Design and Construction
The Scimitar's hull is solid fibreglass with a fin keel, and her draft runs roughly 3 to 3.3 feet depending on load anchor. Measuring 20.25 feet on deck with a 16-foot waterline and a 6-foot beam, she shows a length-to-beam ratio of 3.37 — narrow by modern standards but typical of her era's emphasis on reduced wetted surface. That surface measures about 107 square feet, keeping her light on the water and quick to accelerate. Her displacement-length ratio of 237 places her among what period analysis calls "moderate racers," and at 2,180 pounds displacement with a sail-area-to-displacement ratio near 18, she is tuned for responsiveness rather than bulk carrying.
Rig and Handling
The fractional rig carries 190 square feet of sail, and the SA/D figure of 18.07 confirms a boat built to move in modest wind without being overcanvased. Her theoretical displacement-hull speed is 5.4 knots, a ceiling she can approach in the right conditions given the low wetted area. The motion comfort ratio of 17.8 suggests a short-coupled but not punishing ride, and the capsize screening value of 1.85 indicates a coastal boat not intended for offshore survival conditions. Immersion rate is about 335 pounds per inch, meaning she sits sensitively to crew and gear weight — a trait that rewards careful loading on a hull this size.
The Verdict
The Saro Scimitar is a compact, well-proportioned Giles design that delivers moderate-racer kinetics in a sub-21-foot package. 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. She is a coastal boat by every measurable indicator.
Pros
- Fractional rig with SA/D near 18 for lively performance
- Low wetted surface (107 sq ft) aids acceleration
- Fewer than 100 built — a scarce Giles design
Cons
- Capsize screening of 1.85 limits offshore ambition
- Sensitive to load at 335 lbs per inch immersion
- Minimal size for anything beyond daysailing
