Meet the fleet - 10 great cottage sailboats
Part two - 5 more great sailboats
by David Harris
Illustrations by Jacques Perrault
Laser
Bruce Kirby’s napkin sketch
lead to the biggest success story in Canadian sailing. Now the singlehanded Olympic-class boat
| Length | 13'10" |
| Beam | 54" |
| Hull weight | 130 lbs |
| Crew | 1-2 |
| Why we like it | Fun, fast, and simple; three different-sized sails are available to accommodate sailors of different weights |
| The downside | Sail goes up with the mast, so boat cannot be left rigged and unattended |
| Expect to pay | $5,300-$6,000 |
Optimist
Designed in the late 1940s, it’s now used worldwide as a youth training boat; spawned the
similar Pram and Mosquito designs for non-racers
| Length | 7'7" |
| Beam | 43" |
| Hull weight | 77 lbs |
| Crew | 1-2 |
| Why we like it | Provides children with independence at a young age |
| The downside | Too tiny for adults or larger youth |
| Expect to pay | $3,000 |
Sunfish
Designed in 1951; more than 500,000 of these boats have been built
| Length | 13'9" |
| Beam | 49" |
| Hull weight | 120 lbs |
| Crew | 1-2 |
| Why we like it | Simple and efficient design; only two control lines; stable |
| The downside | Less efficient upwind than the Laser or Byte |
| Expect to pay | $4,000 |
Vago
Popular in Europe and introduced in Canada at the Toronto International Boat Show in January
2008, this open-transom design meets the demand for a rugged, versatile performance sailboat.
| Length | 13'9" |
| Beam | 61" |
| Hull weight | 193 lbs |
| Crew | 1-2 |
| Why we like it | Tough, rotomould construction; good dockside stability; planes in moderate conditions; very quick, modern dinghy |
| The downside | More complex rigging than on other cottage sailboats |
| Expect to pay | $10,000, including launching dolly |
Hobie Wave
A very safe and simple starter boat
| Length | 13" |
| Beam | 84" |
| Hull weight | 235 lbs |
| Crew | 1-4 |
| Why we like it | Simple beginner-oriented multihull; rugged polyethylene hulls; mastfloat prevents “turtling” should you capsize |
| The downside | Slower and less responsive than some other boats |
| Expect to pay | $4,700 |
David Harris has spent more than 30 years in the boating industry, specializing in sales and refit. The fleet at his own Georgian Bay cottage includes a Laser and a Hobie 16.
First five boat reviews... click here
Back to article How to choose a cottage sailboat
Published in the April 2008 issue of Cottage Life magazine.
Copyright © 2008 by Cottage Life. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, photograph, or artwork, for other than personal use, in whole or in part, without the written permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden.