FRONT RUNNER
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 19.25 ft |
| LWL | 18.5 ft |
| Beam | 7.17 ft |
| Draft | 4.5 ft/ 0.5 ft min |
| Displacement | 550 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 5.8 kn |
About the FRONT RUNNER
Designed by Fishing Bay YC (VA. USA) member Bill Spencer. Specs are from an original builder's brochure. Carbon fiber swing-up centerboard. Current class rules (from the Fishing Bay YC website) state: Displacement: 750lbs. Beam: 7ft
The Front Runner is a lightweight, high-performance 19.25 ft fractional sloop designed by Bill Spencer and built by Front Runner Boat Works in 1996. With a displacement of 550.0 lb and a D/L ratio of 38.78, it is engineered for speed and agility rather than heavy displacement comfort.
- Best for:
- This boat is best suited for experienced single-handers or couples seeking a responsive, trailerable day-sailer for coastal waters. Its low weight and high SA/D ratio of 48.22 make it ideal for short-handed racing and quick handling.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a capsize ratio of 3.5 and a comfort ratio of 3.29, the Front Runner is not designed for offshore bluewater cruising and is strictly limited to protected coastal waters.
- Comparables:
- Comparable boats include other 19-foot performance day-sailers from the mid-1990s, such as the O'Day 19 or Catalina 19.5, though the Front Runner distinguishes itself with a significantly lower displacement and higher sail area-to-displacement ratio.
Performance
Estimated Value
Limited DataEstimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 19.25ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
We don't have enough data on the FRONT RUNNERyet to publish model-specific findings we'd stand behind — but here's a free general inspection checklist, built from our research into what actually goes wrong on boats of this kind.
Drawn from 7,029 documented issues across 2,391 models, ordered so the areas that most often turn up problems come first.
Own a FRONT RUNNER? Reports from owners are what turn this into a model-specific checklist — and they're the reason the boats above it have one.
Similar Sailboats
Which engine powers your FRONT RUNNER?
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Used sails that fit the FRONT RUNNER
Checking eBay for sails sized to this boat's rig…