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• McLaughlin Optimist

Product Details

Mclaughlin optimists.

The only Optimist hand built in the United States by experts for over 25 years. McLaughlin has built World Champion hulls for years and have put in the hard work to come out on top. With the stiffest hulls available, minimum weight guaranteed, and best rigging options available, these boats are built to last and consistently perform for years to come.

Standard McLaughlin Hull Equipment

• Harken 3:1 Mainsheet Block System
• Optiparts Padded Hiking Straps
• Adjustable Mast Step
• 3 x Optiparts Airbags
• 2 x Standard Optiparts Bailers

Available Packages

Mclaughlin optimist club racer.

• Standard McLaughlin Hull
• Optiparts Upgraded Club Spars
• New Rule Epoxy Blade Set
• Dinghy Shop Club Sail with Window

McLaughlin Optimist Intermediate Racer

• Optiparts Quick Silver Spar Set
• Dinghy Shop Sweet Blue Race Sail with Window

McLaughlin Optimist Advanced Racer

• Optiparts Black Gold Racing Spar Set
• Choice of Quantum or Olimpic Race Sail

McLaughlin Optimist ProRacer

• Upgraded ProRacer McLaughlin Hull
• 4:1 Harken Mainsheet System with Double Tapered Mainsheet
• 2 x Optiparts Large Bailers
• Optiparts Mast Clamp
• Extra Padded Adjustable Hiking Straps
• Optiparts Black Gold / Giulietti or Optimax MK3 spars
• McLaughlin N1 PRO Foils
• Quantum or Olimpic Race Sail
• Laser Performance
• Fulcrum Rocket
• One Design Parts
• Transport & Storage
• Maintenance
• Accessories
• Universal Parts
• Paddleboard
• Rentals & Events
• Recreational & Touring
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Optimist - PRO RACER Hull - COMPLETE READY TO SAIL

Product Description

McLaughlin is the most technologically advanced Optimist sailboat in the world, specifically engineered for speed and a proven champion – our Optimist sailboat has never been beaten in World Championship competition.

The McLaughlin Pro Racer is engineered to be the absolute stiffest, highest quality, and MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED Optimist available in the world. Complete with 3 Airbags, Paddes Hiking Straps, Mainsheet, Bowline, and Blocks .

MK4 Optimax Spars with 45mm Boom- Includes OX25B4 Rigging Pack. DSK Blade Set. Sail, Olimpic, Optimax , North, Quantum, or J sail Optipart Blade Bag. Class Legal Sail  OPTIMAX UNO with USA number . ( new product) . 2 Bailers Can Be customize . Call for more info  954 235 2674

This Boat is ready to sail .  

This product DO NOT qualify for FREE SHIPPING 

Call us if need more info.

• Tags : Optimist Optimist Sailboat Pro Racer Optimist

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Optimist - PRO RACER Hull

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How to Sail an Optimist

Last Updated: April 7, 2023

This article was co-authored by Nitzan Levy . Captain Nitzan Levy is a Sailor, Social Entrepreneur, and the Founder of Sailors NYC, a recreational sailors’ club based in Jersey City, New Jersey that specializes in cruising boats and a variety of community programs. Capt. Levy has over 20 years of sailing experience and has sailed in many places around the world including: the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, The Caribbean, and the Indian Ocean. Capt. Levy is a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Master of vessels up to 50 Tons with Auxiliary Sail and Assistance Towing Endorsements. Capt. Levy is also a NauticEd Level V Captain Rank Chief Instructor, an American National Standards Assessor, an SLC instructor, an ASA (American Sailing Association) Certified Instructor Bareboat Chartering, and an Israeli licensed skipper on Boats for International Voyages. This article has been viewed 41,683 times.

Sailing is fun and easy if you know how. Optimists are safe, simple boats designed for children who are learning how to sail. Their main advantage is that there are extensive opportunities for children to take optimist sailing to a very advanced level. Hugely popular, there are optimist national teams in many countries and Optimist World Championships are held annually. On a more local level, there are thousands of smaller competitions available which are organized by yacht clubs and sailing programs.

• Keep in mind that a boat cannot sail directly into the wind.

Community Q&A

• Check the weather before you set sail. This way, you’ll have a general idea of which way the wind is blowing. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• There are plenty of other small boats to choose from if you are an adult that are a lot easier to maneuver in. The most popular single-handed small boat is the Laser. These usually require you to be over 110 pounds to be able to sail properly. If you are under this weight, another similar boat is the Byte, which is smaller than the Laser and most popular in Canada. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you are starting out, there is a plastic version available which is slower but more durable than fiberglass. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Sit on the opposite side of the sail. The fastest position for an optimist is when all four corners of the hull are in the water. If there is a light wind, you may find that you have to lean towards the sail in order to achieve this. This helps to keep the boom from coming towards you if the wind is not heavy enough to keep it out. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 0
• Ensure you have a bow line with a bowline knot at the end attached to your mast step. Do not thread this through the drain hole in the middle of the rail at the front of the optimist. Doing so will gradually wear away the rope during towing and may lead to it snapping undertow. The severed end will snap back and may lead to serious injury of the sailor, particularly risking eye injury. It will also prevent fast evacuation in the event of a thunderstorm. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 1
• As with all water sports, sailing can become dangerous when the weather is not favorable. If you are caught out in a thunderstorm, capsize (turn over) your boat immediately so that the mast is underwater and perpendicular to the sea floor. Stay with your boat. Do not go out if you believe that the wind conditions are too difficult for you, however, you should always push yourself to manage in conditions slightly more difficult than you are used to because this is how you will improve. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 3
• Even if there is light wind and clear blue skies, you should always wear a flotation aid. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 3

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United States Optimist Dinghy Association

Class contact information.

Click below

Class Email

Class Website

One-Design Class Type: Dinghy

Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Youth

Approximately how many class members do you have? 1200

Photo Credit:

About United States Optimist Dinghy Association

USODA is the national class organization for Optimist sailing in the United States.

Our mission is simple: USODA will support and sustain junior sailors, their families, and junior sailing programs with leadership, information, and organization which facilitates the growth of Optimist sailing at all levels. We will accomplish this while promoting fun, safety, self-reliance, and good sportsmanship.

USODA is a 501(c)(3) educational organization, able to receive tax deductible contributions from individuals. Its interest is in promoting a boat, the International Optimist Dinghy (IOD), and promoting sailing across the United States.

Boats Produced: Over 23,000 in the United States

Class boat builder(s):

The Class has multiple builders, with McLaughlin being the sole builder in the United States. The main vendors in the United States for new boats are:

McLaughlin Simmons Boatworks KO Sailing Zim

Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America?

Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:

The Optimist Class is active throughout the US.

Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? No

How many people sail as a crew including the helm?  1

Ideal combined weight of range of crew:  75-110 lbs

Boat Designed in  1947

Length (feet/inches): 7’2″

Beam: 3’8″

Weight of rigged boat without sails: 77 lbs

Draft: 2’9″

Mast Height: 7’5″

Class Rules (PDF Doc)

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Optimist Boats for sale

2014 Optimist 7 ft.

Oriental, North Carolina

Make Optimist

Model 7 Ft.

Category Sailboats

Posted Over 1 Month

2014 Optimist 7 ft. The Optimist dinghy is the most popular type of racing sailboat for juniors up to 15 years of age. The Optimist has been designed to be safe, durable and competitive. The skills that the Optimist fosters can be directly translated into other classes later on. Pricing includes boat, sails, mast, rigging, tiller, dagger board, etc (new boat package).  THIS BOAT IS STILL IN THE BOX AND HAS NEVER BEEN SAILED!!

2014 Mc Laughlin Optimist

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Make Mc Laughlin

Model Optimist

Category Tenders And Dinghies

McLaughlin Opti in perfect condition, ready to race. 2 sails, rigging, dolly, covers. Everything included.

Optimist Sailing Dinghy

Miami, Florida

Make Winner

Winner 11Ti top spec boat, all new upgraded blocks, sheets etc two top covers from magic marine, undercover, Black spars, Green Foils from England, rare New Zealand North Sail for light weigh helms in strong winds. Recent J Sail. Dolly all the go fast goodies etc. etc. Lightly sailed and had lots of TLC for one season. Very Fast boat.

Vanguard Optimist sailboat

Milford, Connecticut

I have a fully rigged Opti, Vanguard Dragon with new sail bag and blade bag, dolly, airbags, praddle, bailers, bumper, canvas cover etc. boat is in great shape. 100% rigged and ready to sail. Comes with a great practice sail and also a crisp newer sail. $2000 complete with everything mentioned. $1900 without dolly. Keep in mind what you are getting here when pricing boats. Not only are you getting a fully rigged and ready boat but multiple sails, dolly as well as new blade and sail bags. You don't need to buy anything else. Everything "extra" required by your sailing program right town to the tow line is included. Plop it in and go. Boat has been lightly sailed 8 weeks per year and maintained by a sailing instructor (my son). Reason for the sale is my daughter is moving out of the Opti class. In person cash sale. No shipping. Local delivery possible. This ad was posted with the eBay Classifieds mobile app.

