Optimist Pram
By Clark Mills
Kit by Sorensen Woodcraft
WoodenBoat Magazine
Boat of the Week 3/1/11
No other boat in the world has surpassed the popularity
of the Optimist Pram as a sail trainer for kids. Over 400,000 have been built
worldwide since Clark Mills designed the boat in 1948.
The Optimist Pram is a perfect introduction to both boatbuilding and sailing. It is a great adult/child project that will create lifetime memories.
Optimist Racing
Although this Optimist kit is true to Clark
Mills' objectives and fun to sail, it will not meet the strict measurement requirements
for sanctioned racing competition under the International Optimist Dinghy Association.
The Sorensen Woodcraft Optimist Pram kit is designed for easy construction.
The kit comes with built in air tanks, that that add stiffness to the bottom and eliminates the need for air bags.
Framing material is spruce.
The plywood is Maranti marine plywood. It was chosen for its strength, durability and lower cost. Sides & bottom are 6mm, Bow, mid frame, transom, dagger board and rudder are 12mm. Air tank is 4mm Okoume.
Spars are made from spruce.
The kit includes all the wood parts. Frames, dagger board and rudder are cut to size. Stringers, chines, gunwales, inwales are cut to size with a little extra length.and
The kit does not include plans, building jig, spars,rigging or sail.
Kit Price: $350.00 (shipping my motor freight)
(discounts and freight savings on multiple kit orders)
Spruce spar kit: $75.00 Boom is cut to size, mast and sprint are blanks, ready to be shaped.
Fastener kit: $25.00
Plans:
1948 version of the plans are free online at http://www.stexboat.com/boat_building/plans/opti1948/opti_1948.htm
Recommended are the more complete set and better building jig available from the Cleveland Amateur Boat Building Society (CABBS) Optimist plans are sent by US mail rolled in a tube. Cost is $24 USD domestic mail, or $29 USD international. Proceeds from the sale of the plans helps to support the CABBS youth boatbuilding programs.
L.O.A. 7' - 8"
Beam 3' - 8"
Draft (Board Down 2' - 6"
Air tank volume 4 cu. ft.
Weight 83 lbs.
Sail Area 35 sq. ft.
With the sail kept laced
to the mast & boom, rigging takes only 5 minutes!
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Spar Options:
Wooden spar kit.
Aluminum spars are available from APS
PCV pipe spars as shown in the CABBS plans.
Sail Options:
You can make your own sail from a used donor sail. The boat pictured above, its sail was made from a used Windmill class sail.
You can buy a new sail. Prices start as low as $90 available from APS
To place an order please phone or e-mail
Payment by Check, Money Order, Credit Card or Pal Pal
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California residents add appropriate sales tax
Prices are FOB Chowchilla CA
Kits may require a deposit
Prices are subject to change with out notice
Sorensen Woodcraft
13307 Avenue 22 1/2
Chowchilla, CA 93610
Phone (559) 665-2690
email: sorensenwoodcraft@gmail.com
Still in Development Stage
El Toro Class
Sailboat Kits
El Toro Class
One Design
Racing Dinghy
Conceived in "Bull Sessions" at the Richmond Yacht Club in 1936, The El Toro has become a recognized class with over 11,000 boats built and is the most popular "dinghy" on San Francisco Bay. More than fifty years ago, a need was recognized for a small inexpensive sailboat which could serve as a yacht tender and training craft. Today, the class has allowed new materials to be used along with the traditional wood. The original design considerations have remained. Today's yachts are satisfactory tenders and sprightly racers.
Junior sailing programs at yacht clubs and municipal sailing classes have developed many fine young El Toro captains. High quality racing programs have kept the interest of these young sailors. Often sailors "move up" to larger yachts and are frequently recognized as champions. Many return to the lively tactical sailing situations provided by El Toro racing.
The El Toro kit from Sorensen Woodcraft is built from light weight but strong Okoume plywood to be competitive with the fiberglass boats. The kit is for the hull -with air floatation tanks, dagger board & rudder. There are instructions to build carbon fiber mast & boom, along with sail makers on the El Toro Association web site. If you want the traditional wood mast and boom, we can make that for you also.
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El Toro Specifications |
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| Length: | 7 ft. 11 in. | Hull: | Wood or Fiberglass |
| Beam: | 3 ft. 10 in. | Weight: | 60 lbs. (hull only) |
| Spars: | Wood, Aluminum, or Carbon Fiber | 80 lbs. (min. wt. Equipped) | |
| Sail Area | 49 sq. ft. | Crew: | One |
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Portsmouth Rating: 126.6 |
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Composite Wood / Epoxy Construction - with easy to construct female mold
4mm, 5mm and 6mm okoume plywood
Kit Includes:
Not included are:
Kit price: $000.00 fob Chowchilla, CA
Shipping by truck
El Toro Hulls:
To place an order please phone or e-mail
Payment by Check, Money Order, Credit Card or Pal Pal
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|
|
|
California residents add appropriate sales tax
Prices are FOB Chowchilla CA
Kits may require a deposit
Prices are subject to change with out notice
Sorensen Woodcraft
13307 Avenue 22 1/2
Chowchilla, CA 93610
Phone (559) 665-2690
email: sorensenwoodcraft@gmail.com
