One Man’s Mistake is Another Man’s Treasure

thistle sailboat hull numbers

By Fritz Horton, Lake Champlain Chapter

The Thistle Class sailing dinghy was designed in 1945 by Gordon (“Sandy”) Douglass to reach the post-war market yearning for inexpensive, high-performance one design boats. The design was patterned after then-current versions of the International 14 Class dinghies, in which Douglass had won a bronze medal in the ‘36 Olympic Games. On a trailer, like the Snipe and Lightning, the boat offered young families ready access to the water from their suburban homes. With her mast stepped on the thwart instead of on the keel, the Thistle was a sure winner of the then-popular “trailer-to-trailer” races, where the race started and ended with the boats snug on their trailers at the launching ramp!

The Thistle fully rigged is light (515 lb.) due to her cold-molded plywood construction. The hull, at approximately 300 lb., consists of five laminations of 1/16” mahogany, stapled and glued together and braced with gratings, thwarts and seats to yield a surprisingly open but very rigid structure.

“Ouisquaebae” would have been Thistle #792 in 1952 if the bare hull had not been set aside by its builder, Douglass and McDleod, to serve as the plug for the new fiberglass designs. For that role, she was faired, templated, finished with lacquer and mounted on movable supports at stem and stern to allow her to be rotated 180 to drop the fiberglass female molds after curing. Fiberglass Thistles were then molded by Douglass & McCleod and other builders using the female molds from “Quisquaebae”. She is truly the “mother” of all modern fiberglass Thistles.

Fritz Horton, an architect in Shelburne, Vermont, bought the boat in 1973 from John Riley, who, apparently by mistake, was allowed to purchase the hull from Douglass & McCleod in 1969. Despite Ray McCleod’s pleas to return the “Class Plug”, Riley refused. The Class then had a problem. It had lost something akin to the U.S. Constitution – the basis for measuring any suspected changes to the benchmark hull by its builders. Also, because her original hull number (792) had been assigned to another boat after she was set aside for use as a mold, the Thistle Class had to assign her the next highest current registration number, which at that time was #3184. Currently, no wooden Thistle with a higher registration number exists.

After removing enough of the finish to determine the outer veneer had been sanded through in several places, Fritz removed the outer 1/16” with a router and rasp, replaced it with sapele and finished the boat in Vermont over a two-year period, completing the process in 1978.

thistle sailboat hull numbers

16 Comments

I love this story! Thank you for featuring a sailboat! What a beautiful boat and with such a unique history! Will you bring her to the 2019 International at Alex Bay? I would LOVE to see this boat in person. What is the story behind her name?

Due to the age of your Thistle I wonder if the proper name for the construction type would be hot molded vs. cold molded? The older Thistles, like #16, were hot molded using thin veneers, glue, and heat in an oven or thick rubber bag to bake the boat until the glues and veneers cured. Cold molded construction uses modern epoxy resins for the binder of the veneers and do not require heat to cure.

Yes, That seems a common mistake. Many are stating them to be Cold, when actually Hot Molded was a fairly New Method of construction in the 40s. Cold Molding did not begin until new glues had been developed after D&M have switched over to Fiberglass in the 60s. I read all the time the wonder of how well cold molding will hold up over the long run. Still has yet to be known its longevity.

Fritz, great boat. I remember you bringing her to Lake George on occasion, we were all enamored of the ‘bright-finished’ Thistle in the fleet. I think I remember a very pretty spinnaker as well…

My dad bought a Thistle, # 299, at the NY Boat Show, I think in 1948-49, and we sailed and raced it at Lk Hopatcong, NJ for many years. It had a white hull and was a joy to sail. Many years later, when my dad was no longer able to sail he gave the Thistle to my brother who took it to Larchmont YC and then to Riverhead NY. Then he had it restored and he gave it to the Lake Hopatcong YC to be used for sailing instruction. A nice story of # 299 with a good ending. Separately, my Dad owned a ’39 Barrel Back CC which he gave to me 35 years ago. It is at Grandview LK in Indiana and has been restored twice, most recently by Motor Boat Garage in Cincinnati. Bob Orben 812-350-9046

Beautiful boats – both.

Fritz I’m taken with Shannon Knight’s enthusiasm for showing the boat at A Bay. Any plan to do so? Gene

Fritz, You mentioned D&M produced International 14’s in your story. I owned #256 during the 1950’s as a teenager. I’m wondering if any one knows where it is or what happened to it. Bill Truex. [email protected] on Lake Champlain.

