Cape Cod Mercury 15
Cape Cod Shipbuilding · designed by Sparkman & Stephens · 1940
fin keelBermuda rigUnited States
The Cape Cod Mercury 15 is a 15-foot bermuda rig sailboat designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built by Cape Cod Shipbuilding, first launched in 1940.
General
| Builder | Cape Cod Shipbuilding |
|---|---|
| Designer | Sparkman & Stephens |
| Years built | 1940 |
| Hull type | fin keel |
| Rig type | Bermuda rig |
| Construction | fiberglass |
| Origin | United States |
Dimensions
| LOA | 15.00 ft4.57 m |
|---|---|
| LWL | 13.83 ft4.22 m |
| Beam | 5.42 ft1.65 m |
| Draft (max) | 2.42 ft0.74 m |
| Displacement | 730 lb331 kg |
| Ballast | 200 lb91 kg |
| Sail Area | 119 ft²11.1 m² |
Design ratios
Computed from the specs above using the standard formulas. Try the sailboat calculators with your own numbers.
SA / Displacement 23.48 Performance / racer — powered up
Ballast / Displacement 27.4 % Higher = stiffer / more sail-carrying power
Displacement / Length 123 Light
Comfort Ratio 8.4 Racing / light coastal
Capsize Screening 2.41 Better suited to coastal use (> 2.0)
Hull Speed 5.0 kn Theoretical max displacement speed
How these numbers are calculated
- SA / Displacement
SA ÷ (Disp ÷ 64)^(2/3)— Power-to-weight. < 16 under-canvassed, 16–20 cruiser, > 20 racer.- Ballast / Displacement
Ballast ÷ Disp × 100— Stability/stiffness. Higher carries sail better.- Displacement / Length
Disp(lt) ÷ (0.01 · LWL)³— < 100 ultralight, 100–200 light, 200–300 moderate, > 300 heavy.- Comfort Ratio (Brewer)
Disp ÷ (0.65 · (0.7·LWL + 0.3·LOA) · Beam^1.33)— Motion in a seaway. Higher = more comfortable offshore.- Capsize Screening
Beam ÷ (Disp ÷ 64)^(1/3)— ≤ 2.0 favored for offshore; > 2.0 better for coastal use.- Hull Speed
1.34 · √LWL— Theoretical max displacement speed in knots.
Estimated price
$5,500 typical range $4,500 – $6,500
⚠ Rough estimate only — not market data. Derived from a simple model based on length and hull age; actual asking prices vary widely with condition, equipment, engine hours and location.