2019 McLaughlin Optimist Pro Racer Optimist Pro Racer

Fairfield, Connecticut

Make McLaughlin Optimist Pro Racer

Model Optimist Pro Racer

Category Racing Sailboats

Fully loaded and regatta ready. Used in very few regattas in 2019 and only used once in 2020 due to COVID-19. The boat has been stored inside; like brand new. Includes (NEW): DSK Blades, J Sail Blue, Black Gold Spars, Padded hiking straps, 3 & 4:1 Mainsheet, Mast Lock, Paddle / Bowline , Optiparts Blade bag, Optiparts Top Cover and Padded Bottom Cover, Dolly. Will throw in spare parts bag. Practice sail. And will throw in spare parts bag.

Optimist sailboat McLaughlin 2010

Bricktown, New Jersey

Make McLaughlin

sail is in excellent condition Black Gold mast and boombladesblade bagsail bagfloat baghull top cover

2018 Winner OPTIMIST 3D STAR

Coral Gables, Florida

Model OPTIMIST 3D STAR

Category Daysailer Sailboats

Optimist 2018 3D star winner boat in very good condition. Full cover set by winner. DC Sail, J blue diamond 2.0 and Olympic green. MK4 boom, sprit and mast. DSK Atlas and flex centre board. Boat comes ready to race with trolley, bailers, paddle, mast clamp and winner hiking strap.

Optimist sailboat McLaughlin 2010 in Brick NJ

located in Brick, NJsail is in excellent condition Black Gold mast and boombladesblade bagsail bagfloat baghull top cover

2019 Mc Laughlin Optimist - World Championship Hull - Complete ready to sail

Davie, Florida

Model Optimist - World Championship Hull - Complete Ready To Sail

McLaughlin is the most technologically advanced Optimist sailboat in the world, specifically engineered for speed and a proven champion – our Optimist sailboat has never been beaten in World Championship competition. It is like new. These boats carry Factory full warranty. Each boat sold comes with a year’s subscription to the class magazine. Chartered . Complete with 3 Airbags, Paddes Hiking Straps, Mainsheet, Bowline, and Blocks . MK4 Optimax Spars with 45mm Boom- Includes OX25B4 Rigging Pack. DSK Blade . Set Sail, Optimax Uno ( under 100 Lbs.) NEW PRODUCT Optipart Blade Bag. Class Legal Sail OPTIMAX UNO . ( new product) . 2 Bailers Optipart Dolly with Optiflex-lite Solid Wheels. Can be customize. This Boat is ready to sail . This product DO NOT qualify for FREE SHIPPING except for South Florida.

2007 Com-Pac Picnic Cat

St. Petersburg, Florida

Make Com-Pac

Model Picnic Cat

2007 Com-Pac Picnic Cat 2009 COM-PAC Picnic Cat with trailer, The Picnic Cat is from the drawing board of Clark Mills, designer of our former 16 CB and our 23/3, and well known also as the designer of the Optimist Pram and the Windmill One Design. Unlike her sister Com-Pac's the Picnic Cat has a centerboard rather than a keel. With her centerboard up she is beach able. Her broad hull form and the low center-of-effort of her gaff-rigged sail make her very stable. And her huge self-bailing cockpit and ample stowage offer unsurpassed comfort in a small, easily handled package. She's built of solid, hand-laid glass, with aluminum spars and stainless centerboard. In addition, the exclusive Mastendr mast raising system revolutionizes the trailer-boating experience.   options include Minn Kota Endura pro 32 lbs. thrust electric motor with 12v gel battery Teak cockpit grate Full deck cover Request Information Call Now

12' Skipper Sailboat with Trailer

Sharpsburg, Georgia

Make Skipper

12' Skipper Sailboat with Trailer. Boat comes complete with Jib, Main Sail, Rudder, and Daggerboard. Boat also has a motor mount for outboard/trolling motor. Boat is in good condition. Trailer is a Venture Trailer and is in excellent shape. Very roomy for a 12', fits 3 adults and is a great way to learn how to sail. Skipper's are made in England and are hard to find in the States. Hull has (2) spots where the fiberglass has been repaired, but it is water tight. Located 30 min South of Atlanta $950 Cash. Call or Text 404-788-1026.Sunfish, sail boat, dinghy, laser, optimist, snark.

2017 Com-Pac Picnic Cat

2017 Com-Pac Picnic Cat 2017 COM-PAC Picnic Cat, The Picnic Cat is from the drawing board of Clark Mills, designer of our former 16 CB and our 23/3, and well known also as the designer of the Optimist Pram and the Windmill One Design. Unlike her sister Com-Pacs the Picnic Cat has a centreboard rather than a keel. With her centerboard up she is beachable. Her broad hull form and the low center-of-effort of her gaff-rigged sail make her very stable. And her huge self-bailing cockpit and ample stowage offer unsurpassed comfort in a small, easily handled package. She's built of solid, hand-laid glass, with aluminum spars and stainless centerboard. In addition, the exclusive Mastendr mast raising system revolutionizes the trailer-boating experience. Price reflects base boat w/ standard features. Does not include freight and commissioning, or any optional equipment. Please Email or call for a custom quote prices subject to change.

2014 Com-Pac Picnic Cat

2014 Com-Pac Picnic Cat 2014 COM-PAC Picnic Cat, with Trailer and Honda 2.3hp Motor. The Picnic Cat is from the drawing board of Clark Mills, designer of our former 16 CB and our 23/3, and well known also as the designer of the Optimist Pram and the Windmill One Design. Unlike her sister Com-Pacs the Picnic Cat has a centreboard rather than a keel. With her centerboard up she is beachable. Her broad hull form and the low center-of-effort of her gaff-rigged sail make her very stable. And her huge self-bailing cockpit and ample stowage offer unsurpassed comfort in a small, easily handled package. She's built of solid, hand-laid glass, with aluminum spars and stainless centerboard. In addition, the exclusive Mastendr mast raising system revolutionizes the trailer-boating experience optional equipment includes Mooring Deck cover  --  Mainsail and tiller cover  --  Compass  --  Basic Safety Equipment Honda 2.3 hp outboard motor  --  Magic tilt Trailer. .

2010 Com-Pac Picnic Cat

Orlando, Florida

2010 Com-Pac Picnic Cat 2010 Com-Pac Picnic Cat with Electric Trolling motor. Package is equipped with Main sail cover,Tiller cover, custom sails, and transom boarding ladder. This gaff-rigged cat-boat is a delight to sail and easy to trailer. Excellent condition – lightly sailed! Trailer sold separately. The Picnic Cat is from the drawing board of Clark Mills, designer of many of the boats in the Com-Pac line, also well known as the designer of the Optimist Pram and the Windmill One Design. The Picnic Cat has a centerboard rather than a keel. With her centerboard up she is beachable. Her broad hull form & the low center-of-effort of her gaff-rigged sail make her very stable. The huge self-bailing cockpit plus ample stowage offer unsurpassed comfort in a small yet stable and easily handled package. She's built of solid, hand-laid glass, with aluminum spars and stainless steel centerboard which retracts into a stainless steel trunk. In addition, the exclusive Mastendr mast raising system revolutionizes the trailer-boating experience, making it easy to rig & launch the boat in as little as 5 minutes. This great boat makes sailing a breeze!

Force 5 F5 Racing Dighny Sailboat Complete

Patchogue, New York

Make Force 5

Model Force 5

Category Racer Boats

Length 14.0

70's Force 5 Sailboat Complete All rigging and sails always stored indoors and in great condition. Hull in nice shape has original blue gel coat topside. Someone at sometime painted the bottom and side which could stand to be refreshed. Currently stored outside upside down. It's all there ready to sail. Call, email, or txt Brian six three one five one three one three five six Like a sunfish laser optimist opti 420

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• Sailboat Guide

Optimist Dinghy (Int)

Optimist Dinghy (Int) is a 7 ′ 8 ″ / 2.3 m monohull sailboat designed by Clark Mills and built by Hartley Boats, Phileas Boats, La Prairie, Winner Boats S. L., Johnson Boat Works, SIBMA Navale Italiana, Performance Sailcraft, Far East Boat Co., Xtreme Sailing Products, McConaghy Boats, LaserPerformance, Nautivela, and Zim Sailing starting in 1947.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Immensely popular youth trainer, designed for and built by a large number of home builders. The list shown here can only represent a small fraction of past and current professional builders.

U.S. Optimist Dinghy Assn. P.O. Box 150127 222 E. Westmonte Dr. #101 Almonte Springs, FL 21401 407-774-7880 Fax: 407-774-6440

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The sailboat show in Annapolis runs Oct 10—14, 2019, and features over 130 sailboats, including the premiere of 30 models over 30 feet.