Wonderful to see this story shared with many wood boat enthusiasts. I’ve known Fritz and the story of his boat for about forty years. I’ve sailed with him and against him in many races. He is impossible to beat.

We once took Ouisquaebae to a regatta at Lake Hopatcong and got a lot of raised eyebrows with sail number 3184 on a Woodie. Fritz might have had to produce his Thistle registration to be allowed to sail. The competition quickly learned that this was a hot boat, not another worn out old Woodie.

Something seems a little screwy in the story. I have 1028 built in 1958 and it certainly is not the last of the Woodies by D&M. I have read that D&M were one of the first to start using fiberglass hulls but those did not come out until 1960s. Why set aside in 1952 boat for use as the mold for fiberglassing when fiberglass was probably not a known product? Likely you have your numbers wrong. I don’t know the final woodie number But maybe 1792 is more like the number and not 792. 792 does seem to have been around 1952 production. Yup, one mans mistake is another mans treasure. Seems you didn’t get the treasure, but got handed a line of bull

As pointed out above, These were all Hot Molded. Cold did not come out until after D&M switched to Fiberglass,

Sandy Douglas went on to design and market the “Flying Scot” in the late 1950’s, early 1960’s. Very popular 19 foot sailboat in that time. Had an opportunity to meet him when he was delivering one to a camp I worked at in eastern North Carolina

Fritz, Remember sailing in your great boat as crew. Have followed your families career since then. If you get back to LG, give me a call. I think I can come up with the scotch matching your beloved name.

Thistles were a large class in the weekly races on Lake Hopatcong in NJ years ago. I enjoyed sitting on my porch watching them round the buoy at Henderson Cove and hoisting their colorful spinnakers for the downwind run back to the yacht club.

I rescued 1590 around 12 years ago. The restoration process took a lot longer than expected but got a lot of help from Midwestern yacht company. She’s a lot faster than a flying scot, and a lot more challenging on busy waters. I don’t sail her often though, but she is a beautiful boat. Loved your article

My family had Thistle #24 in the early 1960’s, sold it around 1967 after putting fiberglass to its’ bottom. Sailed Lake St. Claire in Michigan. Always wondered what became of her. [email protected]

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Thistle Class Association

Class contact information.

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Class Email

Class Website

One-Design Class Type: Dinghy

Was this boat built to be sailed by youth or adults? Both

Approximately how many class members do you have? 900+

Photo Credit:Saint Petersburg Yacht Club Media Team

thistle sailboat hull numbers

Photo Credit: Saint Petersburg Yacht Club Media Team

thistle sailboat hull numbers

Photo Credit: Sarah Bonner

thistle sailboat hull numbers

About Thistle Class Association

Looking for fun people to sail with and against? We’d love to meet you and get you in a Thistle. You’ll be part of a welcoming community, and you’ll love the speed and responsiveness of the boat.

The Thistle is a high-performance one-design racing sailboat that is generally sailed with a three-person crew. Thistles have a main, jib and symmetrical spinnaker sail plan. They’re: • Consistently fast due to the high sail area to weight ratio • Quick to plane thanks to the wide, flat stern • Built to slice through waves with the plumb bow It’s a fun, fast, responsive boat that does well in a wide variety of conditions. Thistles plane easily in 10-12 knots of breeze and glide effortlessly in light air.

There are more than 50 active Thistle fleets across the US. Thistles age extremely well, so well cared-for older boats can be just as fast as new boats. Our one-design rules make sure that racing proves the quality of the sailor rather than the money invested in the boat. Thistles sail as a Corinthian class, which means you won’t be sailing against boats with paid crew members (or a paid driver).

The Thistle Class is a community of people who love the Thistle and get a thrill out of sailing it with our friends – new and old. The Thistle Class has been around since 1945 and is still growing and active; you can find Thistles – and Thistlers (that’s what we call ourselves) – all across the country.

We have as much fun on shore together as we do racing. You might see group yoga on the grass, a camping chair circle (always room for more!) or an impromptu training session at someone’s boat. We love sharing knowledge and getting people up to speed. Walk up to anyone in the parking lot and ask about their strategy, rigging, mast tune, anything! We’re glad to help.

Want to give the Thistle Class a try? Find a fleet near you with our interactive map: https://www.thistleclass.com/find-a-fleet/. If there’s no fleet nearby, give our class secretary a shout at [email protected]; there’s probably a Thistle owner or two close by.

