Design and Construction
Shad Turner drew the Santana 20 during the heyday of the IOR rule, yet deliberately avoided the exaggerated "shapes du jour" of that era. The result is a very shapely, smooth, fair, and bumpless hull that is moderate overall, with a narrow stern by modern comparison. A broader waterline beam gives the 20 good initial stability, and the 4-foot lead fin keel paired with a dated-looking low-aspect-ratio rudder defines the appendages. Schock built the boat with hand-laid fiberglass and a balsa-cored deck, joined to the hull with a shoe-box style joint, and developed a proprietary keel-casting method in which molten lead was poured directly into a pre-molded fiberglass shell containing the keel bolts.
Rig and Handling
The fractional sloop rig measures 24.5 feet on both the foretriangle height and mainsail luff, with a 7-foot foot and an 8.16-foot jib base. Total sail area of 204 square feet sits atop a hull whose gentle, moderate personality makes it very easy to sail and less physically demanding than newer boats. Reviewing it in its era, one account described the Santana 20 as combining a benign temperament with sparkling performance — the mix that sits at the heart of its popularity. It is the perfect family day racer, needing no harnesses or dry suits, just a crew ready to go out and have fun.
Accommodations
The Santana 20 is fundamentally a daysailer and racer rather than a cruiser, centered on a small, bullet-shaped cuddy cabin that gives the boat its very distinctive look. The cockpit is the social and working heart of the design. In the 1996 deck redesign led by Tom Schock with class president Jeff Kerr, the cockpit was opened to the transom, making its working area at least seem bigger, and a rolled cockpit edge like a 505 dinghy was introduced — very easy on the legs. Ninety of the newer boats joined the fleet and many older hulls were refitted with the new deck, with all efforts made to keep the older boats competitive in the one-design class.
Refits and Ownership
The class grew to an active membership of 350 boats, many on inland lakes, and remains healthy through the blend of new production and refitted originals. Trailer sailors value the 20 highly, and the 900-boat production run by Schock Corp. means a steady supply of class-supported hardware. The continuity of the original hull shape through the deck redesign preserved one-design compatibility, so an older boat with the newer deck remains a full member of the fleet.
The Verdict
The Santana 20 earns its nickname as the original sport boat by delivering dinghy-like responsiveness with keelboat security in a trailerable, family-friendly package. Its moderate hull and broad waterline beam make it forgiving, while the class structure keeps older and newer boats racing together.
Pros
- High-performance keel daysailer with over 900 hulls and active one-design class support
- Broad BWL gives good initial stability; easy and undemanding to sail
- Deck redesign kept one-design compatibility, letting older boats stay competitive
- Trailer-friendly and beloved by owners as a family day racer
Cons
- Narrow stern and low-aspect rudder reflect an older design compared to modern sport boats
- Minimal accommodation beyond the bullet cuddy; pure day racer, not a cruiser
