Ilya Class X Boat
Description
The ILYA X Boat (also called X Class, X Scow, or Cub Boat) is a 16-foot one-design sailing dinghy designed by John O. Johnson in 1932 for junior sailors under 16, emphasizing safety and simplicity. Unlike other Inland Lake Yachting Association (ILYA) classes, it’s not a scow, featuring a hard-chined, pointed bow hull with a retractable centerboard and fractional sloop rig. Built of fiberglass with wooden trim by Melges Performance Sailboats (originally Johnson Boat Works), it’s tailored for inland lake racing, balancing ease for beginners with competitive racing potential. It supports a two-person crew (optimal 250–300 lb.) and is known for planning in moderate winds (10–15 knots) with speeds up to 8–10 knots. The X Boat was created as a junior trainer, replacing slower prams. Initially wooden, it shifted to fiberglass for durability. Production by Melges began after Johnson’s 1998 closure, with over 1,000 units built. The ILYA has governed the class since 1940, hosting championships that draw 100+ boats.
Construction Details
| Designer | John O. Johnson |
|---|---|
| Builder | Johnson Boat Works |
| Length | 16.000 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | - |
|---|---|
| j | - |
| p | - |
| e | - |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Documents
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 17 ft - (5182 mm) |
| Foot | 10 ft - (3048 mm) |
| Leech | * 19.19 ft - (5849 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 19.42 ft - (5919 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 4.5 in - (114 mm) |
| Area | * 87.81 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 11 ft - (3353 mm) |
| Foot | 5.83 ft - (1777 mm) |
| Leech | 9.83 ft - (2996 mm) |
| Length Perpendicular | 4.48 ft - (1366 mm) |
| Area | * 28.55 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.