Boats Produced: 4056

Class boat builder(s):

Beacon Composites Great Midwest Yachts

Approximately how many boats are in the USA/North America? 3800

Where is your One-Design class typically sailed in the USA? List regions of the country:

Find a fleet near you with our interactive map: https://www.thistleclass.com/find-a-fleet/. States with active fleets: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington.

Does this class have a spinnaker or gennaker? Yes

How many people sail as a crew including the helm?  3

Ideal combined weight of range of crew:  3-person teams typically range from 425-500 lbs. Thistles can be double-handed in light or medium wind at approximately 300+ lbs.

Portsmouth Yardstick Rating:   83

Boat Designed in  1945

Length (feet/inches): 17’0”

Weight of rigged boat without sails: 515 lbs.

Draft: board up: 0′ 6″; board down: 4′ 6″

Mast Height: 24’6″

Back to One-Design Central

Copyright ©2018-2024 United States Sailing Association. All rights reserved. US Sailing is a 501(c)3 organization. Website designed & developed by Design Principles, Inc. -->

The Thistle is a 17.0ft fractional sloop designed by Sandy Douglass and built in fiberglass by Clark Boat Company since 1945.

4000 units have been built..

The Thistle is an ultralight sailboat which is a very high performer. It is stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a racing boat.

Thistle sailboat under sail

Thistle for sale elsewhere on the web:

thistle sailboat hull numbers

Main features

Model Thistle
Length 17 ft
Beam 6 ft
Draft 0.50 ft
Country United states (North America)
Estimated price $ 0 ??

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thistle sailboat hull numbers

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Sail area / displ. 47.63
Ballast / displ. 0 %
Displ. / length 46.80
Comfort ratio 4.30
Capsize 3
Hull type Centerboard Dinghy
Construction Fiberglass
Waterline length 17 ft
Maximum draft 4.50 ft
Displacement 515 lbs
Ballast 0 lbs
Hull speed 5.52 knots

thistle sailboat hull numbers

We help you build your own hydraulic steering system - Lecomble & Schmitt

Rigging Fractional Sloop
Sail area (100%) 191 sq.ft
Air draft 0 ft ??
Sail area fore 0 sq.ft ??
Sail area main 0 sq.ft ??
I 0 ft ??
J 0 ft ??
P 0 ft ??
E 0 ft ??
Nb engines 1
Total power 0 HP
Fuel capacity 0 gals

Accommodations

Water capacity 0 gals
Headroom 0 ft
Nb of cabins 0
Nb of berths 0
Nb heads 0

Builder data

Builder Clark Boat Company
Designer Sandy Douglass
First built 1945
Last built 0 ??
Number built 4000

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Sail1Design

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November 30, 1999 by Sail1Design Editor Leave a Comment

The Thistle is a high performance racing dinghy, also used for day sailing, popular in the United States. The Thistle was designed in 1945 by Gordon K. (Sandy) Douglass.

The Thistle Class Association, with fleets across the country, holds local, regional, and national regattas throughout the year. All Thistles are built to the same lines by authorized builders. Class rules limit innovations in rigging, restrict sail purchases, and prohibit electronic navigation gear. Old and new boats are evenly matched, with the owner of Thistle number 1 winning the national championship in 1990.

Thistle hulls are relatively light for their size, doing away with decking and spray protection to save weight. The sail plan is larger for the boat’s weight than in many other dinghies, making Thistles good light wind performers. Their hulls have wide flat bottoms, allowing the boats to plane in winds of 15 to 20 knots. The sail plan is large for a boat of this size, consisting of a marconi rig with a main, jib, and symmetrical spinnaker. Thistle #1 won the Lake Erie Districts in 2013!

Thistles are generally raced with a three person crew. A skipper, a middle, and a forward person. The optimal total crew weight is generally 450 lb to 480 lb (US) depending on wind. The class is generally family friendly, though experienced sailors will still be challenged at the higher levels of competition.

The Thistle is used as the baseline for the U.S. version of the Portsmouth yardstick system for handicapping small boats in mixed-class fleets.

loa 17’ beam 6’ sail area 191 ft² spinnaker area 220 ft² hull weight 515 lbs. crew 3 # of boats built 4,000 active US fleets 

AL, AR, AZ, CA, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MI, MO, MT, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA

Class website: http://www.thistleclass.com/

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thistle sailboat hull numbers

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Douglas Mcleod Thistle



The URL for this page is

Thistle Added 08-Aug-2016




thistle sailboat hull numbers

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Links to old classifieds: Boats – Sails – Parts

  • Thistle Marketplace

Get your first year of Thistle Class membership for free! If you buy your first Thistle and aren’t currently a member, we’d like to pay for your Thistle Class Association membership for the rest of the current calendar year. Learn more .

