Ian Schaefer
some things
Super Snark Sailboat
I just bought this sailboat, an 11′ Super Snark. I’ve wanted to learn to sail for a few years—this seemed like the perfect sailboat with which to start. It is purportedly unsinkable and very stable. The ABS clad EPS foam hull certainly seems very durable and indeed, could not possibly sink even if completely swamped.
I had it out for the first time this weekend and had a fantastic time. This was my very first time sailing, but I found the boat quite easy to handle – the basic sailing instructions I’ve read were enough to get me underway with this small sailboat. With a little ‘effort’ I was even able to capsize the Super Snark and shortly thereafter learn how easy it is to right this boat. I’ll save the details of that story for another time.
After the first trip out I realized that all the wood parts – rudder, tiller, keel, transom – needed some attention. The marine plywood rudder was delaminating, and though it would be simple to cut a new one, I thought it might be worthwhile to repair it. After gluing and clamping the rudder in several places, I sanded and varnished all of the wood parts.
I also plan on painting the outside of the hull – navy blue. I’ll keep the white gunwhale and medium blue bumper as is. This motif should work nicely with then existing blue-white-blue-white striped sail and equally well with an Egyptian cotton colored sail I’d like to have.
Super Snark Links
- CastleCraft Repair Tips for Snark Sailboats
- CastleCraft Super Snark Sailboat Parts
- Snark Sailboats Group on Yahoo! – Membership required
- How to Sail a Boat – wikiHow [This article is short and to the point. I think it’s worth a read if you are new to sailing.]
- Grog’s Boating Knots Index [Note: start with the figure eight and bowline knots.]
Want a New Snark Sailboat?
I was surprised to learn that Snark sailboats are still being made – not only the Super Snark, but also the Sea Skimmer, Sunflower, and others. If you don’t have the time or inclination to repair an older boat, a shiny new Snark is still a relatively affordable way to start sailing. Here are a few links to the best prices available through Amazon.
Rigging the Super Snark
More Snark Upgrades
Splash Deck – I am planning to sail in the bay at Stone Harbor, New Jersey in late September. It can get choppy there – and while the summer boat traffic will have diminished I have yet to deal with the wake of a decent sized powerboat. The splash deck covers the area of the otherwise open hull from the mast step forward to the bow, shedding water the boat might take on from chop and wake. Coming over the bow. I am nearing completion of a wooden splash deck and I am excited about my design and the results. I will post photos and detail soon. Boom Vang – Provide downward tension on the boom for better sail shape and to minimize ‘bounce’. Use the free end of the halyard through the gooseneck of the boom and back to the cleat.
Traveller – create a bridle using a short length of line between the two screw eyes on the inside of the transom, leaving enough slack in the line to come up and over the tiller with clearance. Thread a small block on the bridle before fastening the line on the eyes. Then the tack end of the main sheet is secured to the dead eye of the block allowing the tack to travel along the bridle.
Tiller Tamer – Loop a short bungee cord around the tiller and connect to the screw eyes on the inside of the transom. This should exert just enoungh tension on the tiller to bring the rudder back to center when the tiller is released.
Daggerboard Retainer – attach on or two screw eyes into a small plywood plate on the stern end of the daggerboard trunk. From these eyes, run a bungee cord around the aft edge of the daggerboard. Pulling on the bungee allows the daggerboard to be raised or lowered – releasing it should hold the board in any vertical position.
Kickup Rudder – Design and make a two-piece rudder to replace the old one-piece rudder, allowing for easy beaching of the sailboat.
83 thoughts on “Super Snark Sailboat”
I just bought my first sailboat, a 1972 Sea Snark. It has the ABS coating but is bubbling and cut in places. Is this something I will need to replace and cover with fiberglass or is there and easier way to eliminate the bubbling and fix the small cuts everywhere. Not opposed to the fiberglass and it will have a great finish – just don’t have any clue what it’d be doing. Doesn’t look terribly hard to do though. Thank you for any help.
P.S. This is a great forum, thank you very much for creating it. Lots of great help, ideas and information.
Am I the only person in the world to own Snark Mayflower??? Mine needs some minor hull repairs, but its a wonderful boat. I am “older” and cannot handle the heavier boats, so this boat is great for me. I am wondering if anyone has made a pvc trolley for a 90# (without rigging) boat? I am thinking something with a sling in the rear? I plan to use larger all plasitc wheels, but the design is making me nuts. In the past have used a prebuilt hand cart with wood handle extensions, but now I want the stern at the rear of the trolley and that is the problem….suggestions? Also, when you painted did you remove the rubrail and what was that like???
I Love this site! Thanks!
Marci, not sure if you are still out there, but my dad is trying to repair the hull on our Mayflower, which we’ve been sailing on a small pond for years. He is 86 now. Years ago it smashed against a tree (the wind picked it up) and snapped in half. He repaired it at the time, but over the years it has taken on water, with a particular crack around the centerboard well. This summer he removed part of the skin and patched some of the holes in the foam with sections he created from an old styrofoam beach board. He also plans to build up the well internally. Not sure when he’ll be able to finish. I miss it dearly! I’ve tried buying a new hull for him in the past but could never find any for sale.Happy sails to you.
