butterfly sailboat rigging

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• Sailboat Guide

Butterfly is a 12 ′ 2 ″ / 3.7 m monohull sailboat designed by John Barnett and built by Windward Boatworks and Barnett Boats starting in 1961.

• 2 / 9 Kansas City, MO, US 1980 Butterfly $1,500 USD View
• 3 / 9 Kansas City, MO, US 1980 Butterfly $1,500 USD View
• 4 / 9 Kansas City, MO, US 1980 Butterfly $1,500 USD View
• 5 / 9 Kansas City, MO, US 1980 Butterfly $1,500 USD View
• 6 / 9 Kansas City, MO, US 1980 Butterfly $1,500 USD View
• 7 / 9 Kansas City, MO, US 1980 Butterfly $1,500 USD View
• 8 / 9 Kansas City, MO, US 1980 Butterfly $1,500 USD View
• 9 / 9 Kansas City, MO, US 1980 Butterfly $1,500 USD View

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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Butterfly Sailboat Parts & Equipment

Butterfly Travel / Mooring Cover (Top Gun)

Butterfly Dolly

Butterfly Hiking Strap

Copyright © 2024 mauripro sailing llc..

Butterfly Parts

We make many of the parts - hiking straps, bridles, stays, flotation panels, our own tiller extension, cutting all of the lines - in our solar-powered yurt high in the Colorado Rockies.

Hey!! Check out our Sale Bin for goodies at great prices!

Lots of Spool Ends (left-over line), Packs, assorted tops, and more coming soon as we clean and rearrange our shelves!

In addition to the common items listed below, we normally stock parts for repairs or rebuilding including screws, rivets, etc, contact us if you need those pieces. Contact us to order unlisted items.

Parts that no longer exist: The original mainsheet blocks, white sheaves with stainless steel hook & clip; the original drain plug, the black rubber snap version for a 1/4" hole; the old black plastic 'glove box' mounted on the side or back of the cockpit; old style masts (the original teardrop shape) - note, there are a FEW replacement mast tubes left BUT there are NO remaining splice pieces for joining the old style mast halves, so you if have - or can find - an old, bent mast, remove and keep the splices (we might even buy those from you!).

Want a custom length? We can do anything up to 42" at the same price as the standard length, and anything from 42 to 72" for $119.00. But time to ship could be anything from 1 to 4 weeks, depending upon time of year. Contact us to order a custom length. (Shipping charges on longer extensions are much higher!)

The new ones have two huge advantages; they work, and the plug doesn't get lost. We don't have any of the old ones left, upgrading is simple and you'll have something that you can rely on to work, over and over. Sorry, the manufacturer does not sell separate/replacement plugs, only complete assemblies. But if all you need is the plug, we'll send you a bare assembly without instructions or the screws for $8.80.

Mainsheet: Jim's favorite version, fuzzy, soft, and it floats, 8mm $43.00, or 7mm, $36.00. Made of New England Rope's wonderful Bzzz Line, a unique blend of ploypropylene and polyester. In general younger sailors and recreational sailors prefer 8mm, racers like the 7mm. Colors available are entirely dependent upon what New England Ropes can provide!! As of mid-2023, we have the 7mm blue, and the 8mm in silver. We have not been able to get 8mm yellow since early last year.

We get questions about the photo -> the KNOT at the end of the line STAYS TIED once you pull it tight!! It a 'figure-8' with an extra turn around the 'standing' part of the line to give it a bit more bulk so it doesn't pull through the eye on the sail.

Rope replacements are an easy answer - but not necessarily a good one. Rope, especially cheaper Nylon, dacron, or polypropylene, will stretch, catch on the rudder head and prevent the boat from turning, and will wear and break much faster than wire, especially if they normally sit in the sun. The new high-tech ropes (Spectra, Dyneema, Technora) are a neat, short term solution, because most (but not all!) of them are slippery, the block will slide easily from side to side. But they will wear much faster than our wire bridles, and the Spectra and Dyneema versions will also deteriorate in sun, and stretch as well. For racers, any stretch is not good.

The Butterfly Dolly: We are currently sold out, with none in stock. AND our builder is out of business due to the nuts increases in aluminum prices!! (2018) We are working with a couple aluminum shops to find a new source, but have yet to find the right price/quality. We hope to be able to offer dollies again by mid-2019.

