14 foot sailboat plans

The Paine 14 – A Herreshoff – inspired daysailor

CHUCK PAINE’s FLEET OF MODERN KEELBOAT DESIGNS. And their progenitor, the wonderful Herreshoff 12 1/2.

Unlike most centerboard boats of this size, she can be kept on a mooring.   Many centerboard boats will capsize in a squall.

Tired of owning and spending lots of money on a boat you never have time or available crew to enjoy? Read on. If you have a length restriction at 14 feet, this is the sailboat you’ll actually USE. (It has been largely supplanted by the LEVANT 15, which is larger and faster and owing to investments made by its builder, even cheaper)   The PAINE 14 is a scaled-down adaptation of the venerable and much-loved Herreshoff 12 1/2, with a much lower wetted surface hull, fin keel, carbon fiber mast and separate rudder. They are now built in seamless epoxy cold-molded wood construction at French & Webb Boatbuilders, Inc. of Belfast, Maine. At approximately 10% smaller in length, breadth and depth, she preserves much of the “big boat” feel of her predecessor thanks to a lead ballast keel that accounts for nearly half her entire weight, but is optimized for easy trailering, maintenance, launch and retrieval, and home-stowage in your garage. The prototypes shown in these photos have been built and tested, many small refinements have been made, and the boat is now in a word, perfect. The PAINE 14 may be either gaff or marconi rigged though for quick setup and takedown and an edge in performance, the latter is preferable. The size of this design was chosen for its ability to be easily lifted and stowed on the deck of a motoryacht… without this limitation the larger Levant 15 and York 18 might probably be the better choices.

Want to know just how fast a PAINE 14 is in light airs?  Watch the video below.  In her appearance she pays homage to her predecessor, Chuck Paine’s 83- year old Herreshoff 12 1/2. Then you’ll see that like the very best boats, she is so fast she “makes her own wind” when going to windward in light airs.

Amelia from Jim Dugan on Vimeo .

You just can’t slow this beauty down! And even if you could make it go slow, it’s gorgeous.

The PAINE 14 is in every possible way optimized for trailering behind a standard-sized automobile or lifted by a yacht’s crane or a canal-side boat lift. Her carbon fiber mast requires no stays and weighs with its halyards a mere 20 pounds, so it is as easy to deploy as that on a Laser dinghy. Easier, actually, as the sail need not be attached before stepping the mast, and is simply swung up into its Herreshoff-type mast ring, Iwo-Jima style. We have invented a nifty way to attach the mainsail to the mast very quickly… no tedious fitting of little slides to little tracks, so the boat can be launched and gotten going in a short amount of time.

The simple Velcro-strap attachments render obsolete tracks and slides, and mast hoops, with all of their expense and tedium, and make short work of getting a small boat rigged and sailing.

AVAILABLE WITH “PAINE DVT” ROLLER- REEFING, SELF- VANGING SYSTEM!

The PAINE 14   AMELIA was the first yacht ever fitted with the PAINE DVT jib-vanging system. Until now all jibs, and jibs set on jib-booms especially, had the annoying habit of losing effectiveness as the jibsheet is paid out. The jib clew would rise, rather than rotate around the headstay as one would prefer. When this happens the lower part of the jib becomes overtrimmed and stalls, while the upper part is let out too much and loses all its drive.

The PAINE DVT invention consists of a series of fiberglass battens, fitted parallel to the luff, and extending from the leech to the foot of the sail. These battens both stiffen the leech of the sail as do other battens, but in extending to the foot of the sail prevent it from rising.  (Note some other photos in this website show the conventional jib, which is also available).

The PAINE DVT at work.

Off the wind, the sail goes OUT, not UP!

Note that the leech of the jib remains parallel to the luff even though the sheet has been let out

Even let out this much, the angle of the sail to the wind is nearly constant from foot to head.

Make no bones about it, though, inidividually hand-built by the few remaining American craftsmen with nearly half of its weight in cast lead ballast and lots of beautifully varnished (or painted)  mahogany trim, this is in every respect, including its construction cost and the need for yearly maintenance, a true yacht of the old school. But you don’t need a mooring or a marina slip with this one, just a garage or boathouse.

MIND THE GAP!

This design has a balanced rudder, making it exquisite to helm. This means that some of the rudder blade area is forward of the pivot axis. This is great for the helm balance, but since the aft end of the boat has deadrise, as soon as the rudder is swung off-center, a gap opens up between the rudder and the hull. It’s like a forward facing pair of scissors.

One week a few summers ago I took my friend Dennis sailing. It was blowing pretty hard, and just as I cast off the mooring a gust caught us on the wrong tack, forcing us to sail over the dinghy painter which was tied to the mooring float. Needless to say, in she went, and almost immediately we were tethered stern to wind, and a lot of it. The forces involved are huge. There was no choice but to wrestle the mainsail down- no small feat― and roll up the jib to remove the pressure. Then fish around underwater with the boom crutch to finally release the jammed rope, near the point of exhaustion. Not exactly a day of elegant relaxation on the water.

Then just to drive the point home we sailed over a lobster pot line an hour later and did the same thing all over again!

I was determined that this would never happen again. I considered the other ways that have been used to mitigate the problem: A windsurfer fin installed just forward of the rudder, or pieces of shock cord that stretch across the open maw- but neither is entirely proof against a jam for as we all know on a sailboat, if anything possibly can go wrong, it will! So I have invented an absolutely jam-proof solution to the problem. Since many other designs have the combination of a balanced rudder and veed hull, I offer my solution for your benefit. It will be fitted to all PAINE 14 s and LEVANT 15 s and YORK 18 s and any similar yachts I might be asked to design in the future.

What I did was to swing the rudder off-center to its maximum possible turning angle. Then I extended the top of the rudder up until it just cleared the hull at this angle. Of course then when you articulate the rudder toward the centerline there is a hull in the way. This I carved away into a section of the surface of a cone, such that the top of the rudder just “sweeps” the concave cone with a paper-width of clearance- far too little for anything to force its way into the gap.

It works great. The amount of turbulence created by the little discontinuity is trivial. And no more embarrassing and potentially dangerous rudder jams!

This shows the rudder on centerline.

Swung all the way to one side, showing the absence of any gap.

Showing it swung the other way. No way anything larger than a fishing line can get into the gap!

This is the loveliest sailboat you could ever own. It’s hand-built, piece by piece, so only the most cogent sailors can justify owning one. But if you can, it will delight you until your final breath! What the world needs now is certainly not more boats―there’s plenty of clapped-out junk out there―but manifestly far better ones that truly enhance their owners’ lives. You can’t give away old fiberglass boats today, and with good reason. But the few emergent classic sailing designs of obvious and lasting merit are the unique bright spot in boating that makes sense today―the only thing that is selling and rightly so―and the PAINE 14   and its larger sisters the LEVANT 15  and YORK 18 are the most beautiful examples of this emerging phenomenon. We believe the times are right for small, classy, easy to get going and transport, investment quality manageable sized yachts that unlike virtually anything currently available in fiberglass, will be loved for its entire lifetime by its owner and left to his kids and by them to their kids. With reasonable maintenance, they’re built to last that long.

She’s waiting… Whenever you’re ready.

The boating field today is experiencing a wholesale “flight to quality” and flight from consumer-crap. Do we still really believe that a molded fiberglass hull glued to a molded fiberglass deck, with ugly extruded aluminum spars, no varnished wood, and not an ounce of lead to keep it upright, cheap as that may be to produce and sell, is a yacht? An intelligent few of today’s water-lovers are choosing to spend their leisure time in something of intrinsic quality, beauty and unquestionable value. The PAINE 14 and its larger sisters provide the sensible alternatives that truly enhance the lives of those privileged enough to afford time spent aboard her, and their classic design will endure long enough to become a family heirloom.

Shallow draft, heavily lead-ballasted, with moderate wetted surface and a NACA-foil laminar flow keel, the PAINE 14   is delightfully fast and easy to handle, store, or trailer to a new destination every summer weekend.

A TRUE MINI-YACHT

In a single phrase, the PAINE 14 is “A TRUE MINI-YACHT.”  The yacht is light enough to be easily trailed behind a moderate sized automobile—no truck or SUV or surge brakes are required. The first one, named REDWING , was built in New Zealand.  The second one built― AMELIA , was built in America. Both now reside aboard motoryachts.

AMELIA aboard her mothership.

REDWING aboard her mothership.

At roughly 850 pounds she is light enough hoist easily with a boat crane.

A custom-fitted galvanized trailer with integral tongue-extender makes launching and retrieving a snap. And at 860 pounds, they can be easily handled by most shipboard boat cranes. The carbon fiber mast requires no stays and is simply swung up into a bronze retainer fitting in a matter of seconds. Unlike a Laser, or any other unballasted dinghy, she is impossible to capsize, and easy to sail mile after mile without athletic ability. You sit “in” her, not “on” her, and there is no need for “hiking out”—you sit on bench seats with properly angled seatbacks (coamings) at just the right height. In enough wind, of course, she could be swamped but has forward and aft flotation tanks to keep her afloat. And in the off-season she fits right into your garage where you can perform the yearly maintenance yourself at near negligible expense, and proudly show her off to your dinner-guests. Or if you lack the time or skills to maintain her yourself, the boatyard fees to keep her in Bristol condition will be so trivial as to make you laugh at the folly of owning anything much bigger.

UNSINKABLE, AND SELF-RESCUING.

Just how safe is a PAINE 14 ? To find out we conducted an intentional swamping to show you. Would she turn turtle, or go to the bottom? Chuck tried to swamp her by standing on the gunwale and leaning out as far as he could, hanging onto the mast. At 180 pounds and rocking the boat violently, the coaming tops could not be gotten close to underwater. Only by bailing the ocean in could he finally swamp her. She floated with the lowest point of the coaming 10 inches above the surrounding water, and was very stable. You could sit in the boat all day long like this and she would not sink. Though like Chuck, you might eventually decide to bail her out, raise the mainsail, and sail away.

You can watch a video of the intentional swamping by clicking here:

Amelia sinking

The performance of the PAINE 14 is, as one might expect from her numbers, downright stimulating. The helm is nicely balanced in both light airs and heavy. Its acceleration in a puff is amazing―in less than a couple of boat lengths it accelerates to hull speed. With the full jib and a reefed main, it can handle 15 to 20 knots of wind. And in stronger winds, she can be sailed under complete control without the jib―an extremely rare capability amongst today’s fleet of small boats. This is also helpful in picking up a mooring or coming alongside a dock or your larger yacht. You can roll up the jib first, clearing the foredeck and its mooring cleat of the nasty slapping jib-boom, and get safely cinched up with a clear field of view.

Those who have read Chuck Paine’s books on yacht design will recall that one of his bugaboos in the latter years of his career was self-rescue. If you fall overboard from even a yacht of low freeboard like this, it is impossible to get back aboard. You can imagine the potential consequences. So Chuck made the decision that no future design of his would lack this important capability. The PAINE 14 is fitted with a simple rescue step on the trailing edge of the rudder. You never know it’s there until you need it. But if you ever do, you’ll thank its designer a thousand times over.

The beautifully crafted rudder with its integral rescue step.

ONE PERFECT POSSESSION

We believe the ethic of filling multiple houses, then rented storage containers with unloved and unused material objects, with all of the environmental damage and unserviceable debt that this might entail, is in precipitous decline. The wiser among us will build their future lives around ONE PERFECT POSSESSION. For those who revel in exploring remote locales without the noise and expense of internal combustion, it’s time accept the reality of the 21 st century, rid yourself of that unused leviathan you can no longer afford nor find crew to operate, and join the renaissance in easily usable sailboats of eternal beauty. Though far from cheap, you can commission a PAINE 14 for what you pay in a few years’ maintenance and storage fees for your unloved and unused thirty-something foot white elephant, and you’ll actually USE your PAINE 14 , as will your progeny!

The yachts are available only in hand-built epoxy consolidated cold-molded wood. In any case the yachts will be beautifully hand-finished with a great deal of painted trim or varnished hardwood to look as beautiful of those from the past century.  French & Webb custom boatbuilders in Belfast, Maine, now have the rights to build a sistership for you, at a price of between $80,000 and $90,000 depending upon specification. A custom-designed galvanized trailer with integral tongue extender will enable the yacht to be easily launched on reasonably angled ramps. Its price is US$ 4500.00 plus shipping to your destination from Raleigh, SC. (Prices may change owing to inflation).

Todd French and his crew would gladly enhance your life and that of your progeny by building another for you. D0n’t hesitate― our federal reserve are seemingly unwilling to constrain inflation and the price will surely rise as a result.  Better to own and spend a lifetime enjoying a lovely sailing yacht today than have your wealth confiscated tomorrow.

Take her sailing in your PAINE 14 and you’ll make her smile.

No need for hiking in your PAINE 14 … just showing off.

Click here to see what SAIL Magazine had to say:

http://www.sailmagazine.com/best-boats/sails-best-boats-2014-paine-14

Further information may be obtained from:

CHUCKPAINE.COM LLC  P.O. Box 114, Tenants Harbor, Maine  04860-0114

Phone: (207) 372-8147

Email: [email protected]

This design is featured in both of my recent books; MY YACHT DESIGNS and the Lessons they taught me, and THE BOATS I’VE LOVED- 20 Classic Sailboat Designs by Chuck Paine. Both are beautiful, full colored, first class books which give you lots more information on this design, and can be purchased on this website.