Buying a boat can be daunting. Read our Used Thistle Buying Guide for 5 things to check before buying a fiberglass Thistle.

Have a question about how to post on our Thistle Marketplace or edit your listing? Check out these instructions or shoot an email to [email protected] .

29 item(s) found

thistle sailboat hull numbers

Thistle 1920

Posted 7 days ago by Marc Ochs

Stiff fiberglass D&M, many updates from rails to gratings, new sails, new tiller, new rudder, travel trailer, etc. looking for a good home and more use!

  Boats /   New York / 35 views / New   Popular

$5,000.00

thistle sailboat hull numbers

Posted 1 week ago by Don Pippins

The Jones and Pippins families bought Thistle 1493 in 1981 from the Parker family in Wilmington DE.  She was rigged as she came from the factory with phenolic cam cleats and stiff gold mast with a wire halyard that easily turned in the a squirrels nest if you weren't careful lowering the mainsail.  Over the years the rigging was updated Harken cleats and a Bryant mast and boom.   She was raced competitively from DC to Annapolis and in the Delaware River with the New Castle Sailing Club until the kids got old enough the Boy Scouts and school activities began ...

  Boats /   Delaware / 81 views / New   Popular

$2,500.00

thistle sailboat hull numbers

Classic Woody – former class champ

Posted 3 weeks ago by Arnold Christensen

This is a former class champion boat (sailed by a better sailor than me!). Below the waterline is glassed and painted. The rest of the boat is all varnished mahogany except the rails, which are mahogany with a Purple Heart outer rail. The rails have recently been re-varnished and look great! The rest of the wood is subjected less to the ravages of the sun and is in good shape. An excellent trailer with custom formed bunks is included as well as a "Sailors Tailor" full-skirted/mast-up cover in very good condition (only a couple of years old). Two full compliments...

  Boats /   California / 153 views / New   Popular

$7,600.00

thistle sailboat hull numbers

Thistle for Sale

Posted 3 weeks ago by Zachary Jaffee

Moving abroad and need to sell my thistle before the end of the month, deal of a lifetime.

  Boats /   Washington / 236 views / New   Popular

$4,000.00

Thistle 2441

Posted 4 weeks ago by Jo Ann Kelley

Sailed on Alton Lake Valley Sailing & Boulder Marina Carlye Lake.   Dried sailed last 20 years. 4 sets of sails, all rigging trailer. Sold at auction on August 25 in Troy, MO. Call 314-852-6300 for all details

  Boats /   Missouri / 59 views / New   Popular

thistle sailboat hull numbers

Posted 1 month ago by Skylar Munger

Thistle 3939, northwest one design builder (2000 year ). Bought was bought in 2015 and raced maybe 4 regattas, stored in barn entire Time. Includes rudder and rudder cover, full travel covers in 7/10 condition, many practice sails. Fully rigged. Some  small sections of wood could  be revarnished. Trailer is good shape.  Two spin poles but both are missing one end ( thanks kira munger ) Time to sell I don’t sail anymore and  don’t plan to again anytime soon.  Asking $7900 open to reasonable offers. Happy to answer any questions.   prefers to text number listed , please clearly...

  Boats /   New York / 974 views / New   Popular

$7,900.00

thistle sailboat hull numbers

3708 For Sale

Posted 1 month ago by Wes Mullinax

Boat is ready to sail.  Mainsail, 2 jibs, 2 spinnakers.  Trailer included.  Boat owned for 6 years and sailed for 5.  Lake sailed and raced on Lake Allatoona at Atlanta Yacht Club.  Boat always kept under cover.  2 year old The Sailors Taylor cover.  2 year old tires.

  Boats /   Georgia / 440 views / Popular

$5,500.00

Urgently Seeking Racing Rudder for GMW 3608

Posted 1 month ago by Andrew Klein

After decades of being out of Thistle sailing, coming back!  However, after just a few regattas, my rudder was stolen from storage space ;( I have a round aluminum tiller - however, open to an alternative rudder with a tiller... Needs to be good enough to sail regional regattas. Let me know if you can help.

  Parts /   New Hampshire / 43 views / Popular

thistle sailboat hull numbers

2468 Douglass & McLeod

Posted 1 month ago by Lisa Boles

Douglass & McLeod #2468.  Purchased many years ago from a gentleman in Ohio and brought to Alabama.  All original parts.  Has not been sailed for many years but stored either in garage or under covered area.  Comes with Gator Trailer, All Sails, New Floatation pieces (never installed), Custom Cover and all other parts.  Can provide additional information and pictures if requested.

