Little Maid of Kent
Description
The Little Maid of Kent is a charming, classic wooden 30-foot V-bottom schooner designed by the renowned American naval architect William (Billy) Atkin in the mid-20th century (plans date to the 1940s–1950s era, with Atkin's detailed write-up emphasizing her timeless appeal). Atkin described her affectionately as an "interesting little ship" — a pocket schooner with character: clipper bow, trail boards, stanchioned rail around the after deck, and a traditional gaff-rigged schooner setup (three sails totaling 438 sq ft). She's built for comfortable hand-trimming sheets, with topping lifts on all sails, and intended as a capable coastal/offshore cruiser (he even joked she'd be fit for the Grand Banks). The design prioritizes simplicity, individuality (no mass production feel), and seaworthiness in a compact package — not a racer, but a sturdy, load-carrying two-master that's rare today amid modern sloops. Atkin's plans (still available for ~$125 from the Atkin & Co. archive at Mystic Seaport) include detailed lines, construction notes, and his signature poetic commentary.
The standard boat dimensions
| i | - |
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| j | - |
| p | - |
| e | - |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
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| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Little Maid of Kent - MAINSAIL
| Luff | 26.75 ft - (8153 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 16.67 ft - (5081 mm) |
| Leech | * 29.19 ft - (8897 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 82.06 ° |
| Diagonal | 29.5 ft - (8992 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 226.58 ft² |
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Little Maid of Kent - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 22.83 ft - (6959 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 11.25 ft - (3429 mm) |
| Leech | 18.5 ft - (5639 mm) |
| Area | * 103.23 ft² |
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Little Maid of Kent - GAFF MAIN
| Luff | 16.33 ft - (4977 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 16.67 ft - (5081 mm) |
| Leech | 21 ft - (6401 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 81.67 ° |
| Diag (clew/throat) | 21.58 ft - (6578 mm) |
| Head | 8.75 ft - (2667 mm) |
| Area | * 225.64 ft² |
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Little Maid of Kent - GAFF MAIN
| Luff | 14.83 ft - (4520 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 8.25 ft - (2515 mm) |
| Leech | 18 ft - (5486 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 83.12 ° |
| Diag (clew/throat) | 16.083 ft - (4902 mm) |
| Head | 7 ft - (2134 mm) |
| Area | * 116.87 ft² |
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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.