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Can Adults Sail an Opti?

Sailing is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. However, when it comes to sailing an Opti, many people wonder if it’s suitable for adults.

The answer is yes, adults can sail an Opti boat with ease. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why and what you need to know before setting sail.

What is an Opti boat?

The Optimist, or Opti for short, is a small sailing dinghy that’s designed for children between the ages of 7-15 years old. It’s a popular boat for youth sailors to learn the basics of sailing due to its simplicity and ease of use. The boat is only 2.3 meters long and weighs approximately 35 kg.

Why can adults sail an Opti?

While the Opti was designed specifically for children, it doesn’t mean that adults can’t sail it too. In fact, many adult sailors enjoy sailing the Opti because of its lightweight and maneuverability in the water.

One of the benefits of sailing an Opti as an adult is that you’ll have more space to move around on the boat compared to a child. This makes it easier to adjust your position and balance while sailing.

Another advantage of sailing an Opti as an adult is that you’ll be able to handle stronger winds more easily due to your weight and strength compared to a child.

What do you need to know before sailing an Opti as an adult?

Before setting sail on an Opti as an adult, there are some things you should keep in mind:

• The size of the boat: While the size of the boat may seem small, it’s important to remember that it was designed with children in mind. As such, you may find the cockpit area quite cramped.
• Sailing experience: If you’re new to sailing, it’s best to take some lessons before attempting to sail an Opti. While the boat is easy to handle, it still requires some basic sailing knowledge to maneuver correctly.

In conclusion, adults can definitely sail an Opti boat. While it was designed for children, the boat’s lightweight and maneuverability make it suitable for adult sailors too.

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Emma Gibson

Best Sailboats For Lakes

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 28, 2023

Lake sailing is a popular recreational activity, and it's easy to get started. But which sailboats are best for freshwater lakes?

The best sailboats for lakes are the Optimist dinghy, the Sunfish racing sailboat, the Herreshoff 12 1/2, the West Wight Potter 15, the West Wight Potter 19, and the Cal 20 sloop.

In this article, we'll review six of the best small sailboats for cruising on lakes. Additionally, we'll go over the qualities to look for when choosing a lake sailboat, along with how to choose the right boat size for your sailing destination.

We sourced the information in this article from boat design and identification guides along with our experience sailing American lakes.

Table of contents

‍ What Makes a Sailboat Good for Lakes?

There are a few things that most lake sailboats have in common. For one, they're trailerable—and thus enable the owner to pull them out of the water and store them in a reasonably small space. They must be light enough to fit on a trailer and also have a centerboard or swing keel and collapsible mast.

Additionally, they must be light and nimble on the water and handle well. Lakes don't have consistent wind like oceans do, so lake sailboats must be able to utilize small amounts of wind but also contend with the occasional gust. In a way, lake sailboats have to be more carefully designed than larger ocean-going boats.

The largest lake sailboats have a small cabin with a berth and a place for a stove and possibly a sink. These small cabin cruisers are ideal for camping, and they're the best type of lake sailboat for large lakes and extended cruising.

Smaller recreational boats have open tops and are easy to sail. Their small size makes them relatively safe and also easy for beginners to handle. Many of them are filled with positive flotation foam, which makes them virtually unsinkable. These are the best kinds of open-top boats for lakes.

There's a difference between a practical lake sailboat and a fine lake sailboat. Classic sailboats are considered fine lake sailboats in the sense that they're valuable and fun for experienced sailors. These vessels are less suitable for beginners and recreational sailors, as they require skill to operate and maintain.

The best kind of lake sailboat for most people is a medium-sized lightweight fiberglass sailboat. These boats have been produced by various manufacturers in many configurations, and tens of thousands still exist on lakes and rivers around the country.

Do Lake Sailboats Have to Be Small?

Not necessarily—it all depends on the size of the lake and the intentions of the sailor. Full-size ocean-going sailboats can be found on some of the nation's bigger lakes, such as Lake Michigan and even Lake Cumberland.

But in most cases, the size of lake sailboats is limited to about 22 to 25 feet. A boat in this size range can sail anywhere that ski boats and pontoon boats can operate.

Best Sailboats for Small Lakes

Small lakes have the least flexibility when it comes to sailboat selection, and for obvious reasons. Thankfully, there are tons of great small sailboats that work well on small lakes. Plus, these sailboats can be carried by a couple of people and stored in a garage. Here are two of the best sailboats when navigational space is limited.

1. Optimist "Opti" Dinghy Sailboat

The Optimist is one of the most popular youth and instruction sailboats ever built. It's small, lightweight, and (almost) impossible to capsize under normal circumstances. The boat itself is basically a fiberglass (or wooden) box with a slanted bow and a centerboard.

The Optimist dinghy measures 7 feet 9 inches long and 3 feet 8 inches wide. It weighs just 77 pounds dry and has a 7-foot aluminum mast. It utilizes a spirit rig, which is a simple two-spar system that reduces the height of the mast.

The centerboard, mast, and tiller come off with little effort, and the vessel is essentially unsinkable. This makes it perfect for kids and teenagers who don't know how to sail or for smaller adults who just want a cheap little sailboat to cruise around the lake.

Optimist dinghies are remarkably easy to sail and offer a great platform for learning the basics of tacking, windward sailing, and sailboat recovery. They're available widely on the used market, as over 150,000 have been produced over the years. Plus, it's a popular racing boat, and hundreds of them show up for regattas around the world.

2. Sunfish Sailboat

The Sunfish is the ideal upgrade from an Optimist, and it's much more suitable for adults. Sunfish sailboats are designed for racing, and they're significantly larger than sailing dinghies. They require more skill to operate, but they're a ton of fun on the water and easy to master.

The Sunfish is designed for a crew of one or two adults, though it can be easily operated by just one. The hull is 13 feet 9 inches long and 4 feet 1 inch wide, and it weighs 120 pounds dry. In other words, two adults can easily lift this boat in and out of the water, and it's small enough to navigate small lakes.

The Sunfish has a lateen sail, which is an ancient design that's easy to rig and reduces mast height. For its size, the Sunfish has a very large sail area. This makes it efficient in light winds but also quite squirrelly in gusts. However, careful attention can prevent capsizing—and capsizing the Sunfish isn't actually a big deal. Simply stand on the centerboard, grab the boat and lean back to right the vessel.

Sunfish are common on the used market, as thousands have been produced since 1943. You can still buy a new one from Laser Performance for under $5,000, and used Sunfish are available for much less.

Best Sailboats for Medium-Sized and Large Lakes

People who want to sail on large lakes have a ton of flexibility in the kind of boat they use. Some people sail small sailboats, like the Sunfish or the Optimist, near shore in large lakes. However, large lakes can also accommodate much bigger boats with better accommodations, up to and including full-size cabins. Here are the best sailboats for large lakes.

1. Herreshoff 12 1/2

{{boat-info="/boats/herreshoff-12-12"}}

The Herreshoff 12 1/2 is a beautiful classic boat with incredible handling capabilities and excellent efficiency. The Herreshoff 12 1/2 is essentially a pocket ship, as the hull is designed in the same way that classic full-size ocean-going sailboats were.

The Herreshoff 12 1/2 features a full-length displacement keel and a spacious cockpit, as there's no centerboard trunk in the way. It's also remarkably stable and suitable for use in dodgy weather. This vessel is open-cockpit and doesn't include a cabin, though some people use a boom tent to go camping aboard.

Despite being similar in length to the Sunfish, this vessel is not even in the same class. It's a full gaff rig and includes a headsail and traditional rigging. More experience is required to operate one of these sailboats, as it's a scaled-down version of a full-size cruising boat.

However, once you learn to operate the pulleys, you'll find that sailing a Herreschoff 12 1/2 is a joy in almost all wind conditions. It's small enough to use on medium-sized lakes and to tow on a trailer, and it's stable enough for comfortable and safe sailing for the entire family. Four adults can sit aboard, and it can be piloted by just one.

If you're looking for a beautiful and classic lake sailboat with ocean-going seaworthiness, it's tough to go wrong with a Herreschoff 12 1/2. These vessels are available on the used market starting around $5,000 to $10,000, and most of them can be found in New England.

2. West Wight Potter 15

{{boat-info="/boats/west-wight-potter-15"}}

The West Wight Potter 15 is a fiberglass trailerable sailboat that was designed to be safe, fun, and easy to transport. These vessels are designed for stability, and they're unsinkable thanks to positive floatation foam. Additionally, the West Wight Potter 15 is one of the smallest sailboats you can buy with a cabin.

This 15-foot boat uses a Bermuda rig, similar to what you'll find on the vast majority of large recreational sailboats. The mast and standing rigging was designed to be extremely easy to deploy and stow, making it a great weekender for low-stress operation.

Additionally, the West Wight Potter 15 has a very shallow draft and a centerboard, making it suitable for beaching at the lake. West Wight Potter sailboats have very few unnecessary metal parts, and thus they're extremely light. Most standard full-size cars and trucks can tow this vessel without trouble.