  Boats /   Alabama / 350 views / Popular

$1,200.00

Posted 1 month ago by Larry Hoffarth

  Sails /   Colorado / 72 views / Popular

$350.00

thistle sailboat hull numbers

2965 for sale

Posted 1 month ago by Luke Reasoner

Since moving to Central Florida, 2965 has sat under a tarp for more than a year and a half. If someone is in need of a fleet-ready boat, reach out and give me a serious offer.  Would rather have it sailing than sitting. Old set of sails, trailer - if wanted - rudder centerboard. If for some reason photos are not loading, email me and I’ll send some along.

  Boats /   Florida / 442 views / Popular

$2,000.00

thistle sailboat hull numbers

#1853 amazing wood boat, fully rebuilt.

Posted 1 month ago by Matt Kreuzkamp

What an incredible, beautiful, boat!  Step in and go sailboat racing at a high level and in even higher fashion. D&M Wood Thistle #1853.  Give a call, I'd love to chat. Complete restoration 2008-2011.  Used infrequently since.  We want the boat being used rather than warehoused.  It's a really special piece. Totally re-joined Rails Gratings Seats & seat supports Thwart Trunk: inside surfaces are fiber-glassed, weave filled with graphite powder & epoxy resin and sanded flat. Transom Hull faired to perfection, sheathed in S-Glass & epoxy, painted with Interlux Perfection 13# of lead corrector weights.  Modular/adjustable system allows weights to remove easily...

  Boats /   Connecticut / 1174 views / Popular

$15,000.00

thistle sailboat hull numbers

D&M 1475

Posted 2 months ago by Walt Moody

North sails & GMW Jibmasters 2015 New rails, grates, thwart, GMW CD drum and hoist system, bow plate lever, eye-bolt, varnish, Awlgrip, Sailors Tailor mast-up cover 2021 New halyard sheaves, halyards & sheets Sailed at Crystal Lake past 20+ years.  Trailered 5 miles each spring from barn to lake, then back each fall. Good trailer & bunks Call (860) 550-5514

  Boats /   Connecticut / 396 views / Popular

$1,495.00

19′ Thistle

Posted 2 months ago by Jim DeChambeau

I have an aluminum mast that was removed from a 19' fiberglass Thistle before the boat was destroyed in a storm. all of the stays and spreaders are still in place. I'll take pictures if there is any interest.  

  Parts /   Massachusetts / 74 views / Popular

I have a leaded centerboard left over from a fiberglass 19' Thistle that was destroyed in a storm.

  Parts /   Massachusetts / 63 views / Popular

Sailors Tailor Mast up cover used one season, blue  $300

Posted 2 months ago by Mark Agnew

Sailors Tailor Mast up cover used one season, blue  $300.  If you pay for shipping, I can ship anywhere via UPS.

  Parts /   Connecticut / 61 views / Popular

$300.00

Spinnaker Pole, Silver, Great Midwest, Never Used

Great Midwest spinnaker pole, 1 1/4" aluminum tubing, stainless steel and bronze end fittings, and eyestrap for topping lift attachment, never used. $150

  Parts /   Connecticut / 59 views / Popular

$150.00

Great Midwest Boom, Black Aluminum

Great Midwest boom, - includes 6:1 internal outhaul, bottom-mounted aluminum clam cleat, self-fairleading swivel turning block, and a third track slider, black anodized aluminum, used one season.   $400 Great Midwest spinnaker pole, 1 1/4" aluminum tubing, stainless steel and bronze end fittings, and eyestrap for topping lift attachment, never used. $150

$400.00

Mast, Great Midwest, Black Aluminum, Used One Season

Great Midwest Mast, Fully rigged, includes rope-to-wire main and jib halyards, 5/32" spinnaker halyard, six spreaders with end bolts, wire-hung topping lift block, black anodized aluminum, used one season. $1,100 Great Midwest boom, - includes 6:1 internal outhaul, bottom-mounted aluminum clam cleat, self-fairleading swivel turning block, and a third track slider, black anodized aluminum, used one season.   $400 Great Midwest spinnaker pole, 1 1/4" aluminum tubing, stainless steel and bronze end fittings, and eyestrap for topping lift attachment, never used. $150

