It has a fractional sloop rig, a spooned raked stem, an angled transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller with an extension and a retractable daggerboard.

[1][2] The boat has a draft of 3.25 ft (0.99 m) with the daggerboard extended and 6 in (15 cm) with it retracted, allowing operation in shallow water, beaching or ground transportation on a trailer.

[1][2] For sailing downwind the design may be equipped with a whisker pole to hold the jib out, but neither a spinnaker nor a crew trapeze are permitted in the class rules.

[33][34] In an August 1959 review for Sports Illustrated, Thomas Atkinson reported, "Unlike many class boats which were designed as pure racing machines, however, the Snipe offers more than speed and thrills.

Today there are more than 8,000 of the little 15-footers in commission, sailing out of 250 active racing fleets from Trieste to Tokyo and even in such Iron Curtain countries as Poland, and last year over 400 more were added to the class.