Wagtail Specifications

The design concept was to produce a boat that would have all the appeal of a traditional clinker dinghy (without the maintenance) that could be easily trailered or used as a tender to a bigger boat. The boat was to be stable and easy to sail yet have a good performance..... a craft that would be a pleasure to sail and not just downwind!

The traditional gunter rig with a modest sized jib can be removed as a first reef or, particularly, for novices or training sessions when the extra bits of string can confuse! The boat tacks cleanly with or without a jib and is nicely balanced through to the point pf virtual capsize. The sails are heavily made tan terylene, full cut in the traditional manner. The jib has bronze piston hanks and all the cringles etc are stainless or bronze. The spars are all made by 'Collars' out of laminated Sitka Spruce and finished in a tough UV resistant varnish.  

The mainsail is loose footed on the boom (there is an outhaul to tune sail shape) and is controlled with the mainsheet which has a 2.1 purchase. The jib sheets run through beautiful, easy to use, bronze jamb cleats and the halyards are made up on two brass belaying pins at the mast base.

The centreplate is easily raised and lowered on its tackle and is controlled with a jamb cleat under the thwart. All the controls are laid out so that the Wagtail can be sailed single handed or with a crew. The boat is easily rigged, the keel steeped mast is stayed with 2 shrouds and a forestay set up on lanyards.

Underwater the Wagtail has a deep 1/4" hot dipped galvanised centre plate and a deep powerful rudder - this combined with the gentle fore and aft keel rocker means that the Wagtail is very responsive and positive to the helm even in very light airs, this makes her easier to sail and contributes to her excellent windward performance

The hull is very strongly moulded in GRP with integral buoyancy tanks for and aft. The centre case is a moulded in unit with the hull (not bonded in afterwards) for superior strength and considerable stiffening along the keel etc. Importantly, the hull is finished with Gel Coat on the inside as well as the outside for improved durability and appearance.

The Wagtail is fitted out in a traditional manner in Utilie. No glue is used, just proper joinery with use of copper boat nails and roves where appropriate . The bottom boards are oiled spruce.

The simple uncluttered layout makes the boat feel very spacious with room to sprawl about on the slatted side benches and bow and stern seats. The broad capping on the centre plate casing makes a handy extension to the rowing thwart and there is room to stow a pair of proper sized oars alongside the casing.

All this is complimented by the standard polished bronze metal fittings to produce a boat that the owners can really be proud of.

-    L.O.A 12'6"
-    L.O.D 11'9"
-    Beam 5'
-    Draft: 5" plate up / 3'5"' plate down.
-    Sail Area 90 square ft.
-    Weight: c. 140 kg