American 6.5 (Spirit 21)
Description
The "American 6.5" refers to the American Spirit 6.5, a compact fiberglass sailboat also known as the Spirit 6.5 or Spirit 21 (with "6.5" indicating its metric length of 6.5 meters or approximately 21 feet). This trailerable day-sailor or pocket cruiser was designed for recreational use, suitable for solo sailors, families, or beginners on lakes, bays, or coastal waters. Produced in the late 1970s to early 1980s, it features a simple sloop rig, a pop-top cabin for adjustable headroom, and a stable hull design that emphasizes ease of handling and comfort. It's a monohull with a fiberglass construction, making it durable yet lightweight for easy trailering. Owners often highlight its roomy cockpit and versatility for day trips or overnighting, though it's not intended for offshore racing or heavy weather. This model is part of the broader Spirit line by Glastron (later Spirit Yachts), distinct from smaller American Sail boats like the American 12 Kingfisher or American 14.6. It's unrelated to the French Mini Transat 6.50 racing class, despite the similar naming.
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 25 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 8.50 ft |
| p | 23 ft |
| e | 7.75 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 ft | 8.50 ft | 23 ft | 7.75 ft | - | - |
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 23 ft - (7010 mm) |
| Foot | * 7.75 ft - (2362 mm) |
| Leech | * 23.77 ft - (7245 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 87.98 ° |
| Diagonal | * 24.01 ft - (7318 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 3.5 in - (89 mm) |
| Area | * 91.05 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 21.12 ft - (6437 mm) |
| Foot | * 11.38 ft - (3469 mm) |
| Leech | * 18.16 ft - (5535 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 115.06 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 9.78 ft - (2981 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 11.97 ° |
| Area | * 103.28 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 25.09 ft - (7647 mm) |
| Foot | * 13.83 ft - (4215 mm) |
| Leech | * 23.49 ft - (7160 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 12.75 ft - (3886 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.03 ° |
| Area | * 159.93 ft² |
| Sail Type | ASYMMETRICAL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 25.09 ft - (7647 mm) |
| Foot | * 14.02 ft - (4273 mm) |
| Leech | * 23.08 ft - (7035 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 264 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.