I can’t help you, except to say that, yes, someone else once owned and enjoyed the Snark Mayflower from 1974-1978. I used to carry it on my back over the rocks at Folly Cove on Cape Ann, Massachusetts each time we wanted to sail. My wife is writing a memoir of an one hour Gilligan’s Island sail that four of us took across Ipswich Bay in gentle swells . By the time we reached Plum Island seven hours later, they had turned into 10 foot breakers. Yes, a wonderful boat, so sturdy for being only a piece of foam and plastic. I found your post because my wife didn’t believe it was called a Mayflower, and I had began to believe our little Mayflower never existed. Do you have any pix? Love to see one again.
I just acquired an old super snark – no sail, rudder or daggerboard. I got it to learn to sail. I had read that this was the way to go and I thought I got a great deal – $40. However, I am now concerned – the thing is a lot more than 50 lbs. it took my husband and I a lot of effort to lift and slide into our van. Someone suggested water issues? Could there be a heavier model out there?. This has some kind of coating over the styrofoam. any thoughts to help me figure out whether to invest more money into parts.
Today, I went to the beach front with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but I had to tell someone!
My web blog: Golf Star Hack Download ( Irwin )
Peter, there are some photos of the Snark Mayflower here. I am a writing coach—you can find me at my writing coach dot net if your wife needs any help with her memoir! We are not far from Plum Island and would love to hear the tale. http://photobucket.com/images/snark%20mayflower?page=1
Dear all, how nice to found you all in the www. My Sunflower hull is delaminating arround the dagger board. Does someone have ideas and experiance in how to fix this? Thank you so much. Daniela Is there a overview of serial-numbers available, that will tell the year of manufacture?
Last fall I saw a Sea Snark at a thrift shop and got it for $65. A small hole in the sail but serviceable. A busy spring / summer but finally got my chance to sail two days ago. Wow what a rush. I went out in 3 mile/hour wind and gradually increasing to 5. The wind was was fluky and changing direction and after 2 1/2 hours this old guy at 69 was bushed. Looking at videos and instructions for rigging the main sheet I could see many versions. I saw one photo with a traveller. I wondered about needing a hiking strap but wondered if the hull might crack in half. Reading here about a bow splash. My idea is to keep the boat light so I will not add anything slick to the styrofoam. I think I should graduate to a bigger boat for such niceties. Going sailing alone on this craft is the way to go and encourage others to club for racing. This Sea Snark and some lawn mower racing. Retirement is great. Thanks to all to you who have suggested repairs and improvements to this newbie.
Wow…happened to come across this site and am glad to have found it. I purchased a Snark back in 1972. It had been stored in my parent’s garage and now that I have a cottage on a lake, I am going to restore it. I need to replace the sail for mice have wrecked havoc to the old one. In 1972, I fiber-glassed the bottom and that needs to be repainted, will decide on a color once I decide on he sail. I need to do a little repair for a mouse nest in the bottom had caused some damage. I think I have all the parts. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the thread. Hard to believe it has been 42 years…
Snagged an older Snark from neighborhood group site (!) and been out three times so far – is great!
Two questions:
1) I want to fortify hull – Snark people suggested using 2 part epoxy, but NOT marine grade (will melt the styrofoam) – any suggestions on a decent, but reasonable option and how much it takes to do the whole hull?
2) The third time we went out, my son and I were going pretty fast but maybe because we were causing a bit of waves (?) the boat suddenly filled with water – less than a minute. Yikes! I had to bail like a madwoman (once the water is higher than the centerboard hole it is pretty hard!!). I need to make a splash guard – can you post a pic of the one you made? So many thanks!!
What do you do when you’re on the water, swilling and you need to put the sail down? I have a super Snark. The sail does not come down at all and in very windy conditions, this could be dangerous.
I am coming late to the party here, but just retired and am determined to get my “freebie” 1969(?) Mayflower in the water. I had to buy a new sail for it because the one on it was roached. Is there somewhere I can see a diagram to show this newbie how to properly rig this little boat? Thanks in advance!
I have found an excellent repair for styrofoam to the plastic hull. I fixed the centerboard trunk works excellent. It’s called 5200 from 3M, very messy but works great an won’t harm styrofoam. I got it at Home Depot, an it’s not cheap. $14.00 a tube.
I have a 11′ Snark Sunflower in my garage (it was left by the home’s previous owner). It looks in great shape, as if it rarely saw the water! If anyone has an interest in purchasing, please contact me. I’d be happy to send pictures to anyone interested. Alan 215.630.9508 Newtown, Pa
The sail should come down by loosening the halyard. Here is a video on proper assembly and you will see how the halyard line is used to raise and lower the sail: http://www.sailboatstogo.com/content/Super_Snark_Sailboat_Delivery_Assembly_and_Rigging
Super Snarks are being sold on SailboatsToGo.com here; http://www.sailboatstogo.com/content/Snark_Super_Snark_Sunflower__Sailboats
Here is a new video of my granddaughter sailing a Super Snark: https://youtu.be/JMfLjxqQTeg
This page has links to 3 videos of the larger Snark, the Sunchaser. http://www.sailboatstogo.com/content/Sunchaser_I_Snark
This page has the history of the brand: http://www.sailboatstogo.com/content/Snark_History
This gadget makes the mast taller so you get more headroom under the boom: http://www.sailboatstogo.com/catalog/PARTS/5211
I have a super snark. we stored it in a storage unit for a number of years. but my dad back in the 80s took 4 inch PVC and put two screw fittings on the ends and created a tube to protect the sail during transport and storage.