The West Wight Potter 15 was produced until recently, and there are hundreds on the used market that you can purchase. Prices fluctuate widely, but a West Wight Potter 15 in usable condition can be found for $3,500 to $15,000.

3. West Wight Potter 19

{{boat-info="/boats/west-wight-potter-19"}}

If you're looking for a larger centerboard cruiser with better accommodations, then the West Wight Potter 19 is an excellent choice. This vessel follows the basic design principles of the West Wight Potter 15, but the cabin is much more spacious. Additionally, the rigging sets up and disassembles just as easily.

The West Wight Potter 19 is an extremely comfortable and safe boat, and it's a wonderful little pocket cruiser for extended lake trips. Additionally, the cabin is spacious enough for two adults to sleep comfortably, and there's room for a stove, a sink, and a portable head.

The West Wight Potter 19 is trailerable and lightweight. It has a centerboard, which allows the owner to reduce its draft from several feet down to just a few inches. A vessel like this can last for years in freshwater, and they're popular for saltwater cruising as well.

The West Wight Potter 19 is also quite affordable. Due to its popularity, you can find one in excellent condition for between $5,000 and $12,000 in many areas. These boats are also remarkably seaworthy, as one individual sailed his from San Francisco to Hawaii—over 2,000 nautical miles of open ocean. In other words, you'll be safe and comfortable on the lake.

{{boat-info="/boats/cal-20"}}

The Cal 20 is a classic sailboat that has been around for decades, and it's one of the most popular 'big' boats on America's freshwater lakes. It's a cruising sloop that measures about 20 feet in length and features a cabin with a unique flush deck.

The Cal 20 is much more typical of large coastal and ocean-going sailboats, and it's operated in exactly the same way. It has a tall Bermuda rig with traditional controls, so it's a great platform to practice sailing full-sized boats.

The Cal 20 features a small cabin with basic amenities, such as a sink, a place for a camp stove, a portable toilet, and a V-berth. Additionally, it's exceptionally water-tight for a boat of its kind, so it can be left in the berth year-round without serious problems.

Cal 20 sailboats are extremely robust. There's no flimsy material anywhere aboard, as they're designed for saltwater cruising and racing. They have a large sail plan which makes it easy to sail in light winds, and they're stable enough to make handling easy in the occasional gust.

The Cal 20 can be found in abundance on the used market, with prices as low as $2,000 for a functional and leak-free boat. The best places to look for Cal 20 sailboats are on the West Coast, but they can be found inland as well.

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Quantum's Optimist program has been powering young sailors to the top of the fleet for more than 25 years, seeing them win multiple World, European, North American, South American and regional championships. To equip sailors to compete at these high levels, Quantum offers a range of sails, from our trainer for sailing schools and junior programs to the full-on race QX-1, our newest sail. Quantum Sails QX-1 is the sail of choice for the 2021 Optimist World Champion! Quantum's Optimist design team, led by Fernando Sallent, develops and creates championship-winning dinghy sails. Through design and testing, we are constantly updating our sail selection, sail shapes, and sail materials to accelerate your program and keep you in front of the fleet.

• Class Experts
• Links & resources

Optimist Mainsails

Optimist QX-1 Light

Designed for sailors weighing up to 82 lbs (37 kg). When it's time to accelerate your program, you want the best. Updated for 2023, the Quantum QX-1 was designed and tested extensively by our lofts in Spain and Brazil. The panel designs include a cross-cut body for a smoother entry and exit and features the latest in sail materials and technology. Sails come with battens, vision window, luff and leech telltales, IODA royalty button, tube bag, sail ties, and sail numbers

Optimist QX-1 Medium

Designed for sailors weighing up to 82-93 lbs (37-42kg). When it's time to accelerate your program, you want the best. Updated for 2023, the Quantum QX-1 was designed and tested extensively by our lofts in Spain and Brazil. The panel designs include a cross-cut body for a smoother entry and exit and features the latest in sail materials and technology. Sails come with battens, vision window, luff and leech telltales, IODA royalty button, tube bag, sail ties, and sail numbers.

This product may be ordered through your local rep or a class expert.

Optimist QX-1 Heavy

Designed for sailors weighing 93-101 lbs and up (42-46 kg). When it's time to accelerate your program, you want the best. Updated for 2023, the Quantum QX-1 was designed and tested extensively by our lofts in Spain and Brazil. The panel designs include a cross-cut body for a smoother entry and exit and features the latest in sail materials and technology. Sails come with battens, vision window, luff and leech telltales, IODA royalty button, tube bag, sail ties, and sail numbers.

Optimist QX-1 X-Heavy

Designed for sailors weighing 101 lbs and up (46+ kg). When it's time to accelerate your program, you want the best. Updated for 2023, the Quantum QX-1 was designed and tested extensively by our lofts in Spain and Brazil. The panel designs include a cross-cut body for a smoother entry and exit and features the latest in sail materials and technology. Sails come with battens, vision window, luff and leech telltales, IODA royalty button, tube bag, sail ties, and sail numbers.

Choose a Team Member

Carter Cameron

• P: 410-268-1161
• E: [email protected]

Growing up in Charleston, South Carolina, Carter fell in love with sailboat racing at a young age. He sailed Optis and Club 420s but his favorite racing boat was the Lightning. He sailed for the College of Charleston where he was coached by legendary sailmaker Greg Fisher. Carter was a skipper and starting heavy crew at Charleston and was nominated for the Robert H. Hobbs Sportsman of the Year in 2019 for college sailing. It was during his time at the College of Charleston that Carter realized his passion for the art of sailmaking and the science behind sail design. Carter graduated in 2019 and moved to Annapolis to work with Quantum Sails as a service sailmaker. He quickly integrated himself into the Mid-Atlantic one-design sailing scene, excelling in the Snipe and Lightning classes. Carter also has experience with Viper 640s, E Scows, and high school and collegiate dinghies. After spending 2 years at the loft in Annapolis, Carter moved to Quantum Sails San Diego to be a One Design Sailmaker under Mark Reynolds and George Szabo. In San Diego, Carter focuses on the production, R&D, and sales of One Design Sails with the goal of providing the best sails to our clients. Carter enjoys giving back to the sport. He's a member of the Under 30 Committee for the U.S. Snipe Class, and enjoys coaching clinics, running regattas, and leading webinars. Carter is ready to help you maximize your potential in One Design sailing and any of your sailing needs.

• Nationality:
• Position: One Design Sail Consultant
• Current Town:

Career highlights

• 2013 Club 420 National Champion Skipper
• College of Charleston Sailing Team Captain, 2018-19
• 2017 and 2019 ICSA Co-ed Fleet Race National Champion Heavy Crew
• 2017 and 2018 ICSA Team Race National Champion Heavy Crew

Scott Nixon

• P: 410-268-1161 x205
• E: [email protected]

Scott Nixon has been involved with racing his whole life. An All-American sailor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Scott later coached many students to the All-American ranks at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. He has a wide range of racing experiences, including dinghies, One Design keelboats, inshore big boats, and offshore distance racing. Scott joined Quantum Sails in 2000, and his experiences bring a unique skill-set to Quantum’s programs. Focusing primarily on One Design classes, he is directly involved in testing, design, and development of Quantum’s One Design sail programs, working directly with the design team to make sure Quantum® sails are at the front of the fleet. Scott has sailed with Quantum customers to win championships at the world, Gold Cup, European, North American, and national levels. His hands-on approach includes active campaigns and racing in the following classes for Quantum: J/22, J/24, J/70, J/80, J/109, J/111, C&C 30, Farr 30, Farr 40, NYYC 42, Swan 45, Melges 20, Melges 24, and Melges 32.

• Nationality: USA
• Position: Global Offshore One Design Director
• Current Town: Annapolis

Fernando Sallent

• P: +34-93-2242778
• E: [email protected]

When Fernando Sallent was 10 years old, a friend of his father bought him an Optimist dinghy. From then on Fernando was hooked. As an adult, his first business venture was Technik Boats, a small Optimist shipyard, but it was the physics of sailing that really intrigued him. “I always had a passion for finding a way to make boats go faster,” he said. That passion led him to La Industrial Velera Marsal, a local sailmaker who made all of his sails by hand. Fernando worked there learning the basics of sailmaking while also running Technick Boats. After taking a year off to serve in the military, he decided to leave Technick and joined Toni Tio Sail Loft. Toni Tio was only designing cruising sails at the time, so Fernando came on board to lead the One Design section of the company. In 1996, Toni and Fernando visited the Quantum Annapolis loft, and in 2000 they joined the Quantum Sails team. Fernando continues to design One Design sails as he works to help his clients improve on the water. “I love seeing how sailors do better when the product is improved,” he said. “I love the fine tuning of boats and sails on the water.” An accomplished sailor, Fernando also works as a coach for many teams. He coached the 470 women’s world, Olympic, and European champions in 1992 and the 470 women’s world champions in 1995. Since 2000, he has advised the Norwegian, Swedish, Swiss, and Spanish Olympic teams.

