Flicka (Gaff Rig)
Description
The Flicka 20 is a compact American pocket cruiser designed by Bruce Bingham as a seaworthy bluewater sailboat, capable of offshore voyages despite its 20 ft length, ideal for solo or couple cruising on coastal waters, lakes, or open ocean. Introduced in 1972 by Nor'Star Marine in California during the small-boat fiberglass boom, it gained fame for its "go-anywhere" reputation, with over 400 production units built by Pacific Seacraft from 1981 to 1994 (after acquiring the molds). Home-built versions number in the hundreds, emphasizing simplicity and durability. The design features a fiberglass monohull with a full keel and spade rudder for stable tracking and upwind pointing, a narrow beam for agility, and versatile rig options for light-air performance and ease of handling. It prioritizes seaworthiness with a heavy displacement/length ratio for a comfortable ride and a high ballast ratio for stiffness in gusts, though its low freeboard limits heavy-weather comfort. Rig variants include the standard masthead sloop/cutter, optional gaff cutter, and popular junk rig conversions for shorthanded simplicity. Contemporary reviews praised its "disproportionate capability" as a "micro-ocean racer," with owners like Robert Hobbs circumnavigating solo. It's a cult favorite for minimalists. The optional gaff-rigged cutter (Model A) was offered by Pacific Seacraft for traditional aesthetics and better light-air drive, with a four-sided gaff mainsail and staysail. It increases sail area to 288 sq ft (26.76 m²) for easier handling in puffs. Displacement rises slightly to 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) with 1,750 lb ballast. Dimensions: Similar I/J, but P shortened to ~21 ft for gaff head, E=13 ft. Popular for homebuilders; provides a "classic look" with reduced heeling.
Construction Details
| Designer | Bruce Bingham |
|---|---|
| Builder | Pacific Seacraft |
| Length | 20.000 ft |
| LOA | 24.000 ft |
| LWL | 18.170 ft |
| Beam | 8.000 ft |
| Displacement | 6000 lb |
| Ballast | 1750 lb |
| Max Draft | 3.250 ft |
| Year Built | 1981 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 27.90 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 10.50 ft |
| p | 21 ft |
| e | 13 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | 18 ft |
| j2 | 8 ft |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27.90 ft | 10.50 ft | 21 ft | 13 ft | - | - | 18 ft | 8 ft |
Sails
Flicka (Gaff Rig) - YANKEE
| Luff | 21 ft - (6401 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 10.58 ft - (3225 mm) |
| Leech | 15.75 ft - (4801 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 73.33 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 7.7 ft - (2347 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 22.7 ° |
| Area | * 80.82 ft² |
| Comments | yankee per sail plan |
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Flicka (Gaff Rig) - STAYSAIL
| Luff | 17.25 ft - (5258 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 7.52 ft - (2292 mm) |
| Leech | * 13.89 ft - (4234 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 73.63 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 5.89 ft - (1795 mm) |
| Deck Angle | 14.5 ° |
| Area | * 50.82 ft² |
| Comments | hank on staysail from plan |
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Flicka (Gaff Rig) - 4-SIDED SAIL
| Luff | 12.5 ft - (3810 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 12.63 ft - (3850 mm) |
| Leech | 21 ft - (6401 mm) |
| Head | 9.5 ft - (2896 mm) |
| Diagonal | 16.5 ft - (5029 mm) |
| Tack Angle | 82.08 ° |
| Area | 154.06 ft² |
| Comments | Gaff main from sailplan |
| Edit in Calculator |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.
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