Hey! I just got a Snark Sea Skimmer off of craigslist for just a few dollars. The Hull is in pretty bad shape (lots of duct tape patches) and the deck has some cracking i’m sure from age. It is in one piece tho and all of the pieces parts are there. Any suggestions on where i should get started on repairing the Hull? Products, techniques?
Hello, I also just purchased a Super Snark and have repaired the hull, a few dents and cracks with PC-11. Going to sand it a bit and then paint it. The original color is red but I may want to change it. Just wondering how the Krylon Fusion paint held up. I also think the Navy blue would be beautiful! Enjoying learning from fellow sailors! Thanks
Hey all –
I just did a Super Snark restoration in August and September. There is a yahoo user’s group for Snark sailboat owners which is active and helpful.
I have a photo album there showing my restoration from a hull that sat in the weeds for years to a fun and portable sailboat. Good luck!
I used Krylon fusion on my Snark and it worked great!
Hey I was wondering all the dimensions of the Rudder and dragger Board? I received a super snark in excellent condition for free. it just doesn’t have mast sail dragger board or rudder and I plan on making most of it my self any help or suggestions will be appreciated! New to sailing so be easy on me! Thanks again! Devin
I’m about to buy a very old snark, the unclad Kool cigarette version. Has anyone had any problems with these, as far as the hull breaking or getting waterlogged, etc.? Thanks!
Does anyone know what happen to the Snark Sailboat Owners Yahoo Group? I just bought a Sunflower. I have joined, but being a restricted group, its been more than a week and I have not heard back. I also tried to go to the group website and it is not working. (www.wisdomsecurity.com). What I wanted to know is: Has anyone set up a jib on a Sunflower? How did it work? How it was done? Thanks.
I have a 1972 Kool Snark. Smoked Kools to have required cartons and $99.00 to buy it. We did an amateur fiberglass job on it in 1972 but it has served the family well on lake and beach adventures. Would like to sell it. Any takers?Contact cbrittain47 @carolina.rr.com
What a treasure trove of information!
First of all, if anyone knows of a Snark Mayflower for sale in the eastern half of the US, please contact me. I will come and buy it.
Second, yes, the Snark Mayflower did exist. They discontinued them in…maybe 1979? Or in the 1980s?
My Uncle bought one in the late 1970s and had it at his lake cabin in Minnesota. I learned to sail on it in the late 1980s. I sailed it off and on for years when I was up there in the summer. It was a wonderful boat, simple to sail, and basically impossible to capsize. I sailed it one time for the first time in like 10 years in 2011. I have a blog post about it here: http://craigsteffen.net/blog/2011/07/2011_07_18_23_21_50_A.php Not a year after that, possibly that summer, it was apparently beyond repair and my uncle cut it up and threw it away.
The Mayflower hull (and some of the other Snark boats too) is a styrafoam core with a plastic outer shell. Having talked to people, apparently it’s generally fine if you keep it indoors when it’s not on the water. If you leave it outside all the time, however, the plastic will eventually develop cracks and let water in. My uncle had repaired it with fiberglass several times but finally just couldn’t keep up with it. When it cut it apart water poured out of the voids in the hull.
There is, by the by, a supplier in Europe that sells them. The Snark supplier in the US says that they will not ship them to the US, and the company is uninterested in resurrecting the design.
I would love to make one myself. There are drawings around. I could almost do it with photos and dimensions memory. I think cutting the shape out of styrafoam wouldn’t be too terribly hard; I’d then have to figure out how to make the hard outer shell. Fiberglass? Maybe carbon fiber is cheap enough nowadays?
If you’re looking for information on it, here’s a great resource: http://www.castlecraft.com/snark_assembly.htm It’s a collection of Snark product assembly manuals. It includes discontinued products like the Mayflower: http://www.castlecraft.com/PDF/Snark-Mayflower-Manual.pdf
Craig Steffen [email protected] 217-979-2392
I have a 1972 Sea Snark for sale. It’s in great condition & only used 4 times since refiberglassed. It’s to heavy for top of my new car
Just acquired a snark mayflower for 40 bucks. Out of the shark models, I have struggles to find much for any info on the mayflower specifically…anyone else own one?? The ABS had gouges and cracks that we have been working to repair. Where the rubber molding strip attaches, there is silicone or similar product that was used to seal the seam and it’s a real bear to remove. Anyone have any suggestions on what we can use to make it easier that will be safe to the foam and ABS? Think we could just cut a 2in strip off all the way around on both the inside and outside ABS peices and use fiberglass cloth or something to replace that area? I appreciate any input. Thanks.