• Nationality: Spain
• Position: Sail Designer
• Current Town: Barcelona
• As a sail designer, Fernando’s sails have won:
• 1992 Olympics – 470 men’s gold medal, 470 women’s gold medal, Europe Dinghy silver medal
• 1996 Olympics – 470 women’s gold medal, 470 men’s bronze medal
• 2000 Olympics – Europe Dinghy bronze medal
• 2004 Olympics – Europe Dinghy gold medal, 470 women’s silver medal, 470 men’s bronze medal
• 2008 Olympics – Tornado gold medal, 470 men’s bronze medal
• 2012 Olympics – 470 women’s gold medal
• 470 Class – 1992-95 men’s world champion,
• 1992/1995-96/2005/2011 women’s world champion
• Optimist – 1993-96/2004 world champion
• Europe Dinghy – 2003-04/2010 women’s world champion
• 2004-06/2010-12 men’s world champion

Alejandro Irigoyen

• P: +54 911 5421 9803
• E: [email protected]

Alejandro Irigoyen started sailing when he was 12 years old. His father was a keen sailboat racer at the Yacht Club Argentino, and Alejandro spent his weekends racing and living aboard the family’s wooden S&S Finisterre. By the time he graduated high school, Alejandro knew he wanted to dedicate his life to sailing, so he started studying yacht design. He started his sailmaking career in 1982 working for Hood, before starting his own Sobstad loft. In 2001, Alejandro joined the Quantum Sails family. “It was a natural decision,” he said. “I shared the same view and goals as the founding group.” Though he’s sailed in various classes, Alejandro’s expertise includes Optimist, Cadet, 470, Snipe, J/24, J/70, J/105, Soto 33, and Soto 44 classes. Whether he’s sharing his class knowledge and experience, or helping customers organize their campaigns and training, Alejandro’s passion for excellence provides the best service, products, and support for his customers.

• Nationality: Argentina
• 15-time National Champion in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Peru
• 6-time South American Champion in Cadet, 470, J/24, and Soto 40 as helm/skipper
• Coached 470 Olympic bronze medalist teams in 2000 & 2012
• Coached Soto 40 Team Negra in 2010 & 2013
• Has successfully raced as helm/trimmer/tactician on board various One Design and offshore boats at regattas in more than 30 countries around the world

Carlos Rodriguez

• E: [email protected]

When Carlos Rodriguez was four years old, his mother worked for a One Design boat company. She started taking him to races on the weekends, and it didn’t take long before Carlos started racing. When he was just 17 years old, the Catalonian Sailing Federation offered him a job, and he’s been sailing ever since. Carlos started working at a Quantum Sails loft in 1996. After learning how to make sails on the floor, service sails, and design sails, he became a salesman. Carlos not only spends almost every weekend racing in local and national events with Quantum customers, serving as a skipper, tactician, and jib-spinnaker-mainsail trimmer, he also trims masts, finds crew members, provides certificate optimization in ORC, and even services sails during races. Carlos now serves as the Spain Regional Manager and works hard to make Quantum Sails Spain a full-service, one-stop loft for all sailing needs. A professional racing crew member since 1995, Carlos has an extensive resume, including experience on Mega Yachts, ORC boats, IRC boats, One Design, etc. He has also won several races like Copa del Rey in Palma, Maxi Yacht Cup, Swan Cup, and many important races in the Spanish ORC circuit.

• Position: Spain Regional Manager
• Spain Tir (X-362)
• Camper and Trasmediterranea (First 40, 7)
• Freixenet (JV46)
• Zurich (GP42 and BC41)
• Fermax (GP42)
• Santa Anna (JV57)
• Siemmens Mobile (Farr 42)
• Icaro (D44)
• Garmin (DK46)
• Iberdrola (Soto 40)
• Copa del Rey Champion, 2007, 2008, 2009
• ORC Non-Corinthians World Championship – 3rd place, 2007
• Two-time ORC Spanish Champion
• International Optimist Dinghy Association
• US Optimist Dinghy Association
• ISAF Website
• Opti Tuning Guide
• Opti Quick Tune Guide

Shooting the Breeze - Special Opti Q & A with Emily Gaillard

Youth Corner: Trim to Win on the Opti

Youth Corner: Hollywood Moves That Don't Work in Big Fleets

Youth Corner: How to Practice Before the Big Race

Us, too. We pour that passion into each of our newsletters to help you enjoy sailing even more.

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How to Sell Your Boat

Cal 2-46: A Venerable Lapworth Design Brought Up to Date

Rhumb Lines: Show Highlights from Annapolis

Open Transom Pros and Cons

Leaping Into Lithium

The Importance of Sea State in Weather Planning

Do-it-yourself Electrical System Survey and Inspection

Install a Standalone Sounder Without Drilling

Rethinking MOB Prevention

Top-notch Wind Indicators

The Everlasting Multihull Trampoline

In Search of the Snag-free Clew

What’s Involved in Setting Up a Lithium Battery System?

Reducing Engine Room Noise

Breaking Point: What Can Go Wrong With Your Yanmar?

Mildew-resistant Caulks for Boats

Can We Trust Plastic Boat Parts?

Repairing Molded Plastics

Mailport: Marine plywood, fuel additives, through bolt options, winch handle holders

The Day Sailor’s First-Aid Kit

Choosing and Securing Seat Cushions

Cockpit Drains on Race Boats

Rhumb Lines: Livin’ the Wharf Rat Life

Resurrecting Slippery Boat Shoes

Shoe Goo’s Gift to Sailors

Tricks and Tips to Forming Do-it-yourself Rigging Terminals

Marine Toilet Maintenance Tips

Learning to Live with Plastic Boat Bits

The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Clear Plastic

• Sailboat Reviews

Practical Sailor Reviews Seven Performance-Sailing Dinghies

Agile, fun boats like the classic sunfish and new hobie bravo keep the smile in summer sailing..

Photos by Ralph Naranjo

Messing around in small boats is a global theme-one thats embraced by pond-bound pram sailors, river riders, lake voyagers, and all of us who call salt water home. The purpose of this sailing dinghy profile is to highlight seven very interesting little sailboats. Some are new designs, and others have stood the test of time, but all are currently being manufactured, and each drives home just how much fun sailing close to the water can be.

This isn’t a shootout among anorexic speedsters or a report on the best tender that doubles as a sailing dinghy. Its a look at perennials like the Optimist, Sunfish, and Laser-legendary competitors that have helped spawn some of the best sailors in the world. But its also a look at three of the newest entries in the dinghy-sailing circle: Bics Open, Hobies Bravo, and Laser Performances Bug. These agile, new sailing dinghies are chock full of fun and boat-handling features to inspire kids of all ages to go sailing.

Well also take a look at Chesapeake Light Crafts kit approach to getting started-one that offers meaningful lessons and tangible rewards well before the boat ever hits the water.

Scale down an Open 60, add sail technology long favored by windsurfers, and put it into play in a tough thermo-formed hull, and you have the makings for a new kind of watercraft. The result is a very interesting blend of performance and reliability that targets adolescent interest. When all is said and done, Bics boat is more akin to a sit-down windsurfer than a traditional Blue Jay. And like all good boats, its vying for attention not just based on performance, construction quality, and style, but just as importantly, on the price tag stuck to the hull.

The Open Bics light weight and wide, flat stern section means that even small chop can be surfed; and bursts of planing on a reach add a zing factor to dinghy sailing. The Open Bic is already an International Sailing Federation (ISAF)-sanctioned class, and fleets are developing around the US. Another bonus: Its an easily portable boat that can be carried like a windsurfer, adding excitement to a Sunday picnic at the beach.

The thermo-formed polyethylene hull is a modified hard-chine design with lots of beam aft. Sailed flat, the boat is agile enough to surf wavelets, and with a shape thats ergonomically friendly to hiking, the ensuing heel on the upwind leg puts just the right amount of chine into the water. In light air, careful control of heel can significantly reduce wetted surface.

The design team that developed the Open Bic saw it as a transition bridge from Optimist sailing to a more performance-oriented dinghy. An interesting innovation is that the Open Bic can be sailed with an Optimists rig and blades. This buy the hull only approach can be a significant incentive for parents with children outgrowing their Opti as fast as their boat shoes. However it wont be long before the kids want the fully turbo-charged feel delivered with the Open Bics well-shaped 4.5-square-meters rig, sail, and nicely foiled blades.

Bottom line: The Open Bic is fast, agile, and buckets of fun for kids uninspired by sailing in the slow lane.

Just when you think that Hobie Cat Co. has covered whats possible in beach-cat innovation, their design/engineering crew comes up with a new twist that reinvents the wheel. The Hobie Bravo is a good case in point.