Click here to read more about the Paine 14

A full set of study plans is available for $25 emailed to you in PDF format.

PDF Study Plans: $25- no shipping, sent via email

Study Plans are available for these designs - remember a study plan gives you more details and a wood materials list usually on two A1 sheets, so that you can cost out a project before ordering the full plans. When you order the full construction plans you do not need to order the study plan as well, as all the study details are on the full plans.

ORDER THE  16' MYSTERY PLANS

ORDER THE  16' GREY SWAN PLANS

ORDER THE  16' GOSHAWK PLANS

ORDER THE  16' GOSHAWK OPEN VERSION PLANS Note - you need the standard plan (above) as well, to build the open version

ORDER THE  16' GOSHAWK MOTOR VERSION PLANS Note - you need the standard plan (above) as well, to build the motor version

ORDER THE  PTARMIGAN 15 PLANS

ORDER THE  AVON 12 PLANS

ORDER THE  SIMPLICITY 14 PLANS

ORDER THE  HERON 14 PLANS

ORDER THE  15' HERON PLANS

ORDER THE  15' FIRECREST PLANS

ORDER THE  16' SANDGROUSE PLANS

ORDER THE  LYNX 14 PLANS

ORDER THE  LYNX 16 PLANS

ORDER THE  14' DUETTE CAT BOAT PLANS

ORDER THE  MORNING TIDE 14 PLANS

ORDER THE  MICRO 8 PLANS

ORDER THE  MICRO 10 PLANS

ORDER THE  YM SENIOR PLANS

Below is a simple card model by Ralph Woodard.

ORDER THE  4m MINI YACHT PLANS

Boat Profile

Penobscot 14

An Arch Davis Classic

From Issue   January 2018

T he Penobscot 14 is a versatile sail, oar, and motor boat designed by Arch Davis in the early ’90s. His goal was to design a boat that was easy to build, had pleasing lines, and offered excellent sailing and rowing performance. He did not take inspiration from any particular existing design, and says his design was “based on many years of looking at boats and trying to figure out what makes a good one.”

He was influenced a bit by the Whitehall-type boats, but most have a narrow beam in proportion to their length and rarely a sailing rig, so Davis gave the hull more bearing to enable it carry sail and drew three sail plans—gunter sloop, lug cat, and sprit cat—to meet a variety of needs. Arch built the first Penobscot 14 in 1992, and the result was a seakindly hull with striking lines. Hull No. 1 sits in his garage, not taking up much space, and he still takes it out to row. He published plans in 1993 and since then has sold over 1,500 sets of them.

The stringers that back up the laps strengthen the hull without the need for frames.

The glued-lapstrake 14′ plywood hull has an innovative structure with wider, and therefore fewer, planks, simplifying construction. The internal framework of longitudinal stringers is anchored to the stem, two bulkheads, and the transom. Two temporary molds help fair the stringers while the six strakes are applied. These stringers provide exceptional strength along the plank laps. The planks are attached to the stringers with glue and stainless-steel screws, and so fewer clamps are required.

Woodworkers with some experience can turn themselves into boatbuilders by following Davis’s excellent study package and watching the companion DVD. There are several helpful offerings to choose from: a 14-page set of plans; an illustrated 74-page builder’s guide; full-sized Mylar patterns for bulkheads, stem, transom and molds; and a frame kit, which includes bulkheads, temporary building frames, and transom frame. Kits for the sails, spars, and rigging are also available. If a builder needs help along the way, Davis responds to phone calls and emails; he was a big help to us during the construction of our P14.

The authors, here aboard their Penobscot 14, ST. JACQUES, opted for the sprit rig. The brail, clearly visible here against the tanbark cloth, makes quick work of gathering up the loose-footed sail.

Construction begins with the assembly of a jig built of common lumber. Davis emphasizes that a variety of materials may be used during all phases of construction, and recommends taking advantage of locally available materials. The boat is built upside down both on the temporary molds and what will become the bulkheads, stem, and transom. We chose okoume plywood planking, cypress stringers, and a white oak keel.

The keel can be built with a slot for a daggerboard or a centerboard, or left solid if the boat is intended solely for rowing. After the stringers and sheer clamp are added, planking begins from the garboard. When the deadwood is attached and the planking is complete, the boat is flipped right-side up, and it’s time to add the centerboard or daggerboard trunk. The bulkheads are meant to enclose watertight flotation compartments in each end, but we varied from plan and opted for readily compartments under the bow and stern seats and use spare PFDs as flotation in them. The breasthook, quarter knees, gunwale, and railcap complete construction of the hull.

In the three rigs Davis provides in the plans, the lug rig carries 77 sq ft of sail, the sprit rig 73, and gunter rig 95. The spars for all of the rigs will fit inside the hull when not in use. We chose the small sprit rig for ease of rigging and handling on our gusty bay.

John Stevenson’s SWEET DREAMS carries the boomed standing lug.

The boat is lightweight, easy to trailer, and getting underway is simple: Step the mast, bend on sail, and ship the rudder. At our beachfront home we launch with a dolly and further afield the boat is light enough to launch easily via trailer on a ramp. We can be underway in about 20 minutes. We wade the boat out a few feet and climb aboard over the side. Davis says that he boards over the transom, then pushes the rudder down with the trailing foot as he gets underway.

Once onboard we drop the centerboard a bit, row a few feet to get deep enough to drop the rudder blade, and look for the wind. When we find it, we loosen the brail and the sprit sets nicely. The sprit’s snotter runs down to the mast thwart and is tied off to a belaying pin. We use another pin for the brail. The sheets are easy to reach and to route aft for singlehanding.

The Penobscot 14 is a stable sailer, well suited for skinny water, and very comfortable for the crew with plenty of room for camp-cruising gear. With the sprit rig, heeling is minimal, and the boat exceeds 3 knots with little effort when we are out messing about. It will not point especially high; its favorite point of sail is a beam reach. The hull has just the right enough of keel and deadwood to sail in shallow water with the rudder retracted and the centerboard up.

The arrangement of the sides and seat offer many convenient places to sit with comfortable back support. The skipper’s favorite position is reclined against the transom with her foot up on a side seat. The stringers act as “mini shelves” that can hold gear such as a boathook, a paddle, or coffee cups. A small section of floorboards may be added, but we left the bilge open so we can see where all the spilled coffee went.

The Penobscot 14 rows with ease, carries well, and tracks straight. Davis recommends 8′ oars. With the two rowing stations the boat can be rowed tandem.

