Description
The Rooster sailboat refers to a classic wooden dinghy design, specifically a small, home-buildable sailboat known as the Rooster.
It's a 9-foot-6-inch (about 2.9 m) lateen-rigged wooden sailboat, weighing around 100 pounds (45 kg). The design uses quarter-inch plywood construction, features an 8-foot mast with a bamboo sprit and boom, and includes a daggerboard. It can also function as a rowboat when not under sail.
This design originated in the 1950s, created by a naval enthusiast inspired by Chesapeake Bay Sharpies. The first one, named "Kathleen," was built in 1957. Plans were copyrighted and shared for amateur builders, with sails traditionally from Thurston Sails (still available today in updated form). It's part of a small "Rooster class" tradition, with builders and family members maintaining the lineage by handling plan requests.
It's a simple, charming, traditional small sailboat ideal for recreational use, learning, or backyard boatbuilding projects.
