Meet the fleet - 10 great cottage sailboats
by David Harris
Illustrations by Jacques Perrault
We’ve assembled a fleet of great sailing dinghies for cottage use that vary in basic design, capacity, cost, and performance. Here is our review of 10 sailboats for the cottage.
Albacore
Designed in the UK after
the Second World War and still popular in England and North America; most hulls are fibreglass but a
surprising number of the old wood versions are still sailing.
| Length | 15' |
| Beam | 60" |
| Hull weight | 240 lbs |
| Crew | 2-3 |
| Why we like it | A two-man racing dinghy that offers great performance and adapts well to family use |
| The downside | Round bottom makes it tippy at the dock |
| Expect to pay | $12,000–$14,000 |
Byte
Designed by Canadian Ian
Bruce for lighter-weight sailors as an alternative to the Laser
| Length | 12' |
| Beam | 51" |
| Hull weight | 105 lbs |
| Crew | 1-2 |
| Why we like it | Well-engineered and simple to sail; a good choice for two kids or lighter women and teenagers |
| The downside | Too cramped for larger, heavier sailors |
| Expect to pay | $5,900 |
CL 16
Based on a UK design, it has
been produced in Canada for 40 years.
| Length | 16' |
| Beam | 73" |
| Hull weight | 365 lbs |
| Crew | 2-4 |
| Why we like it | Well-built, good performance, and a comfortable cockpit |
| The downside | Heavy; self-bailers are optional |
| Expect to pay | $10,500 |
Flying Scot
Popular in a few
pockets of cottage country for racing and picnicking, this boat can seat eight adults.
| Length | 19' |
| Beam | 81" |
| Hull weight | 700 lbs |
| Crew | 2-4 |
| Why we like it | Very stable and surprisingly quick and competitive; will happily cruise with a family of four |
| The downside | Heavy; must be ordered from the US |
| Expect to pay | $15,000-$18,000 with trailer |
Hobie 16
Designed by Hobie Alter,
this is the boat that popularized catamaran performance sailing.
| Length | 16'7" |
| Beam | 93" |
| Hull weight | 200 lbs |
| Crew | 1-4 |
| Why we like it | Strongly built; suits both beginners and experienced sailors |
| The downside | Large sail plan for its size makes boat harder to control in a strong wind |
| Expect to pay | $9,500 |
Five more boat reviews... click here
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