Optimist

[Rick webb]

I am looking for plans to build an Optimist Sailboat. Not having much luck on the net, if anyone has a link or a source I would be very grateful. The plan is for a couple of us to build them and I was hoping to use it as a dink for my 23.5. The wife and kids do not like to be wet for the trip back home when we visit the islands in the Mississippi Sound.

 

[Rick webb]

Found it

When I changed the search from "sailboat" to "Dinghy" it was easy to find, though I did find alot of intersting stuff along the way. The site if anyone else is interested is:http://sailing.org/usoda/

 

[Bob Knott]

USODA and other thoughts/

My kids race opti's and my son (age 10) is really good at it, but I don't think an Opti is what you'd want for dinghy for a sailboat. They tip very easily, have no way to drain water (class rule), but race well and the kids have a blast sailing around. For our dinghy we got a zodiak beause of stability with the kids. I highly reccommend them.Best of luck with building an Opti, although we have 2 racing ones, I wouldn't want to try to build one. If you look to buy one, my kids race McLaughlins and my son won 6 regattas last summer and finished 12th in the Atlantic Coast Championships held here on Cape Cod last summer. Fast boats!Bob Knott

 

[Mark]

realopti.com

Try www.realopti.com. Lots of phone # listed which should be able to get you started. Or click on rya.org which is the Royal Yacht Assoc of the UK. They have the plans for the opti. I thnk it is 11 pounds sterling to buy them. If you build your own (not a kit) use Okume plywood, expensive but the best marine ply out there. www.clcboats.com sells the wood, or you might be able to find it at a speciality wood distributor.Also you might try calling or clicking on wooden boat mag up in Maine. They are a wealth of info.Good Luck