Design
The Holder 20 is a racing keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass. It has a fractional sloop rig, a raked stem, a slightly reverse transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and an L-shaped lifting keel. It displaces 1,160 lb (526 kg) and carries 260 lb (118 kg) of ballast.[1][3]
The boat has a draft of 3.58 ft (1.09 m) with the keel extended and 1.00 ft (0.30 m) with it retracted, allowing operation in shallow water or ground transportation on a trailer.[1][3]
The boat is normally fitted with a small 2 to 4 hp (1 to 3 kW) outboard motor for docking and maneuvering.[1][3]
The design is normally raced with a crew of three and has sleeping accommodation for four people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin and two straight settee berths in the main cabin. There are no provisions for a galley or head. Cabin headroom is 41 in (104 cm).[1][3]
For sailing downwind the design may be equipped with a symmetrical spinnaker.[1][3]
The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 185 and a hull speed of 5.8 kn (10.7 km/h).[3]
Operational history
The boat is supported by an active class club that organizes racing events, the Holder 20 One Design Class.[5]
In a 2010 review Steve Henkel wrote, "best features: The Holder 20 is light enough to plane in a modest breeze. A long, wide cockpit offers plenty of room for crew in optimizing weight position and sail handling. A 'drop' keel (fixed but retractable for trailering) makes launching relatively easy. The boat has an active class association with a presence on the Internet ... Worst features: Crew weight is crucial for stability on a boat this small and light. Hence the Holder 20 is not recommended for carefree family daysailing. The hull can't deal with rough water; owners say you can feel the hull flex and the drop keel begin to move around in a chop. The boat can be—and has been—capsized when sailed aggressively. Despite the pretense of cruising accommodations, we'd shy away from spending even one night aboard such a confined space. As one owner put it: 'The cabin is strictly for storage.'"[3]
