Enterprise
Description
The Enterprise is a versatile, high-performance dinghy designed by British naval architect Jack Holt in 1955 for the News Chronicle as a "People’s Boat" to make sailing affordable and accessible. Launched in 1956, its lightweight plywood (later fiberglass) construction, stable planning hull, and simple rigging made it a global success for racing and recreational sailing. With over 23,000 boats built, it remains a staple in sailing clubs, fostering youth training and competitive fleets. Recognized as an International class by World Sailing, the Enterprise hosts world championships and is celebrated for its durability, balance, and affordability.
Construction Details
| Designer | Jack Holt |
|---|---|
| Builder | Butler Boats |
| Length | 13.000 ft |
| LOA | 13.290 ft |
| Beam | 5.250 ft |
| Displacement | 200 lb |
| Max Draft | 3.250 ft |
| Min Draft | 0.580 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | - |
|---|---|
| j | - |
| p | - |
| e | - |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 17 ft - (5182 mm) |
| Foot | 8.717 ft - (2657 mm) |
| Leech | * 19.4 ft - (5913 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 93.98 ° |
| Diagonal | 19.636 ft - (5985 mm) |
| Head (inches) | 5 in - (127 mm) |
| Area | * 77.27 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 12.585 ft - (3836 mm) |
| Foot | 5.58 ft - (1701 mm) |
| Leech | 12.086 ft - (3684 mm) |
| Length Perpendicular | 5.89 ft - (1795 mm) |
| Area | * 33.39 ft² |
| Sail Type | SPINNAKER |
|---|---|
| Stays | 14 ft - (4267 mm) |
| MidGirth | 9.514 ft - (2900 mm) |
| Foot | 8.268 ft - (2520 mm) |
| Area | * 98 ft² |
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.