Anyone tried fitting a 55 f sail (with adj to mast etc) to the supersnark? Any info on this? Stability?
Hi John G – I was wondering the same thing! I’ve just come upon one of the ABS-clad supersnarks and was curious about sail surface area upgrades. Are you still around, and did you try anything with any success?
I just purchased a 1989 super snark and am painting and restoring. Bought a beautiful new sail from sailboatstogo. will sail and post pics next week when I can figure out how to post them
I have a snark Mach II that I inherited. There are cracks . Does anyone have info on repairs?
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20 Best Small Sailboats for the Weekender
- By Mark Pillsbury
- Updated: May 24, 2024
In order to go cruising, most of us require a sailboat with a head, a galley, and bunks. The boat, likely a 30-footer and more often a 40-footer, will have electronics for navigation and entertainment, refrigeration if the trip is longer than a coastal hop, an engine for light wind, and, depending on our appetites for food and fun, perhaps a genset to power our toys and appliances.
To go sailing , however, all we really need is a hull, mast, rudder, and sail. To experience the pure joy of sheeting in and scooting off across a lake, bay, or even the open ocean, there’s nothing better than a small sailboat – we’re talking sailboats under 25 feet. You can literally reach out and touch the water as it flows past. You instantly feel every puff of breeze and sense every change in trim.
Some of the boats in this list are new designs, others are time-tested models from small sailboat manufacturers, but every one is easy to rig, simple to sail, and looks like a whole lot of fun either for a solo outing on a breezy afternoon or to keep family and friends entertained throughout your entire sailing season. This list is made up of all types of sailboats , and if you’re looking for a list of some of the best small sailboats for beginners, you’ll find exactly that here.
Any one of these popular boats could be labeled as a trailerable sailboat, daysailer, or even a weekender sailboat. And while most would be labeled as a one or two person sailboat, some could comfortably fit three or even four people.
– CHECK THE WEATHER – The weather changes all the time. Always check the forecast and prepare for the worst case. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard
Marblehead 22 Daysailer
If you have an eye for elegant lines and your heart goes pitter-patter over just the right amount of overhang beneath a counter transom, the Marblehead 22 daysailer, designed by Doug Zurn and built by Samoset Boatworks in Boothbay, Maine, will definitely raise your pulse. Traditional-looking above the waterline and modern beneath, the cold-molded hull sports a deep bulb keel and a Hall Spars carbon-fiber mast with a wishbone rig and square-top main. The 11-foot-9-inch cockpit can seat a crowd, and a small cuddy forward will let you stow your friends’ gear for the day. samosetboatworks.com
Catalina 22 Sport
Many a harbor plays host to an active fleet of Catalina 22s, one of the most popular small sailboats over the years, given its basic amenities and retractable keel, which allows it to be easily trailered. Recently, the company introduced the Catalina 22 Sport, an updated design that can compete with the older 22s. The boat features a retractable lead keel; a cabin that can sleep four, with a forward hatch for ventilation; and a fractional rig with a mainsail and a roller-furling jib. Lifelines, a swim ladder, and an engine are options, as are cloth cushions; vinyl cushions are standard. The large cockpit will seat a crowd or let a mom-and-pop crew stretch out and enjoy their sail. It’s clear why the Catalina 22 is one of the best sailboats under 25 feet. catalinayachts.com
With its large, open-transom cockpit and sloop rig, the Hunter 22 makes a comfortable daysailer for family and friends. But with its cuddy cabin, twin bunks, optional electrical system, opening screened ports, and portable toilet, a parent and child or a couple could comfortably slip away for an overnight or weekend. Add in the optional performance package, which includes an asymmetric spinnaker, a pole, and a mainsheet traveler, and you could be off to the races. The boat features a laminated fiberglass hull and deck, molded-in nonskid, and a hydraulic lifting centerboard. Mount a small outboard on the stern bracket, and you’re set to go. marlow-hunter.com
Not sure whether you want to race, cruise or just go out for an afternoon sail? Since 1958, sailors have been having a ball aboard the Uffa Fox/George O’Day-designed Daysailer. Fox, who in the 1950s was on the cutting edge of planning-dinghy design, collaborated with Fall River, Massachusetts boatbuilder O’Day Corp. to build the 16-foot Daysailer, a boat that features a slippery hull and a small cuddy cabin that covers the boat roughly from the mast forward. Thousands of Daysailers were built by various builders, and they can be found used for quite affordable prices. There are active racing fleets around the US, and new Daysailers are still in production today, built by Cape Cod Ship Building. capecodshipbuilding.com
BayRaider from Swallow Boats
Easy to rig and trailer, the BayRaider from England’s Swallow Yachts is a relative newcomer to the small-boat market in the United States. Nearly all of its 19 feet 9 inches is open cockpit, though a spray hood can be added to keep the forward sections dry. The BayRaider is ketch-rigged with a gunter-style mainmast. The topmast and mizzen are both carbon-fiber, which is an option for the mainmast as well. The BayRaider can be sailed with a dry hull in lighter conditions or with 300 pounds of water ballast to increase its stability. With the centerboard and hinged rudder raised, the boat can maneuver in even the thinnest water.
