jy15 sailboat reviews

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First sail on the JY15

• Thread starter bmwbob
• Start date Aug 14, 2005
• Hunter Owner Forums
• Day Sailers

What about a 170 ? The 146 was the first Hunter I have ever seen and she really caught my attention with the open transon and sleek lines but when I learned that the 146 had a BIG BROTHER, 170, WOW ! that did it for me, I have really enjoyed owning my first sail boat and there isnt a day that goes by that I don't think about sailing and how soon I can get her back in the water. I try to sail every other weekend, the off weekends are for the home details that get in the way of me sailing !I can't retire soon enough, imagine going sailing when ever you want !Glenn  

146 vs 170 etc. Glenn,If you extend your logic, the 170 has a "big brother"also; the 216, which I've already owned.Very simply, I do not need the cockpit space and extra bulk of the 170 for just myself and my wife.So, if we can't make friends with our little hotrod JY15, I'll be trading her in on a 146.Bob  

learned on a jy15 I learned how to sail on JY15's through a local sailing club. You are right it is a very lively and responsive boat but not very comfortable and capsizes fairly easily (but is also very easy to right). I now own a 170 which I leave at a lake about 5 hours away, so often continue to go to the local club to sail the JY's to get my sailing fix when I can't get to my boat. The high freeboard, bench seats (get cushions) and the low profile centerboard trunk certainly make the 146 a more comfortable boat for daysailng. I have only sailed a 146 once, but enjoyed it. Good luck with your choice.  

Lamar Sumerlin

Hunter H146 - Reported surface cracks Hi Bob,Over the past few months, there have been reports of surface cracks on some of the earlier model Hunter day sailers with ACP construction and, while I can't be positive, I think the H146 was mentioned. Please be aware that I have not investigated this any further than just reading about it but just wanted to know in case you had missed it while you have been away from the forum. Lamar  

146 surface cracks Lamar,Thanks for the "heads up"!Back when I had the 216 and frequented these forums, I recall folks with the H170 mentioning some cracks developing around the centerboard trunk.I don't recall hearing anything about the 146, however.I had considered the lack of the fiberglass "spider-webbing" to be one of the strengths of this composite construction.I'd be sad to learn that there is a degenerative sort of malady for the plastic boats.No one has come forward as yet with a 146 to trade for the JY15. Of course, other than mentioning the possibility here, I've made no other effort to advertise my desiresShift gears: The reason for moving away from the larger boats is that the marina where we once kept the 216 rigged on the trailer is going condo. This is happening all over Florida.Access to the waterfront is rapidly becoming the realm of the "privileged class", and those who can exist under staggering debt loads.I have no where other than my side/front yard at the house where a larger boat can reside, and my wife still sticks out her lower lip when she looks at the steam-iron shaped patch of dead grass where the Potter was sitting.So, until something else develops in the area, I'm restricted to boats that can slip into the back yard behind the fence, out of sight.BTW, the thing I miss most about the 216 is it's ability to launch in VERY shallow water. Being able to leave the rudder completely out and just drive the boat out of the harbor under power made launch/retreival quite easy.The boat ramp at the marina/condo has been trashed by stinkpot operators "power loading" their boats, which has created a tall berm on the bottom just a few feet beyond the end of the concrete rampA guy who has a J22 and a Corsair 24 at the marina has the J22 up for sale because he can't get it in the water any more.The Sailtime time-share program on Hunter 33's and 36's has just come into our immediate area.It looked like a GREAT deal at first, until you realize that as a working couple, we would only have access to the boat about twice a month for half-day sessions during the weekends when we wanted to sail. We can rent a Hunter 27 locally for $200 or so for a full day when we want to, so there is no need for the $2500 up-front fee the Sailtime program demands.The program is good for retired people, or those whose work schedules are more flexible than that of a school teacher and a NASA-contractor radio tech!So, living within the limitations of a cruel reality, like everyone else, we sail what we can, when we can.Bob  

Sad news It is sad to hear of yet another sailor being forced to make adjustments for power boats and the few who can afford a home on the water. More and more launches are catering to power boats, leaving us sailors fewer and fewer places to do what we enjoy so much. We too stepped down to a small boat because of slip costs, etc. and now find launching sites hard to come by unless one has a motor to get out of a channel or past an useless breaker wall. Let's all hope the high gas prices park the power boats for a good long time. I know there are a lot of them for sale where we live. I wish you all steady winds and blue skys.  

