refitted semi-balanced rudder reduces the load on the tiller, allowing an owner to tolerate a little more helm than with the standard arrangement.
Accommodation and Stowage
Below, the drop-keel case does not intrude too seriously into the cabin. Freeboard is limited but adequate for a boat of this size.
The standard accommodation is basic. There is no sink or plumbed water, and the toilet is completely unscreened and awkward to use. This is a camping-style cruiser rather than a comfortable weekender, and prospective buyers should understand that from the outset.
On deck, a dedicated stowage space holds the anchor warp and chain bag. One owner carries 50 m of warp and 15 m of chain there, although the weight in the bow can leave the boat sitting bows-down and slightly lopsided at a mooring.
Known Issues
The small aft skeg is the main cause of the Privateer 20’s weakness to windward, allowing considerable leeway when beating. Fully lowering the keel under full sail also produces heavy weather helm.
The staysail’s midships fairleads are aligned fore-and-aft. This forces the sheets through right-angle turns and creates excessive friction.
The designer suggests carrying significant additional ballast when single-handing, beneath the cockpit sole. Doing so, however, may submerge the cockpit drain even when the boat is lying empty at her mooring, making the drain useless. These are design-level characteristics rather than age-related defects.
Launching, Refits, and Ownership
Owners sailing single-handed report taking about 2.5 hours from arriving by road with the boat in tow to having her launched and ready to sail, including stepping the mast. The light, tabernacled wooden mast makes the process manageable.
A semi-balanced rudder is a worthwhile owner upgrade because it reduces tiller load. The boat’s low towing mass and trailer-sailer configuration also keep launching and storage relatively simple, while her nearly upright drying posture makes shore maintenance easier.
The Verdict
The Privateer 20 is a quirky, light-displacement trailer-sailer. Her gaff cutter rig rewards a hands-on sailor with quick cockpit reefing, balanced helm under reduced sail, and the unusual ability to make progress to windward under headsails alone.
She is not an offshore cruiser, and her accommodation is decidedly bare. For a sailor who values simplicity and character, however, she remains a distinctive small yacht.
Pros
- Gaff cutter rig requires no winches and can be reefed quickly from the cockpit
- Very light towing mass; straightforward to trail and launch
- Dries out almost upright
- Forward lifting keel allows windward sailing under headsails alone
- Gaff mainsail’s lower center of effort reduces heeling moment
Cons
- Small aft skeg causes significant leeway to windward
- Fully lowered keel under full sail produces serious weather helm
- No sink or plumbed water
- Toilet is unscreened and awkward to use
- Additional ballast can submerge the cockpit drain at moorings