$28,900, (904) 234-8779, swallowyachts.com
Big fun can come in small packages, especially if your vessel of choice happens to be the 12 ½-foot Beetle Cat. Designed by John Beetle and first built in 1921, the wooden shallow draft sailboat is still in production today in Wareham, Massachusetts at the Beetle Boat Shop. With a draft of just 2 feet, the boat is well-suited for shallow bays, but equally at home in open coastal waters. The single gaff-rigged sail provides plenty of power in light air and can be quickly reefed down to handle a blow. In a word, sailing a Beetle Cat is fun. beetlecat.com
– LEARN THE NAVIGATION RULES – Know the “Rules of the Road” that govern all boat traffic. Be courteous and never assume other boaters can see you. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard
West Wight Potter P 19
With berths for four and a workable galley featuring a cooler, a sink, and a stove, West Wight Potter has packed a lot into its 19-foot-long P 19. First launched in 1971, this is a line of boats that’s attracted a true following among trailer-sailors. The P 19′s fully retractable keel means that you can pull up just about anywhere and go exploring. Closed-cell foam fore and aft makes the boat unsinkable, and thanks to its hard chine, the boat is reportedly quite stable under way. westwightpotter.com
NorseBoat 17.5
Designed for rowing and sailing (a motor mount is optional), the Canadian-built NorseBoat 17.5—one of which was spotted by a CW editor making its way through the Northwest Passage with a two-man crew—features an open cockpit, a carbon-fiber mast, and a curved-gaff rig, with an optional furling headsail set on a sprit. The lapstrake hull is fiberglass; the interior is ply and epoxy. The boat comes standard with two rowing stations and one set of 9-foot oars. The boat is designed with positive flotation and offers good load-carrying capacity, which you could put to use if you added the available canvas work and camping tent. NorseBoats offers a smaller sibling, the 12.5, as well; both are available in kit form.
$19,000, (902) 659-2790, norseboat.com
Montgomery 17
Billed as a trailerable pocket cruiser, the Montgomery 17 is a stout-looking sloop designed by Lyle Hess and built out of fiberglass in Ontario, California, by Montgomery Boats. With a keel and centerboard, the boat draws just under 2 feet with the board up and can be easily beached when you’re gunkholing. In the cuddy cabin you’ll find sitting headroom, a pair of bunks, a portable toilet, optional shore and DC power, and an impressive amount of storage space. The deck-stepped mast can be easily raised using a four-part tackle. The builder reports taking his own boat on trips across the Golfo de California and on visits to California’s coastal islands. Montgomery makes 15-foot and 23-foot models, as well. If you’re in search of a small sailboat with a cabin, the Montgomery 17 has to be on your wish list.
With long overhangs and shiny brightwork, the CW Hood 32 is on the larger end of the daysailer spectrum. Designers Chris Hood and Ben Stoddard made a conscious decision to forego a cabin and head in favor of an open cockpit big enough to bring 4 or 5 friends or family out for an afternoon on the water. The CW Hood 32 is sleek and graceful through the water and quick enough to do some racing, but keeps things simple with a self-tacking jib and controls that can be lead back to a single-handed skipper. A top-furling asymmetrical, electric sail drive and Torqeedo outboard are all optional. The CW Hood 32 makes for a great small family sailboat. cwhoodyachts.com
Sun Cat from Com-Pac
Shallow U.S. East Coast bays and rock-strewn coasts have long been graced by cat boats, whose large, gaff-rigged mainsails proved simple and powerful both on the wind and, better yet, when reaching and running. The 17-foot-4-inch Sun Cat, built by Com-Pac Yachts, updates the classic wooden cat with its fiberglass hull and deck and the easy-to-step Mastender Rigging System, which incorporates a hinged tabernacle to make stepping the mast a one-person job. If you want a personal sailboat ideal for solo sailing, the Sun Can is a great choice. Belowdecks, the twin 6-foot-5-inch berths and many other features and amenities make this cat a willing weekender.
$19,800, (727) 443-4408, com-pacyachts.com
Catalina 16.5
The Catalina 16.5 sits right in the middle of Catalina Yachts’ line of small sailboats, which range from the 12.5 to the 22 Capri and Sport, and it comes in both an easy-to-trailer centerboard model and a shoal-draft fixed-keel configuration. With the fiberglass board up, the 17-foot-2-inch boat draws just 5 inches of water; with the board down, the 4-foot-5-inch draft suggests good windward performance. Hull and deck are hand-laminated fiberglass. The roomy cockpit is self-bailing, and the bow harbors a good-sized storage area with a waterproof hatch. catalinayachts.com
No roundup of best small sailboats (trailerable and fun too) would be complete without a mention of the venerable Hobie 16, which made its debut in Southern California way back in 1969. The company has introduced many other multihulls since, but more than 100,000 of the 16s have been launched, a remarkable figure. The Hobie’s asymmetric fiberglass-and-foam hulls eliminate the need for daggerboards, and with its kick-up rudders, the 16 can be sailed right up to the beach. Its large trampoline offers lots of space to move about or a good place to plant one’s feet when hanging off the double trapezes with a hull flying. The boat comes with a main and a jib; a spinnaker, douse kit, trailer, and beach dolly are optional features. hobiecat.com
Novice sailors or old salts looking for simplicity could both enjoy sailing the Hunter 15. With a fiberglass hull and deck and foam flotation, the boat is sturdily built. The ample freeboard and wide beam provide stability under way, and the heavy-duty rubrail and kick-up rudder mean that you won’t have to worry when the dock looms or the going grows shallow. Both the 15 and its slightly larger 18-foot sibling come standard with roller-furling jibs.
