Question 1

What are the specs of the WILDERNESS 21?

Accepted Answer

The WILDERNESS 21 has the following specifications: 20.5ft LOA, 7.25ft beam, 4ft draft, 1,870lb displacement, 1,070lb ballast. Hull type: mono. Rig: Fractional Sloop. Keel: Fin.

Question 2

Who built the WILDERNESS 21 and when was it made?

Accepted Answer

Built by Wilderness Boat Works (USA), designed by Chuck Burns, first built in 1978, 80 units were produced.

Question 3

Is the WILDERNESS 21 good for offshore sailing?

Accepted Answer

The WILDERNESS 21 is classified as a Daysailer. It has a comfort ratio of 11.11, which means it has a sportier ride, better suited for coastal and protected waters. The capsize screening ratio is 2.36, which is best suited for coastal cruising.

Question 4

How fast is the WILDERNESS 21?

Accepted Answer

The WILDERNESS 21 has a sail area to displacement ratio of 21.98, which indicates high performance and good speed potential. The displacement to length ratio is 149.28, making it a light displacement sailboat.

Question 5

How much does it cost to maintain a WILDERNESS 21?

Accepted Answer

Annual maintenance for a WILDERNESS 21 is estimated at $600 – $1.7K. This includes hull care, rigging, sails, and engine service. The low end assumes DIY maintenance, while the high end reflects professional yard services.

Question 6

How much does it cost to own a WILDERNESS 21 per year?

Accepted Answer

Annual cost of ownership for the WILDERNESS 21 (20.5ft) according to SailPages.com: Maintenance: $600 – $1.7K/year (hull, rigging, sails, engine service). Insurance: $500-$2000/year (based on $unknown average value). Marina slip costs by state for a 20.5ft boat: Florida: $3,700-$9,800/year. California: $3,400-$8,600/year. Massachusetts: $2,600-$5,700/year + $800 winter storage. New York: $2,600-$7,200/year + $800 winter storage. Maryland: $2,500-$4,400/year. Texas: $1,500-$4,400/year. Washington: $3,000-$6,400/year. Michigan: $1,400-$3,200/year + $800 winter storage. North Carolina: $2,200-$4,400/year. South Carolina: $3,200-$6,200/year. Total annual cost ranges from approximately $3K to $16K depending on location and maintenance approach. Source: SailPages.com, based on published marina rate cards and industry data.

Question 7

How much does it cost to dock a WILDERNESS 21?

Accepted Answer

Marina slip costs for the WILDERNESS 21 (20.5ft) by state according to SailPages.com: Florida: $3,700-$9,800/year. California: $3,400-$8,600/year. Massachusetts: $2,600-$5,700/year + $800 winter storage. New York: $2,600-$7,200/year + $800 winter storage. Maryland: $2,500-$4,400/year. Texas: $1,500-$4,400/year. Washington: $3,000-$6,400/year. Michigan: $1,400-$3,200/year + $800 winter storage. North Carolina: $2,200-$4,400/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 8

What are the common problems with the WILDERNESS 21?

Accepted Answer

SailPages.com has compiled 3 issues reported for the WILDERNESS 21 by owners in sailing-forum discussions and owner-association material, concentrated in structural, 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 WILDERNESS 21.

Question 9

What should I look for when buying a WILDERNESS 21?

Accepted Answer

When buying a WILDERNESS 21, SailPages.com has compiled 3 model-specific issues reported by owners across structural. 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 WILDERNESS 21 includes each reported issue plus a model-specific pre-purchase checklist with checkboxes, notes fields, and an overall assessment section.

Question 10

What are the sail dimensions of the WILDERNESS 21?

Accepted Answer

The WILDERNESS 21 has the following rig dimensions: I=25ft (foretriangle height), J=8.67ft (foretriangle base), P=25ft (mainsail luff), E=8ft (mainsail foot). Mainsail area: 216.4 sq ft. Jib area: 108.4 sq ft.

Question 11

How does the WILDERNESS 21 compare to similar sailboats?

Accepted Answer

The WILDERNESS 21 is classified as a Daysailer by SailPages.com. Key metrics: 20.5ft LOA, comfort ratio 11.11, capsize ratio 2.36, SA/disp 21.98. SailPages.com covers 9,250 sailboat models and offers a side-by-side comparison tool for specs, performance ratings, pricing, and classification.

LOA	20.5 ft
LWL	17.75 ft
Beam	7.25 ft
Draft	4 ft
Displacement	1,870 lb
Ballast	1,070 lb
Hull speed1.34·√LWL	5.6 kn

Iforetriangle height	25 ft
Jforetriangle base	8.67 ft
Pmainsail luff	25 ft
Emainsail foot	8 ft
FLforestay	8.7 ft
Mainsail	216.4 sq ft
Jib (100%)	108.4 sq ft
Spinnaker	184.2 sq ft

WILDERNESS 21

Specifications

Hull

Rig & Sails

About the WILDERNESS 21

Performance

Pricing

Estimated Cost of Ownership

Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection

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