If you would like more information on these products, send us an info request .

The Butterfly

Why Sail a Butterfly?

Because it’s designed to do so many things so well. Large enough to accommodate several people. Fast enough for serious competition. Light enough for launching by one person. And virtually maintenance free. The Butterfly has a strong  National Organization  and holds annual National Championship regattas. From a cottage boat to serious one-design racer – the Butterfly does it all.

• Sail Secure
• Sail Easily
• Sail With Quality
• Sail Comfortably
• Sail Anywhere
• Sail "In Class"

The generous beam combined with 15 inch depth, keeps the boat quite dry and gives her additional capacity. A spray rail across the deck helps keep water out of the footwell.

In case you capsize, the Butterfly is swamp-proof because the footwell is molded into the deck, forming a completely airtight sealed hull. For added security there is enough foam inside the hull to float the boat and crew.

Easy handling and stability make the Butterfly ideal for young sailors. Many yacht clubs and camps use it as their junior training boat. With its large capacity and ample seating, it’s also a boat the entire family can enjoy together.

SPECIFICATIONS

Hull design : Scow sealed hull/deck with additional internal flotation Length : 12′ 2″ to extensions of rub rail; 11’11” LOA exclusive of rub rail Beam: 54″ Hull depth : 15″ Hull weight : 135 lbs. Crew capacity : 600 lbs. Sail area : 75 sq. ft. Mast length : 18′ Mast breaks into 2-9′ sections for travel/storage Nominal Draft : 26″ Designer : John Barnett Year First Built :1961 Builder : Windward Boat Works

A Brief History

Click here to read about the history of the Butterfly.

The Butterfly sailboat was designed in the early 1960’s and was put into production in 1961. It was designed to be a fun, lightweight, small lake version of the ILYA C-scow. It is one of the pioneers of One Design sailing, meaning in a racing situation, all of the boats are identical, so the race is truly a measure of the sailor’s ability.

The class today is virtually unchanged since 1962. Updates have improved only the overall quality of the boat, making new boats stronger and longer lasting than ever yet maintains the same level of performance. As such, the Butterfly is a regatta favorite and old boats and new alike sail together in the spirit of great competition.

Because of the Butterfly’s small size, light weight, and extreme durability, it is a very popular cottage and vacation boat. If you’re launching from a shoreline, it’s important to have a boat that can be easily handled, even by the kids – after all, there’s no point of buying a sailboat if it’s just too heavy and spends most of it’s life on a trailer.

The daggerboard and spring assisted rudder allow for the Butterfly to be launched and recovered from any sandy or grassy shoreline or off a trailer.

The stayed mast allows the sail to be raised and lowered. This feature allows the Butterfly sail to be easily hoisted – even by younger kids, and allows for the mast to remain on the boat when you’re taking a break or done sailing for the day. If it gets too windy on the water or a sailor needs to take a break, it’s an important safety feature to be able to lower the sail as needed. Many small sailboats do not enjoy this feature and have sails that fit over the mast and require removing the mast to take the sail down.

The Butterfly is a comfortable boat for the young, old, and everyone in between. The foot well is 15″ deep – much deeper than most boats in it’s size and weight class, allowing room for adults well over 6′ tall to sail comfortably.

The Butterfly is found on most vacation lakes, and is a popular youth training boat. Many youngsters have enjoyed their first sailing experience on the Butterfly. For a more complete history, visit the National Class Website history page.

Sail Colors

Instructions & maintenance, instructional videos.

Take your Butterfly sailing to the next level.

Telephone: 608.575.8033 W5302 Bend Road, Princeton, Wi 54968

[email protected]

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Barnett Butterfly

• Add to quote

Go you looks like the little guy wants to life the main and ride the wind  

My son was very happy that there was a life jacket included that fits him! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk  

Butterfly sailboats, parts and accessories from Jim Young Sailing You can live without it and decide later if you want one. It looks like the mainsheet controls the boom pretty well.  

Is it just me, or does that young man make that 85 foot boat look small?! ( Sorry, couldn't resist) Enjoy the new toy! Sent from my Moto E (4) Plus using Tapatalk  

Many kids have slipped out of their jackets because somebody forgot the crotch strap.  

I am glad it has one! Too funny we were just in the market for one and the PO threw in a whole box of lifejackets different sizes Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk  

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• Boat Repair and Restoration
• Boat Restoration, Building, and Hull Repair

Butterfly Sailboat

• Thread starter a7ecorsair
• Start date Jun 23, 2010
• Jun 23, 2010

Hi all, New to this forum but participate in other forums. I picked up a 12' Butterfly a couple of summers ago that was in decent shape but needed some small parts for the rigging which I did find. I finally got around to cleaning up the deck, rubbed it out with some compound and put on a coat of wax and it really looks nice. Now the wood rails, I'm sure they have a special name, that are on the two sides of the foot well need to be refinished. I'm reluctant to remove the screws because I don't know what is behind the fiberglass for blocking and I don't want it to fall into the hull. Does anyone know if it is safe to remove the screws that hold those two rails in place?  

Petty Officer 1st Class

Re: Butterfly Sailboat Welcome to the forums! Post a couple of photos so we can know what you're talking about please, a visual aid will help us all help you out.  

Woodonglass

Supreme mariner, chuck gibson, petty officer 2nd class.

Re: Butterfly Sailboat Hello a7ecorsair, This is amazing running in to someone else working on one of these boats. I need to update my string because I have made a little progress since I last posted. i have not posted any updates because no one was really interested in my project. I had the same exact problem and a gentleman named saildan helped me out. Please post pictures of your boat. In the next day or two I will post another update. Here is the link to my string.... http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=386162  

Re: Butterfly Sailboat The tiller handle, skeg, and handrails all need varnish. Pictures:  

Attachments

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The 5 Best Sailboats For Beginners

Sailing is a fun activity for people of all experience levels. In fact, learning to sail a basic boat is relatively easy—in the right environment, you can start cruising with minimal experience.

However, the idea of a beginner commanding a 55-foot ketch in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean is a bit ridiculous. Even though virtually everyone can sail, beginners should learn the basics in a controlled environment—and on the correct boat.

Boat size doesn’t necessarily affect its beginner-friendliness, because sailors need to take into account factors such as rig simplicity and handling characteristics. 

Many beginners make the mistake of picking the wrong boat to begin with, which can lead to frustration and turn them off of sailing forever.

To mitigate these issues, this article will cover the best sailboats for beginners —so you can get on the water and start sailing safely and comfortably.

Table of contents

‍ Best Rigs for Beginners 

There are many types of sailboat rigging , and some are more beginner-friendly than others. Unfortunately, some of the most aesthetically pleasing rigs are also the most complicated. 

Eventually, sailors can acquire enough skill to master complex rigs, but it’s best to start simple. 

Arguably, one of the simplest sailing rigs is the Lateen Rig. This rig consists of a mast, boom, and spar, along with a single halyard and mainsheet. With only two ropes in its simplest configuration, the Lateen Rig makes an excellent starter sailboat, and it will be featured on this list. 

For larger boats, the Bermuda Sloop rig is an excellent choice. This rig is quite common and includes a jib for a larger sail plan.

For those who desire a slightly more robust (but single sail) layout, the gaff-rigged catboat is also an excellent choice. This versatile craft (and rig) has a large and relatively simple single sail, which is easier to handle than multiple sails.

Top Five Sailboats for Beginners 

Now, we’ll go over the top five sailboats for beginners . These boats will descend in order from smallest to largest, but not by the level of experience needed.  

Remember, just because you’re new to sailing doesn’t mean you have to settle for a boat that’s too small. Beginners can handle larger boats with some training, and some are easier to handle than their smaller counterparts.  ‍

The following boats were chosen because of their handling characteristics, low cost-of-ownership, and simplicity, as all of these factors are important for choosing the best beginner sailboat.

5) Sailing Dinghy

The sailing dinghy is the quintessential starter sailboat. These tiny, lightweight, popular, and highly affordable little craft is easy to operate and relatively difficult to capsize. The popular Optimist Sailing Dinghy, while designed for children up to the age of about 15, can be used (sometimes hilariously) by adults as well. An Optimist-style dingy is a great option for beginners over the age of 15, as boats of this style can be found in a variety of sizes. The sailing dinghy is a very popular youth racing sailboat, especially in the United States and the United Kingdom. While it’s not particularly fast, this little boat has wonderful handling characteristics and is relatively difficult to capsize. This open-cockpit boat uses a centerboard and detachable tiller and can be beached or carried atop a car without much hassle. The mast is removable, and all parts are easily stowed. Overall, the Optimist and its copycats are a remarkable little craft, equally useful as a tender for a larger boat or a standalone beginner sailboat.

Dinghy rigs vary between builders, but many use the simple Spirit Rig. The rig consists of a single sail and mainsheet, along with one mast, boom, and spar. The leech is stiffened by battens, and ties along the luff secure it all to the mast. Hoisting and securing the rig is easy, and lines are secured to the boat by a cleat. This simple rig has plenty of sail area for most places, and sailors can secure the mainsheet to a block or simply hold it in their hands.

The price of sailing dinghies can vary widely depending on multiple factors. Professionally-made sailing dinghies start around $3,500 new, and plywood kits are available for around $1,000 to $2,000. Used dinghies (including Optimist sailing dinghies) can be found on Craigslist for as low as a few hundred dollars. 

{{boat-info="/boats/vanguard-sunfish"}}

The Sunfish is a brilliant little sailboat, and a very fast boat indeed. This little racing dinghy, while only 13 feet in length, can be an enormous amount of fun for beginners and experienced sailors alike. The best way to describe the handling of a Sunfish is, ‘tender,’ though it’s not difficult to master this little boat. For its size, the Sunfish has a relatively large sail area and a very shallow draft. This boat has a small cockpit and can be controlled easily by a single person. The large sail plan of the Lateen-Rigged Sunfish makes for excellent performance in light winds and amazing speed on windy days. The Sunfish is a lightweight fiberglass boat with a simple rig and is a great step-up from a sailing dinghy. It’s possible to learn how to sail on this boat, but every sailor who’s spent time on a Sunfish will probably recommend bringing a towel. The boat is relatively easy to capsize for beginners and it heels aggressively, but these characteristics can teach sailors some important lessons. The heeling characteristics of the Sunfish can help beginners get accustomed to the feeling and help them understand the limits of a sailboat and how to avoid capsizing.

The Sunfish features a Lateen Rig, which has some shared characteristics with the simple Spirit Rig. The Lateen Rig has a single spar, mast, and boom, and is easy to set up and dismantle. The mast is removable as well, making stowing and transportation relatively easy. The large sail plan of the Sunfish makes it ideal for lakes and other areas where the wind is sporadic or very low, and the boat can be safely handled in many conditions. The boat is great for racing and learning and is also available in a Bermuda rig. The Sunfish is recognizable by the distinctive fish logo in the top corner of the sail, and the classic rainbow sails striping.

The Sunfish is still commercially manufactured. You can purchase one new from the factory for around $5,000 today, and options are available to make the boat your own. While the boat is designed to be sailed by a single person, two adults can purchase this boat and use it together comfortably. Used Sunfish prices vary, but a fully-outfitted boat in good condition can cost upwards of $1,000. They hold their value well, and they’re a great choice for beginners. 

{{boat-info="/boats/vanguard-laser"}}

The Laser is considered by many to be the Sunfish’s main competitor. The two boats are the same length (13 feet 9 inches) and share many of the same handling characteristics. However, the boats do have some notable differences. Many people consider the Laser to be a step-up from the Sunfish in difficulty, as the boat handles much more like a racer. The Laser has been used in the Olympics for racing. The laser is small and simple enough for beginners but requires skill to operate. Beginners can learn a lot from sailing a Laser and have an enormous amount of fun in the process. This fast little boat is simple and easy to set up but handles like a racecar.  If you’re a beginner on a laser, you’ll probably capsize at some point—which isn’t always a problem if you’re in a controlled environment, as the boat can be righted easily.

The laser is a Cat Rigged boat. This means it has only one mainsail and no headsails. The simple rig has a mast and a boom and is very easy to set up. The sail area of the laser is relatively large and designed for speed in high winds. The rig combined with the overall design of the sailboat makes it handle tenderly, which may be off-putting to some beginners. Regardless, it’s still a blast to sail for beginners with some experience.

New Laser sailboats start around $6,000 which is slightly more than the Sunfish. This simple centerboard cruiser is constructed as a race boat, which can explain some of the price increase. Used Laser sailboats are available on the market, though usually not as common as the Sunfish. Used Laser prices vary widely.