$6,900/$9,500 (boat-show prices for the 15 and 18 includes trailers), (386) 462-3077, marlow-hunter.com
– CHECK THE FIT – Follow these guidelines to make sure your life jacket looks good, stays comfortable and works when you need it. Safety Tip Provided by the U.S. Coast Guard
Super Snark
Under various owners, the Snark brand of sailboats, now built by Meyers Boat Co., has been around since the early 1970s. The Super Snark, at 11 feet, is a simple, easily car-topped daysailer that’s fit out with a lateen rig and sail. Billed as unsinkable, the five boats in the company’s line are built with E.P.S. foam, with the external hull and deck vacuum-formed to the core using an A.B.S. polymer. The Super Snark weighs in at 50 pounds, and with a payload capacity of 310 pounds, the boat can carry two.
$970, (800) 247-6275, meyersboat.com
Norseboat 21.5
Built in Canada, the NorseBoat 21.5 is a rugged looking craft that comes in a couple of configurations: one with an open cockpit and small doghouse, and another with a smaller cockpit and cabin that houses a double berth for two adults and optional quarter berths for the kids. Both carry NorseBoat’s distinctive looking carbon fiber gaff-rigged mast with main and jib (a sprit-set drifter is optional), and come with a ballasted stub keel and centerboard. Because of its lightweight design, the boat can be rowed and is easily trailered.
$36,000 (starting), 902-659-2790, norseboat.com
Flying Scot
Talk about time-tested, the 19-foot Flying Scot has been in production since 1957 and remains a popular design today. Sloop rigged, with a conventional spinnaker for downwind work, the boat is an easily sailed family boat as well as a competitive racer, with over 130 racing fleets across the U.S. Its roomy cockpit can seat six to eight, though the boat is often sailed by a pair or solo. Hull and deck are a fiberglass and balsa core sandwich. With the centerboard up, the boat draws only eight inches. Though intended to be a daysailer, owners have rigged boom tents and berths for overnight trips, and one adventurous Scot sailor cruised his along inland waterways from Philadelphia to New Orleans.
Known primarily for its line of racing dinghys, RS Sailing also builds the 16-foot, 4-inch Venture, which it describes as a cruising and training dinghy. The Venture features a large, self-draining cockpit that will accommodate a family or pack of kids. A furling jib and mainsail with slab reefing come standard with the boat; a gennaker and trapeze kit are options, as is an outboard motor mount and transom swim ladder. The deck and hull are laid up in a fiberglass and Coremat sandwich. The Venture’s designed to be both a good performer under sail, but also stable, making it a good boat for those learning the sport.
$14,900, 203-259-7808, rssailing.com
Topper makes a range of mono- and multihull rotomolded boats, but the model that caught one editor’s eye at Strictly Sail Chicago was the Topaz Taz. At 9 feet, 8 inches LOA and weighing in at 88 pounds, the Taz is not going to take the whole crowd out for the day. But, with the optional mainsail and jib package (main alone is for a single child), the Taz can carry two or three kids or an adult and one child, and would make a fun escape pod when tied behind the big boat and towed to some scenic harbor. The hull features Topper’s Trilam construction, a plastic and foam sandwich that creates a boat that’s stiff, light, and durable, and shouldn’t mind being dragged up on the beach when it’s time for a break.
$2,900 (includes main and jib), 410-286-1960, topazsailboats.com
WindRider WRTango
WRTango, a fast, sturdy, 10-foot trimaran that’s easy to sail, is the newest portable craft from WindRider International. It joins a line that includes the WR16 and WR17 trimarans. The Tango features forward-facing seating, foot-pedal steering, and a low center of gravity that mimics the sensation of sitting in a kayak. It weighs 125 pounds (including the outriggers and carbon-fiber mast), is extremely stable, and has single-sheet sail control. The six-inch draft and kick-up rudder make it great for beaching, while the hull and outriggers are made of rotomolded polyethylene, so it can withstand running into docks and being dragged over rocks.
$3,000, 612-338-2170, windrider.com
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Snark Sunflower Sailboat
- Thread starter sunflowersail
- Start date Jul 10, 2019
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- Ask All Sailors
sunflowersail
I have a Snark Sunflower Sailboat, and I am not sure how much it is worth. If someone could give me some insight on it that would be great. It is in good working condition with all original parts except the mast. The sail works and is in good condition, but should be replaced soon.
