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Sailboat Plans

Free Sailboat Plans

A selection of some of the Free Sailboat Plans (pdf) that were published in magazines such as “Popular Mechanics”, "Popular Science" and the "Boat Builder Handbook".

If you need help with lofting out the plans click here for an article here which should help.

• Open Dayboats/Dinghys
• Rowing Boats

Open/Dayboat, Free Sailboat Plans

Everyone who digs boating has heard of the Hobie Cat, the sleek little catamaran that burst on the scene and captured the attention of all the fast-action sailors.

Marked by asymmetrical hulls and special trampoline supports, the Hobie can reach speeds above 20 mph and perform with a rare agility.

But it has one drawback.

It costs mucho dinero.

Thus, we introduce the Hobby Kat, sailboat plans, a build-it-yourself version of the “Hobie” that should cost from half to a third of the commercial version. If you have the moola, of course, go for a Hobie and have the time of your life on the water.

If not, try our Hobby

The homebuilt is not quite the same.

But she sails sweetly and fast—qualities which have made the “Hobie” popular

Even in a light air she’ll slip through the water at a fast clip.

She has no centreboards, leeboards or keel, and needs none.

The inside of each hull has built-in lift, like an airplane wing, so that as the boat heels and one hull digs in the boat is pulled back to windward.

Click Here for the Plans

She can run in very shallow water and the rudders kick up for beaching.

You can carry her on a trailer or even disassemble her.

Many a “stink pot” addict will take a second look at Tern because she planes in modest breezes, is easy to handle, and her streamlined prow arid pod-shaped, “inland scow” type hull offer slight water resistance. Then too, there’s a charm about the tiller of a sailer that’s not matched by the wheel of a motor-powered boat. Part of it is the challenge of making the most of nature’s free-wheeling breezes. Even with her 72sq.ft of sail, this Free Sailboat Plan is remarkably stable, and packs as many as four persons aboard

For thousands of inland lakes, Tern is the answer to sailing water sport, she is rugged and easy to launch

And she’s remarkably easy to build.

Falcon is a small, speedy, sporty sailboat which handles well. Tests on the original Falcon showed that she could easily out-distance boats of comparable size such as the one design class Snipe and Comet sailers.

And she will pace neck and neck with 18 footers with considerably greater sail spread.

This strong, beamy, eight-foot pram may be sailed either cat-rigged or sloop-rigged.

The dagger-board may be adjusted forward to balance the helm when sailing with the addition of a jib sail.

Oars or a small outboard motor may also be used to power this versatile Free Sailboat Plans.

Dart” is a small two or three person sailing craft, designed for use on protected waters such as bays. lakes, rivers or wherever sheltered waters are found. Its construction will repay the builder handsomely and provide a fast sailing craft, light in weight, easily transportable and cheap to construct with all difficult joinery eliminated

It provides thrilling and economical sport.

The 'Crescent', designed by C. T. Allen, is the ideal sailboat for day sailing on a small lake, river, or protected waters of a bay.

Centreboard design (Fig. 2) reduces Crescent's draft, so Shallow is not a problem.

Its broad beam of over 5½ft. makes it an ideal family boat because there is room for a cockpit large enough to accommodate four adults or two adults and three kids, and side and forward decks big enough to stretch out on when sun bathing.

"Jewel" is a 16' Crescent Sailboat being built by Mike Allen from the free sailboat plans by C.T .Allen in the 1958 "Boat Builders Handbook". And what a superb job Mike is doing check out his photos here .

Click Here for the Free version of the Plans

Sailing enthusiasts and backyard boat builders are not likely to find free boat plans for a sailing pram that can be built faster, lighter, stronger, or less expensively than Graefin-10. Two men can begin work on a Friday evening and have a smart, lively 10-ft. 85-pound sailboat in the water by Sunday evening (it’s been done).

Zephyr Is a refinement of a type of boat developed by the English for use in the rough open waters of the English Channel. Not only is it fast under sail, but it can stand up under punishment. And it’s light enough to be easily loaded atop an auto or light trailer.

Breeze-Baby

Skimming off a brisk wind or with the wind abeam, Breeze-Baby actually planes with one person aboard. Despite her rowboat lines that make her easy to build, she handles easily under her simple sail, an ideal first boat. Simple lines are adapted to plywood construction that’s strong, light and that keeps Breeze-Baby’s bilges dry

You can take her with you atop your car or on a lightweight trailer for summer fun wherever you vacation or get in a week-end’s sailing.

Cat’s Paw is easy to build because of the straight-sided hulls. The sheer line is flat and that simplifies building the form. Bow and stern are straight, so there’s no cockeyed bevel to fit and fuss with

She Is an Ideal boat to learn or practice sailing in because she will forgive so many mistakes.

Cabin Cruiser, Free Sailboat Plans

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Boats plans for self builder - in metric

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Jérôme Delaunay Naval Architect - Nautline design office in naval architecture: I design and draw custom boat and sailboat plans, in plywood epoxy and other materials. Sailboat plans for shipowner construction and professional construction. Plans of multihulls, plans of catamarans, praos and trimarans. CFD hull study, digital hull basin, engine optimization. I offer scantling calculations, keel calculations, mast and rig calculations. Composite sampling calculations. DXF digital plans for CNC digital cutting.

LIST of WOODEN BOAT PLANS – By Michael Storer

Plywood boat plans and wooden canoe plans. sailing dinghy . power . row . paddle . overnight, a boat building course in a book.

Click on an image for more information about our inexpensive, highly detailed boat plans and wooden canoe plans

Viola 14 Sailing Canoe Boat Plan

A sailing canoe to make dinghy sailors happy – 75lbs and for a simple boat, beautiful beyond belief – visit page.

Viola 14 Sailing Canoe is fun and exciting. But easier than a sailing dinghy to transport and store.

Canoe performance and Dinghy stability. 14ft – 75 pounds (34kg)

Viola is extremely stable allowing the crew to stand up and step and unstep the lug rig mast while on the water. Try that in a symmetric paddling canoe hullform! If righted correctly she is almost dry after capsize.

Three Sailing rigs with two piece masts 4.7 and 6.0sqm full batten rigs. 6.3m balance lug with three reefs for distance sailing. 75lb hull. Four sheets 4mm plywood.

More about the Viola 14 Sailing Canoe Plan here

Kits For Viola 14 Canoe Europe – Viola 14 Sailing Canoe Precut Plywood and Timber Kits Americas – Viola 14 Saling Canoe Precut Plywood and Timber Kits

16ft Kombi Sail and Paddle Canoe Plan

A 50/50 Sail and Paddle Canoe for one or two with more stabililty for sailing – visit page

The Kombi Canoe is a development of our recent sailing canoes to bring paddling ability up equal to the sailing ability.

Great for families as it can be used as a pure paddling canoe, but also sail well with one or two adults aboard.

More about the Kombi Sail and Paddle Canoe here.

NEW Plan – Mini Outriggers for Adding stability to sailing canoes and small dinghies

The Mini Outriggers are to add stability to a sailing canoe or small dinghy and aid stability to reduce the risk of capsize on other relatively slender boats.

They are set above the water to allow a sailing canoe or narrow dinghy to be sailed normally .

More about the Mini Outriggers here.

Taal Stand Up Paddleboard in Plywood

Both speed and stability at the same time.

A beautiful plywood Stand Up Paddleboard designed for distance paddling.

The user feels the stability, the water thinks it is a low drag pintail. 12ft

We created a board that hits the numbers for a good canoe or rowboat. Less wetted surface with a stable midsection and excellent weight carrying.

12ft and Stable for beginners but with the low drag of a kayak/pintail type hull (see the stern photos).

More about the Taal Touring Stand Up Paddleboard Plan here

Goat Island Skiff Sail Boat Plan

Simple, modern performance and famous worldwide.

Justifiably famous.

Simple to build but light, fast, pretty.  Fast with 1 to 4 adults

Rows and Motors and will sail rings around other character boats. 15.8ft

More information about the Goat Island Skiff Plan Facebook Group for asking questions about the Goat Island Skiff

Quick Canoe 155 – build in 2 weekends

Very simple plywood canoe that handles well and looks right.

Quick DIY wooden canoe that works better than most flat-bottomed canoes and many fibreglass ones.

Even looks good on the beach. 15.5ft

First one took the builder 4 1/2 hours to get on the water – but most take 2 weekends. Half the weight of many fibreglass canoes. Lighter than most plastic. 55lbs from big store plywood. Another took 5 1/2 hours .

It has been designed to be as easy to build as possible while keeping most of the qualities of a nice paddling wooden canoe.

In particular the ability to track – excellent first boat plan. Click here for a comparison between our fast and our classic paddling canoe plans

More Information about the plywood Quick Canoe Plan

Eureka Canoe – Classic Plywood Canoe Plan

Light and lovely to paddle. simple plywood boat plan.