When we can’t find the wind, there are rowing stations forward and amidships. There is plenty of room to row from either station, and the boat is well balanced with our crew of two—skipper on the aft seat and the first mate taking his place amidships or forward. The Penobscot 14 rows with ease, carries well, and tracks well. The oars may be left in the oarlocks when not in use, with the blades tucked neatly under the breasthook. There is also sufficient room to lay them on the side seats. Our neighbor has built two Penobscot 14s and has rowed them over 1,200 miles, so it is safe to say that it is good rowboat.

There’s a notch in the transom for those who have a knack for sculling, and, if motoring appeals, the plans included instructions for equipping the boat with a small outboard of 2 to 3 hp.

The plans for the Penobscot 14 have provisions for mounting a small outboard. In this case, the transom is made thicker and a small, removable section is cut to accommodate a short-shaft motor. If the motor is not permanently mounted, the section that has been cut out is designed to be dropped back into place to restore the appearance of the transom.

The Penobscot 14 is easy to care for and store. After a day on the water, it is a simple task to wipe down the hull and cockpit by sponging the water (and coffee) out from easy-to-reach low points. The spars, sail, and rudder stow in the hull, then we throw on a custom-made Sunbrella cover.

Audrey and Kent Lewis live in Florida and enjoy small-boat sailing, restoration and boatbuilding when she’s not designing costumes or he’s flying. They launched their Penobscot 14 in 2017, and in 2016 they restored an 1880s Mississippi River Skiff for the Beauvoir Museum in Biloxi, Mississippi. Their personal fleet includes several Sunfish, a wooden Sailfish, wooden Sunfish, Catfish catamaran, O’Day Daysailer, Drascombe Lugger, and Drascombe Dabber. They have also rescued and fostered over 30 boats since 2011. Some people describe them as “boat-struck.” They document their boating pursuits in their blog .

Penobscot 14 Particulars

Waterline length/12′ 8″

Beam/ 4′ 6.5″

Draft, board up/ 7″

Draft, down/ 2′ 6″

Weight/155–175 lbs

Plans for the Penobscot 14 are available from Arch Davis Designs : Study Package (covers Penobscot 13, 14, and 17), $15; Boat Plans, $125; Frame Kit, $850. Inquire for details on other kits. WoodenBoat chronicled the construction of the Penobscot 14 in Nos. 138 , 139 , and 140 .

Is there a boat you’d like to know more about? Have you built one that you think other Small Boats Monthly readers would enjoy? Please email us!

Share this article

Join The Conversation

We welcome your comments about this article. If you’d like to include a photo or a video with your comment, please email the file or link.

Comments (7)

Nice little boat for one-man use

It is great for rowing; our friend has built two for that purpose. He lost the first one in Hurricane Ivan. And there is plenty of room for two: Skipper on the helm and First Mate tending to sail. We’ve carried 4 adults with no problem, around 625 pounds.

Designer Arch Davis wrote this about crew size for the Penobscot 14: In very general terms, I feel that the maximum crew number for the Penobscot 14, under sail, is three adults, or two adults plus two children, a total of about 480 – 500 pounds. If you do the math, you will see that this gives a reduction of 2 inches of freeboard, but remember that the boat will heel in a breeze, further reducing freeboard on the leeward side. Another factor is that a bigger crew, four adults say, will make the boat rather crowded, so that it’s not so easy to move around, as you have to when tacking to windward, for example. The Penobscot 14 will happily carry a bigger crew under oars. Loss of freeboard is not so important, as the boat does not heel, and with no mast and sails in the way, there is more room in the boat. Four adults, or another child or two, make a reasonable crew in good weather conditions.

Great boat. My boat,YANKEE ROSE, has given my friend Chip and me many hours of wonderful sailing. We live a few miles from the Dunedin, Florida, causeway. It is easy to launch, and has decent wind and many spoil banks to enjoy.

Is the Penobscot 17 a good day sailer rig? Can you share some info about it? Thank you

The Penobscot 17 has a very versatile sail plan and a nice hull with a double-ended waterline. She is fast. We owned one for a bit that was well traveled, she went to the Small Reach Regatta and Mid Atlantic Small Craft Festival with her first owner, then Cedar Key and the Florida 120. She outran everyone in the Florida 120 with her double balanced lug rig. We picked her up, cleaned her up a bit and tried her out in our bay a few times. We found that her cockpit space was a bit tight for our tastes with the multiple flotation compartments, but that design is flexible. We also found ourselves ducking the double booms quite a bit with the frequent tacking we did in the tight corner of our bay. We are spoiled by our boomless Drascombe Lugger and Penobscot 14. She was much better set up for a skipper to set a long course and find a spot on a seat or on the floor for comfortable cruising. The balanced lug also had a 3rd mast step if one wanted to cruise with just one sail. There’s more info about 17 on our blog .

Plans for a boat like this?

Plans for the Penobscot 14 are available from Arch Davis Designs: Study Package (covers Penobscot 13, 14, and 17), $15; Boat Plans, $125; Frame Kit, $850. Inquire for details on other kits. WoodenBoat chronicled the construction of the Penobscot 14 in Nos. 138, 139, and 140.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay On Course

More From This Issue

From The Editor

A Man of Means by No Means

To the west, 50 yards away across a flat plain of tawny salt-marsh grass, we spotted a man in a plaid shirt and a green baseball cap walking toward us.…

One of the perks of my admittedly cushy job as a freelance writer is that I get to try out a lot of different boats—everything from small rowing dinghies to…

Davis was influenced a bit by the Whitehall-type boats, but most have a narrow beam in proportion to their length and rarely a sailing rig, so he gave the hull…

A Boat for the Summer

The following week, we crept along the Sunshine Coast and got acquainted with the scale of the British Columbia landscape, a tidal range approaching 16’, and an abundance of drifting…

Doughnut Fenders

In the eyes of our traditionally minded peers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore my wife Jenny and I tread dangerously close to the gates of hell by sailing a fiberglass boat.…

Product Reviews

Mantus Headlamp

The single large button is easy to operate, even with gloved hands. It has an advantage over my former favorite head lamp, which has two separate buttons for red and…

Sleeveless Sanding Drums

My main drum sander is a simple shop-made affair: a plywood box containing a salvaged motor fitted with a chuck to hold a 3″ sanding drum. With a 60-grit sanding…

Reader Built Boats

Gary Strombo of Everett, Washington, told his friend John Leyde that he wanted to build a boat. As often happens, the moment you speak of your wishes to someone else,…

More Boat Profile

Nauset Marsh Skiff

grew up in central Massachusetts, and still live there. When I was a kid, each summer my family rented the same beach cottage near the east end of the Cape...