A sailboat without a mast is (as they say) like a fish without a bicycle. Not worth very much.
Sorry - it does has a mast just not the original mast.
Its not worth worth much. Maybe nothing. You can make a DIY mast and buy a sail for around $100. I Have one that was given to me missing the mast and a very tired mains sail and lines. It cost me $200 all up to make it good enough so my 6 year could use it with his friends on the lake at the campground. I think I spent $50 on gorilla glue, LOL. It sails like a dog, but it’s a fun toy. It’s so light weight that it’s perfect for little kids. I gave it to my son at age 5 or 6. It kept him amused for hours a day for two or three summers! I’m looking for the somebody with kids who would like to own it . I’ll give it away for free.
sunflowersail said: The sail works and is in good condition, but should be replaced soon. Click to expand
Dave Groshong
They really aren't worth more than $100 in working condition
Crazy Dave Condon
Donate it to a local water fire department so they can play with it for practice by setting it on fire
I am a new member of the forum and can't figure out how to post this separately, but for those who are familiar with the Snark Sunflower, can you tell me the appropriate line size for the halyard line? I'm guessing 5/16? Is the control line the same size? Thanks in advance!!! Dadof9
I learned to sail in a Super Snark, and IIRC the halyard went over the top of the mast, held in place by a groove in the plastic mast cover. You would want to size the line so it fit in that groove. Too tight, and you cant raise the main easily. A little too loose wouldn't necessarily be a problem if tension was maintained.
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- Sailboat Guide
Snark Sailboats (Meyers Boat Co.)
A very abbreviated history of ‘Snark type’ boats in the US: The first boats of this type seem to have come from Siltronics Corp. which was located in Pennsylvania beginning in the late 1950’s. (Sea Devil/Sea Swinger). The ‘Snark’ name came somewhat later as a product line offered by Kransco Manufacturing, a company located in San Francisco, California (later bought out by Matell Corp?). Another line has been offered by Lockley,(Sea Witch). In the early years these boats were produced in a number of different locations in the eastern US. Companies such as Sears and JC Penney sold Snark sailboats (Super Snark/Mach II) in their catalogs. Snark sailboats were used as promotional tools for many companies with specialized colors and personalized sails (most memorably, Kool Cigarettes). In 1984, Lockley? purchased Snark from Kransco, and the new merged company was subsequently purchased by Entwistle of Hudson, MA. The Snark name continued to be used and production took place in New Castle, PA. The line up became the Super Snark, Sunflower 3.3, Sea Skimmer, Sunchaser I, and Sunchaser II. In 1996, Snark was purchased by Meyers Boat Company and production was relocated to Adrian, MI. (A work in progress. Major update is necessary due to new information. srb 3/2013).
- Sears Design Team
6 sailboats built by Snark Sailboats (Meyers Boat Co.)
Sea Snark (Super Snark)
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Super Snark Sailboat - Aft port view. I just bought this sailboat, an 11′ Super Snark. I've wanted to learn to sail for a few years—this seemed like the perfect sailboat with which to start. It is purportedly unsinkable and very stable. The ABS clad EPS foam hull certainly seems very durable and indeed, could not possibly sink even if ...
Typically $400 - $1000. Similar to Super Snark, but sail area is 55 square feet for greater speed. Also, Sunflower has a covered foredeck, while Super Snark is completely open. Length 11 feet. Beam 3' 6". Weight 65 lbs. More Info... Sunflower 3.3 with our Neil Pryde "Spring" dacron sail. Sunflower Specifications.
Capsizing was my first concern when I saw that boat. Along with keeping a bailing bucket, I'd look into getting some extra flotation for the boat, I'll try and find a link for you, that way if you do dump it (which looks like it will be a little harder to do than in a sunfish) it won't get totally bogged down and you'll have an easier time getting it back up.
It was also possible to purchase a SNARK with the KOOL logo (without smoking a single cigarette) for $99. The Kool ad campaign reportedly received 18000 SEA SNARK orders in 1971 alone! Most later SNARK's are made of styrofoam with an outer layer of ABS for improved durability. (Although the boats that were part of ad campaigns were usually ...
There are five Snark Sailboat models. The Super Snark, The Sunflower, The Sea Skimmer, The Sunchaser I, and the Sunchaser II. The Super Snark, Sunflower, and Sea Skimmer are for 1 or 2 people. The Sunchasers are for up to 4 people. The Super Snark and Sunflower are same length (11 feet) and weight (50 lbs) and equally easy to sail.
Super Snark. Super Snark Super Snark. Under various owners, the Snark brand of sailboats, now built by Meyers Boat Co., has been around since the early 1970s. The Super Snark, at 11 feet, is a simple, easily car-topped daysailer that's fit out with a lateen rig and sail. ... Sailboat Review: Dufour 41 Pre-Owned: 1988 Hylas 47 Catalina ...