Light on the land, Prettiest Plywood or wooden Canoes anywhere. 15.5ft

Excellent distance touring boats.

15’6″, simple construction for a wooden canoe. 32 – 45lbs (15 to 20kg)

Click here for a comparison between our paddling canoe plans.

Click here for more information about the Eureka Plywood Canoe

Quick Canoe Electric Cargo Canoe Plan

Wooden cargo canoe for electric trolling motor 34lbs thrust.

5 to 6mph using a 34lb thrust Minn Kota or other electric trolling motors. DIY plywood canoe for fishing and roof racking.

Keeps the simplicity and low materials cost of the Quick Canoe Family. 15.5ft

Cartop transport. Very detailed Wooden Canoe Plans.

Click here for more information about the Plywood Quick Canoe Electric

Oz Goose Light Family and Club Sail Boat Plan

Low-cost family sailing dinghy, regattas and club training and learn to sail.

The Oz Goose is a small boat that is super easy to build.

Cruising or teaching with three adults or excellent club racing performance sailing with 1 or 2 in the boat. 12ft

The famous line is we can build 10 of these in the Philippines for the price of importing a single Laser sailboat. Boat speeds are very matched for excellent tactical racing when not heading off for a family picnic with two adults and a bunch of kids aboard

For training, the goose will carry an instructor and two adults to sail with good sensitivity and speed. In stronger winds, we commonly see downwind speeds of 10 to 13knots and sometimes much more.

Also, visit the  Oz Goose Group on Facebook More information about the Plywood Oz Goose – see the website

“BETH” Sailing Canoe – Elegant plywood boat plan

Simple, brilliant performance – one person cartop – sailing canoe portability.

A touch of the 1870s but fast about as much fun as is possible on a plywood boat. 

Yawl Rig with speed – a wooden canoe that can scare the Lasers at your local club .

Racing dinghy experience recommended! 

A small boat for amateur boat building that is light enough for one person to roofrack 70lbs plywood canoe hull. Sailing Canoe boat plan

Click here for more about the  plywood BETH Sailing Canoe Plan

Drop-in sail Rig Plan for Canoes and Kayaks

Convert a canoe or dinghy into a serious sailboat.

Convert most Kayaks or Canoes into an INSTANT SAILBOAT.

Everything removes as one unit except for the mast step

Also fits some rowing dinghies that are small or narrow.

Very cheap beginners plan.

Read more about the Drop-In Sailing Rig Boat Plan

Drop in Outrigger Canoe conversion Plan

Convert canoe, kayak or dinghy to a fast sailboat trimaran with amas..

Create a paddle or sailing outrigger canoe from a fibreglass or wooden Canoe or Kayak.

Even an elderly Grumman!

Convert your old canoe into an awesome sailing machine or fishing or diving platform.

Each component is under 10 pounds and everything removes cleanly from the boat apart from 4 small fittings and a mast step.

These Amas and crossbeams work for fibreglass and wooden canoes and dinghies, Fibreglass, Aluminium and some plastic canoes.

Performance sailing (see the video on the plan page ) or as a stable fishing platform or to make a super quick sailing multihull.

If you buy the plywood boat plan for the outriggers there is a free supplement available to set it up for sailing. Very cheap plan for a big boost in performance.

Find out how to convert your canoe, kayak or dinghy to a fast sailing outrigger canoe

Handy Punt – simple fishing punt Boat plan

Light cartop load, simple to build and stable – ideal first plywood boat plan.

Outboard motored Punts are the simplest plywood boats.

Good performance, easy construction, stable fishing platforms.

And lightweight for cartopping on roof racks.

An easy first boat plan for first-time boatbuilders.

6 to 8hp – 10 in some regions

Click here to find out more Outboard Punt Boat Plan

Russki Wave Ski, Surf Ski, Sit Down Paddleboard Boat Plan

Easy to build sit down paddleboard from two sheets ply.

Simple plywood waveski or paddleboard from two sheets of plywood.

Paint it and keep it on the car roof ready for use after work.

Small light boats usually are used more frequently than complicated and expensive boats.

Find out more about the Russki Plywood Wave Ski Plan

15 1/2 ft Storer Rowing Skiff Plan

Easy pretty plywood rowing skiff plan for oar.

Simple lightweight rowing skiff for one person and maybe a passenger based on the Goat Island Skiff.

Or Adult and a couple of kids.

Pretty and quick rowing boat on the water.

Simple lightweight rowing skiff for one person and maybe a passenger or a couple of kids. Based on the Goat Island Skiff. I used to get enquiries about using the Goat Island Skiff sailboat hull for rowing. It does row well but blows around too much.

This is much, much better. Pretty and quick rowing boat on the water.

Find out more about the plywood Rowboat Plan

Dayboat/Launches Boat Plan Bundle 23 plus 27ft (7/8.4m) Venezia

Boat plans for two simple prefabricated cruisers for low power outboard in one package – 23 and 27ft.

Picnic boat, party boat, river-cruiser, camp aboard, mini home-away-from-home. 

Cuts through river and lake chop with zero bouncing and pitching.

Pack includes 23 and 27ft Dayboat versions in one plan pack includes Venezia below.

Simple plywood construction. 10 or 15hp 4-stroke for 8 to 10 knots. Venezia and Dayboat Launch Boat Plan Package

More about the 23ft Plywood Dayboat/Launch Boat Plan

“Venezia” 27ft trailerable canal boat

Stretched version of 23ft – both included in the plan above.

An 8.2m (27ft) boat for gentle cruising in rivers and canals.

Great appearance, sleeping accom., separate toilet – your layout.

10 to 15hp 4-stroke. 2 wooden cruising motor boat plans for the price of one –  Venezia and Dayboat Launch Boat Plan Package

Read more about the 27ft Venezia cruiser canal boat plan

TC35 Riverboat – Prefab, Economical Liveaboard for Two

Minimal liveaboard plywood boat 35ft.

Very economical, near wakeless cruising motorboat.

Light on the gas and light on building materials.

Revised wooden boat plan for an extremely economical, efficient low horsepower riverboat.

35ft. 1 x 15hp or 2 x 10/15hp. Simple Prefab Plywood Construction.

Find out more about the TC35 River Cruiser Plywood boat plan.

OZ RACER – 8ft Sailing Dinghies. 

Smaller versions of the 12ft oz goose sailing dinghy – 8ft for easier storage..

12ft Oz Goose  for Capacity and Performance

• Same easy construction
• Same Sail and Foils
• Much higher performance
• Much larger capacity

OzRacer RV 8ft – General purpose version

OzRacer RV is the same small boat hull but with more space in the cockpit and is a slightly simpler build.

4 sheets plywood.

These Boat plans are a modern boatbuilding course in a book. Capacity 1 adult and one child or maybe 2 adults

Find out more about the OzRacer RV

OZ RACER Mk2 8ft – Race Version

OzRacer Mk 2 has a centreboard for more performance but a bit less room for extra crew.

Three sheets plywood. Simple Plywood Boat Plans. Capacity 1 adult and one child or maybe 2 adults

Find out more

Free plans Oars and Single Paddle & Double paddles.

Simplified paddles and oars based on classic designs – free plan.

• Free Plans for Wooden Oars
• Single Paddles
• Double Paddles.

I didn’t want to charge extra for nice paddles to go with our nice wooden Canoe plans

Download Free Oar and Paddle Plans from this page.

Tips and Tricks for Boatbuilding, Woodwork, Use of epoxy.

CLICK HERE for many helpful articles about the selection of materials, boatbuilding and boat repair techniques. All to help home boatbuilders.

The Master list of Articles we have written to explain and help out home boatbuilders

Blog Articles about a whole range of design, building, sailing technique articles.

57 thoughts on “LIST of WOODEN BOAT PLANS – By Michael Storer”

Dear Michael Storer, After purchasing your design of the Viola 14 I am in the process of building now and looking for the sail plan for the 6.3m lugger sail which is not in the building description. Can I find the sail plan somewhere on the website or can I get it in another way? Thanks in advance and best regards, René

For these sorts of questions it is best to use the email on the cover of the plan set or the facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/storerboatplans/

But having seen this now I will send this to you.

Best Regards Michael.

Hello Michael,

it is possibel to get a Plan from your Goat island Skiff but 50% bigger and with a standard Rigg with Fock and main sail ?

Best regards Volker

No, I am a afraid it isn’t possible. It changes so many things that it becomes a new design. I choose new designs on the basis of how many I feel I’m likely to sell. I am interested in designing a bigger boat but it won’t be for some time. Maybe years. But there are other excellent designs that may suit your needs. Have a look at B & B designs. Similar performance type but already bigger and with and without a cabin.

Best Regards

Hello,, Michael, I am interested in building a hull like your Handy Punt, but at a length of 14 to 16 feet and a maximum width of 5’11”. (48-inch width would be adequate.) These dimensions are dictated by the covered slip where the boat would live. I will customize the interior for fishing in a 100-acre lake that does not allow gasoline motors. It can be lifted by an electric hoist for storage. Power would be a Minn Kota bow-mounted trolling motor with 80 pound thrust. It would be laid out for two-person fishing. Pilot would sit in the front to steer motor and consult bow-mounted sonar. Passenger would be in rear on chair or bench. It would need two 12-volt marine batteries. Could this work?

Increasing the length doesn’t really create any significant problems if another bulkhead is put in somewhere.

But increasing the beam creates all sorts of structural loads not anticipated in the original. It would no longer be a Handy Punt, but an original design from you. That’s not necessarily a bad thing – but there are risks involved.

Cheers Michael

interested in building a handy punt catamaran using an enlarged ozgoose plan 16 x 4 making the air chambers 2 x16 for the pontoons for a outboard motor of fairly low hp I am thinking 20 hp

It is possible to modify plans.

Yours is either the glory or the recriminations – or possibly both :)

Hi Michael Do you have any 17ft plans for coastal camping and cruising? David Australia.

I don’t.

I would suggest looking at John Welsford, B and B yachts and Iain Oughtred designs.

All good designers of very different styles of boats.

hello Michael,

would you be the man formerly behind Q-Craft ? If so, can I get your advice regarding the 3-person canoe model. There’s a used one for sale nearby and our buying decision based more on price than anything else. Being fibreglass, weight’s the prob but I’ve owned the same Canadian type many years ago so know what we’re in for at least. Solely calm waters intended for our paddling Appreciate your feedback if appropriate

I’m afraid I have never had any connection with Q-craft.

Hey Michael,

I recently bought your GIS plans, and then I found out that you may have a smaller version in the works. Will that be available any time soon?

Hi Rick, No, the timeframe is quite long term to get another plan fully documented. Probably 100 pages to write, lots of illustrations, drawings etc

God day Michael ! I am following the VUELTA (cycling Tour of Spain) and I enjoyed for 10 mn ago seing the young Australian Michael Storer winning the very hard “etape” (day competition). He had to climb the last mountain with two others guys 100 yards back and the suspense was terrible until the line, but this Aussie was a tiger today. Conclusion : two Michael Storer on top of the wave in Australia now ! (I enjoy your boats and I love Australia – living in Cottesloe, Perth, in the last century).

Thankyou Yves!

I don’t actually have many namesakes. For years the only Storers in the Sydney phone book were my family and my Aunt.

But other Storers have clearly been more (re)productive!

Best Regards and thankyou for the kind words.

Hi Michael I’m finally (FINALLY!!) building the Eureka Canoe. I purchased the plans way back – this is the set from 2006 (!) – but I wanted to check the temporary spreader dims for the higher volume boat. In the plans I have, it’s middle spreader = 857mm, and 2 end spreaders = 646mm. What are the higher volume dims?

Hi Richard … Send you an updated copy. Ah … was good fun living in Adelaide!

Hello, I have decided that my next boat to build will be a Shanty Houseboat as a retirement project, some place to live and be near fish, ya know? But, my journey in boat building started back somewhere in 2005 in Balad, Iraq. I was deployed at the time and was having severe anxiety so I did some meditation to calmer, more serene places and times, which eventually led me to a particularly fine memory of about 10 yrs old. Then, I was the middle child of 3 to a single mother on welfare, which did not afford many options on luxury or entertainment. I am sure you’ve heard the tale a thousand times already… I had a friend, named Eddie Dean, who’s Mother had a boyfriend who wanted to take her sailing. Being a single mother also, she couldn’t leave the kid behind, so they took me as a playmate. I had never been on a “real” boat in my life up until that time (a couple of ‘canoes’ at Six Flags, maybe.) I cannot even tell you the color at this point. But we went sailing, night sailing also, and it was a hidden, joyous memory for me! Fast forward to the war, and I find myself struggling for sanity in an insane place. I find that gem and I latch onto it like nothing else, this was my ‘safe’ place! I order “Sailing for Dummies” from Amazon, Sailor-talk Flashcards, and a book on knot-tying. I am determined, I am going SAILING again!!! Yet, I am in a desert and don’t have a boat… So, when I rotated back to the World, I do research and find the PDR, easy enough. Then I find the OZ version of that boat, which is the FIRST boat I built! Before this, the ONLY thing I had ever built out of wood, was a lopsided bookshelf in 8th Grade woodshop. A truly tragic abuse of wood, in hindsight. Your plans were straight forward, easily read and thorough. It was an immense pleasure to craft something from nothing. I took a month on it because I did not understand some terminology. More research… Once she was built and rigged, I still didn’t have a name. I floated her on the south marina of Willard Bay, Utah and dubbed her “OMGIF” (Oh My God, It Floats!) Afterwards, I applied all the book learning and taught myself how to sail. It wasn’t all peaches and cream, I had underbuilt some things and over estimated my skill A LOT! But, it was a GREAT beginner boat! I even taught all the “feral and orphan” children (this is a generic term for ALL kids that are not mine) around the neighborhood, those that were willing to learn, how to sail. I eventually gifted the boat to the prodigy for his 10th birthday. Since that first incursion into boat building, I have built 3 more: 2 day-sailers and a sloop, cabin cruiser, which I now currently own NONE! My ex-wife would let me build them, but not sail them. She is NOT an issue anymore

So, to make a short story long, I have been searching for a tender- type fishing platform for the Shanty I will build. I am quite excited about the prospect of a 12′ OZ sailer to fill that function, and I cannot wait to start building!

You do good work Sir, I thank you for it!

PS. Not that it really matters, but I posted on the PDR website 2 records the year I built my OMGIF: Highest Elevation and Fastest Speed. Was quite proud until I realized that I was the ONLY person that posted that year. So, to cure my depression, I also posted a PDR World Record for the Pinkest Boat! (mine was green…)

That is all excellent!

Congratulations on your records!

We have a great and active Oz Goose group on Facebook – if you use facebook. https://web.facebook.com/groups/opengoose/

Hugely useful.

Best Regards and Good Luck with the next project

Hi Gary, Wayne, Michael – I am also interested in outriggers+Kombi. has anyone pursued this idea? If one were to go down this route, are there any design considerations that need to be in mind from the beginning? Is the only real change to the Kombi increasing the mast diameter to 60mm? With the increased stability of the outriggers, is there any merit to considering the larger rig from the Viola instead of the standard Kombi rig? Or would this throw other things out of balance? Thanks, Colin

There are other ways to go with outriggers.

The idea from Solway Dory of smaller hulls gives a lot more reserve stability – plus they can be kept out of the water most of the time for a negligible effect on performance.

the mast would not need to be changed over either.

Look up the Solway Dory Outriggers on Google and see what you think. This is also a better topic for email.

hi Mik Following Garys query about outriggers for Kombi and/or Viola. I have been thinking for a while about an rooftoppable allrounder for our extended road/camping trips in the campervan. So all in protected water, two septigenerians with one “boaty” and one a “tourist.. Single or tandem paddling (rivers estuaries and such) Sailing (safe not high performance) Fishing.(again safe platform) Of course such a wish list threatens to result in something that doesnt do anything very well. When Viola appeared I thought this could be it? But a bit wide for paddling, a bit flighty and a bit heavy. The along came Kombi! And I already have your drop in outrigger plans…Perfect! Could you perhaps suggest a layout for a Kombi Tri including any hull mounting reinforcement. As we age needs change and I am going to jury rig a couple of amas to the GIS this summer as a proof of concept experiment. I hope thats not too “rude”. The Kombi Tri I would build as a package , concept already proved. Thanks Wayne Fremantle

The Kombi is the boat for this use pattern. Mast diameter will have to go up to 60mm to handle the greater stability from the outriggers.

I would suggest setting up two spreader bars set the same distance apart as the outrigger crossbeams with the mounting points for the outrigger tie downs just behind the spreader bars.

For hull mounting reinforcement for the crossbeam tie downs a piece of ply at each point 50 wide by 75 to make a pad for through bolts and a “saddle” or “deck eye” using 3/16″ Bolts (or 5mm metric).

I think it would be quite a satisfactory boat. I would definitely carry paddles as I suspect the tacking technique will be like a roll tack for the standard Kombi so it will spin fast. With the outriggers it may be a bit sluggish … or maybe it will be fine. Also there is a free supplement written for buyers of the outrigger plan to alter the crossbeam curve to match canoes with lower freeboard. That would match the Kombi too.

Mr.Storer, I am thinking about combining your drop in outriggers with either the new Combi or the Viola sailing canoe. Has it been done? Your thoughts? Thanks, Gary Moore

Hi Gary, It will put a lot more load on the hull because of the large increase in stability.

It might be OK. The mast diameters would probably need a slight increase.

Hi I’m interested in the possibilities of cruising in a Goose and sleeping under a boat tent, for which the rectangular hull would be very well suited. Would it be possible to move the daggerboard case to the side – even against the buoyancy tank, perhaps – and narrow the bottom of the frame so it doesn’t dig in to your legs, in the interests of comfortable sleeping? Thanks.

There are some options.

If you have facebook, Thomas Newton made some changes that seem to have worked out well removing the need for the centrecase bulkhead and associated seat.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1622720037971725/search?q=thomas newton

Hi, Michael !

I am interested to learn how many plywood sheets go in 27ft Venezia and 35ft TC35 builds. And also the TC35 resulting hull weight estimate. Can you share on that?

Kind regards, Aleksei

Hi Aleksei,

Here are the plywood quantities.

12mm x 2 9mm x 57 6mm x 4 4mm x 1

– there will be some variation here as the interior layout can be changed substantially by each builder. 12mm x 1 9mm x 20 6mm x 28 4mm x 3

Best wishes Michael.

Dear Michael,

I wish to build a Mundoo electric boat for european canals, but I can’t find the plans. Is it available? Thanks in advance,

Pal Horvath

You need to contact DuckFlat Wooden Boats in Adelaide Australia.

Their website is duckflatwoodenboats dot com (change the dot to a . and remove the spaces)

I was simply employed as a draftsman for that project. It is not one of my designs.

Thanks for the reply Michael.

I’m actually one step ahead and already had a good look over your pages of sailing tips! Really good stuff that simplifies everything considerably, especially in regards to point of sail.

The reason I chose the RV was purely for space reasons. I figure that if I ever get to a point where I’m longing for the extra size of the goose, I can always sell the RV and build a goose. I’ll never turn down the chance to build something.

Another question I had was in regards to whether the RV is suitable for roof rack transportation? I couldn’t find any info on the weight of the RV and whether this would be a viable option. Not having to buy a trailer would also cut down on costs :)

No problem at all with the principle of cartopping the OzRacer (or the Goose).

It can be tricky to find roof racks for some modern cars that can handle even the 70 odd pounds of the OzRacer RV hull. But if you can do that, then no problem.

Hi Michael,

I’ve never sailed before, however i’ve recently taken an interest in sailing after coming across various youtube videos on boatbuilding. I then went down the rabbit hole and started digesting countless books, researched terminology and watched demonstrational videos. However, I obviously don’t have the practical experience.

I’m particularly interested in the Oz Racer RV, mainly due to the simplicity of the build, but also because I can easily store and transport the boat. This also seems like a great beginner boat.

My big question however is would you recommend I take sailing lessons before building and sailing the RV? I don’t have a lot of money, so i’m in a bit of a dilemma about whether I spend money on learning to sail or building the boat and teaching myself to sail through research and practice alone.

Thanks! Drew

Sailing lessons don’t hurt at all.

But I would also have a careful look through the basics of my online lessons as they are closer to the state of the art than many sailing schools.

There has started to be large difference between what is taught and what the best sailors are using.

The importance is that the methods of the best sailors actually make sailing easier and make it easier to extend a beginner/intermediate sailor into the stronger wind ranges.

Many courses have moved with the times. But many have not.

Also, have you considered the 12ft Oz Goose. http://opengoose.com/plans/oz-goose-2016-plan-now-available-from-our-agents/

The biggest reason for choosing the shorter OzRacer 8ft is the storage after building. The cost is only a little more because the sail and everything above the decks and the fittings etc are all identical. Building difficulty and time is identical too – about an hour different actually)

Hi Michael, Thanks for your prompt reply. I replied yesterday but had issues with my browser. Anyways a putt putt boat is fine and the ability to trailer the boat is paramount. Getting down around southern moreton bay or the Noosa river, lake Cootharaba. Do you know of any builds in my neck of the woods, sunshine coast. Kindest Regards Tony

Hi Anthony,

There are/were two in South Australia on the Murray River and lakes and one in NSW on the Hawkesbury River .

But none in Queensland as of yet.

Hi Michael, Would your Dayboat come launch Venezia handle Moreton Bay. That is the water from say inner Bribie Island through the Moreton Bay Islands to Runaway Bay?

Kind Regards Tony

With the high thrust 10hp Yamaha it has substantial grunt. But despite the cabin you really need to think about it in terms of being like the old open Putt Putts.

There would be conditions that would be unwise to go out in, but plenty of conditions and parts of the bay that would be available as they are quite protected.

It would start to get tricky heading up to the North part of the Bay parallel with Moreton Island with one of the strong North Easters. But down toward the South you would just pick the location relative to the water conditions on the same day.

Best wishes Michael

hi Michael .way back in 1979. I bought plans for optimus maximus from you. I got to the frame complete stage, then a friend took over construction. as I moved to australia, He and his 3 boys finished and sailed it Often beating my brother and his sons in their bought sail boat. and had a lot of fun in the process

I think Optimus Maximus was designed by my friend John Welsford.

I will send his contact details to your email.

Best wishes. MIK

Hi, so it’s me, my wife (who is not a huge fan of sailing), and our 3.5 yr old son.. I’m trying to figure if I should build a eureka canoe for our family outings, and then the amas and sail rig for me to sail .. or.. go for the Viola 14 and hope we can all fit for short outings on lakes and ponds.. could we all fit for a paddle in the Viola? Also, how does sailing performance compare with Eureka and amas, vs Viola? With this crazy pandemic, seems like a good time to build a boat out in the carport!

The Viola will be OK while your son is really small. I designed it around being optimal for one adult. But I left enough margin for decent sailing performance with two adults providing they are not too large. Maybe it tops out at around 350 pounds or a bit more. With that weight it won’t be a great paddling boat but would be fine for messing around in a bay or a couple of miles in good weather with that weight. One up the Viola paddles pretty well, but it not optimum so will drop behind a proper paddling boat.

The Eureka or Quick Canoe would have a much better ability to travel as a paddling boat with the family. If adding the drop in outriggers it makes sense to leave out the central spreader on these canoes and put two spreaders at the same distance apart as the crossbeams of the drop in rig but a couple of inches forward of the crossbeam locations.

As far as performance. The Eureka with outriggers will have a significant and sole advantage when reaching. But upwind and running the Viola will have significant advantages as it is set up like a racing dinghy.

With the outriggers a 60 to 70sf sail seems to be about right. There is one in the free supplement for the buyers of the outrigger plan but we also make one at our sister business Really Simple Sails

The thing with the drop in outrigger setup is that not to fixate on pointing high. Get heaps of speed and then point up without losing the speed. If light winds sit to heel to leeward so the leeward hull is well immersed. Or make a leeboard for the eureka.

Hi Michael, Thank you so much for all the information! The Eureka with outriggers and sailing setup seems like the right way to go I think, especially fur versatility, plus allowing more people aboard comfortably .. One more question.. what type of sail setup do you recommend for the Eureka in the 60 to 70sf range? I’ve seen bermuda rigs and gunter rigs on this type of canoe and outrigger arrangement .. I couldn’t find the specific sail on the sail makers website.. just trying to cost out this option to see if I can afford to add the sail .. thank you! Hope you are well RP

A basic sail is part of the free supplement available to purchasers of the outrigger plan. It provides a mast support built into the front crossbeam a flatter crossbeam curve to suit the Eureka and other boats and dimensions of a homemade lateen sail to be made of polytarp, or even regular sailcloth.

Our partner business Really Simple Sails does a 70sf lug sail. However we are stuck down with quarantine which I think will add a month

to the normal 10 week timeline at this time of year. In Northern hemisphere winter it goes down to 4 weeks. That sail is USD392 at this point April 2020

Maybe that will fit in with your timeline unless you are a very fast builder.

Hi Michael, I’ve got a Laser Radial sail mast and boom setup, and I’m wondering if you thought this could work well on the Eureka canoe with outriggers, with plans on building a leeboard setup. Also wondering if I should go with the larger volume and wider Eureka. Would this sail better with the outriggers? Harder to paddle? Thanks! RP

It will be a bit big as the wind gets stronger but sparkling performance in up to 12knots of breeze. Might be exciting by the time the wind is at 15 and hard to sail in much more than that.

Could trial it with the full rig and then get a local sailmaker to cut some sail off the bottom if it is too frisky and cut a similar length off the bottom of the mast.

Another way, though not very good upwind would be to wrap the sail around the mast a few times when the wind gets up. Though the sail shape will become a big baggy for going upwind well.

There is also a supplement for the Eureka and other canoes as the freeboard can be a bit low for the drop in outriggers. I provide a drawing on request for making a mod and it also includes how to build the upper mast support into the front crossbeam.

Hi Michael, Sorry just one more question about Eureka (or I guess all of your plans in general) Do you mail a full size printed pattern to trace the cuts from? If not how do you transfer the lines to a larger scale from the manual to plywood? Thanks! RP

The plan itself is more like an instruction book for boatbuilding techniques to build the particular boat. Do the steps one by one and you will have the boat.

