Although the Manta 19 sits at the smaller end of the cruising spectrum, it offers unusual variety for its size. Buyers could choose from several rig and keel configurations, allowing the boat to be tailored to lake or coastal sailing.
Design and Construction
The hull and deck are both built of hand-laid fibreglass, a straightforward form of construction that keeps the structure simple and repairable. Because several yards produced the design, owners assessing a particular hull should confirm which builder completed it.
Schöchl offered several keel arrangements, including iron fin and daggerboard keels. Depending on load, the fin-keel version draws about 2.95 to 3.25 feet. The daggerboard model draws roughly 1.61 to 1.91 feet, allowing the boat to reach shallow marinas that deeper-draft rivals cannot.
The hull has a length-to-beam ratio of 2.73 and a ballast ratio of 34 percent, indicating a narrow, moderately ballasted design. Wetted surface is about 118 square feet.
Rig and Handling
The Manta 19 was delivered with more than one rig option, including a masthead rig and an alternative masthead rig. Period data indicates that the design carries more rig than 96% of all similar sailboats, making it significantly overrigged for its length.
With the ISO 8666 reference sail, the sail-area-to-displacement ratio is 18.1. That figure rises to 21.9 with a 135 percent genoa. Combined with a displacement-length ratio of 149, these numbers place the boat firmly in light-racer territory.
A small outboard is generally enough for docking and maneuvering: 1 to 2 horsepower for a conventional motor, or 30 to 36 pounds of thrust for an electric unit. The modest power requirement also helps keep propulsion costs low.
Accommodations and Certification
Below decks, the Manta 19 has one cabin with four berths and a galley. The interior is finished in mahogany, as were many boats of its era.
Headroom is below average for the class, a limitation imposed by the compact deck profile rather than by any later modification. CE certification covers Class C operation with up to four people aboard, matching the accommodation plan to the boat’s coastal-and-waterway brief.
Performance Profile
The theoretical displacement-hull speed is 5.4 knots. The Motion Comfort Ratio is 10.5, while the immersion rate is about 390 pounds per inch, so the hull settles noticeably under load but remains easy to drive.
The generous sail plan and light-racer displacement-length ratio suggest that the Manta 19 accelerates readily in a breeze. That sail area also calls for disciplined reefing, particularly when the 135 percent genoa is hoisted, as well as attentive sail trim.
The capsize screening value is 2.37, which would exclude the boat from ocean racing.
Ownership Notes
Production began in the early 1970s from Miglitsch’s design. A few thousand hulls were completed across Schöchl Yachtbau GmbH and the other yards that built the boat.
The hand-laid fibreglass structure and iron keels are straightforward to survey. Still, the range of builders, rigs, and keel arrangements makes it important to identify the origins and configuration of any individual Manta 19.
The Verdict
The Manta 19 is a compact, overrigged Austrian cruiser with genuine choice in both keel and rig. Built in substantial numbers, it is best suited to sheltered waters, while the daggerboard version can take advantage of particularly shallow drafts.
Its small dimensions and limited headroom reduce its appeal as a liveaboard. For lake or coastal sailing, however, its range of factory options makes a careful survey worthwhile.
Pros
- Several keel and rig options, including a shallow-draft daggerboard
- Hand-laid fibreglass construction across several builders
- Class C certification for four people
- Low-power outboard sufficient for maneuvering
Cons
- Below-average headroom below decks
- Capsize screening value of 2.37 excludes ocean racing
- Overrigged for its length, requiring attentive sail trim and reefing discipline