Belle Daysailer

After I saw the photograph in the calendar, I searched up BELLE and found that Dan Gonneau, the designer/builder, had written a blog post that was a stream-of-consciousness diary about…

The Tango Skiff has interesting hull extensions that create an attention-grabbing geometry aft of the transom. The additional running surface and buoyancy of the extensions appealed to me because of…

The Boston Whaler Montauks

Boston Whaler began offering a 16′ 7″ hull in 1961, and the company soon rolled out diverse models and marketing plans targeting every possible use from yacht tenders to bass…

Subscribe Today!

Become a subscriber today and you’ll recieve a new issue every month plus unlimited access to our full archive of backlogged issues.

Already a subscriber?   Sign In

Subscribe For Full Access

Flipbooks are available to paid subscribers only. Subscribe now or log in for access.

Open Sailboats 14' up

• Plans & Kits
• Plans by type
• Qty in Cart

Flint Printed Plans

Youkou-Lili

Ilur "clinker kit"

Walkabout Full Plans Digital Download

Long Steps Printed Plans

Kari 24' Norwegian Faering

12' 3" Plover Double Ended Swampscott/Surf Dory

18' Elaine II Open Dayboat

• Total: items /
• Add all to cart

Adding your products to cart

• Melges A Scow
• Melges E Scow
• Melges C Scow
• Melges MC Scow
• Melges X Boat
• O’pen Skiff
• Skeeta & Nikki
• Melges RIB 625C
• Melges Power 26
• About Melges
• Quantum Sails Zenda
• Find a Dealer
• Melges Europe

THE MELGES 14

KEEP PUSHING FORWARD

Designed by Reichel/Pugh, the Melges 14 is a modern singlehanded one-design with the ability to sail with two. With its large and open transom, there’s never a need to bail. The carbon mast and boom complement its flexible sail plan with three different size rigs: Gold, Blue and Red. With boats in North America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Africa, the Melges 14 is becoming a one-design fleet for the masses. Sailors can order a custom Melges 14 dolly, easily car top it or tow it behind any vehicle. It’s a perfect beach boat, family sailboat or a one-design racing platform.

It’s speed, quality, durability, comfort and fun wrapped into one dynamic sailing package.

• PRODUCT OVERVIEW
• RACING & CLASS

MELGES 14 GOLD

Full-Range.    Big and fast yet easy to de-power

MELGES 14 BLUE

Mid-Range.    Ideal for sailors 125–175 lbs // 57–80 kg

MELGES 14 RED

For Smaller Sailors.    Ideal for sailors 75-125 lbs // 34–57 kg

Class Website

Class Facebook

MELGES 14 RIGGING GUIDE

READY TO LEARN MORE?

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU

Privacy Preference Center

Privacy preferences.

• For Sale/Wanted
• Readers Tips
• Your Yarns.
• Restoration
• Miscellaneous
• DIY Boat Yards
• Boat Building
• Cabin Cruisers
• Free Boat Plans
• Begin Boating
• Boating Terms
• Ropes and Rigs
• Just for Fun
• Celestial Navigation
• Passage Planning
• VHF Marine Radio
• Diagonal Scale

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

Previous posts

See What Others Have Posted

Recent Articles

Wooden Boat Events 2024

Apr 14, 24 05:15 AM

• Boat Plan Books
• Boatbuilding Tips
• Glass Cloth
• Stitch and Glue
• Strip Plank

You might like these

Plywood and Veneer Guide for Marine use.

A guide to plywood for boat building and why you should use the best marine grade you can afford.

DIY Woodboat Building Questions

Woodboat building questions a Forum for wooden boat building, plans, lumber, caulking compounds and other boat building problems.

Boat Books for Wooden Boat Builders

Boat Books a series of boat books based on some of the 1960's, classic, Free Boat Plans that were published in magazines such as "Popular Mechanics", "Popular Science" and the "Boat Builder Handbook".

Build a Boat, tips for the DIY Wooden Boat Builder.

How to Build a Boat, Wooden Boat Building methods for the DIY, backyard, self-builders explained, carvel, lapstrake and plywood

Clench Nails, Fastening for Small Wooden Boats.

How to use Clench Nails, these provide a fast reliable method for fastening small wooden boats.

Wood Screws for Boat Building and Repair.

Wood Screws are the most widely used and versatile fasteners used on wooden boats. Which type to use and how to use them

Timber, Lumber for Boat Building.

A brief description of the most common Timber used for building Wooden Boats how to choose wood for your project boat

Timber Properties

A brief guide to timber properties and wood, characteristics such as strength, stiffness and elasticity for choosing lumber for wooden boat building and restoration.

Rivets and Copper Rove Wood Boat Fastenings.

How to use Copper Rivets and Roves construction guide to fasteners on your wooden boat.

Ring Nails for Marine Fastening.

Ring Nails sometimes call Gripfast or ring shank, silicon bronze boat nails are renowned for their holding power. but how to get them out?

Free Motorboat Plans

Free Motorboat Plans for the backyard home builder, build your own speed boat, cabin cruiser, runabout or utility boat using these simple plywood designs.

Wooden Boat Kits.

Wooden boat building is easy and inexpensive with wooden boat kits. From row boats and kayaks to sailing cruisers, boat to be proud of

Supplies for Wooden Boat building and Maintenance

Supplies for Wooden Boat Building and restoration, how to choose the materials and marine chandlery for your project.

DIY Woodboat Questions

Woodboat questions and answers forum for all Wooden Boat owners, advice and opinions on all aspects of wooden boat building, restoration and maintenance.

Small Boats, Made of Wood

What Everybody ought to know about building Small Boats, guidance and tips for self-building or restoring.

14’ 1956 Chris Craft, side rail how should it be attached?

Apr 12, 24 03:38 AM

How to laminate plywood on the hull

Apr 10, 24 03:46 AM

Woodboat Restoration questions forum

Woodboat restoration questions Forum, get advice about your Wooden Boat problems in a free, no frills, no need to sign up forum

Epoxy Resin for DIY Wooden Boat Building.

A guide to the epoxy resins and sustainable enrtopy resins to use when building wooden boats with marine plywood.

Wood Rot Repair and Treatment

Wood rot in wooden boats, how to treat, repair and replace rotten timbers in a wooden boat

Privacy Policy

Advertising Policy

Cookie Policy

I am perfectly aware that the majority of Wooden Boat aficionados are sensible folk. However, I need to point out that I am an amateur wooden boat enthusiast simply writing in order to try to help other amateur wooden boat enthusiasts. And while I take every care to ensure that the information in DIY Wood Boat.com is correct, anyone acting on the information on this website does so at their own risk.

Affordable Sailboats You Can Build at Home

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

September 13, 2023

‍ 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.