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• Sailboat Guide

JY 15 is a 14 ′ 11 ″ / 4.6 m monohull sailboat designed by Rod Johnstone and built by Nickels Boat Works, Inc. and Hunter Marine starting in 1989.

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)

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Sunfish vs JY15 for beginner

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Hi all- My son (9) learned how to sail a sunfish this summer at camp and really wants to get into sailing. The nearby club has sunfish, jy15 and thistles. We get pretty good winds here (Upstate NY) but they are generally pretty light in the summer. I'm looking for a boat that would be good for learning on that fit the whole family once in a while. I have three boys (9, 7 and 4) and would guess that they will all want to have a chance to go out from time to time. Any opinions? Thanks, Mike  

chau http://35knots.com  

Unless you need to car-top it, I would go with the JY15 for your circumstances. The JY can actually accommodate a good bunch of kids. Our kids used them at sailing camp, too, where they would typically have 2-4 kids on board, and sometimes an instructor. If you wanted to bump it up a bit, the Flying Scot is a good candidate. That's one the whole family can sail in, and bring along a nice picnic basket too.  

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JY15 Class 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? Both

Approximately how many class members do you have? 75

Photo Credit:Randy Burke

Photo Credit:

About JY15 Class Association

The JY15 is a great two person sloop rigged dinghy. Easy to rig, easy to handle, comfortable. Great for a lazy sail or some competitive racing. Designed by Rod Johnstone

Boats Produced: Around 3000

Class boat builder(s):

WindRiderInternational

Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 3000

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

Greatest concentration in Northeast. Also sailed in the Great Lakes area, Texas and California

Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? No

How many people sail as a crew including the helm?  2-4

Ideal combined weight of range of crew:  300

Boat Designed in  Approximately 1989

Length (feet/inches): 15’

Weight of rigged boat without sails: 285

Draft: 3’ centerboard

Mast Height: 22’

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Sail1Design

JY-15 Sailboat

Three forgotten one-design dinghy ghosts.

May 4, 2020 by Sail1Design Editor 1 Comment

Written by Mary Knauth

We are all familiar with the drill of the very dawn of sailing for young children.  Parents eager to either make their kids fall in love with the sport – just as they did – or rather join the Green Fleet at their yacht club because “it’s the thing to do” when you’re a member. The little six-year old’s stand around awkwardly, some shy and intimidated and some overly eager and keen to show off their existing knowledge because they know the bow from the stern. They crowd in the instruction room with their PFD’s cinching up against their chins, sitting in front of the white board.  Here, we will explore three one-class designs through a nostalgic journey of my later childhood growing up in Connecticut.

A nine foot chunky beast of a boat, with a mere 45 square foot sail area, and held together with green weathered brass cotter pins, this simple and easy dinghy is virtually indestructible.  Each dinghy of the fleet is “adopted” by local yacht clubs or families; an annual endowment is donated to the Seaport for the upkeep and maintenance of the fleet.  While monetary donations support the financial wing, it’s also very special for families who adopt a Dyer in memory of deceased loved ones. In essence, the fleet symbolizes a certain spirituality; #51 was adopted in 2010 and named Lissie, in my memory of my mother.  For decades, our local sail loft, Farrar Sails – run by Kevin Farrar since 1986 – has been sewing the sails for the Seaport fleet and is still the sailmaker for the fleet today.  During the summers, the Dyer Dhow fleet can be seen on the Mystic River. The colorful sails dot the river in the mornings and afternoons with sailors attending the Joseph Conrad summer sailing camp.  Every October, the Mystic Seaport holds their annual Dyer Dow Derby: a super fun, semi competitive, regatta to celebrate the Dyer Dhow fleet and tradition because in New England, we are ALL about tradition! For more information, visit the Mystic Seaport Dyer Dhow Fleet Page .

Highlight of the week was always the Friday Inner Tube Triangle: an upwind triangle, and each of the marks was an inner tube, and each inner tube had either an instructor or sailor manning it.  Not only was this super fun for the kids but also for the instructors, and it definitely helped with evening out the summer’s farmer tan! For more information, see the JY15 Class Association website .

