CYGNUS 20
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 20 ft |
| LWL | 17.5 ft |
| Beam | 7 ft |
| Draft | 2.67 ft/ 0.67 ft min |
| Displacement | 600 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 5.6 kn |
Rig & Sails
| Iforetriangle height | 18.75 ft |
| Jforetriangle base | 6.33 ft |
| Pmainsail luff | 23 ft |
| Emainsail foot | 10.33 ft |
| FLforestay | 6.3 ft |
| Mainsail | 187.6 sq ft |
| Jib (100%) | 59.3 sq ft |
| Spinnaker | 100.9 sq ft |
About the CYGNUS 20
Coach roof/cuddy is detachable. This from CYGNUS owner 'barklakemike': "George Hinterhoeller in Niagara actually designed and built the first the HR 20 as he called it, in 1963. A class association formed in 1965 or 66 and the boat was renamed the Cygnus class. [Another early builder of the CYGNUS was Clarkecraft of St Catharines, Ontario]. The tooling was sold to Skene in Ottawa, (who also made Albacores); when Hinterhoeller became one of three boatbuilders (including Morch in Belleville and Bruckmann in Oakville) who combined forces to make up the manufacturing side of the new C and C yachts. ...the Cygnus was available with either a fixed cast iron keel and 2 ft 9 in draft, or with a fully retracting steel centerboard, when it weighed only 600 lbs." Displacement for keel version: 950 lbs.
The Cygnus 20 is a lightweight, fractional sloop designed by George Hinterhoeller and built by Hinterholler Ltd. /Skene Boats Ltd. in Canada. With a production run limited to 1965 and an unknown total build count, this 20.0 ft LOA vessel represents a rare, early example of Hinterhoeller's design philosophy.
- Best for:
- This boat is best suited for coastal cruising and daysailing due to its light displacement of 600.0 lb and shallow max draft of 2.67 ft, making it highly trailerable and easy to handle in protected waters.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a low comfort ratio of 3.8 and a displacement of 600.0 lb, the Cygnus 20 is not designed for offshore bluewater cruising and is best restricted to coastal and inland waters.
- Comparables:
- Comparable boats include other 1960s trailerable sloops like the O'Day 20 or Pearson 20, which share similar fractional rig configurations and light displacement characteristics aimed at ease of transport and single-handed sailing.
Direct variant of the CYGNUS 20
Near-identical models — same hull, builder and designer, re-badged or lightly changed. Specs and owner-reported issues are typically shared across the group, so a sister model's page may carry detail this one doesn't.
Performance
Pricing
We don't have market pricing data for the CYGNUS 20 yet. If you own one, help other buyers — what did you pay for it? Reports build a community price estimate over time.
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 20ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
4 reported issues across 4 systems for the CYGNUS 20, compiled from owner reports in sailing forums and owner-association material.
Unlock the full inspection report
Thinking of buying a CYGNUS 20? This is an in-depth report on the faults this model is known for — so you know exactly what to check when you walk the boat. For the price of a coffee.
- ✓ All 4 specific issues — severity, symptoms & fixes
- ✓ Model-specific pre-purchase inspection checklist
- ✓ Downloadable PDF to take to your surveyor — yours to keep
One-time $2.99 · secure checkout by Stripe · instant access · 30 days online, PDF yours to keep
Similar Sailboats
Which engine powers your CYGNUS 20?
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Used sails that fit the CYGNUS 20
Checking eBay for sails sized to this boat's rig…