Related Articles

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.

by this author

Best Sailboats

Learn About Sailboats

Most Recent

Best Small Sailboat Ornaments

September 12, 2023

Best Small Sailboats With Standing Headroom

December 28, 2023

Important Legal Info

Lifeofsailing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

Similar Posts

Discover the Magic of Hydrofoil Sailboats

December 11, 2023

Best Bluewater Sailboats Under $50K

Hunter Sailboats: Are They Built for Bluewater Cruising?

August 29, 2023

Popular Posts

Best Liveaboard Catamaran Sailboats

Can a Novice Sail Around the World?

Elizabeth O'Malley

June 15, 2022

4 Best Electric Outboard Motors

How Long Did It Take The Vikings To Sail To England?

10 Best Sailboat Brands (And Why)

December 20, 2023

7 Best Places To Liveaboard A Sailboat

Get the best sailing content.

Top Rated Posts

Lifeofsailing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. (866) 342-SAIL

© 2024 Life of Sailing Email: [email protected] Address: 11816 Inwood Rd #3024 Dallas, TX 75244 Disclaimer Privacy Policy

Sailboats embody the mystery of the sea, of going only where the wind is willing to take you. We offer a variety of sailboat sizes, using several construction techniques. We offer sails, hardware and rigging for many of our sailboat designs. This enables you to focus on building your boat, not searching around for all the bits and pieces needed to complete the project.

Free online book: 

• Rigging Small Sailboats
• Sailboat Hardware Notes

Glen-L 25 - Plywood

Jon Boat / Garvey…

$ 60.00 – $ 85.00

Jon Boat / Garvey 14 Boat Plans (GF14)

[GF14] A simple and economical 14′ flat bottom garvey: jon boat, duck boat. Fast with small outboards, very stable, easy to build, sturdy. Can be made unsinkable.

Description

Additional information.

• Reviews (0)

A simple to build, versatile classic flat bottom garvey, 14-foot jon boat, duck boat. You may also like our 16 Foot Jon Boat.

Click here to see study plans

Related kits:, cnc kit  –  marinepoxy kit  –  silvertip epoxy kit.

There are no reviews yet.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Your review  *

Name  *

Email  *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like…

Jon Boat / Garvey 14 GF14-CNC Kit

• $ 1,985.50
• Add to cart

Privacy Overview

• $ 0.00 0 items

Flats River Skiff 14

$ 115.00

The Flats River Skiff 14 is the perfect 2 person shallow water microskiff.  This boat is ideal for a first time boat builder with basic carpentry experience.  With its simple stitch and glue construction and easy to follow how to videos, you will be using the boat in no time! Its open deck will accommodate a grab rail and cooler, while a spacious front deck is perfect for storing your gear and mounting a trolling motor.

Available only as plans.   This simple and cost effective design can be built for less than the cost of CNC cutting and shipping.

Boat Plans include full size templates to cut all parts and prints detailing assembly of the boat.

Looking for more photos? Want to connect with others who have built this boat?  Check out the Salt Boatworks boat builders group, HERE!

Orders placed here can only ship within the USA at this time.  If you are outside of the USA, please send us a message on our contact page for a shipping quote.

Description

Additional information.

• Reviews (2)

Microskiff Boat Plans

• Ideal for a first time boat builder
• Build time is approximately 75 hours
• Build cost is $1200 – $1500
• Plans include full size patterns for tracing (easily cut with a jig saw)
• Ideal for 2 adults & gear
• Free instructional how-to video series (FRS-12 series applies)
• Integrated reverse chines provide excellent stability
• Requires only basic carpentry tools
• No boat building experience needed
• For more info check out our FAQ

Flats River Skiff 14 Specs:

• 13’8″ LOA
• 4’2″ beam
• 5″ draft fully loaded
• ~150lb hull weight (will vary by builder)
• Capacity 500lbs (2 people and gear)
• 15hp max (15″ shaft)
• ~25mph with 15hp, ~20mph with 10hp

Flats River Skiff 14 Materials List:

• 6 sheets – 4′ x 8′ x 1/4″ Okume or Meranti marine grade plywood
• 70 linear feet –  1/2″ x 1″ stock Cypress, Juniper or Fir
• 75 linear feet – 1″ x 1″ stock Cypress, Juniper, or Fir
• 3 gallons – Marine Epoxy (add 1 lb of fumed silica for fillets)
• 18 cu/ft – 2 lb density expanding pour foam, closed cell
• 12* yards – 10oz cloth 50″ wide (*15 yards if applied to floor)
• Marine primer & paint (Quantity will vary by manufacturer, application method and number of coats.)
• Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction (free PDF download)

What are stitch and glue boat plans?

Stitch and glue boat plans are great for amateur boat builders!

Stitch and glue boat building uses marine grade plywood that is stitched together with zipties and glued with epoxy resin.  The first step is to trace the full size patterns onto marine grade plywood and cut them out.  Then you will hold everything in place with zipties so you can install the simple frame.   After that, apply thickened epoxy to glue everything together.  All wood is sealed with epoxy resin and some areas are covered with fiberglass for additional strength.  Finally, roll on some paint and enjoy the ride!

Watch this video about stitch and glue boat building for more details and explanation.

More Questions about Boat Building?   Check out our FAQ

2 reviews for flats river skiff 14.

SkinnyDipper – November 2, 2020

I built the FRS-14 over the covid lockdown and it exceeded my expectations by far! I am running an old Evinrude 15hp 2-stroke and my WOT speed is 22mph and loaded with gear, 6 gallons of fuel and myself she drafts 2 1/2”!!! If you are on the fence, jump in feet first and have fun. By the way, this was my first build and took just under 6 months to complete.

laqm2910 – August 11, 2021

Built the Frs-14 down in Costa Rica. Im in love with the boat, you can go SUPER shallow, I can move it in and out of the water with ease, gets to 20mph on a 9.9 yamaha 4-stroke (2 people and gear). Perfect boat if you want to fish solo or with a buddy, great for fly fishing too. Building process was a wonderful experience that I’ll recommend to anyone that loves working with their hands and tools, also Adam is always there to help you if you got any questions.

Luis Quintana

You must be logged in to post a review.

Related products

Carolina Bay 17

Flats River Skiff 16

Carolina 25

THE PLANS The plans include 12 sheets of drawings, and a large sheet of full size patterns, showing the stem, transom, bulkheads, and temporary frames. This is printed on Mylar, which avoids the inaccuracies that can result when paper patterns move with changes in humidity. The Mylar is also very robust, and stands up much better than paper to workshop use. There is also a 74 page, illustrated building manual, which takes you step by step through the building process. Three different sailing rigs are shown. A daggerboard and a centerboard are also shown as options. The building manual includes a materials list, and sections on sharpening your tools, maintenance of the completed boat, fitting a small outboard motor, and other matters.