In a recent visit to Backyard Boats ( www.backyardboats.com ) in Annapolis, Md., we got a good look at the Bravo. Nearly as narrow as a monohull but still quite stable, this quick-to-launch beach cat packs plenty of get-up-and-go. Its a simple to sail, entry-level boat that fast tracks learning the steer, sheet, and hike trilogy. The boat features a single, midline rudder and roto-molded hulls. The shape of the hulls provides enough lateral plane to allow a crew to make headway to windward.

The narrow (4 feet), 12-foot Bravo uses crew weight and hiking straps to add to the righting moment once the breeze is up. Whats done with webbing on larger cats has been converted to a shallow, rigid deck well on the Bravo. It does raise the weight of the boat to 195 pounds, but it offers comfortable seating plus room for cushions and a cooler. Kids or grown ups can have a Tom Sawyer-Huck Finn type of adventure aboard this fun little sailing machine. Or the family on a beach picnic can set it up and take turns speed reaching along a sandy shoreline.

The furling mast supports a roachy sail with slightly slanted vertical battens, helping to shape the boomless mainsail. The result is convenient sail handling, decent performance, and superior safety. Theres no boom to clobber the crew, and the roller-furled sail and mast are easily stepped in the tripod-like receiver. This interesting set of struts raises the top bearing point of the mast step and spreads rig loads out to the hulls. The furling mainsail offers the ability to reef, a big plus in a building breeze or when teaching children to sail.

Like all of the boats in the Hobie lineup, theres a wide range of specialty parts and fittings that make the boats fast to rig and easy to handle. The kick-up rudder is hung on gudgeons mounted in the center of stern, and just as rig loads have been effectively spread via the tripod step, the energy radiating from the large rudder is spread athwartships via a contoured deck element.

Bottom line: The boat is quick to rig, easy to launch, and responsive to beginners-more experienced sailors will have just as much fun power reaching when the breeze is up.

A pocket-sized club trainer, the Bug is an evolution of the kids trainer/club racer that leverages lessons learned in Optis, Dyers, and Sabots. It pulls together the logic of a stable hull shape and simple-to-sail rig, and puts it all in a cost-effective package.

Lending to its success is designer Jo Richardss ergonomic, roto-molded hull, a fabrication that is as close to zero maintenance as a boat can get. The straight out-of-the-mold polyethylene skin gets a few decals, and theres no wood to refinish or gelcoat to wax. These tough, abrasion-resistant hulls have a bumper boat tolerance thats a big plus when it comes to kids learning to sail. Best of all, owners can start with a learn-to-sail rig and upgrade to a more performance-oriented mast and sail package (41 or 56 square feet) that kicks performance into the fast lane.

Oars and an outboard motor bracket can be added to turn the little sailboat into a dual-purpose dinghy. Even the bow painters means of attachment makes sense-no projecting hardware ready to knick the topsides of unintended contacts. Instead, theres a recessed hole in the stem allowing a line to be lead through and a knot used to keep the painter in place.

Bottom line: Aimed at club programs and families look for boats that can be transported on the car top, the Bug is easy to rig and definitely kid friendly. The fact that its manufacturer, Laser Performance, is an international interest and a major player in the performance dinghy industry means that this boat and its parts will be around for a while.

Photo courtesy of Hobie Cat Co.

Eastport Pram

Chesapeake Light Craft expedites boatbuilding for do-it-yourselfers looking to take their garage-built boats for a sail. The company pre-cuts parts, packs kits with all the materials, epoxy, and paint youll need, and leads homebuilders through a thoroughly detailed stitch-and-glue approach to assembly. Kits are available in various stages of completeness, ranging from plans only to the full package, including sail, hardware, running rigging, and paint.

The Eastport Pram is just shy of 8 feet, and the marine plywood and epoxy construction delivers a boat that weighs in, sans sailing rig, at just 62 pounds. Lighter than the comparatively sized Bug, this stiff, durable dinghy, rows like a real boat and sails comfortably with one or two aboard. In keeping with other good tender attributes, the Pram behaves under tow and is equally amicable when propelled by a small outboard or tacked up an estuary under sail.

Kit boatbuilding continues to have a niche following. Theres also an added-value feature worth noting: On one hand, the builder receives a box of pieces and the result of his or her endeavor leads to an aesthetic and utilitarian dinghy. In addition, the DIY skills the builder develops will be useful in other epoxy bonding, brightwork, or mono-urethane application projects. Such talents will benefit many other boat maintenance endeavors.

Whats hard to quantify is the sense of accomplishment derived from sailing a boat that you have built yourself. When the project is tackled in tandem with a child, spouse, or friend, the memories and the boat will last.

Bottom line: With neither sidedecks or a sealed hull, this is not a boat thats easy to recover from a capsize. So once the kids favor on-the-edge sailing in a building breeze, a non swamping, easier-righting boat is probably a better option. The Pram can then be put to use by their appreciative parents or grandparents.

Never in their wildest dreams did Bruce Kirby and Ian Bruce imagine that the Weekender (the Lasers original name) was destined to become an Olympic class sailboat and one of the most popular springboards for top-tier sailors in the world today. Originally envisioned as a car-topper for weekend campers, the cat-rigged, low freeboard sailing dinghy morphed from its original roots into a boat favored by college competitors and revered by generations of agile sailors of all ages. Even frostbiting winter sailors have locked onto the Laser.

Designed in 1969, the Lasers first few years were anything but smooth sailing. Popularity grew quickly, but along with the limelight came plenty of consternation. Dubbed a surfboard not a sailboat by a growing cross-section of the yachting elite-many parents warned junior sailors to steer as clear of Lasers as they did sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. The campaign failed, and junior sailors in yacht club programs around the country fell into the grip of the new one-design dinghy-discovering the sailboats proclivity to plane.

Dyer Dhows languished in boat sheds across the country as a new theme in sailing took hold. Dubbed fast is fun by sailor/engineer Bill Lee, the young Merlin of Santa Cruz, Calif., took the theme to big-boat sailing, merging California culture with the Laser logic of light displacement and planing hull shapes.

Best of all, the Laser embraced the ideal of a tightly controlled one-design class that put people on the water in identical boats and left winning and losing races up to sailing skill and tactics rather than a boats performance edge. For decades, the boat has been the single-handed sailors choice among junior sailing programs, and with the addition of the Radial, 4.7 and M rigs, smaller competitors have also found the boat to be a great sailing platform. Today, theres some lawyer saber-rattling over the sale of the design rights, but the boat remains more popular than ever.

The sleeved sail, two-part spar, daggerboard, and kick-up rudder make the boat a quick-to-rig and fast-to-get underway dinghy. Light-air efficiency is good for a one-design sailboat, but this means that as the breeze builds, the non-reefable sail can become a handful in a hurry. In fact, the boats Dr. Jekyll-and-Mr. Hyde demeanor is what builds talent among Laser practitioners. The big boys block the mainsail and blast off for the layline, while lighter sailors heavy-weather tactics include more nuanced de-powering and feathering. In light air, the tables turn, and the winner is often the sailor who planes quickest on the reaches. The old guards surfboard slam may have held some credence after all.

Bottom line: The Laser is a timeless classic thats easily transported and is built for performance. Its well suited to adrenaline-seeking teens as well as the more fit adult crowd.

Designed in 1947 by Floridian Clark Mills, the utilitarian Optimist could be made out of two sheets of plywood-and from its inception, the Optimist was meant to link kids with the water. Slipping into obscurity in the U.S., the little pram found fertile ground to grow in northern Europe. With just a few tweaks, the Scandinavians took Millss lines and parlayed them into whats become the favored junior sailing trainer for kids from Detroit to Timbuktu. Statistics show that there are about 30 builders worldwide putting out approximately 4,000 boats each year. With about 130,000 boats class registered and an estimated 300,000 total hulls built (amateur and pro), theres plenty of reasons to get excited about an Opti.

The example weve chosen is the USA-built McLaughlin boat, both a demonstration of high-quality FRP construction and modern manufacturing techniques. Its also a boat that can be purchased in a range of performance-inducing iterations-upgrades designated as club, intermediate, advanced, and professional versions. Like all performance sailboats, stiffness and strength-to-weight ratio is important. But class rules include a minimum weight, so the most competitive hulls meet the mandatory lower limit but use good engineering and building technique to reinforce the daggerboard slot and mast step and produce overall stiffness.

The low mast height and high aspect ratio sprit sail is very versatile, affording young (and small, 65 to 130 pounds) sailors a wide window of decent performance. The flat bottom, slab-sided hull is responsive to crew weight-driven trim changes, and the better the sailor, the more agile they become. Light-air performance is all about minimizing wetted surface and maximizing sail area projection. When the breeze starts to kick up, the sailor becomes the ballast, and the art of hiking, sheet handling, and tiller wiggling come into play.