  Parts /   Connecticut / 47 views / Popular

$1,100.00

Unused New Sails, Mast, Boom, Spin Pole, Cover

Proctor Main $900 and Jib $650 made in 2021, never used. Sailors Tailor Mast up cover used one season, blue  $300 Great Midwest Mast, Fully rigged, includes rope-to-wire main and jib halyards, 5/32" spinnaker halyard, six spreaders with end bolts, wire-hung topping lift block, black anodized aluminum, used one season  $1,100 Great Midwest boom, - includes 6:1 internal outhaul, bottom-mounted aluminum clam cleat, self-fairleading swivel turning block, and a third track slider, black black anodized aluminum, used one season.   $400 Great Midwest spinnaker pole, 1 1/4" aluminum tubing, stainless steel and bronze end fittings, and eyestrap for topping lift...

  Sails /   Connecticut / 854 views / Popular

$900.00

thistle sailboat hull numbers

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How to Identify Your Boat

Since November 1, 1972, federal law requires all boats, including inflatables like rafts, IKs and SUP boards, manufactured in, or imported into, the US to have a unique 12-character identifier called the Hull Identification Number (HIN). This is often referred to as the “boat serial number” or “boat ID number”. The number is usually found in the stern and can be engraved on a plate or stamped into the boat material.

How to Identify Your Boat: Examples of HINs or serial numbers on NRS inflatables.

For boats built or imported after August 1, 1984

The system for building the HIN changed after this date. Since most of you will be checking on boats after this date, we’ll cover this first.

Example: ABC12345J314

Manufacturer ID Code (MIC) Hull Serial Number Date of Manufacture Model Year
ABC 12345 J3 14

Manufacturer Identification Code (MIC)

Entering the MIC into this US Coast Guard database will get you the manufacturer and their location.

Hull Serial Number

These five characters are assigned by the manufacturer. They are normally numbers, but letters (except I, O and Q) may also be used.

Date of Manufacture

The letter is for the month of manufacture:

The number is the last digit of the year of manufacture. Since there’s only one digit, it must be interpreted by the Model Year. In our example, J3 designates that the boat was built in October 2013.

In our example, the year is 2014.

Note: Cataraft tubes are not considered to be a boat, until they are married with a frame. An abbreviated HIN of 4-5 numbers, followed by a letter denoting month of manufacture, and three numbers representing the year of manufacture and model year, as described above, may be attached to the tubes. Example: 1234(5)E516, would have been made in May 2015.

For boats built between November 1, 1972 and July 31, 1984

Note: This was the first attempt to create the HIN… and parts of it are a bit confusing.

Manufacturer Identification Code (MIC) and Hull Serial Number are the same as described above.

Here’s where it gets confusing. Manufacturers were given the option of giving either the date of manufacture, or the model year.

HIN with Date of Manufacture

Example: ABC123451076 (October 1976) The 9th and 10th characters are the month, and the 11th and 12th characters are the last digits of the year.

HIN with Model Year

Example: ABC12345M72D (November 1972) The 9th character “M” stands for model year. The 10th and 11th are the last two digits of the model year. The 12th is the letter designating the month of manufacture.

Now, here’s where the government got cute:

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thistle sailboat hull numbers

FIND IT, PLAN IT, PADDLE IT

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  • Sailboat Guide

Thistle Thistle Class

  • Description

Seller's Description

Thistle Class Sailboat for Sale “LizaBeth” Fiberglass Hull, thistle, stored indoors. Very Nice Trailer and 2 year old 4 stroke 2.5 hp outboard Length Overall 17 Feet Beam 6 feet Mast Height 24’ 6” Draft board up 6 Down 4ft Hull number 1504. Boat is in good shape, recently re-done wood, 3 coats of Ceatol with all needed equipment. Nice retractable mounting bracket is included. 2 rudders included (one a “pop-up” rudder for sailing in shallow water). Trailer is large and well maintained, very good tires, spare tire, lights replaced with LEDs and trailer rewired. Main Sail in excellent shape with the thistle insignia and the boat’s hull number (1504) on it One jib in decent condition. The mast is aluminum and has all rigging (forestay, shrouds, halyards, etc). The boom is wood. There are paddles, and lifejackets, and misc gear. An anchor. There is a registration for the boat and for the trailer Thistle has an active class association in Nyack and across the US The Thistle is a high-performance one-design racing sailboat that is generally sailed with a three-person crew. Thistles have a main, jib and symmetrical spinnaker sail plan. Theyre: Consistently fast due to the high sail area to weight ratio Quick to plane thanks to the wide, flat stern Built to slice through waves with the plumb bow Its a fun, fast, responsive boat that does well in a wide variety of conditions. Thistles plane easily in 10-12 knots of breeze and glide effortlessly in light air.

