Description
The Puddle Duck Racer (PDR) is a 4x8 ft (1.22x2.44 m) one-design, pram-hulled plywood sailboat designed in 2003 by David "Shorty" Routh for ultra-simple, low-cost amateur construction using a single sheet of 1/4" plywood for the hull, a flat bottom, and blunt bow, enabling racing and family sailing in shallow ponds, lakes, or sheltered waters. Powered by a 66 ft² (6.1 m²) balanced lug sail on an unstayed 12–14 ft mast with a leeboard and kick-up rudder, it emphasizes creative freedom under class rules that mandate the boxy hull shape (8 ft long, 4 ft wide, 10" sides) but allow unlimited rigging, interiors, and modifications—leading to diverse builds from stock racers to expedition versions with cabins or electric auxiliaries. With no official plans (just a free rules PDF at PDRacer.com), hundreds have been built worldwide for under $300, fostering a vibrant community of "duckers" who race, cruise, and innovate through forums, annual events like the Texas 200, and the motto "If it looks like a duck and sails like a duck, it's a PDR."
