Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
5.4 kts
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 16.5′, the Menger Cat 17 tops out around 5.4 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √16.5′ LWL = 5.4 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
351s/nm
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
Ballast / Displacement
22.7%
Light ballast — tends to be tender; reef earlier than the numbers suggest.
Displacement / Length
219
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Hull Speed
5.4kts
Pounds/Inch Immersion
3lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Menger Cat 17 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Montgomery 17
Menger Cat 17
Heavy or slow cruiser — all about the journey, not the elapsed time.
Cornish Shrimper 17
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Menger Cat 17.
| Menger Cat 17 | Cape Cod Cat | Com-Pac Sun Cat | Cornish Shrimper 17 | Holder 17 | Montgomery 17 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||||||
| LOA | 17.0 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 17.0 | 17.1 |
| LWL | 16.5 | 16.4 | 15.0 | 16.0 | 15.0 | 15.8 |
| Beam | 8.0 | 7.9 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 7.3 |
| Displacement | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 950 | 1 |
| Ballast | 500 | 500 | 650 | — | 345 | 550 |
| Sail Area | — | 250 | 162 | 178 | 147 | 154 |
| Performance | ||||||
| PHRF | 351 | — | — | 390 | — | 264 |
| SA/Disp | — | 23.7 | 16.6 | 22.3 | 24.4 | 19.7 |
| Bal/Disp | 22.7 | 22.7 | 33.3 | — | 36.3 | 39.3 |
| Comfort | — | 13.0 | 13.1 | 10.8 | 6.7 | 9.4 |
| Capsize | — | 2.44 | 2.40 | 2.39 | 2.95 | 2.62 |
| Hull Speed | — | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.3 |