Equipment: Thistle is an active class in the US. Check out the class sites online and us sailing sites. Nyack, NY is the closest active racing group to Kingston, nY This boat is for sale by Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston, NY. Open to viable offers!!! Boat can be seen outside our wooden boat shop- proceeds support our sailing programs Please reply with Phone number!!

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

  • SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
  • D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

  • D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
  • LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

  • D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
  • LOA: Length overall in feet
  • Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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MOSCOW MAERSK, Container Ship, IMO: 9778818

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Ship NameMOSCOW MAERSK
Ship SubtypeContainer Ship
FlagDanish International Register
IMO No.9778818
Call Signfor registered users
MMSIfor registered users
Ship Statusfor registered users
Classfor registered users
Built (YYYY)for registered users
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thistle sailboat hull numbers

IMAGES

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    thistle sailboat hull numbers

  2. Thistle 31

    thistle sailboat hull numbers

  3. Thistle Sailboat Parts and Sailing Equipment

    thistle sailboat hull numbers

  4. Thistle

    thistle sailboat hull numbers

  5. About the Thistle

    thistle sailboat hull numbers

  6. Thistle

    thistle sailboat hull numbers

COMMENTS

  1. Thistle Builder by Hull Number

    Please enjoy this partial list of boats, manufacturers, and year the number was sold. The records in this format do not go back any further. Sandy Douglass built the first Thistle in 1945. Many of the early wooden boats are kit boats so keep in mind that the year the number was issued and the date the boat was built are not necessarily the same.

  2. Thistle (dinghy)

    The Thistle is a recreational sailboat, with the earlier production models made from molded plywood and the more recent models built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood structural members and trim. The seats are a fiberglass-sandwich construction, and provide built-in flotation. It has a fractional sloop rig with aluminum spars and three ...

  3. About the Thistle

    The Thistle is a high-performance one-design racing sailboat that is g enerally sailed with a three-person crew. Thistles have a main, jib and symmetrical spinnaker sail plan. They're: ... A new Thistle runs around $25,000 for the hull, spars, blades and rigging. For a very competitive used boat, expect to spend between $10,000 and $15,000.

  4. THISTLE

    THISTLE. Save to Favorites . Beta Marine ... the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed. less than 100 = Ultralight; 100-200 = Light; 200-275 = Moderate; 275-350 = Heavy; ... The higher the number the faster speed prediction for the boat. A cat with a number 0.6 is likely to sail 6kts in 10kts wind, a cat with a number ...

  5. One Man's Mistake is Another Man's Treasure

    Currently, no wooden Thistle with a higher registration number exists. After removing enough of the finish to determine the outer veneer had been sanded through in several places, Fritz removed the outer 1/16" with a router and rasp, replaced it with sapele and finished the boat in Vermont over a two-year period, completing the process in 1978.

  6. Thistle Class Association

    Thistles sail as a Corinthian class, which means you won't be sailing against boats with paid crew members (or a paid driver). The Thistle Class is a community of people who love the Thistle and get a thrill out of sailing it with our friends - new and old. The Thistle Class has been around since 1945 and is still growing and active; you ...

  7. How to Measure Your Thistle

    Use a steel tape measure held parallel to the lines of the hull. Measure from the stem to a straight edge held against the transom and projecting above it. The "lines" of the hull are level when the boat has the bottom of its transom 9 inches above the very bottom of the hull at station 6 as shown on the measurement certificate.

  8. Thistle

    The higher a boat's D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more. Formula. D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³ D: Displacement of the boat in pounds. LWL: Waterline length in feet

  9. Thistle

    The Thistle is a 17.0ft fractional sloop designed by Sandy Douglass and built in fiberglass by Clark Boat Company since 1945. 4000 units have been built. The Thistle is an ultralight sailboat which is a very high performer. It is stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a racing boat.

  10. Thistle

    Old and new boats are evenly matched, with the owner of Thistle number 1 winning the national championship in 1990. Thistle hulls are relatively light for their size, doing away with decking and spray protection to save weight. The sail plan is larger for the boat's weight than in many other dinghies, making Thistles good light wind performers.

