Force 5
Description
The Force 5 is a compact, high-performance one-design racing dinghy designed in 1972 by Fred Scott and Jack Evans for AMF Alcort, positioned as a direct competitor to the Laser with added stability from a hard chine aft and a larger cockpit for occasional two-person sailing. Built initially in large numbers (over 12,000 by 1989), it became a bestseller for its speed, simplicity, and full sail controls, but production paused amid corporate changes until Weeks Yacht Yard revived it in 1993—still handcrafted today in Patchogue, New York, for fleets across the U.S. and beyond. At 13'10" LOA, it's an ideal single-handed racer or trainer for lakes, bays, and club racing, planning effortlessly in moderate winds while rewarding precise hiking and trim; its forgiving nature suits juniors to adults, though it's tippy in gusts without practice.
Construction Details
| Designer | Fred Scott and Jack Evans |
|---|---|
| Builder | Alcort (AMF Alcort) |
| Length | 14.000 ft |
| LOA | 13.870 ft |
| LWL | 13.180 ft |
| Beam | 4.830 ft |
| Displacement | 140 lb |
| Max Draft | 3.160 ft |
| Min Draft | 0.250 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | - |
|---|---|
| j | - |
| p | 17.75 ft |
| e | 8.62 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | 17.75 ft | 8.62 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 17.75 ft - (5410 mm) |
| Foot | * 8.62 ft - (2627 mm) |
| Leech | * 19.3 ft - (5883 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 19.46 ft - (5931 mm) |
| Head (inches) | 1 in - (25 mm) |
| Area | * 76.456 ft² |
| Comments | Sleeve luff -- loose foot |
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.