Cartopper
Description
The Cartopper is a compact, versatile small boat design created by renowned naval architect Phil Bolger in collaboration with Harold "Dynamite" Payson. First introduced in the 1980s as part of Bolger's "Instant Boats" series, it's engineered for amateur builders using simple plywood construction techniques like stitch-and-glue. This makes it an accessible "instant" project—quick to build, lightweight (around 70-80 lbs.), and easy to transport on a car roof, hence the name. Bolger, known for innovative, no-frills designs that prioritize practicality over aesthetics, drew inspiration from traditional semi-dories and historical small craft to create a boat that's stable, seaworthy, and multi-purpose.
Construction Details
| Designer | Bolger, Philip C. |
|---|---|
| Length | 11.500 ft |
| Notes | Note that two rigs are offered here: a sprit rig and a leg o'mutton rig. |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | - |
|---|---|
| j | - |
| p | 14.25 ft |
| e | 9 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | 14.25 ft | 9 ft | - | - |
Blueprints
Sails
| Sail Type | LEG-O-MUTTON |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 14.25 ft - (4343 mm) |
| Foot | * 9.25 ft - (2819 mm) |
| Leech | 13.58 ft - (4139 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 66.74 ° |
| Diag (clew/head) | * 13.58 ft - (4139 mm) |
| Head (Inches) | 1 |
| Area | * 61.104 ft² |
| Comments | The sail is secured to the mast along its luff edge. The sheet is run through a hole in the sprit end (hat end is first inserted into a webbing loop at the sail's clew). A "snotter" is used to push the sprit aft and, thus, flatten the sail. This same sail is used for the Bolger Teal, Elegant Punt, Surf, and more. |
| Sail Type | SPRIT |
|---|---|
| Luff | 8 ft - (2438 mm) |
| Foot | 8.667 ft - (2642 mm) |
| Leech | 12.333 ft - (3759 mm) |
| Tack Angle | 88 ° |
| Diag (clew/throat) | 11.333 ft - (3454 mm) |
| Head | 4.917 ft - (1499 mm) |
| Area | 61 ft² |
| Comments | The sail is secured to the mast along its luff edge. The sheet is run from a webbing strap at the clew to the transom. A "snotter" is used to push the sprit upward and, thus, extend the sail. |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.