Privateer 20 Buyer's Guide
The Privateer 20 is a small trailer-sailer built by Smallcraft of Blockley, designed by Norman Howard as a light-displacement cruising dinghy-hybrid with a lifting keel and a choice of gaff cutter or low-aspect Bermudian rig. On the used market she appeals to the sailor who wants a simple, towable coastal camper rather than a plumbed weekender, and her lightweight solid-fiberglass hull keeps launch and storage easy.
Layouts on the Used Market
Most boats you will encounter are the gaff cutter version, which splits headsail area between two small sails and keeps the cabin uncluttered because the drop-keel case does not intrude seriously below. Later hulls may show permanent built-in ballast beneath the cabin sole that early ones lack, a change the designer made after judging the original too light. The standard fit-out includes no sink and no pressurized water, while the head is unscreened and awkward — expect a camping interior. Freeboard is small but adequate, and the boat dries upright on a small skeg, which helps with shore-side living.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
With no equipment prevalence data available, focus on what the design itself invites. A semi-balanced rudder blade is a sensible upgrade that reduces tiller loading and lets you carry a little more weather helm comfortably. The tabernacled wooden mast is light and steps in about 2.5 hours single-handed from road to sail-ready, so a mast-raising aid is worth checking for. A dedicated deck stowage space takes an anchor warp and chain bag — verify the chocks and bag are present. No factory sink or water system means many owners add a portable head or a jerry-can galley; inspect whatever has been fitted for leaks or rot.
What to Inspect
The aft skeg is too small, so expect leeway to windward and check the skeg root for any owner-built enlargement or repair anchor. Dropping the keel fully with all sail causes serious weather helm; confirm the keel pendant and pivot are sound. The midships staysail fairleads are aligned fore-and-aft, creating sheet friction — look for chafed side decks. If the boat has added ballast, the cockpit drain may sit underwater even when empty at moorings, so test drainage with the boat at rest. Bow chain stowage can give a bows-down list at a mooring; confirm chain is secured centrally if possible.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
For a shopper, the checklist is short: confirm rig type and mast condition, check skeg and keel hardware, verify ballast does not flood the cockpit drain, and accept the bare interior as designed. She is a characterful little sailer best suited to the hands-on owner who trails, dries out, and reefs from the cockpit.