Boat Identification

[Carley]

I'm a new sailor and would like to invest in a boat to keep practicing on after my classes. Can anyone identify the type of boat this is. The person selling it does not know anything about it and I would like to do some research before going to look at it. All he knows is that it is a 12 foot boat. Any help is appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Gunni]

Johnson C-Scow. I'm sure one of the sweet water sailors will have more info, these things are big on the lakes.

 

[JRacer]

Too small for it to be a C-Scow. MC maybe but the MC is 16'. See the link on scows. http://www.mcscow.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=612443&module_id=146960

 

[SFS]

Ask the owner to go look at the back of the boat, from the back. In the upper right corner of the transom (they might not know what a transom is) there will be a long combination of letters and numbers. This is the hull identification number (HIN). From it, you can determine what the boat is. Note that if the boat is old enough, it might not have an HIN.

If you can get the number, go to this site and plug the number in:
http://www.hindecoder.com/

You will then have some basic info, from which you can do more research. Good luck.

 

[31seahorse]

Welcome Carley, There might also be an insignia on the sail. It could be helpful in identification of the boat. The boat will be a wet ride due to the sailor's proximity to the water and due to the frequent capsizing that is likely to happen to a beginner. Wear a life jacket, be safe, and have fun.

 

[SailormanDan]

The boat will be a wet ride due to the sailor's proximity to the water and due to the frequent capsizing that is likely to happen to a beginner.

Yes, I had a Sunfish-type boat and messing with the capsizing led me to a C22 as a step up. There are times I miss being able to drop the mast in and go, but I like the dry(drier) ride in a bigger boat.

 

[Sandy Stone]

Looks like maybe a Butterfly?

 

[JohnShannon]

I think Butterfly as well

http://www.butterflyer.org/bfspecs.htm

 

[freeheelbillie]

Why not go with a Cal20 or something similar and stay dry? Trailer-able, easy to rig, easy to winterize, easy to sail. You can find a fix-er-up project boat like this for super cheap and learn a lot in the process . If you're handy you should certainly be able to sell it for what you have in it or more when its time to upgrade. If a wet sail is your idea of fun a Hobie Cat is a ton of fun and you'll get more use in less than ideal conditions. Just my 2 cents of course.

 

[jeffclown]

Looks like a Butterfly! I've spent a lot of time on them. Fun, fast, simple. Barely room for 2 people, and you and all your gear will get wet (that means consider a wet suit depending on your lake temperatures and length of season) and non-floating gear donated to King Neptune. Not very stable to board or stand up, but easy to trailer, rig, and launch. I agree to find bigger boat, if you have a place to keep it. Sailing season is short enough already for us northerners. If you do look at something like this as an economical start, make sure it has a reliable trailer. A lot of fun and great to learn on, but you'll be climbing back on fairly often. There should be a lot of boats that size available, and with good trailers, for not much money at all.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

It's not a Butterfly. Similar design, but not a Butterfly (12'). A C Scow is 20' so it is not that either. It's sort of on the tip of my tongue but can't put my finger on it. Might be a scow (which the design is) by a more obscure builder like Larsen or something.