After Abbott's plant was destroyed by fire in 2006, production was passed to Columbia Yachts, but few boats were completed.

Swept spreaders and a jib roller furler were incorporated, the sail area increased, along with a redesigned keel.

[16] The Ultimate 20 is a racing keelboat, built predominantly of vinylester and polyester fiberglass with a 0.375 in (9.5 mm) core of Baltek balsa.

It has a fractional sloop rig with a deck-mounted retractable bowsprit, a raked stem, an open reverse transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a lifting keel with a weighted bulb.

[18][19] In a 1995 review for Practical Sailor, Darrell Nicholson wrote, "the boat is fairly forgiving but you have to think fast.

"[16] In a 2013 Sailing World review Dave Reed wrote, "the Ultimate 20's fans say it was cool way before sportboats were hip, and that even today, as the Jim Antrim design approaches its second decade, it offers one thing flashier new boats don't have: simplicity.