The method for marking out is super accurate and has a failsafe.

Basically you draw straight lines across the narrow width of the ply sheets at a set interval – dotted vertical lines in drawing below. 300mm apart. Blue is the plywood. Green is the curve of the panel. The dimensions are purple.

Then put the end of the tape on the edge of the plywood and measure along each dotted line (it will be a solid line on the ply). Put a mark at the distances from the edge shown in the plan. After marking the points on the first line vertical line, do the same for the second line and so on to make a series of dots in a curve.

Finally put a thin nail in each of the measured points and use the piece of timber from the plan list as a batten and a pencil to “Join the dots” or nails in this case to make each curve.

If there is an error it will stand out either when you stand at the end of the sheets and look along the line, or the batten will tell you the point is out of place.

If the point is out of place it is very likely a misread or a mismeasure as most of my plans have been corrected over time. But if it isn’t then you can contact me and see if I made a mistake. The CAD plans on the computer are super accurate, but sometimes a dimension arrow can be a little off.

with the article , images of the trimaran canoe – what is the canoe design. Is it a Eureka . If i wanted to build a trimaran canoe, what centre hull design would you suggest?

There are many centre hulls that are suitable. Many canoes as long as you can attach the strong points for the crossbeam lash down points. So almost any variation of wood, fibreglass or aluminium. Plastic canoes may be difficult but some claim great successes with the WEST system G-flex epoxy.

The Eureka or either the Paddling version of the Quick Canoe or the Electric version of the Quick Canoe would all be suitable. s

Good Day- i would like to chat to Michael about some design work. Is there any direct contact info for him many thanks wayne

For which type of waters(salt or fresh) was the Gooze designed? This never occurred to me until someone told me that I could navigate north on the “Rio Grande de Loiza” river and exit out into the sea, turn right, after some time I would see the exit of “Rio Espiritu Santo ” river and turn right again to go south on that river which heads inland or vice a versa (depending on wind directions on that time of the day).

Hi LAlverio,

The Oz Goose can be out sailing any time that other sailing dinghies are out. It can go conditions that are a bit rougher than many conventional dinghies will not handle well.

The goose is very stable and that stability gives it a lot of power. Also if you do capsize the Goose comes back up with no water inside.

This article about sailing in stronger winds and rough water from the Oz Goose Website may be useful for background.

If you mean the Ooze Gooze, the cabin version by Perttu Korhonen it has less capability than the Oz Goose in rough water.

Best Wishes Michael

Hello sir, I am in the process of converting my 12′ wood sailing dinghy to the Oz Goose balanced lug sail. I have purchased from Duckworks the sail and hardware kit and now I wish to build the wood mast, boom and yard. Can you tell me where I might locate and/or purchase the plans for these alone as I don’t need the entire boat plans, just the wood spars. Thank you

I have provided basic information on our Really Simple Sails website for each of the five stock sails we sell through Duckworks. https://reallysimplesails.com/rss-stock-lug-sails-other-boats/

It lists the spar lengths and cross sections in timber for each of our stock sails. It also provides guidelines for Aluminium or timber spars.

If you need details on how to actually make the parts (and a lot more including accurate foils) the Oz Goose plan is USD40. A boatbuilding course in a book.

Best Regards Michael

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Affordable Sailboats You Can Build at Home

‍ Key Takeaways

• There are many sailboats that anyone can build from home depending on tastes
• Budget will be the biggest deciding factor on a majority of the process
• Consider kits that come with most of what you need or choose ones that are all-inclusive
• Design complexities and new materials may make the building time process longer
• Plan the best you can ahead of time to save money and your working hours

‍ Buying a sailboat can be expensive, but building your own can save you money. So what are sailboats you can build from home?

Sailboats that you can build from home will likely be a small boat under 20 feet. These could be from many different boat suppliers such as B&B Yachts, Brooks Boat Designs, and Chase Small Craft. Boat plans will vary based on your budget and how much time you have on your hands.

Based on my previous experience, building your own boat will take much longer than if a professional were to do it. You also have to be able to study plans, consider various sailboat designs, and have tons of supplies such as fiberglass tape or fiberglass cloth. On top of that, you will also have to be good with your hands.

Table of contents

‍ Top 10 Affordable Sailboats Anyone Can Build at Home

Building your own pocket cruiser or other styles from boat plans is an impressive feat, as this will need dedicated time and money to assure your boat sails safely. Boat building takes a lot of patience as well, especially since this will not be completed in a fast manner.

Finding boat plans and materials that fit your budget will be key to being able to complete the project. The time it takes to complete these projects will vary on your overall experience and needs. Below are 10 of the most affordable sailboats that you can build in the comfort of your home.

B&B Yachts

B&B Yachts have 14 different boat plans you can choose from to find the boat of your desires. Their shop is located along the Bay River in North Carolina where they construct all of the kits and have a 100 foot dock to show off your project once you complete it.

One popular model to check out is their Core Sound 15, as it is the perfect size for those wanting to build a modest size boat for a handful of people on board. Their website features some videos of completed projects and the plans or kits for purchase.

• 14 different models to choose from plus some dinghies
• Various monohull and multihull options
• Friendly customer service with attractive prices
• Might be too many options for some that are indecisive
• Not ideal for those wanting to have a motor sailer

Brooks Boat Designs

Brooks Boat Designs has a handful of options to consider for your next sailboat building project. They are located in Brookline, Maine and give the option to buy the kits or have them build one from scratch for you. They have plenty of knowledge, so do not be shy to ask about modifications or custom features you are looking for.

Depending on your specifics, they can attempt to accommodate some of their plans to help fit your desired outcome. By checking out their site, you can see many examples of their construction in progress and what the boats will look like when completed.

• Offers a variety of kits
• Plans vary around $50 and up, while materials will obviously add more costs
• Some plans can be rowing boats that can convert to sailboats
• Might take a while to hear back from them, as their contact section is a little outdated
• Their plans may not accommodate a ton of extras for your taste

Chase Small Craft

Chase Small Craft offers a simple process for building boats. Their kits are equipped with everything you need and will help save you time than just buying the materials outright and other parts you could need. This is arguably one of the best bang for buck instances if you want to save time and money searching for pieces to your boat.

They are located in Saco, Maine and will ship everything to your home from there. All the necessary materials are included and all you need are the proper tools and working space.

• All-inclusive kits with what you need
• Tons of knowledge on their site for boat building
• Easy process to order and customize
• Complete kits can range over $20,000 for larger boats
• Kits may take up to eight weeks to ship out

Chesapeake Light Craft

You can expect high-quality boat kits from Chesapeake Light Craft . They feature 18 different sailboat kits that vary from eight to 20 feet in length. This should be more than enough to find one for you if you are newer to boat building.

They also have a wide variety of other kits in addition to the sailboat, in the event that you wanted to order a small kayak or paddleboard in addition to your sailboat. The prices vary considerably when considering a small or larger boat, so check the complete list of options to in order to potentially fit your needs.

• Plenty of sailboat offerings to choose from
• Different beautiful hull form options to consider
• Easy to build and perfect for sailing
• Only has basic materials needed for kit, so you may need to purchase other items
• Has epoxy shipping fee no matter if you pick up item

Dudley Dix Yacht Design

Dudley Dix Yacht Design has an extensive list of plywood and single skin sailing boat options. They have plenty of sail plans and kits to consider depending on your goals. These follow a classic look for sailboats, which are aesthetically pleasing.

If you are wanting one to accommodate a small family, they have more than plenty to look through. The cost is not as bad compared to others, but keep in mind that you may need to throw in your own supplies or specific tools to get the job done.

• Plans start at $30 and range up to $7,500 or more for kits
• More than enough of options to consider
• Affordable variety of sailboat offerings
• Might be too many options for those new to sailing
• Most are wood without the use of aluminum or steel

Farrier Marine

If you are in search of a multihull to build, then Farrier Marine is what you need. They offer a unique folding catamaran that is trailerable and give you the option to build it yourself. This not only makes it an appealing option, but anyone can take this multihull boat wherever they want with ease.

It features a thorough construction guide once you receive all of the materials. These also come with stainless steel fasteners and an aluminum mast for high-quality materials. Pricing will vary since you must request which model type you are considering.

• Ability to build a unique catamaran
• In-depth construction guide to help
• Easily handled and trailerable
• Price may be too high
• Limited offerings since only a few multihull options

Glen-L Marine Designs

Building a boat from Glen-L Marine Designs can save you time and money. They feature an easy system to order and receive the kits, as well as an in-depth guide to building them. This is an appealing option compared to most boat kit sellers.

The beauty about Glen-L is that anyone can build these from scratch, so you do not have to be the best boat builder in the world to get it done. They offer guides and helpful insights from their team to point you in the right direction. Plans vary around $15, while kits can range well over $1,000 depending on boat size.

