Original Design, Modern Performance
Ragtime is faster, sharper, and stronger than ever—an evolution that enhances performance while preserving the legendary features that define her. With cutting-edge carbon tech, a custom engine, and upgraded race systems, we’re pushing Ragtime to new heights.
We’ve modernized her while carefully preserving every detail, from the original plywood hull to the iconic Ragtime girl, ensuring her ultralight design features remain intact. This careful balance of tradition and innovation sets Ragtime apart in ocean racing.
We’ve modernized Ragtime with cutting-edge sailing tech, but we’ve carefully preserved every detail contributing to her ultralight design. It’s this commitment to balance that keeps her legendary spirit alive.
Tina Roberts
Committing to the Original
Same design, same plywood hull.
Same New Zealand Kauri wood features on her cabin top (an ancient wood that is no longer available for harvest because it’s considered a national treasure).
The same Ragtime girl painting inside.
Same hull construction: sheet plywood, two skins, 3/8” thick
Same deck with sheet plywood 5/8” thick, consisting of one skin 3/8” and one skin of 1/4”
1963
Main sail size: 720 sq ft
Spinnaker: 2,500 sq ft
Original length: 61’8”
2024
Main sail size: 1029 sq ft
Spinnaker: 2,594 sq ft
Today’s length: 65’
* The length was increased by adding a scoop to the transom
Click a dot to learn more or see below
From an aesthetic standpoint, Ragtime is one of the most striking sailboats ever floated. Modern sailboat designs come and go—we’ve all seen plumb bows, reverse transoms, windowless doghouses, and colorful graphics. By contrast, Ragtime is unique: long, low, with an all-black hull, hard chines, varnished wood doghouse, stainless window frames, minimal freeboard, and a delicate taper aft. We rarely dock without her turning heads.
John Drayton. Scuttlebutt News.
Cockpit
- Removed older, smaller cockpit – replaced with wider, longer cockpit
- Moved mainsheet traveler aft in cockpit, previously at cabin
- Mainsheet and tack lines moved below deck for cleaner cockpit
- New carbon steering pedestal with original wheel mounted aft of traveler with steering chives below deck
- Helm steps on back of cockpit
Topside
- Removed all paint and epoxy to the original plywood
- Reviewed the plywood condition for rot and repair, very little repair needed
- Overlayed two layers of carbon fiber cloth and faired with epoxy
- Vacuum bagged the boat for optimal seal of new cloth
- Removed previous carbon mast chainplates
- Designed and machined custom, stainless steel chain plates with custom headless 8-bolt installation for new TP-52 mast
- Halyard and clutches are now aft on the cabin house versus on mast
- Backstay chain plates are the same
- Reinforced stern deck around backstay chain plates and added stiffner to the transom
- Shroud based chain plates now have vertical and diagonal capture
Electronics
- B&G C-Zone Network Interface
- B&G Hercules H5000 – central processor and software
- B&G Vulcan 9” MFD – nav station chartplotter
- B&G Vulcan 7” MFD – cockpit chartplotter
- 4 - B&G 20/20 Mast Displays
- B&G WS 720 – Vertical Wind Sensor – ocean spec
- V60 Marine radio w/DSC, N2k, AIS and GPS
- New lighting throughout
Winches
- Eight Harken winches replaced twelve Barient winches
- Harken Grand Prix and Performa Carbon Fiber Winch System
- Two – 65 Self-tailing Grand Prix, 3-speed – Primary winches, carbon pedestal with underdeck overdrive
- Two - 50 Self-tailing Performa, 3-speed – Secondary for Mainsheet
- Four - 46 Self-tailing Performa, 2-speed – Halyards and top mast backstay
- 4-Function 2-speed panel for backstay, boom vang and outhaul. Can operate up to four cylinders remotely.
Mast
- Configured boat for Southern Spars TP-52 – 75’ - mast from ‘Silver Surfer’ and 26’ mast boom
- Ultrasound performed on new mast for optimal integrity
- Installed new mast collar with adjustable table for custom fit
- Modified TP52 mast spreaders to fit new EC3 rigging
- Modified top mast runner to accommodate square top mainsail (previous mast was pin top)
Below Deck
- Removed antiquated refrigeration, gimble stove and all excess cabinetry
- Reorganized galley forward with removeable cooling and cooking systems
- New water maker
- New water and fuel tanks, new location
- Custom built four interior bunks with settee flexibility in former galley
- Added navigation desk and system station, custom crew storage
- Stripped and re-anodized aft pipe berths, new foam and cushion covers
- New cabin windows as exact replica with new frames
- New hatches
- New bilge pumps
- New floor boards with mahogany-like decking
- New individual berth fans
Engine
75 horsepower | 223 pounds (engine, gearbox, marine gear) | 800 cc displacement | Modest fuel consumption of 3 liters per 100 kilometers
- Removed Yanmar and v-drive
- Cleaned and repaired chines near engine mount, built new engine box with integrated companion ladder
- Replaced with Smart CDI-Motor OM660 by Mercedes-Benz and new V-drive
- New motor was marinized in Germany and custom built for Ragtime in 2019
- 3-cylinder engine with turbocharger and CDI (common rail diesel injection) system
- Self-priming seawater pump (2-cycle sea water injection to the exhaust after the turbo charger)
Sails
- Custom design and built in New Zealand by Doyle with generous assist of Stu Bannatyne and Richard Bouzaid
- Grand Prix Race category, Statis Elite 1100 (blend of Carbon and Technora) material
- Mainsail w/2 reefs and 4 battons – Statis Elite 1100 (blend of Carbon and Technora), 95.63 sqm, black
- J2 – 74.9 sqm, carbon batton, black
- J0 – 89.12 sqm, black
- J4 – 62.11 sqm, black
- Genoa Staysail – 31.88 sqm, black
- Spinnakers – A1.5, A2, A3, A4, Spinnaker staysail – various Superkote materials
Bow
- Installed new bow bulkhead and water box for jib tack and headstay
- Installed hydraulic jib tack
- Installed three new ring frames to stiffen the bow
- Repaired previous deck overlay where original bow cockpit was removed