  11. Used Thistle Buying Guide: 5 Tips to Judge a Used Boat

    Add the price of a new mast ($1,000) into the boat's price if the boat comes with a gold or wooden mast. The old gold masts are much too stiff for competitive racing. Note the black mast on 3905 and 3719 and the silver mast on 4032. 4. Presence of cracks and creases in the hull.

  12. Thistle sailboat re-rigged

    Connecticut David Fales - 203-981-3549 cell or Robin Johnson ­ 917 318 871. 9/13/2005 - Wayfarer #704 Restored Woodie for sale. Hull # 704. Freshwater Wayfarer sailed only a few times since full restoration. $1,800 for quick sale. New items include: jib, jib halyard, bronze gooseneck, boomvang, mainsheet hardware, and tiller extension.

  13. 1975 Douglas Mcleod Thistle sailboat for sale in Illinois

    Selling my lightning-fast Thistle sailboat. These are a great class of boats, with classic lines and capable of great speeds. Matching hull number sails (main, sail, spinnaker) professionally cleaned and in nice shape with no rips! Aluminum trailer in great shape, can haul anywhere. Wood in great shape, aluminum spars in great shape, and ...

  14. Thistle Marketplace

    Thistle 2441. Posted 2 weeks ago by Jo Ann Kelley. Sailed on Alton Lake Valley Sailing & Boulder Marina Carlye Lake. Dried sailed last 20 years. 4 sets of sails, all rigging trailer. Sold at auction on August 25 in Troy, MO. Call 314-852-6300 for all details. Boats / Missouri / 41 views / New Popular.

  15. THISTLE 31

    THISTLE 31. Save to Favorites ... the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed. less than 100 = Ultralight; 100-200 = Light; 200-275 = Moderate; 275-350 = Heavy; ... The higher the number the faster speed prediction for the boat. A cat with a number 0.6 is likely to sail 6kts in 10kts wind, a cat with a number of 0.7 is ...

  16. Thistle Sailboat Photo Gallery

    Detailed photos of Thistle sailboats including running rigging, standing rigging, and deck layout. 10% Off Hobie Parts / 15% Off Rigging / 10-15% Off Select Kayaks - SHOP NOW Menu

  17. Thistle 31

    The higher a boat's D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more. Formula. D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³ D: Displacement of the boat in pounds. LWL: Waterline length in feet

  18. How to Identify Your Boat

    HIN with Model Year. Example: ABC12345M72D (November 1972) The 9th character "M" stands for model year. The 10th and 11th are the last two digits of the model year. The 12th is the letter designating the month of manufacture. Now, here's where the government got cute: Here's how to identify your boat's Hull Identification Number (HIN), or ...

  19. List of active Russian Navy ships

    Boat Pennant No. Commissioned Displacement Fleet Note Delta IV: 667BDRM: Verkhoturye: K-51: 1984: 18,200 t: Northern Fleet: 667BDRM: Tula: K-114: 1987: 18,200 t: Northern Fleet: 667BDRM: ... Hull number Name Laid down Launched Estimated Commission Fleet Note Project 21180M: Svyatogor: 1 September 2023 Northern Fleet Diesel icebreaker Project 23130:

  20. Train numbers amd classes from St Petersburg to Moscow

    Answer 1 of 5: Hello We are looking to book the overnight train from SPB to Moscow. We will be arriving on the fast train from Helsinki and will spend 2-3 nights here. I'm looking at tickets on rzd.ru and it appears that there are a few trains. As we...

  21. 1970 Thistle

    Thistle, 1970s Thistle Sailboat w. Trailer Hull number 3406. Two full sets of North Sails Two spinnakers Lots of extra parts Cover Trailer has full-sized wheels for smooth rolling. Needs nothing to go sailing tomorrow. Details on the Thistle: LOA 17' 0" Beam 6' 0" Draft up/dn 6"/4'6" SA (main and jib) 191 sq. ft. SA (spin) 220 sq ...

  22. Thistle Thistle Class

    Seller's Description. Thistle Class Sailboat for Sale "LizaBeth" Fiberglass Hull, thistle, stored indoors. Very Nice Trailer and 2 year old 4 stroke 2.5 hp outboard Length Overall 17 Feet Beam 6 feet Mast Height 24' 6" Draft board up 6 Down 4ft Hull number 1504. Boat is in good shape, recently re-done wood, 3 coats of Ceatol with all ...

  23. MOSCOW MAERSK, Container Ship, IMO: 9778818

    Ship Name: MOSCOW MAERSK: Ship Subtype: Container Ship: Flag: Danish International Register: IMO No. 9778818: Call Sign: for registered users: MMSI: for registered users