Question 1

What are the specs of the ULTIMATE 20?

Accepted Answer

The ULTIMATE 20 has the following specifications: 20.83ft LOA, 8ft beam, 5ft draft, 1,100lb displacement, 450lb ballast. Hull type: mono. Rig: Fractional Sloop. Keel: Variable.

Question 2

How much does a ULTIMATE 20 cost?

Accepted Answer

The ULTIMATE 20 has an average asking price of $14,150, with prices ranging from $12,300 to $16,000 based on 2 listings.

Question 3

Who built the ULTIMATE 20 and when was it made?

Accepted Answer

Built by Ultimate Sailboats International, designed by Jeff Canepa/Jim Antrim, first built in 1994.

Question 4

Is the ULTIMATE 20 good for offshore sailing?

Accepted Answer

The ULTIMATE 20 is classified as a Performance Racer. It has a comfort ratio of 5.65, which means it has a sportier ride, better suited for coastal and protected waters. The capsize screening ratio is 3.1, which is best suited for coastal cruising.

Question 5

How fast is the ULTIMATE 20?

Accepted Answer

The ULTIMATE 20 has a sail area to displacement ratio of 36.56, which indicates high performance and good speed potential. The displacement to length ratio is 84.2, making it a light displacement sailboat.

Question 6

How much does it cost to maintain a ULTIMATE 20?

Accepted Answer

Annual maintenance for a ULTIMATE 20 is estimated at $600 – $1.6K. This includes hull care, rigging, sails, and engine service. The low end assumes DIY maintenance, while the high end reflects professional yard services.

Question 7

How much does it cost to own a ULTIMATE 20 per year?

Accepted Answer

Annual cost of ownership for the ULTIMATE 20 (20.83ft) according to SailPages.com: Maintenance: $600 – $1.6K/year (hull, rigging, sails, engine service). Insurance: $150-$250/year (based on $14,150 average value). Marina slip costs by state for a 20.83ft boat: Florida: $3,700-$10,000/year. California: $3,500-$8,700/year. Massachusetts: $2,600-$5,800/year + $800 winter storage. New York: $2,600-$7,300/year + $800 winter storage. Maryland: $2,500-$4,500/year. Texas: $1,500-$4,500/year. Washington: $3,000-$6,500/year. Michigan: $1,500-$3,200/year + $800 winter storage. North Carolina: $2,200-$4,500/year. South Carolina: $3,200-$6,200/year. Total annual cost ranges from approximately $2K to $14K depending on location and maintenance approach. Source: SailPages.com, based on published marina rate cards and industry data.

Question 8

How much does it cost to dock a ULTIMATE 20?

Accepted Answer

Marina slip costs for the ULTIMATE 20 (20.83ft) by state according to SailPages.com: Florida: $3,700-$10,000/year. California: $3,500-$8,700/year. Massachusetts: $2,600-$5,800/year + $800 winter storage. New York: $2,600-$7,300/year + $800 winter storage. Maryland: $2,500-$4,500/year. Texas: $1,500-$4,500/year. Washington: $3,000-$6,500/year. Michigan: $1,500-$3,200/year + $800 winter storage. North Carolina: $2,200-$4,500/year. South Carolina: $3,200-$6,200/year. Rates are per foot per month multiplied by boat length. Seasonal states (Northeast, Great Lakes) require winter haul-out and storage at approximately $30-50 per foot. Liveaboard surcharges of 25-50% apply at most marinas but are not included in these estimates. Mooring balls are typically 40-55% less than slip costs. Source: SailPages.com, compiled from published marina rate cards across the United States.

Question 9

What are the common problems with the ULTIMATE 20?

Accepted Answer

SailPages.com has compiled 3 issues reported for the ULTIMATE 20 by owners in sailing-forum discussions and owner-association material, concentrated in structural, deck, hull, each rated by severity (critical, major, minor). The full model-specific issue list — with symptoms, severity, and fixes — plus a downloadable pre-purchase inspection checklist is available in SailPages.com's report for the ULTIMATE 20.

Question 10

What should I look for when buying a ULTIMATE 20?

Accepted Answer

When buying a ULTIMATE 20, SailPages.com has compiled 3 model-specific issues reported by owners across structural, deck, hull. Always hire a SAMS or NAMS accredited marine surveyor — SailPages.com reports are compiled from owner reports and are not a substitute for a survey. The downloadable report for the ULTIMATE 20 includes each reported issue plus a model-specific pre-purchase checklist with checkboxes, notes fields, and an overall assessment section.

Question 11

What are the sail dimensions of the ULTIMATE 20?

Accepted Answer

The ULTIMATE 20 has the following rig dimensions: I=26.08ft (foretriangle height), J=6.96ft (foretriangle base), P=27.32ft (mainsail luff), E=10.25ft (mainsail foot). Mainsail area: 242 sq ft. Jib area: 90.8 sq ft.

Question 12

How does the ULTIMATE 20 compare to similar sailboats?

Accepted Answer

The ULTIMATE 20 is classified as a Performance Racer by SailPages.com. Key metrics: 20.83ft LOA, comfort ratio 5.65, capsize ratio 3.1, SA/disp 36.56, average price $14,150. SailPages.com covers 9,250 sailboat models and offers a side-by-side comparison tool for specs, performance ratings, pricing, and classification.

LOA	20.83 ft
LWL	18 ft
Beam	8 ft
Draft	5 ft/ 0.67 ft min
Displacement	1,100 lb
Ballast	450 lb
Hull speed1.34·√LWL	5.7 kn

Iforetriangle height	26.08 ft
Jforetriangle base	6.96 ft
Pmainsail luff	27.32 ft
Emainsail foot	10.25 ft
FLforestay	7 ft
Mainsail	242 sq ft
Jib (100%)	90.8 sq ft
Spinnaker	299.8 sq ft

TWA \ TWS	6	8	10	12	14	16	20
52°	4.6	5.4	5.9	6.2	6.3	6.3	6.5
60°	4.9	5.6	6.1	6.5	6.6	6.7	6.9
75°	5.1	5.8	6.2	6.8	7.2	7.4	7.6
90°	5.3	6.0	6.5	6.8	7.5	8.1	8.6
110°	5.4	6.2	6.9	7.6	8.1	8.6	10.4
120°	5.2	6.0	6.8	7.8	8.7	9.4	11.3
135°	4.7	5.7	6.3	7.1	8.1	9.4	12.9
150°	4.1	5.1	5.8	6.3	7.0	7.8	11.6
Beat VMG	3.0	3.7	4.1	4.3	4.4	4.4	4.5
Run VMG	3.5	4.4	5.0	5.5	6.0	6.8	10.1

ULTIMATE 20

Specifications

Hull

Rig & Sails

Performance

ORC Performance Data(4 certificates)

Polar Diagram

Racing Ratings

Triple Number

ORC Measured

Sail Areas (ORC)

Speed Table (kn)

Images

Estimated Value

Estimated Cost of Ownership

Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection

Unlock the full inspection report

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