THE VIDEO/DVD A two hour video/DVD showing each stage of building the boat is available for those who want extra guidance. Close-ups show you how to get the best from your tools, how to make strong, tight joints, and how to handle the details that give a professional look to your boat. With sections on setting up, fairing, planing bevels, scarfing, scribing irregular shapes, and much else, the video/DVD does more than show you how this particular boat is built. It is an excellent introduction to the fundamentals of boatbuilding. Almost nothing tells of craftsmanship better than a sweet fair line. The video/DVD teaches an approach to fairing as a state of mind - it shows you how to look at a curve, and how to make it right. The video/DVD finishes with some great shots of the boat on the water. MATERIALS, COSTS, AND BUILDING TIME

The Penobscot 14 requires five sheets of 6 mm (1/4 inch) marine plywood for the planking, bulkheads, transom, etc. I recommend okoume or meranti; it is readily available, affordable, attractive, and pleasant to work. Suitable lumber for other parts of the boat is available almost everywhere. I don't make recommendations because of regional variations in price and availability, but I am always glad to answer questions about the suitability of any wood. Other materials include epoxy resin, and stainless steel screws. The epoxy can be obtained by mail order (or order the epoxy kit - see below); suitable screws are carried by most good hardware stores. How much does it cost to build the Penobscot 14? You should be able to put the boat in the water, without a sailing rig, for about $1,100.00. Sails and rigging will add up to $1,000.00 to that, depending on which rig you choose. The building time is the biggest imponderable. Everything depends on you, how much time you put in, how quick you are, how many coats of varnish you apply, and so on. A few builders finish their boats in three months. Six months is probably a realistic average, but some builders will take longer. Remember - the point is not arriving quickly, but to enjoy the journey! WHAT YOU CAN ORDER: (Click on Boat Design and Prices Page and Order Form || Shipping costs are given on the Order Form )

STUDY PACKAGE: This includes covers all three Penobscot designs, 13, 14 and 17. There are 24" x 36" blueline drawings for each design, showing the lines of the boat, construction sections, interior layout, and sail plans, and a booklet containing detailed descriptions of the boats, their development and construction, and numerous photographs and drawings. $15.00 + P&H. Shipping costs are given on the Order Form

DVD: Two hour video/DVD shows each stage of construction and the boat under sail and oar. $35.00 + P&H. Shipping costs are given on the Order Form

FRAME KIT: This includes the stem, beveled and marked for setting up, bulkheads, temporary building frames, transom frame, and laminated stem facing - the parts that determine the shape of the boat. They are shipped ready for setting up on a simple jig (not included). The kit also includes the plans and video/DVD. $875.00, including plans and DVD. Please call for shipping and handling.

EPOXY KIT: The epoxy kit comes from System Three Resins, and provides you with all the resin, hardener, additives, measuring pumps, brushes, gloves, and other items, that you will need. The System Three Epoxy Book, which gives detailed information on mixing and using epoxy, is included. (Epoxy solvent is not included, due to shipping restrictions. Hardware stores carry acetone or denatured alcohol, for use in cleaning up uncured epoxy). Please call for shipping and handling.

PLYWOOD PACKAGE: Plywood packages include all the plywood listed in the building manual. They come from World Panel Products, Inc., Riviera Beach, Florida. Three types of plywood are available; meranti, okoume, and sapele. All are high quality, marine grade plywood. Please call for details.

ALSO AVAILABLE: Sails, rigging kits, masts, spars, and other items. Call for details.

To view detailed boat plans description and spec pages, select a link below   Penobscot 13 | Penobscot 14 | Penobscot 17 | 12 Foot Main Peapod | Sand Dollar | Laughing Gull | Ace 14 Grace's Tender |  Jiffy V-22 | Jiffy 22 | Jiffy 9-7 | Bay Pilot 18 | Jack Tar | Grace Eileen 30 | Oar Plans

• Whitehall Spirit® Solo 14® Slide Seat Sculling Rowboat
• Whitehall Spirit® Tango 17® Double Slide Seat Sculling Rowboat
• Watch Life-changing Rowboats Video
• Classic Whitehall Spirit® 17 Double Slide Seat Sculling Rowboat
• Classic Whitehall Spirit® 17 Sailing Rowboat
• Classic Whitehall Spirit® 17 Expedition Sailing and Sculling Rowboat
• Classic Whitehall Spirit® 17 Traditional Fixed Seat Rowboat
• Classic Whitehall Spirit® 14 Slide Seat Sculling Rowboat

Classic Whitehall Spirit® 14 Sailing Rowboat

• Classic Whitehall Spirit® 14 Traditional Fixed Seat Rowboat
• Tyee Spirit® 14 Single Slide Seat Sculling Rowboat
• Classic Whitehall Spirit® Tyee 14 Sailing Rowboat
• Classic Whitehall Spirit® Tyee 14 Traditional Fixed Seat Rowboat
• Classic Whitehall Spirit® Tyee 14 Fishing Rowboat
• Classic Whitehall Spirit® Westcoast 11.6 Slide Seat Sculling Rowboat
• Classic Whitehall Spirit® Westcoast 11.6 Sailing Rowboat
• Classic Whitehall Spirit® Westcoast 11.6 Fixed Seat Traditional Rowboat
• Westcoast 11.6 – Lifeguard Patrol Boat
• Classic Whitehall Spirit® Minto 9’ Dinghy, Tender, Pond Boat
• We Deliver Worlwide – See Details
• Classic Whitehall Spirit®
• Whitehall Spirit® Solo 14® & Tango 17®
• Whitehall Spirit® Solo 14® & Tango 17® Rowboats
• Naming Your Boat
• Torqeedo Electric Outboard
• Boat Slider Trax®
• Classic Whitehall Sailing Gear
• Replacement Parts for Whitehall Spirit® Owners
• NEW: A World Of Adventure Awaits
• Testimonials
• Rowing and Sailing Stories
• Product Profiles
• Tips & Skills
• Health and Fitness
• Newsletters
• Love Letters
• Connect and subscribe!
• Care, Storage & Maintenance of Your Whitehall Boat
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Ordering/Delivery Details & Policies
• LEARN TO ROW

(Optional Sculling Slide Seat is available for this model)

The Whitehall Spirit® 14 Sailboat is fast when sailing lightly across the water. The rig has a salty look and is simple and easy to handle delighting both experienced sailors and those new to sailing. Whether learning to sail, introducing the grandkids to sailing, or just for the joy of connecting to the wind and water. If the wind drops simply lower the sails and row smoothly home at 3 to 5 knots. ( 5k to 9k) This boat rows extremely well. It’s very seaworthy, suited for sailing or rowing on the ocean, lakes, or rivers. It handles crisply due to the large kick-up rudder. The solid bronze pivoting centerboard retracts into its fiberglass well reducing the draft to 6” (16cm). Tuck into quiet, unexplored spots adding another dimension sailing. It’s fully beachable for going ashore and exploring. It rows like a dream in calm water but is right at home in wind and waves rowing with the traditional oars or when fitted with slide seat sculling gear.