2) Gaff-Rigged Catboat

The gaff-rigged catboat isn’t a brand of boat—it’s a style of a sailboat that was once a popular workboat on the New England coast. This boat, which has only one mainsail and no headsails, is available in a wide range of designs. Catboats are famous for their handling and power and make a great sailboat for beginners. These vessels are available with centerboards, keels, cabins, and in open designs. Most catboats range from 15 to 19-feet long and can be built from wood or fiberglass. Catboats are easy to handle, and one who learns on a small catboat can easily transition to a larger one. Besides being one of the most easily recognizable sailboats, catboats are also some of the most versatile. A catboat can be just as suitable for lake cruising as it is for coastal waters.

The most common type of catboat rig is the Gaff Rig. This classic and robust rig is more complex than the simple Spirit and Lateen rig, but it’s more suitable for a ‘proper ship.’ The Gaff Rig can provide similar power as an equivalent Bermuda Rig, with much more elegance and a shorter mast. Many sailors prefer the classic Gaff Rig for its handling characteristics and durability.

It’s impossible to specify the price of catboats because they vary so much in design and size. New catboats (between 15 and 25-feet) can be purchased for less than $20,000, and used boats are numerous and varied. Cabin catboats tend to cost more, especially new—some run for more than $50,000 with a high level of amenities, including a head and galley. Numerous catboat plans are available online, and sailors report constructing them (usually of plywood) for just a few thousand dollars.

1) West Wight Potter 19

{{boat-info="/boats/west-wight-potter-19"}}

The West Wight Potter 19 is a fiberglass sailboat designed for safety, easy handling, and beginner-friendliness. This 19-foot trailer-sailor features a cabin with a vee-berth, a simple rig, and a retractable keel. The West Wight Potter 19 could potentially be the best cabin sailboat for beginners, and certainly one of the safest—the West Wight Potter 19, according to the manufacturer, is quite literally unsinkable. The hull is filled with buoyant materials, allowing the boat to be flooded and remain afloat. However, unsinkability isn’t the only characteristic of this boat that makes it ideal for beginners. The rig is simple and easy to set up, and the handling characteristics are excellent. The boat is not prone to aggressive heeling and handles confidently in a variety of conditions. While one generally wouldn’t consider it to be a blue-water cruiser, it’s still extremely capable—one sailor even sailed this vessel from California to Hawaii , which is over 2,000 nautical miles. The theoretical hull speed of this boat is around 5.4 knots, but it actually has a tendency to plane and achieve higher speeds. It’s a flat-bottomed cruiser, making it easy to beach and transport with its retractable keel and removable rudder. The West Wight Potter 19 is a great introduction to large sailboats and carries amenities normally reserved for boats at least 1/3 larger.

The West Wight Potter 19 is a Bermuda-Rigged sloop. The sail plan is sufficiently large to propel the boat in a variety of conditions, but not so large that it overpowers the boat. Sailors can single-hand the boat with ease, and set up and takedown are easy and require no special tools. The boat handles well in a variety of conditions and is well-known for its superior stability. The rig comes apart easily and can be stowed and trailered by one person.

The West Wight Potter 19 has been produced and sold commercially since the 1970s, and the used market has plenty of boats available, generally starting around $5,000. New West Wight Potter 19 sailboats are remarkably affordable compared to other boats with comparable characteristics. The West Wight Potter 19 is manufactured by International Marine in California. New sailboats start at just shy of $25,000. Owners can add an enormous range of extra features to their boats, including a hull-strengthening ‘blue water’ package, a stove, a head, electrical power, spare parts, and much more. The boats are highly customizable and can be outfitted for weekender sailing or long-term liveaboard cruising.

How to Pick a Sailboat

Picking a sailboat for beginners doesn’t have to be difficult.  Before deciding on a boat, consider your experience level and location.

If you only have access to rough ocean, it may not be the best idea to get an open dinghy.

If you live near a lake, a Sunfish could be a great way to start.

Also, consider your budget. If you’re looking for a $50 sailboat, you can probably find one, but it won’t be ideal.

If you have just a few thousand dollars to spend, you can set yourself up nicely with a little research .

Also, consider what you want to do with the sailboat. Recreation, fishing , cruising , and exploration are options, and require different kinds of boats.

Whichever you end up choosing, make sure you try it out and can sail it comfortably.

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Daniel Wade

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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