Under careful adult supervision, two 6- to 8-year-olds can double-hand the friendly little dinghy, or one more-confident child can solo sail it. In fact, introducing kids to sailing with similar proportioned small prams has been a right of passage around for decades. A set of oarlock gudgeons can turn the pram into a functional dinghy thats also adaptable to the smaller Torqeedo outboard (www.torqeedo.com).

McLaughlin also markets a Roto-molded polyethylene version of the Opti and sells DIY kits for those who want to create their own wood version.

Bottom line: The Opti is like a first bicycle without the need for training wheels. The fact that at the last Olympics, over 80 percent of the winning sailors had gotten their start in an Optimist speaks well to the value of messing around in this particular dinghy.

Designed in 1951 by ice boaters Alexander Bryan and Cortland Heyniger, the hard chine Sunfish was the prototype board boat. In 1959, it made the transition into fiberglass, and over the following half-century, more than a quarter-million hulls would hit the water. Simplicity and decent sailing attributes combined with an attractive price to make the Sunfish the most popular one-design dinghy ever raced.

Far more than a platform for racers, these boats are an excellent training tool for sailors of all ages. Also built by Laser Performance, they reflect the fun of summer and put sailors in close contact with the water on which they sail. Its no surprise that the larger fleets coincide with warm water and many see going for a swim to be part and parcel of the low-freeboard experience.

The lateen rig is in keeping with the overall design concept and simplifies rigging. A short stub of a mast is stepped and a single halyard hoists the sail along with tilting V-shaped upper and lower booms.

The total sail area is nearly the same as the Laser, but the halyard hoist versatility of the lateen rig make it a handy beach boat and a little less daunting when the wind begins to build. The clean sail shape on one tack and deformation caused by the mast on the other tack are a slight drawback. The Laser rig is more efficient, but when caught out in a squall, its nice to be able to ease the halyard and dump the sail. Its also handy to be able to leave the boat tethered to a mooring, and the doused sail and short mast make it possible.

Multiple generations of sailors are often found sailing Sunfish, and the boat represents one of the best bargains to be found in the used boat market. When considering a pre owned boat, the potential buyer needs to take a close look at the daggerboard-to-hull junction and mast step, points where previous damage can create hard-to-fix leaks.

Bottom line: The Sunfish is a great beach boat that can turn a hot afternoon into a fun-filled water experience.

There were no losers in this group, and picking winners and runners-up proved a difficult task. The outcome had to be based on assumptions about how these boats would be used. For example, parents with a competitive 9-year-old who swims like a fish, always sprints for the head of the lunch line, and likes to steal bases in Little League probably have an Opti racer in the making. Less competitive junior sailors-future cruisers in the making-will do better learning aboard a Bug. Many newly formed sailing clubs target the boat as their trainer of choice.

The Bravo holds plenty of appeal for those with a lakeside cottage or a favored campground destination. Whether its a solo sail just before sunset or a fun race on Sunday, the quick to set up and put away features are a plus, and for those who feel that two hulls are better-the Bravo will hold plenty of appeal.

Serious competitors can campaign a Laser for life, and whether youre headed for a local district regatta or getting ready for the Olympic trials, the hull, rig, and sail remains identical-sort of like the Monaco Grand Prix being raced in a street legal Mustang.

Bic Opens new little speedster tickled our fancy, and as a trainer/performance boat crossover, it drew a strong nod of approval. Watching the junior sailors smiles as they sailed their Open Bics endorsed our opinion.

And if there is any boat that defines the essence of summer, the Sunfish takes the prize.

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Radio-Controlled Sailboat Kits: The Ultimate Guide

• By - Kyle Hilson
• Posted on November 14, 2023 November 15, 2023
• Posted in RC Boats

Radio-controlled sailboat kits are a popular hobby for both beginners and experienced enthusiasts. These kits allow hobbyists to build their sailboats from scratch and control them remotely using a radio transmitter. The idea of radio-controlled sailboats dates back to the 1930s and has since become a popular hobby worldwide. Radio-controlled sailboat kits come in different shapes and sizes. They contain all the components necessary to build a functional sailboat, including the hull, sails, rigging, motor, and radio transmitter. RC sailboats are available in different types, including racing sailboats, yachts, and schooners. When choosing a kit, hobbyists need to consider the price, difficulty level, design, and additional features such as GPS capabilities. Building and owning a radio-controlled sailboat has many benefits. Firstly, it is an excellent way to learn new skills and gain knowledge about sailing. Secondly, it allows hobbyists to spend time outdoors and experience the joy of sailing. Lastly, it is a social hobby, and sailing with others is an excellent way to meet new people and make new friends. Building and sailing radio-controlled sailboats can present some challenges, especially for beginners. Some of the common challenges include understanding the complex instructions, setting up the radio transmitter, and navigating the boat. However, with practice and patience, these challenges can be overcome. Beginner-friendly kits are available, and YouTube tutorials can help with the setup and sailing of the boat.

Choosing the perfect RC sailboat kit for your needs.

Radio-controlled sailboat kits come in different shapes and sizes. They allow hobbyists to build their sailboats from scratch and control them remotely using a radio transmitter. These kits contain all the components necessary to build a functional sailboat, including the hull, sails, rigging, motor, and radio transmitter. RC sailboats are available in different types, including racing sailboats, yachts, and schooners. When choosing a kit, hobbyists need to consider different factors such as price , difficulty level , design , and additional features such as GPS capabilities . Kits are available for all levels of expertise, from beginners to experts , and there are various brands that specialize in producing high-quality kits. Websites such as Amazon, eBay , and Banggood offer a wide range of radio-controlled sailboat kits that cater to different hobbyist needs.

There are different factors to consider when choosing a radio-controlled sailboat kit. One of the most important is price . Kits can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on the complexity and size of the boat. Another important factor is difficulty level , as some kits are more appropriate for advanced hobbyists, while others are suitable for beginners. Hobbyists should also consider the design of the boat and the type of sailing they are interested in, such as racing or leisure sailing. Some kits even offer additional features such as GPS capabilities for location tracking and weather information.

There are different types of sailboats available in the market, including racing sailboats, yachts, catamarans, and schooners. Racing sailboats are specifically designed for high speeds and maneuverability, while yachts are ideal for leisure sailing and relaxation. Catamarans are known for their stability and efficiency, making them popular for longer voyages. Schooners are classic sailboats with two or more masts, making them ideal for those who want a traditional sailing experience.

What are the different types of sailboats available in the market?

The different types of sailboats available in the market include dinghies, daysailers, keelboats, cruisers, racing sailboats, and catamarans.

Benefits, Skills and Social Aspects of Radio-Controlled Sailboat Kits

Building and owning a radio-controlled sailboat has many benefits. Firstly, it is an excellent way to learn new skills and gain knowledge about sailing. Secondly, it allows hobbyists to spend time outdoors and experience the joy of sailing. Thirdly, it is a social hobby, and sailing with others is an excellent way to meet new people and make new friends. Some interesting facts about RC sailboats are that the World Sailing Model Competition happens every two years and has been held since 1972. The most recent competition was held in 2019 and saw participants from 13 countries.

A table comparing different RC sailboat kits and their features can be found below.

What are some popular websites to purchase radio-controlled sailboat kits and compare different products?

Some popular websites to purchase radio-controlled sailboat kits and compare different products are Amazon, HobbyKing, Tower Hobbies, and Horizon Hobby.

Overcoming Challenges in RC Sailboat Kits

Building and sailing radio-controlled sailboats can present some challenges, especially for beginners . One of the biggest challenges is understanding the complex instructions. Moreover, setting up the radio transmitter can also be daunting as it requires technical skills. Additionally, navigating the boat can be difficult as the wind and water conditions can affect its movement. However, with practice and patience, these challenges can be overcome.

What are some resources for beginners to learn about building and sailing radio-controlled sailboats?

Some resources for beginners to learn about building and sailing radio-controlled sailboats are online forums such as RC Groups, sailboat kit manufacturers like Dumas Products, and instructional videos on YouTube.

Radio-controlled sailboat kits are a fantastic way to combine the creativity of building with the thrill of remote control. They allow hobbyists to learn new skills while enjoying the fresh air and gentle breeze. With radio-controlled sailboat kits, enthusiasts can create their own sailboats from scratch with the freedom to customize the design and features according to their preference. Furthermore, sailing with others adds to the social aspect of the hobby and can be a great way to make new friends.

In conclusion, radio-controlled sailboat kits offer a unique and exciting hobby option for individuals of all ages. While there are inherent challenges in building and sailing the boats, the potential rewards are well worth the effort. The creativity and knowledge gained from creating and operating these boats are invaluable. With various resources, including online forums, tutorials, and classes, beginners can overcome the challenges and become skilled radio-controlled sailboat enthusiasts. If you are interested in this hobby, start by researching the different types of radio-controlled sailboat kits available and find one that suits your skill level and budget. Once you have your kit, get building and enjoy the serene and thrilling experience of radio-controlled sailboat sailing.