All Whitehall Spirit®️ boats are custom built by master craftsmen in Victoria, BC, Canada. It is a sailing boat built to last 100 years   Our commitment to highest quality and superior design makes this the best boat of its type in the marketplace. It is CE certified and Canadian, and US Coast Guard approved. Built-in buoyancy makes it virtually unsinkable.

A factory option of a  stainless steel keel strip or a delightful custom name on the transom are available.

Like all Whitehall Spirit®️ models, this boat is at home on the deck of a yacht, at the cabin, parked on a dock, or on a trailer in the garage. If stored outside on a  boat dolly , or a boat trailer exposed to the elements, Lexan battens and a fitted Sunbrella cover are recommended to keep it pristine. For tying to a dock, tie-up lines and fenders can be included with your order.

A Factory Optional Slide Seat Sculling Unit can be mounted in positioned over top of the centerboard well. See the Whitehall Spirit® Slide Seat Sculling Model for more details.

Spruce/Carbon Traditional Oars with hand sewn leather collars and pressure cast oarlocks are available and can be delivered along with your boat.

This Classic Whitehall Spirit® 14 sailing model comes with solid teak woodwork, copper riveted gunnels, custom cast bronze fittings, an impeccably finished lapstrake fiberglass hull, bilge drain and plug, and a bronze builder’s plaque. This sailing model also includes a pivoting solid bronze centerboard, kick-up rudder, Spruce mast, boom and lug, mainsail, jib, sailing gear with sheets, halyards and blocks ready to go sailing or rowing.

Maintenance involves cleaning the teak and applying a coat of exterior teak oil taking about three hours per year. See the article on Care, Storage & Maintenance of your Classic Whitehall Spirit® .

An optional teak floor or the ocean tender fully buoyant floor that adds reserve buoyancy is available.  This option is useful when the boat is used as a ship’s tender or shore boat. Simply pull the drain plug and the empty boat will self-bail.

Check out the sailing options on the sailing gear accessories page .

Call 1-844-880-5151 or email [email protected] for a quote or information on any Classic Whitehall Spirit® model or accessories. Our truck and driver provided custom curb side delivery to your home, cottage or marina in southern Canada or mainland USA. We offer certified custom crating for offshore boat orders and have shipped worldwide for over 30 years. Thousands of Whitehall Spirit® boat owners are located in over 52 countries.

Classic Whitehall Spirit® 14 Sailing Rowboat with Fixed Seats

Price Before Options:

$ 32,995 usd.

Includes a hand-built lapstrake styled fiberglass hull with built-in buoyancy, bilge drain and plug, finely finished solid teak gunnels and seats. It also includes four bronze oarlock bases, a bow eye, stern eyes, and custom cast bronze bow and stern fittings. This sailing model is equipped with a cast bronze kick-up center board, kick-up rudder, mast, boom, mainsail, jib, sheets, and halyards, and a bronze builder’s plaque.

Other options including slide seat sculling gear and accessories are available.

More info and to place your order:

Phone 1-844-880-5151 or email [email protected] to receive a comprehensive quote that covers fully insured custom curb side delivery via our company truck and driver. This service is available for most locations in the USA or Canada. We also offer worldwide shipping and have shipped Whitehall Spirit® boats to over 50 countries.

Craftsmanship

Specifications, factory options, *for mobile: swipe table left to right., attention to detail.

Contact us to learn about our current seasonal promotion

For details please call 1-844-880-5151 or email [email protected], or fill out this form and we’ll contact you., name* email* phone* city* state* model of interest click here to select please call to go over models that fit my needs solo 14® slide seat sculling whitehall rowboat tango 17® double slide seat sculling whitehall rowboat classic whitehall spirit® 17 double slide seat sculling rowboat classic whitehall spirit® 17 sailing rowboat with optional sculling slide seats classic whitehall spirit® 17 expedition sailing & sculling rowboat classic whitehall spirit® 17 traditional rowboat classic whitehall spirit® 14 slide seat sculling rowboat classic whitehall spirit® 14 sailing rowboat with optional slide seat classic whitehall spirit® 14 traditional rowboat tyee spirit® 14 single slide seat sculling rowboat tyee spirit® 14 sailing rowboat with optional slide seat tyee spirit®14 traditional rowboat with fixed seats tyee spirit®14 fishing rowboat westcoast 11.6 single slide seat sculling rowboat westcoast 11.6 sailing rowboat with optional slide seat westcoast 11.6 traditional rowboat with fixed seats westcoast 11.6 – lifeguard patrol boat minto 9’ 3″ rowing tender newsletter subscription for special offers   ×, how to order.

Many customers first print the “Pricing and Accessories PDF”, in the “ Pricing ” tab above, for the boat they are planning to purchase, and then check-off the items they are interested in before calling or sending it to us. This is a good way to begin the process.

Alternatively, you can call to discuss your options, especially if you are unsure about what Whitehall boat model you are interested in. Your order may be as simple as a basic rowing model with oars, or as elaborate as a slide-seat rowing & sailing model with accessories, delivered to another continent.

Ordering/Delivery Details & Policies

Please read complete details by clicking here .

Take the next step and obtain a no-obligation quote:

Call toll free in (North America): 1-844-880-5151 Outside North America: +1-250-361-2628 Email: [email protected]

We are located in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia Canada on the Pacific side of North America. If you call outside of our normal business hours of 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and get our message machine, please let us know the best time and way to reach you.

You may also be interested in

Classic Whitehall Spirit® 17 Expedition Sailing & Sculling Rowboat

Classic Whitehall Spirit® 14 Single Slide Seat Sculling Rowboat

Tyee Spirit® 14 Sailing Rowboat with Optional Slide Seat

Find your classic whitehall spirit® boat.

All 18 classic boat models can ordered in different configurations to suit your needs.

• Row boat plans
• Sailboat plans
• Power boat plans
• Fast Skiff 14

Fast Skiff 14 by Bateau.com

[fs14] simple, economical 14' outboard skiff; outboard skiff.

URL: http://www.bateau.com/proddetail.php?prod=FS14

Description:

A simple, economical, easy to build and fast small planing boat.

The Fast Skiff 14 has a program similar to our FL14 with a major difference: she is designed as a planing hull, without rocker and a moderate vee.

She is designed for a first time builder and is an excellent introduction to the material and the building method we use for our large power boats: true composite hull, simple set up on a jig made of a pair of 2 by 4's.

Boats about same size as Fast Skiff 14

Questions? Suggestions? Contact us at: [email protected]