Boston Whaler Harpoon 5.2
Description
The Boston Whaler Harpoon 5.2 is a versatile fiberglass sailing dinghy introduced in 1977 by Boston Whaler (USA), designed by the acclaimed C&C Design team. As the mid-sized model in the Harpoon series (sandwiched between the 4.6 and 6.2), it's crafted for recreational daysailing, club racing, and family training on lakes, rivers, or protected coastal waters. Featuring a fractional sloop rig with a centerboard for shallow draft and easy beaching, the 5.2 balances stability and performance—roomier than the 4.6 for 2–4 people while remaining trailerable and lightweight. Production ceased in 1983 after about 1,500 units, but its unsinkable foam-core construction (a Boston Whaler staple) ensures longevity, with many still active in fleets today. An open-cockpit version without the small cuddy was also offered for purists. This design shines as a "transition boat" from simple cat rigs like the Sunfish to more complex sloops, offering forgiving handling for beginners yet enough responsiveness for one-design racing. Owners rave about its tank-like build and fun factor in moderate winds.
Construction Details
| Designer | C&C Design |
|---|---|
| Builder | Boston Whaler |
| Length | 17.000 ft |
| LOA | 12.470 ft |
| Beam | 4.430 ft |
| Max Draft | 2.600 ft |
| Min Draft | 0.330 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 15.50 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 7 ft |
| p | 21.25 ft |
| e | 10.16 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.50 ft | 7 ft | 21.25 ft | 10.16 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 21.25 ft - (6477 mm) |
| Foot | 10.167 ft - (3099 mm) |
| Leech | 23.14 ft - (7053 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88.09 ° |
| Diagonal | 23.25 ft - (7087 mm) |
| Head (inches) | 4.5 in - (114 mm) |
| Area | * 112.12 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 15.58 ft - (4749 mm) |
| Foot | 7.33 ft - (2234 mm) |
| Leech | 14.5 ft - (4420 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 97 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 6.79 ft - (2070 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * -2.13 ° |
| Area | * 52.88 ft² |
| Sail Type | DRIFTER |
|---|---|
| Luff | 16 ft - (4877 mm) |
| Foot | 14 ft - (4267 mm) |
| Leech | 14.75 ft - (4496 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 170.43 % |
| Length Perp | * 11.93 ft - (3636 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 7.25 ° |
| Area | * 95.44 ft² |
| Sail Type | ASYMMETRICAL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 17 ft - (5182 mm) |
| Foot | 12 ft - (3658 mm) |
| Leech | 15 ft - (4572 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 153 ft² |
| Sail Type | SPINNAKER |
|---|---|
| Stays | 16.25 ft - (4953 mm) |
| MidGirth | 13 ft - (3962 mm) |
| Foot | 12 ft - (3658 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 185.71 % |
| Area | * 173 ft² |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.