Shearwater Boats: Online Catalog

Sailing models

I have long enjoyed building and sailing model boats. Here are two of the boats that I am most happy with.

Independence

This is a 48 inch sailing model I had designed in 2000 to race with a yacht club on Wednesday nights. The rest of the guys were sailing store-bought Laser models, as a model maker, I had to build my own boat. The yacht club guys were better sailors than I was so I had to make my boat just a bit faster than theirs. The Independence proved fast and responsive and she handled rough waters well. She is great fun to sail either alone or in company.

Since then I have built quite a number for my own use and have produced kits for others to build. As of 2008 about 50 have been built. They have been the subject of a WoodenBoat School class and are raced competitively at a Connecticut Yacht club.

I am currently working with Chesapeake Light Craft to produce better kits for you to build. Contact them for more details.

She uses a two channel radio to control the rudder and the sail trim. The radio gear on board consists of a receiver, batteries, a servo (motor) to control the rudder and a bigger one is a winch for the sails. All the electronics is housed inside the "cabin" to keep it dry.

The Independence is 48 inches long, 11" wide and 80" from keel to mast head. She weighs about 15 pounds.

I have designed her for easy disassembly for travel. The sails can be removed and rolled up, the mast and boom come out, and the rudder and keel come off to make it easy to fit into a car.

Hawthorn

I designed the Hawthorn based on racing and cruising sailboats of the early 20th century. I built her using mahogany planking over steam bent wood frames and covered the deck with oak. She is a pretty boat, and sails well.

I built her in 1988 and have sailed her extensively. I learned a lot about sailing models from her and still enjoy sailing her.

I have plans which are based on her for sale.

Hawthorn is 44" long 9 1/2" wide and about 64" from keel to mast head and weighs about 13 pounds.

Updated on February 2, 2010

by Shearwater Boats
Please send questions or comments to: