San Juan 21 Specifications

Capsize Ratio 2.45
Hull Speed 5.5
Sail Area/Displacement 23.2
Displacement To LWL 136
Length Water Line/Beam 2.429
Motion Comfort 9.55
Length overall: 20 ft 6 in
Length on waterline 17 ft 0 in
Beam 7 ft
Fractional (7/8) rig  
Sail area (main and 200%) 190 sq ft (Class genoa is a 130%; in PHRF or cruising most people also have a 155%)
Spinnaker: 284 sq ft (estimate from dimensions)
Mast height: 25 ft 8 in
Draft (keel down) 4 ft 0 in
Draft (keel up) 1 ft 0 in
Displ (class minimum): 1400 lb
Keel weight: 420 lb
PHRF Rating: 252 sec/mile (w/spinnaker) 264 sec/mile (working sails)
Number built approximately 2,700
   
I 22.5
P 23.00
J 8.00
E 8.75


There are three versions of the boat, all with identical hulls (the decks differ): Mark I is a regular cabin and step-down profile to the foredeck. Mark II's and III's have a flush deck all the way to the bow. II's and III's differ mostly in the length of the cabin; a Mark III cabin is about 4 inches longer than a Mark II.

For daysailer/racers SJ21's are reasonably fast though not up to the standards of J/22's or Melges 24's which are, of course, much newer and purpose-built for racing. In local club racing it can beat everything else in the club except another SJ21 and a Mirage 5.5, both of which are tough competition. Catalina 22's, Hunter 23's, the new water-ballasted Hunters, Precision 23's, etc. all are slower. The boats are well built - balsa cored deck for example - and much better built than competing boats from the 1970's and 80's such as Macgregor 21's, Mirage 5.5's, O'Day 22's etc. SJ21's have the standard 4 berths: V berth and two quarter berths.

There are many different interiors to SJ21's, with the only common denominator being bulkheads port and starboard to which the chain plates fasten. My boat, #241 from 1972, has V-berth forward and two quarter berths. On the starboard side is a low platform for the porta-potti.

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