One late summer day after sailing practice, I came home to find my family having a Saturday afternoon barbecue, and standing in the yard was Yankee. It was the most beautiful gift a young 16 old girl could ask for.  I sailed it with my mother on the Mystic River, along the shore beside Mystic Seaport. She was striking and robust, a salt of her traditional past.  It must be mentioned that Mystic is not a place where high performance, new hardware, and racing sails are appreciated; granted we still have Wednesday night regattas and die-hard foredeck sailors. In this area of the country, particularly Mystic,  history and tradition of wooden boats are preached about and honored; the authentic art and technical skill that goes into designing them, building them, and maintaining them. We call it the “labor of love”.  It’s challenging sailing an old wooden boat with brass hardware and blown out sails with no battens. Luxury items like aluminum vang packs won’t be found on those older rigs.  But the rough saltiness from sailing these unique, traditional dinghys absolutely extends a certain skill for feeling the boat and how she reacts, feeling puffs and lulls before they hit, they require tenderness, respect, and love. In the 1960’s, the class association voted to allow fiberglass construction, providing a lightweight hull which is highly responsive and excels almost effortlessly in light air. They are still heavily raced today. For more information please visit the Blue Jay Class Association website .

For more information:

Since 1949, Mystic Seaport Museum has run the Joseph Conrad Summer Camp, ages 8 – 15 learn to sail in Dyer Dows during a week long overnight camp.  Campers sleep on the historic square rigged Joseph Conrad, while sailing and living in the 18th century village of the Seaport.  The Seaport is also home to the famous school ship Brilliant, a 62 foot wooden schooner designed by Sparkman & Stephens in 1932, it is the oldest sail education program in the country.  https://www.mysticseaport.org/learn/sailing/

Farrar Sails is headed by Kevin Farrar who has a steeped footprint in one class design sailing.  Kevin started making sails since 1971.  Among many trophies, Kevin – along with crew – won the 2007 IOD Worlds in Nantucket.  The loft uses an advanced CAD sail design process and autoCAD to design custom sails. The loft makes sails for several one class fleets, including 420’s.  http://www.farrarsails.com

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Marlow-Hunter, LLC

The 15 – safe and versatile for everyone.

High freeboard, a raised boom and sturdy FRP construction make the Marlow-Hunter 15 daysailer a safe, versatile boat that both families and greenhorn sailors will love. Designed with the novice in mind, the high sides, contoured self-bailing cockpit, and a comfortable wide beam will lend a confident feeling while under sail. When the kids take to the water, these same design elements will provide peace of mind for the parents as well. The Marlow-Hunter 15 is easy to trailer, rig and launch and will carry a crew of four. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor looking to bang around the buoys or a family on a Sunday outing, the Marlow-Hunter 15 is a fun, versatile boat that fits your sailing lifestyle! The fun begins at just $11,278 retail, however, ask us about our manufacturer’s discount and the savings currently available by buying direct!

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Nickels Boat Works

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JY15 Sailboat

JY understands the weekend warrior in you. You don’t have the time to tinker with a boat…or train 7 days a week. You want to launch your boat and go be a contender. With the JY15, the boat you buy is the boat you race. And because the JY15 is so fun and easy to sail, finding crew is a breeze.

Look around you right now…your crew could be your husband, wife, girlfriend, boyfriend, children or grandchildren. And boy, will they love our crew friendly curves with gunwales designed for comfortable hiking.

With over 80 active fleets and more than 2000 JY15s nationwide, you’ll never have a problem finding someone to play with.

• Self bailing, ergo dynamic cockpit
• Kick up rudder and centerboard for easy beaching
• An extremely stable 275 lb. hull that allows for a greater range of crew weight
• Flared sides provide a comfortable hiking edge
• One Design specifications ensure that every boat is the same
• A planing hull that you’ll never outgrow

The JY15 sailboat is sold "ready to sail" but add-ons are available such as a trailer or dolly.

Dimensions:

• Length: 15'
• Beam: 5' 10"
• Main: 100 sq. ft.
• Jib: 35 sq. ft.
• Mast Height: 22′

Optional Add-ons:

• Trailer: $1695
• Dolly: $511

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