Sun Cat 17-1 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

In 1972, production transitioned to fiberglass when Dilks & Company of Clarksville, Arkansas, alongside Clearwater Bay Marine Ways in Florida, began building the design in production numbers. Decades later, the molds for the Sun Cat 17-1 were acquired by Com-Pac Yachts, which modified the hull, added ballast, and re-released the boat in 2000 as a gaff-rigged cruiser 3. The original Sun Cat 17-1 remains a distinct, highly revered milestone in the evolution of pocket trailer-sailers.

Design Brief & Intent

The Sun Cat 17-1 was built for the minimalist cruiser and daysailor who demands ease of transport, rapid rigging, and the ability to explore waters too shallow for conventional keelboats. Unlike the heavier, ballasted pocket cruisers of the late 1970s, the original Sun Cat was designed to be light, nimble, and easily towed by standard passenger vehicles.

The interior design depends heavily on the chosen configuration, but even in the cruiser variants, the fit-out is refreshingly simple. Built before the era of highly styled, liner-dominated interiors, the cabin features basic fiberglass moldings, modest wood trim, and a focus on utility over luxury. It is a minimalist space, providing just enough room for a couple of v-berths and a portable toilet, prioritizing dry shelter over liveaboard amenities. This simplicity was intentional, ensuring the boat remained lightweight, affordable, and easy to wash down after a weekend on the water.

Variations & Configurations

A key point of distinction for the Sun Cat 17-1 is its rig. While the later Com-Pac iterations are universally recognized by their low-aspect gaff rigs, the original 17-1 features a high-aspect Marconi (Bermuda) cat rig 5. This configuration can be easily identified by its tall, single mast stepped far forward and a sail insignia depicting a sun with a "C" in the center.

The model was offered in two primary deck and hull configurations: 6

Open Daysailer: This version features a sprawling, self-bailing 11-foot cockpit designed to carry up to six adults comfortably. It was often paired with an optional, removable cuddy hardtop and utilized an innovative twin-bilgeboard configuration. The dual bilgeboards kick up automatically when grounding, meaning the boat can be run directly onto a sandy beach without damaging the hull appendages.
Pocket Cruiser: Built with an enclosed cabin, this layout features sitting headroom and two berths. Pocket cruiser hulls typically eschewed the bilgeboard setup in favor of a single, central centerboard or a shallow fixed keel.

Sailing Performance & Handling

At the helm, the Sun Cat 17-1 behaves like an oversized, high-performance dinghy rather than a heavy keelboat. With a displacement of just 1,200 pounds and a waterline length of 15 feet, its displacement-to-length ratio of 158.73 categorizes it as a light-displacement vessel. It accelerates instantly in light puffs and glides through calm water with minimal resistance.

The sail area-to-displacement ratio of 23.38 indicates a powerful, high-aspect sail plan. Because the boat has zero ballast in its bilgeboard and centerboard forms, it relies entirely on its wide 7.25-foot beam and crew weight for stability. The capsize screening ratio of 2.73 confirms this reality. While the hull has immense initial stability—meaning it feels exceptionally stiff and flat when stepping aboard—it has limited ultimate righting energy. Consequently, the boat must be reefed early as the wind climbs toward 12 to 15 knots to avoid excessive heeling and heavy weather helm.

The comfort ratio of 8.57 reflects a lively, motion-sensitive ride. In a chop, the flat-bottomed hull will pound if forced directly into the waves. The Sun Cat 17-1 is at its absolute best when reaching in protected bays, estuaries, and lakes, where its "one-string" single mainsheet control makes for relaxing, highly responsive single-handed sailing.

Known Issues & Triage

Given the vintage of these fiberglass hulls, prospective buyers should focus their inspections on a few critical areas:

Bilgeboard and Centerboard Trunk Leaks: The trunk seams and pivot pin holes are common failure points. Over decades of grounding or sailing in heavy winds, the lateral stress on the trunk can crack the surrounding fiberglass laminates, resulting in slow, persistent leaks that are difficult to seal without structural fiberglass work.
Mast Track Spread: Because the Marconi cat rig places high tension on the sail's luff, the aluminum mast track on original spars can spread over time. This causes the sail slides or slugs to bind or slip out of the track entirely. Fixing this usually involves cold-working the metal back into shape or, in severe cases, replacing the mast section.
Deck Core Rot: Like many early-1970s fiberglass boats, the deck and coachroof utilize a plywood or balsa core. Unsealed or poorly maintained deck hardware, stanchions, and mast steps allow water to migrate into the core, leading to delamination and soft spots.