Here are just a few of the high-quality manufacturers of small sailboats -
Hunter Marine Corporation manufactures recreational sailboats at 14 to 50 feet that are designed to make sailing fun and easy no matter the conditions, and has been in business for over 35 years. Hunter Marine offers a choice of 5 models in its daysailers series and range from 14' to 21'6. Official site: www.huntermarine.com
Precision Boat Works is a manufacturer of a series of quality and affordable daysailor and trailerable sailboats that are fun and simple to use, and was founded in 1978. Eight sailboat models available - ranging from the Precision 15 the smallest in the fleet to the Precision 23 a well thought out and trailerable sailing boat. Official site: www.precisionboatworks.com
Vanguard is a manufacturer of a series of recreational and racing one-design sailboats and able to offer some the world's favorite small sailboats and catamarans on the water. Vanguard boats include the Laser's, Pico, 49er, Dart's, Optimist, Sunfish, Stratos, Funboat, and Zuma. Official site: www.laserperformance.com
Com-Pac Yachts offers a series of sailboats that range from a 14' daysailor to a 35' bluewater sailing boat, and began business back in 1974. The Com-Pac trailerable cat boat series includes the Picnic Cat a 14' daysailor to the more roomy 17' Sun Cat and the classis 20' Horizon Cat. Official site: www.com-pacyachts.com
Other small sailboat manufacturers that deserve a mention include Catalina Yachts (family-oriented day sailors, from 8 to 25-feet), WindRider (trimarans w/foot-pedal steering, from 16 to 17-feet), and West Wight Potter (quality trailer-sailors, from 15 to 19-feet).
Fun, and challenging, for the do-it-yourself enthusiast there is a variety of plywood, fiberglass, and aluminum-based small sailboat plans on offer - these range from the traditional 12' Dory to a 16' Adelie mini cruiser. Plan-specific sources (self-building plans, patterns, kits, etc.) are available in the Boat Building Plans directory. |