Sea Snark (Super Snark) is a 10′ 11″ / 3.4 m monohull sailboat built by Snark Sailboats (Meyers Boat Co.), Cleatline Boats, and CastleCraft starting in 1958.
The Super Snark Sailboat is designed for simplicity and safety. Sturdy & unsinkable, it's the perfect boat for beginners of any age, or for advanced sailors who just want a simple sailboat to go out and enjoy the day in. Super Snark Sailboat comes complete with nylon sail, daggerboard, kick up rudder and tiller, riggings and fittings.
An abbreviated history of 'Snark type' boats in the US (from Meyers Boat Co. website): LOCKLEY - Boat business purchased from Siltronics of Oakmont, Pennsylvania in 1970 - Started out with one mold (Sea Devil / Sea Swinger) and hull covered with sprayed Eurethane - Began vacuum forming ABS plastic on hull in 1973 - Sea Witch introduced to the market in 1974 - 1974 through 1984 ...
The Snark is a line of lightweight sailboats, at its introduction a two-person, lateen-rigged sailboat manufactured and marketed by Meyers Boat Company of Adrian, Michigan.. The Snark was conceived and marketed by Snark Products, Inc. of Fort Lee, New Jersey and was marketed with numerous slight variations, most prominently as the Sea Snark, Super Snark and Super Sea Snark.
http://www.sailboatstogo.com/content/Snark_Super_Snark_Sunflower__Sailboats is the place to go for Snark Sailboats. Order online or by phone (1-978-263-7598...
Email [email protected] or phone Jim at 1-978-263-7598. "Had the first sail on Lake Allatoona near Atlanta today. A resounding success that involved my eight year old and his 86 year old granddaddy watching from the bank." -- James O. Atlanta, Georgia. Ordering a Super Snark.
Snark 226-61193 Montpelier VT. Jul 10, 2019. #1. I have a Snark Sunflower Sailboat, and I am not sure how much it is worth. If someone could give me some insight on it that would be great. It is in good working condition with all original parts except the mast.
The Snark name continued to be used and production took place in New Castle, PA. The line up became the Super Snark, Sunflower 3.3, Sea Skimmer, Sunchaser I, and Sunchaser II. In 1996, Snark was purchased by Meyers Boat Company and production was relocated to Adrian, MI. (A work in progress.
The Super Snark features the durability of our exclusive ABS Armorclad hull. Sturdy and unsinkable, it's the perfect boat for beginners of any age. (Package includes a beginner's sailing manual, FREE!) Accomodates two people and comes with all the riggings. Just throw it on your cartop and seek water. Hull Color: Red/White. Super Snark
As we move on with our Snark Sailboat review, some people see the Super Sea Snark Sailboat as inadequate. Many sailing enthusiasts often called it a "beer cooler" due to the fact that the boat itself is basically just styrofoam, similar to many basic drink coolers. However, it does sport the basic requirements for a sailboat.
The Snark Sunchaser II Sailboat comes complete with Dacron main and jib sail, daggerboard, kick-up rudder and tiller, riggings and fittings. Mast and boom are aluminum. Wooden parts are marine varnished. The open cockpit design has bench seating for up to 4 adults. 2 forward built-in insulated compartments provide generous storage under the two ...
Weight: 50 lbs. Centerline Length: 11' Beam: 3' 2" Depth-Transom Width-Transom Height-Persons : 2: Max. Capacity: 310 lbs. Max. Horsepower-Hull Thickness: ABS Armorclad
The Sunflower 3.3 Sailboat is a full featured upgrade from the basic Super Snark. In additional to a larger (55 sf) sail, it has a heavier duty mast, boom, spar, and rigging. The Sunflower 3.3 Sailboat the hull is wider, higher and thicker than a Super Snark Model. Forward storage is provided under the splash deck not found on the Super Snark.
The Sunchaser II sailboat is extremely portable at 125 pounds, and carries 4 passengers with 100 square feet of sail between its two sails. ... Super Snark, Sunflower, Sea Skimmer , Sunchaser I . Email Questions To: [email protected] (978) 263-7598 (Direct Line to Owner & Manager Jim Luckett) 7 days per week - 9 am to 8pm Eastern
Almost one half million Snarks have been built. More people have learned to sail on a Snark, than any other recreational sailboat. All Snark models are car-toppable. Snark's are unsinkable, the internal hull being completely filled with EPS foam leaving no voids. The external hull and deck are formed out of rugged ABS polymer, which is vacuum ...
The Snark Sunchaser I Sailboat comes complete with Dacron sail, daggerboard, kick-up rudder and tiller, riggings and fittings. Mast, spar and boom are aluminum. Wooden parts are marine varnished. The open cockpit design has bench seating for up to 4 adults. 2 forward built-in insulated compartments provide generous storage under the two hatch ...
As compared to nylon, dacron (polyester) is a stiffer, less stretchy material so the sail will hold its shape and not belly out in strong winds. More Pictures and info click here. Super Snark/Sea Snark - 45 SQ FT $128 Add to Cart. Sunflower - 55 SQ FT $179 Add to Cart. 66 SQUARE FOOT NYLON SAIL.