BoatsOptimist Dinghy (INT)

Optimist Dinghy (INT)

Sprit/Lug · Pram (Daggerboard) · First built 1947

A Clark Mills-designed pram dinghy from 1947 that serves as the world's most popular youth trainer

Designed by Clark Mills, built by Far East Boat Co.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Pram (Daggerboard)

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 1.07 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 35 kg of hull, so roughly 650 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 35 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draft shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draftDraws 0.10 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a beamy beam gives 3 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 3
CoastalBluewater

At 3.29 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 3.29
LightHeavy

97 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 97

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Lighter than ~87% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~92% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~100% of boats her size on file

Compared with 30 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Sprit/Lug
Ratios
Displacement / length
96.9
Comfort ratio
3.1
Capsize screening
3.29
Hull speed
3.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
89
Hull
Hull type
Pram (Daggerboard)
Construction
Wood
Production
Years built
First built 1947
Units built
400000
Designer
Clark Mills
Builder
Far East Boat Co

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Newport Boats Flipper2.44 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn ultra-light 36kg cat-rigged dinghy designed by Carter Pyle and Joe Quigg for high-performance, unstayed sailing
A Knack for Sailing: Christen With on 60 years in the service of sailing2:40from SEILmagasinet

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the Optimist Dinghy (INT)

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