• Nearly 50 designs to choose from
• Complete guide to help anyone build it
• Plenty of price points depending on size
• Might be overwhelming with the amount of options
• Could take a while to get parts since they are popular

John Welsford Boat Designs

John Welsford Boat Designs invites new and veteran boat builders that want a taste of quality small wooden boats. The boat plans are designed to meet your specifications and are catered to your desires.

There are seven sailboat designs to choose from so you do not feel overwhelmed in the process. However, they do not sell kits all the time, so you would need to have the materials or be on the lookout for the best prices when they are available.

• Seven sailboat plans with different sizes
• Quality boat builder and supporting community
• In-depth knowledge provided to you when you order
• Might be too small of boat size
• Kits are not always available

Iain Oughtred

There are plenty of options on the wooden boat store, but you should narrow down your search for Iain Oughtred’s line of sailboat kits and plans. There are 25 different plans to choose from, which should accommodate most everyone looking to build their own boat.

While they do offer some kits, they do not routinely offer sailboat kits. You would need to purchase all of the materials if you are considering one of their sail plans. Keep this in mind if you are considering, as you would need to hunt down the parts yourself.

• 25 different sailboat plans to look through
• Various sizes to contemplate for you sailing needs
• Prices will vary but are not bad compared to market
• No sailboat kits, only plans
• Newer boat builders might find too many options unappealing

Paul Gartside Boat Builder and Designer

Gartside Boats is a boat builder company based in Long Island, New York that showcases a variety of boats from traditional and newer methods of boat building. Within that variety, they have boat plans meant for six to 50 feet in length.

With an abundance of options, you will need to contact them regarding prices and any customizable options. Kits may vary as well, as they typically design in-house and build for you.

• Experienced boat designer that can accommodate with custom plans
• Many options are trailerable
• Can have plans for up to a 50 foot boat
• You will need to contact them for prices
• Customized options may make process more complicated for new boat builders

How Much Does it Cost to Build a Sailboat at Home?

As you have likely already done so, the math between building your own boat and buying one may be a huge difference. Likewise, you may even enjoy the challenge of taking an older boat that is gutted and restoring with parts from a kit to build one new again.

But how much does it cost exactly to build a boat from the comfort of your own garage or workshop? The prices are going to vary dramatically depending on your situation and material needed to get the job done. In addition, the time that it takes to complete this will also vary.

Sail plans are rather inexpensive if you are aiming to build a small boat. These plans allow you to see the workings of the boat design and what you need to build the boat.

Without these plans, you will not know the exact details of the design and it can cause major issues with the boat’s hull or other areas of the boat. Think of these as the backbone or instructions of the boat’s infancy before being built.

Price Per Square Foot

You should assume to pay anywhere between $300 to $600 per square foot if you are interested in building a boat. Buying a kit outright can be a good way to save time, but oftentimes these do not come with everything you need.

Instead, you should try to source as much of the materials at the best price as possible. Thinking ahead is part of the process and you might be able to score a deal at a lumber yard or hardware store for parts.

Boat Designs Matter

The design of the boat will be much different from one boat to the next, regardless if they are the same size in length. If you are pondering boats that range anywhere between 16 and 20 feet, you should factor in the shape of the hull, any rigging, and various appendages.

Prices tend to increase when there are more complexities within the designs. If you are considering a kit with more details than others, you will also have to pay more for the designs on that as well.

Kits Can Differ

It is important to understand that all kits are not going to be the same. As you gander at sailboat kits online to stitch together, you need to thoroughly look over to see if you have everything you need before buying.

It would also be at your advantage to ask the seller if any additional parts or supplies are needed. This may change your dynamic on the kit buying process and you may pass up one for another if it has everything you need. An all-inclusive kit may cost several hundred, if not thousands, of dollars more to have the convenience of everything in the bundle.

Construction Approaches

Some boat plans may require you to have certain tools to get the job done. This means special saws or planers, which the average person simply does not have.

Purchasing specialty tools might be expensive upfront and hard to find depending on what it is. Your best bet would be to check locally for others trying to sell their tools or consider a boat plan that does not require extensive tools to finish the job.

How Long Does it Take to Build a Sailboat?

An easy to build sailboat could take a while to build from scratch. Many different variances come into play that are difficult to pinpoint for everyone. But how long is that exactly and how will your experience play into this?

A fun project to sail in the wind could take you several months to well over a year depending on the boat plan and how big your boat is going to be. In addition, the materials all need to be accounted for prior to starting in the event a hardware store does not have them in stock.

Time Varies

The time that passes for simple boat designs on small sailing vessels can be done in a few weeks. This is assuming you have everything you need and work non-stop around the clock.

Certain complex situations may make the process long, such as the difficulty of working with some materials. If you are a skilled laborer, it may take you half the time compared to a novice. The amount of time it can take will vary on your availability and skill level.

Planning ahead will undoubtedly offer the most time-saving features. It also helps if you can tackle parts of the project at your own pace.

Complexity of Design

The design of the boat may make the construction process longer. For example, it may take you longer to build a catamaran compared to a similar lengthed monohull.

More complex designs might require more materials, therefore making the process a bit longer to complete. Furthermore, you will also need more experience working with difficult designs and that will affect you more as a newbie.

Be sure to manage your expectations well and do not allow yourself to become too stressed over this fun project. If you can, seek expert boat building advice from a local builder or the company you purchased sail plans through.

Quality Materials

The quality of the materials will matter significantly when building a boat and will greatly affect the time it takes to construct it. Handling fiberglass or carbon fiber might require specialty tools, while wood also demands a certain level of craftsmanship.

If you are not skilled at working with the material at hand, it might affect the quality of the build and you may have to go back to fix mistakes. This will definitely add more time to your project, because mistakes are bound to happen with your first project.

To save time, consider adding the tools and materials throughout the year or as often as your budget allows. You may want to try testing your skills on fiberglass or other materials to get a feel for how to work with it.

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Daniel Wade

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Meet the Scout, a great sailing dinghy -- and rewarding project for a first-time boatbuilder.

The Scout is a wide, stable, 10-foot boat that's a blast to sail and row. Weighs only  ~70 pounds and makes a great tender, yet has enough dry stowage below deck to take on a beach camping trip of its own. The offset daggerboard makes an open footwell so you can even sleep aboard.

The Scout is available as a CNC plywood-and-foam kit exclusively here at Duckworks. You can also grab the epoxy/fiberglass kit , sail & rigging , and any hardware that you need right here as well. Or if you prefer, check out the  COMPLETE SCOUT PACKAGE  with EVERYTHING you need for your build! 

Check out the YouTube video below for a demo of the Scout on the water, and an interview with a home builder who brought this kit boat to life!

Ready to build your own? Shop Scout kits below! 

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2 Piece Carbon Mast for Scout 10

Scout 10 Complete Package

Scout 10 Sail

Scout 10 Deck Hardware and Hatches Package

Scout 10 Daggerboard and Rudder Package

Scout 10 Sailing Package

Scout 10 Epoxy and Fiberglass Package

Scout 10 CNC Kit

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Hirundo 750

Hirundo is trailerable, with her 2.5 meters of maximum beam and lifting keel; she can be considered on the heavy edge of a trailerable sailboat.

IDEA19 is a 6 m fast paced trailerable sailboat; she can be built by homebuilders in both GRP and wood-plywood & epoxy resin.

Escapist 24

Stand Up Paddles

Crispy 660 CABIN

Idea 21 sportboat

Seakayaks – DIY Kayak Plan

Saltaspiaggia

Choose the RM1380 and experience elegance at its best

Rm 1380: our 45-foot / 14m sailboat, the bluewater sailing yacht you’ve been dreaming of.

For the past 30 years, Marc Lombard Design team and the RM Yachts engineering team have been conceiving legendary and head-turning sailing yachts, all contributing to the French shipyard’s reputation. The RM1380 is, somehow, the culmination of our efforts, and probably our most remarkable achievement.

A 45-foot sailboat made of plywood-epoxy, the RM1380 is exceptionally elegant and racy, and capable of long cruises, such as a circum-navigation or a transatlantic ocean crossing in the best conditions of speed, safety, and comfort.

« Here is nothing but tidiness, beauty, luxury, calm and sensuousness » (Charles Beaudelaire)

“GENERAL MANAGER OF THIS SHIPYARD, AND ON BEHALF OF MY TEAM, I’M PROUD TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE RM1380”

– Martin Lepoutre

From the moment you pass the companion way and enter the RM1380, you will perceive the difference with any of your previous references. A spontaneous well-being, a rare feeling of space, and loads of natural light.

Walk in the saloon, and, progressively, you’ll see that no detail has been left apart for the interior of our 45-foot sailing yacht. The cosy sofa with its méridienne to maximise your comfort, the square island bed that looks like you’re at home, the U-shape galley offering space and functionality, the elegant and accessible chart table, etc.

Technical specifications

Numbers and figures speak for themselves: the RM1380 is a fast cruiser, capable of sailing far and even further, in the best conditions.

Marc Lombard Design Group

Edouard Delamare Deboutteville

hull length

Twin keel draft, lifting keel draft.

1,45 / 3,35M

LIGHT DISPLACEMENT

Engine in board sail drive.

Volvo Penta 60 CV (75CV en option)

FUEL CAPACITY

150L (300L en option)

WATER CAPACITY

270L (400L en option)

HOLDING TANK CAPACITY

Furling genoa, asymmetric spinnaker.

You will be surprised by her beautiful silhouette, worked out in every detail. Pure, elegant lines, feeling of power and performance, uninterrupted roof lines, large and inclined bulwarks: the RM1380 has her own character, and shows it from first sight.

Inspired by offshore racing yachts with her large-beamed hull, her raised bow, her massive sail plan, this high-performance monohull of almost 14 meters overpasses the RM1180, awarded yacht of the year in 2019, and is even more irresistible.

Have a look inside, and this elegance will continue, thanks to the help of Piaton Yacht Design. We have been looking after everything which could contribute to the eye’s pleasure, to comfort, to well-being aboard. The outcome is simply amazing!

Keep in Touch' Restons en contact

We will send you RM Yachts News (Only) to make sure you are up to date. Recevez (seulement) nos infos, pour être sûrs de ne rien rater !

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50th Anniversary Collectors Issue - September/October Issue No. 300 Preview Now

PETER THE GREAT

Randall Kleeman led a class of 12 students at the Anglo-American School of Moscow, Russia, in the construction of PETER THE GREAT, an Iain Oughtred Whilly boat design. The boat carries 80 sq ft of sail and weighs about 140 lbs. The class built the glued-lap hull from okoume plywood, oak, and spruce. They shaped the spars with handtools.The class built 5 boats over the school year--four sailboats and a kayak. They used four of the boats to raise funds for the school, and donated the fifth, PETER THE GREAT, to the Russian Navy Cadet Program, where it will be used for training young sailors at Stragino Yacht Club on the Moscow River, the Volga River, and the Gulf of Finland.In the first picture, you can see the students christening PETER THE GREAT. After that, you'll see the school director shaking hands with Cadet Commander Georgi Andronov, as Randall Kleeman looks on. The pictures following those show the children sailing the boat on the Moscow River.The plans for this design are available from The WoodenBoat Store at www.woodenboatstore.com

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Historic NC Core Sound Sharpie

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Melody Class Pram. 10’x4.25’. Stunning craftsmanship, nearly new.

American Traders 13’ cedar canoe NEW

Beautiful American Traders 13’ Seneka cedar canoe in brand new condition.

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

RM1070 on test: the plywood family cruiser that dares to be different

• Toby Hodges
• January 8, 2016

For those after something a bit different from the norm, this sporty 35ft plywood family cruiser has plenty of colour and personality. Toby Hodges reports

All photos: Bertel Kolthof

Product Overview

Everyone stops to look when an RM sails by. I like to put it down to their individuality and character – traits not easily achieved on a typical volume production yacht.

RMs are built from the proper, honest stuff: wood. A subsidiary benefit of this, and the fact that they are not all finished in white gelcoat, is that a range of eye-catching colours is offered as standard – our test boat just happened to be off white!

But it’s not just colourful topsides that give an RM character – just because you wear red-framed spectacles or drive a turquoise Citroen it doesn’t make you intriguing. It’s personality and, as I was to find out, this new RM1070 has it in spades.

RM has built plywood epoxy yachts for over 25 years, using Marc Lombard designs for the last 20 of them. The 1070 is an evolution of RM’s most successful model, the 1050 from 1999, replaced by the 1060 five years ago. And now 26 of this new 1070 have already been sold since her launch a year ago. Not bad for a company used to producing 30-40 yachts a year.

Since our visit to the yard in autumn 2012, the brand has continued to grow in popularity by ensuring its models remain contemporary. The bold topsides are a well-recognised signature now, but for me it’s the muscular design that marks out the 1070, particularly her box fresh shape, reverse sheer and dreadnought bow.

And although RM has provided the option of twin keels for sailors wanting to take to the ground before, the 1070 has a versatile third option too: a swing keel that reduces draught from 2.92m to 1.15m.

Balanced blend

There is a selection of beamy, chined, sporty yachts around today, particularly from France. The majority tend to be lightweight, minimalist skimming dishes, such as the Pogos and Djangos, which are derived from Mini Transat racing yachts. I think of RM as more of a balanced blend between that more radical sporty end and conventional family production cruisers.

My first impressions of the 1070 were that she feels like a larger boat for her length. She has a generous sailplan – indeed her ratios are more comparable to a performance boat such as the J/111 or a Pogo 1050 – a sign that RM is pushing more towards the sporty end of the cruising spectrum. This helps to explain why she heels relatively quickly and easily.

There she remains happily on a chine, an angle that presents reduced wetted resistance, yet provides those aboard with a fun sense of speed.

Playful, enjoyable boat

The 1070 is a playful, enjoyable boat to helm. You can feel the stiffness of her build, the combination of plywood epoxy and a metal structural grid. She has a neutral helm, typical for a twin rudder set-up, but with deep blades providing direct steerage.

Her behaviour is typical of a modern, boxy, ultra-beamy cruiser. The triangular shape produces drag in light airs – if you look at the 1070 from behind you’ll notice her considerable wetted surface – and hampers the ability to point high. But in many cases, including aboard the 1070, this is more than made up for by a spirited performance offwind.

This was particularly noticeable when we hoisted a shiny red asymmetric spinnaker. The log quickly rose to average 8.5-9 knots in 12-14 knots of true wind. Point her up to a beam reach and she heels a little more and, with a little help from a slight wave, eases onto the plane. She even hit double figures briefly too.

Considering that RMs are not typical lightweight planing yachts – the 1070 is 1.3 tonnes heavier than a similar-sized Pogo 1050 – those are respectable figures. It will also help her win back some of that ground lost sailing upwind!

When I tested the larger RM 1260, I remember being a little disappointed that she didn’t plane, even when reaching in 25 knots of wind. The 1070 is that bit lighter, with a little more sail which, combined with a more modern shape and a longer waterline, means you get a bit more pace.

A cockpit to work in

Another real plus of an RM is the cockpit and sail control set-up. I like the way the mainsheet traveller utilises the extensive beam aft, which allows proper trim of mainsail shape. A German mainsheet system carries this sheet forward to the boom and back to winches within reach of each wheel.

Primary winches are fitted inboard, beside the companionway – something I am astonished more yards don’t do today. It avoids the need to try to grind while dangerously poised on the leeward rail and it allows a crewmember to stand upright to trim, let off a sheet with one hand and pull in the new working sheet with the other – all under the protection of the sprayhood. The 1070 also has a large bin to store the tails of running rigging at the companionway.

The open transom is still a feature that will take some getting used to on a cruising yacht, however. Triple guardwires and a crash bar across the transom might help prevent a crewmember disappearing overboard, but cockpit items could still get washed away, including sheet tails (check before engaging engine!).

Also, it adds to a feeling of exposure in addition to the wide aft beam.

Light and space below

Going below on an RM is like taking a revitalising tonic. It make you wonder why so many conventional monohulls feel enclosed, away from the very elements you have gone afloat to appreciate.

The 1070 incorporates an astonishing amount of natural light. The high coachroof allows the saloon (soles and furniture) to be raised, so it hardly feels as though you are descending into the interior. This also creates good bilge stowage beneath the saloon and galley.

RM’s formula is refreshingly different, with interiors that are basic, but comfortable. The 1070 is very much a no-frills, French-style boat. Once again, the use of bold colours plays a part; a choice of 12 different colours is offered for the upholstery, which helps give each RM its own style.

The interior is not only bright, but feels enormous – 13ft of beam obviously buys a lot of space in a 35-footer, but the fact that the painted ply finish has natural insulation, also avoids the need for liners. Although the cabins are rather Spartan, there is abundant practical stowage throughout.

The layout will suit cruising sailors. The galley is large, the saloon berths long (2.05m) and there is a proper navigation station. The saloon feels comparatively large, perhaps because the forward cabin is little more than a vee berth. The two-cabin format leaves the port aft area open for lazarette/workroom space, accessible through the heads.

It’s an excellent layout, one that is far more practical than trying to shoehorn in a third cabin, in my opinion.

A word about wood

Remarkably RM remains the only production yacht builder that builds hulls using plywood on frame. It is a skilled, technical and labour-intensive method, but one that is easy to understand and has several advantages.

Ply is lighter and more rigid than glassfibre, it provides thermal and sound insulation, and weight for weight it is stronger than steel. When bonded with epoxy resin it helps to create a durable, rot- and osmosis-resistant finish that is easy to repair.

But it is not a pliable product and it is a relatively expensive raw material. The sourcing of good-quality marine ply is essential for boatbuilding to protect against water ingress and delamination – but it is three times the price of standard ply.

Specifications

LOA 11.44m/37ft 6in

LWL 10.50m/34ft 5in

Beam (max) 4.00m/13ft 1in

Draught 1.68m/5ft 6in

Disp (lightship) 4,900kg/10,803lb

Ballast 1,600kg/3,527lb

Sail area (100% foretriangle) 70.2m 2 /756ft 2

Engine Volvo Penta 30hp saildrive

Water 90lt/42gal

Fuel 80lt/18gal

Sail area:disp 24.7

Disp:LWL 118

Price ex VAT €155,000 (£109,432)

Price as tested €218,329 (£154,142)

Design Marc Lombard

www.rm-yachts.com/en

You can tell I am a fan of RM yachts. Building in plywood epoxy is a smart, time-tested method, but it is a labour-intensive form of volume boatbuilding and so it does not come cheap. However, the 1070 does provide plenty of boat, with individuality, for her €155,000 base price.

The RM1070 is a fun boat to sail, with just the right balance of sportiness and cruising safety for an active sailing couple or family. And I am quite sure a family would be happier in that bright interior, with a basic, but tidy finish, than many other compact monohulls. The keel options also open up another world of shoal draught cruising.

It takes more than a lick of bright paint to give a yacht character. From her build material, to her contemporary shape, to her naturally floodlit interior, the RM 1070 is a boat for today.

She has oodles of character. She’s a yacht that proudly says: different is good.

Different coloured hulls are available

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11 Best Pocket Cruiser Sailboats to Fit a Budget

• By Cruising World Staff
• Updated: May 24, 2024

Looking for a trailerable pocket cruiser that offers that liveaboard feeling? This list features 11 small sailboats with cabins that have the amenities often found on larger vessels. They may not be ocean crossing vessels, but they’re certainly capable of handling big bays and open waters.

What is a pocket cruiser? It’s a small trailerable sailboat, typically under 30 feet in length, that’s ideal for cruising big lakes, bays, coastal ocean waters, and occasionally bluewater cruising. Pocket cruisers are usually more affordable, compact, and offer a level of comfort that’s comparable to bigger liveaboards.

Small cruising sailboats are appealing for many reasons, but if you’re like most of us, you want to maintain a certain level of comfort while on the water. We took a poll and these are what we found to be the best cruising sailboats under 30 feet.

– DON’T LET CARBON MONOXIDE SNEAK UP ON YOU – Install detectors on your boat to sniff out any buildup of carbon monoxide gas. Avoid running engines or generators while anchored or stopped for extended periods. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

Open and airy below deck, the Andrews 28 doesn’t sacrifice comfort for speed. Designed by Alan Andrews, the Southern California naval architect renowned for his light, fast raceboats, this 28-footer will certainly appeal to the cruiser who also enjoys a little club racing. Sporting a total of 6 berths, a galley, head and nav area, you might forget you are on a boat small enough to be easily trailered. The retractable keel allows the Andrews 28 to be easily launched and hauled and ensures it’s as comfortable as a daysailer as it is a racer. Click here to read more about the Andrews28.

Beneteau First 20

Small sailboat with a cabin? Check! Fun to sail? Modern design? Capable of flying a spinnaker? Check! Check! Check! The Finot-Conq-designed Beneteau First 20, which replaced the popular Beneteau first 211 nearly a decade ago now, is a sporty-but-stable pocket cruiser suitable for newcomers to the sport who are eager to learn their chops before moving up to a bigger boat or for old salts looking to downsize to a trailerable design. The boat features twin rudders, a lifting keel, and a surprisingly roomy interior with bunks for four. Click here to read more about the Beneteau First 20 .

Conceived as a way to bridge the gap between a safe, comfortable, family cruiser and a competitive racer, Gary Mull’s Ranger 26 does exactly as it was designed to. Undeniably fast, (one won the 1970 IOR North American Half-Ton Cup) the boat sails as well as it looks. However speed isn’t the Ranger’s only strong-suit, with over 7 feet of cockpit there’s plenty of room for socializing after an evening of racing. The Ranger 26 sports a nice balance of freeboard and cabin height ensuring that a handsome profile wasn’t sacrificed for standing headroom. Click here to read more about the Ranger 26.

Catboats were once a common site in coastal waters, where they sailed the shallow bays as fishing or work boats. Their large single and often gaff-rigged sail provided plenty of power, and a centerboard made them well-suited for the thin waters they frequently encountered. In the late 1970s, Canadian builder Hinterhoeller introduced the Nonsuch 30, a fiberglass variation of the catboat design, with a modern Marconi sail flown on a stayless mast, and a keel instead of a centerboard. The boat’s wide beam made room below for a spacious interior, and the design caught on quickly with cruising sailors looking for a small bluewater sailboat. Click here to read more about the Nonsuch 30 .

– SHOW THEM HOW MUCH YOU CARE – Nothing says ‘I love you’ like making sure the kids’ life jackets are snugged up and properly buckled. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

Debuted in 1971 in California, the Newport 27 was an instant success on the local racing scene. For a modest 27-footer, the Newport 27 has an unusually spacious interrior with over 6 feet of standing headroom. With 4 berths, a table, nav station, head and galley the Newport 27 has all the amenities you might find in a much bigger boat, all in a compact package. While quick in light air, the drawback of the tiller steering becomes apparent with increasing breeze and weather helm often leading to shortening sail early. Click here to read more about the Newport 27.

First splashed in 1969, the Balboa 26 continues to enjoy a strong following among budget-minded cruisers. Built sturdy and heavy, all of the boat’s stress points are reinforced. The spacious cockpit comfortably seats 4 and is self bailing, ensuring that sailors stay dry. While only 26 feet, the Balboa still has room for a double berth, galley with stove and freshwater pump, and an optional marine head or V-berth. The Balboa has the ability to sleep five, though the most comfortable number is two or three. Under sail, the Balboa is fast and maneuverable, but may prove a handful in heavy breeze as weather helm increases. Click here to read more about the Balboa 26.

Cape Dory 28

While the sleek lines and the teak accents of the Cape Dory 28 may grab the eye, it is the performance of the boat that make it unique. The Cape Dory comes with all amenities that you might need available, including a V-berth, 2 settees, and a head. Safe, sound and comfortable as a cruiser it is still capable of speed. Quick in light wind and sturdy and capable in heavy air, it is off the wind where the Cape Dory 28 shines with a balanced helm and the ability to cut through chop and still tack perfectly. Click here to read more about the Cape Dory 28.

Islander Bahama 28

On top of being a real eye-catcher, the Islander Bahama 28, with its 5-foot-6-inch draft and 3,300 pounds of ballast, sails beautifully, tracks well, and responds quickly to the helm. Inspired by the International Offshore Rule, it is unusually wide, offering stability in breeze without sacrificing the sheer and lines that make it so attractive. Below deck, the Islander Bahama 28 comes standard with plenty of berths and storage space and a galley complete with stove, icebox and sink. Click here to read more about the Islander Bahama 28.

– CHECK THE WEATHER – The weather changes all the time. Always check the forecast and prepare for the worst case. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard

Much like its older sibling, the S2 8.6 still holds its contemporary style, despite its 1983 introduction. Like all other S2 Yachts, the 8.6 is recognized for the quality craftsmanship that allows the boat to hold up today.The S2 8.6 is a very comfortable and easily managed coastal cruiser and club racer. It’s relatively stiff, its helm feels balanced, and it tracks well. On most points of sail, it compares favorably with other boats of similar size and type. Click here to read more about the S2 8.6.

Contessa 26

When the Contessa 26 was released in 1965, it immediately proved itself to be a strong, seaworthy vessel. The Contessa has continued to prove itself throughout its lifetime, being the boat of choice for two solo circumnavigations under the age of 21. While upwind performance leaves some wanting, the boat is sturdy and can carry full sail in up to 20 knots of breeze. Suited more for single-handing, the Contessa lacks standing headroom and the accommodations are sparse. Nonetheless, the Contessa 26 performs well as a daysailer with guests aboard. Click here to read more about the Contessa 26.

The Hunter 27 perfectly encompasses the pocket cruiser ideal. Even if you don’t want a big boat, you can still have big boat amenities. With the generously spacious layout, wheel steering and a walkthrough transom the Hunter feels much larger than 27 feet. Step below deck and any doubts you had that the Hunter was secretly a big boat will be gone. The amenities below are endless; a full galley including stove, microwave and cooler, head with full shower, several berths and not to mention a saloon with seating for 6. The Hunter 27 has reset the benchmark for 27-footers. Click here to read more about the Hunter 27.

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