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Optimist Sailboat Build

Introduction: Optimist Sailboat Build

Building the Wood/Epoxy Optimist In 1947 a gentleman named Clark Mills designed a small sail boat for kids to learn to build and sail called the Optimist.  This boat was designed to be built from 3 sheets of plywood, with basic woodworking abilities.  As time progressed, builders began to modify the boats to gain speed advantages - as happens with all vehicles. In 1995 the International Optimist Association took the boat back to its roots and a set of dimensions were compiled to retain an exact shape of the boat, so as to remove design advantages from one boat to another.  The Optimist is tightly controlled now with over 60 measurements and tolerances of the hull are generally +/- 5 mm.  The tolerances do not allow the builder to exploit the possible variations of shape of the hull, but do allow a competent builder to construct a legal racing hull.  Half Moon Bay Yacht Club has a summer youth sailing camp.  Through the years we have trained many a young boy or girl to rig and sail the small boats available to us.  Normally in an older Laser or Coronado 15.  In 2011, the sailing program decided that the Optimist had a place in our sailing fleet to allow the younger kids (7-15) to rig, launch, sail and retrieve the boats themselves while under adult supervision.  We set about looking at the building of wood/epoxy Optimist sailing boats.  We quickly focused on making racing legal hulls so as to be competitive with other surrounding sailing clubs.  This is where the accuracy and repeatability of the ShopBot CNC router at TechShop of  Menlo Park www.techshop.ws became an invaluable tool in our fleet building.  I made it at TechShop.  Due to the close tolerances allowed, and the desire to have an almost identical fleet of boats, the ShopBot  fit the bill to the letter.  Once I redrew the plans into CAD drawings and transferred to cut files the different parts of the boats were identical.  Each group of people that wanted to build a boat only had small amounts of fitting, beveling and gluing to accomplish, with very little use of dangerous equipment needed and quick progress to show for their efforts, so kids fit right into the task of building boats.

Attachments

The jig produced on the ShopBot retains the correct shape and supports the boat, while it is being built, to retain the exact design measurements. The plans for the boat can be found from many sources for free on the internet.   Plans are available in many languages, as well.  One such source is http://www.optiworld.org/Woodguide05.pdf Another guide to building an optimist is http://www.burcotboats.co.uk/howToBuild.pdf , as well as half a dozen other well written articles on the internet. But none provide CAD quality drawings or files to work with modern computer controlled machine tooling. Well, here they are:  The jig as well as the major parts of the boat.     The jig sides , mast step, rudder, dagger board , dagger board case ends and doubler pieces are made from 18mm or 3/4" ACX or marine grade plywood; (1219.2mm x 2438.4mm) 48" x 96".

Now to get started, the jig we have designed is the exact dimensions of a finished hull shape. Both ends of the jig have interlocking pieces to allow for inserting and removing as needed during the building of the boat. The cross members are standard 2" x 4" cut to 44" long and with a 3/4" dado 8" to each side of center to fit into the grooves of the forms. These should be cut so as to be flush with the top of the form and screwed into place to prevent movement. The bottom boards provide a stable platform for the jig to sit on. The jig should be placed on a flat surface for the build, as distortion to the jig will transfer to the boat being built. Save the scraps for blocking.

The file for the hull bottom, midship frame, dagger board case sides and corner braces are cut from one 4' x 8' sheet (1219.2mm x 2438.4mm) of 12mm Marine grade plywood  If you save your larger scraps for doubling plates and gunwale rails, you will have very little waste.  The first cuts should be for the 6mm deep dado at both ends of the hull to join the bow and transoms to.   The second cut should be for the dagger board trunk cut out.  The third cut should be the outline of all the pieces.  In order to fit both sides of the dagger board trunk on one sheet, one side will have a joint to be epoxied together to match the other side.

The next setup  should be for 6mm plywood.  Again a 4' x 8' sheet will make both ends, both sides, mast thwart frame and again scraps can be used for doublers and clamping pads. You now have a boat cut and ready for a little fitting.  Bevel the edges of the bottom to the approximate angles of 15 degrees with a block plane and you are ready to start your build.  I would recommend a dry fit of all parts prior to mixing epoxy.  This doesn't take long and may save you a lot of trouble with messy epoxy. 

Center the bottom in the jig, stand on it to bow it and hold it down, and temporarily screw it to the 2" x 4" 's 130mm each side of center line to allow for gluing of the doublers without covering the screws, so they can be removed later.  The holes will be filled in when the boat is removed from the jig with epoxy.  Rip a 4' x 8' sheet of 4mm plywood into 1- 240mm strip and 2-80mm strips with a 45 degree beveled edge.  This can be done on the ShopBot or a table saw.  These are the doublers for the bottom to meet design minimum thickness while saving weight.  Once these are epoxied into place and trimmed you are ready to install the sides, mid ship frame, bow and transom.  The mid ship bulkhead can be used to position the strips in the correct place on the bottom of the hull.  Once these are epoxied in position, placing some weights on top, until cured, works well.  You will be covering the dagger board slot, but that can be easily cut out once the hull is removed from the jig and turned upside down for fitting the dagger board trunk and filling of screw holes.

The plans show two temporary braces.  These can be made from any scrap plywood and are used to hold the proper shape of the sides while doing the assembly and glue up.  Once the gunwale rails are installed these will be removed and discarded.  The bow and transom fit into the dado at the front and rear of the hull bottom panel.  The sides wrap around the outsides.  A couple small blocks of wood screwed onto the jig at the bow and stern help in keeping the sides in position while clamps are applied.   A small slot cut into the two forward jig pieces to allow a small bar clamp of your choice works well to hold the two sides together tightly.  Once you are comfortable with the fit of all the parts your ready to mix epoxy.  Wet out each side with unthickened  epoxy.  Then add a small layer of thickened epoxy and assemble with the temporary braces and mid ship brace installed.  Next is the mast deck and thwart.   Fit and epoxy in place.  Some of the scraps of 18mm can be used for the doubler in these areas.  You can install the bow and transom doubler before or after this step.

Gunwale rails and rub rails are next.  You can use layers of plywood or fancy colorful woods if you plan to use a clear finish to show off your work.   Build up the layers until you get to the final thickness required, per the plans.   Rip 1 for each side of boat starting with a 45mm wide piece stepping down 5mm for each 10mm of thickness.  Cut out pockets for and install the corner blocks next.   Form and shape the rails to the required shape and thickness and you are ready to remove the boat from the Jig.  We used a hand planer for the rough shape and finished with a belt sander.  It will now hold its shape and dimensions.  The jig can be used as a cradle to support the boat as you work on it either upside down or right side up.

Once the boat is removed from the jig, it can be turned over and all joints filled with thickened epoxy.  Install the dagger board trunk through the hull and epoxy in place.  We choose to put our club logo and hull # on the sides of the dagger board trunk.  Once again the ShopBot makes this a blank canvas for your artistry.  Below one of the boys is rounding the edges before the dagger board trunk is installed.  Shape the bottom of the dagger board trunk  to conform to the hull bottom from the outside once it is cured in place.  Install the doubler pieces on the inside to help support the dagger board trunk.  We installed a few wood dowels into the midship frame to add strength as well.   Sand, epoxy and finish the exterior of the hull as desired, with either paint or a clear finish.  On the inside of the hull fillet the joints with thickened epoxy.  Install the flotation attachment pads, and main sheet block pad.  Sand, epoxy and finish the interior of the boat as desired and the hull portion of your sail boat is ready for hardware installation.  We chose white enamel for the insides for a cleaner look.  You will also find the plans from one of the internet sites below.  Download these and print copies to have available as you work. 

To build a race legal hull requires a measurement by a certified Optimist qualified measure person.  Plan on 4 hours or more for this process.  The PDF file is the list of measurements for the hull.  The tolerances are close, but with the use of the CNC controlled cutting you should have a race legal hull that your kids can be fully involved in the building of.  The dagger board piece and rudder that was cut will need to be shaped and profiled.  Again we used a plane for the rough shape, followed by the belt sander.  Hardware kits are available online as well as sails, spars, FRP rudders and dagger boards at very reasonable prices.  One such site is : http://www.mauriprosailing.com/Optiparts-Optimist/Optiparts-Optimist.htm?gclid=CKHtt7O1t64CFQ9-hwodHBRhrA

Sail Plan The sail can be home-made, as well, but with mass production the prices just are hard to beat.  Again the spars can be made from PVC pipe, Wood or Aluminum tubing, but most can be purchased for a cheaper price than your time and investment.   You probably won't need the hottest racing level gear until you see if your kids are in for it.  Then watch out if they catch the bug!  You will be one proud parent to have started them out on such a great and rewarding life of sailing. http://www.mauriprosailing.com/Optiparts-Optimist/Optiparts-Optimist.htm?gclid=CKHtt7O1t64CFQ9-hwodHBRhrA

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