Design and Construction
The Scimitar has a solid-fibreglass hull and fin keel. Her draft is roughly 3 to 3.3 feet, depending on load. She measures 20.25 feet on deck, with a 16-foot waterline and a 6-foot beam.
Her length-to-beam ratio is 3.37. That’s narrow by modern standards, but typical of an era that emphasized reduced wetted surface. The Scimitar’s wetted surface is about 107 square feet, helping her sit lightly on the water and accelerate quickly.
At 2,180 pounds displacement, she has a displacement-length ratio of 237, placing her among what period analysis calls “moderate racers.” Her sail-area-to-displacement ratio is near 18, indicating a boat tuned for responsiveness rather than carrying capacity.
Rig and Handling
The fractional rig carries 190 square feet of sail. An SA/D of 18.07 supports the picture of a boat designed to move in modest wind without being overcanvased.
The Scimitar’s theoretical displacement-hull speed is 5.4 knots, which she can approach in the right conditions given her low wetted area. A motion comfort ratio of 17.8 suggests a short-coupled but not punishing ride. Her capsize screening value of 1.85 indicates a coastal boat not intended for offshore survival conditions.
The immersion rate is about 335 pounds per inch, so crew and gear weight noticeably affect how she sits in the water. On a hull this size, careful loading matters.
The Verdict
The Saro Scimitar is a compact, well-proportioned Giles design that delivers moderate-racer kinetics in a package under 21 feet. Her low wetted surface and fractional rig make her an approachable club racer and dayboat, while the narrow beam and sensitive immersion rate demand respect for load. By every measurable indicator, she is a coastal boat.
Pros
- Fractional rig with an SA/D near 18 for lively performance
- Low wetted surface of 107 square feet aids acceleration
- Fewer than 100 built, making her a scarce Giles design
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 1.85 limits offshore ambition
- Sensitive to load, with an immersion rate of 335 pounds per inch
- Minimal size for anything beyond daysailing
