Sapphire 14' 11" Catboat

Description

The Sapphire is a classic 15-foot (LOA 15 ft / 4.57 m) plywood catboat daysailer designed by Charles W. Wittholz (1910s–1990s American naval architect who studied at University of Michigan and MIT, apprenticed under John Alden, and produced hundreds of practical, buildable designs over 50+ years, many in wood or steel for amateur or small-yard construction). This small, open (or optional cuddy) catboat draws from traditional New England working catboat lines—beamy, shallow-draft, stable, and forgiving for daysailing on bays, lakes, or protected coastal waters. It's stitch-and-glue or plywood plank-on-frame friendly, with a single large sail for simplicity (gaff or marconi rig options in some Wittholz cats, though Sapphire leans toward classic catboat gaff). The design allows for a daysailer setup or light cruising with a small cuddy cabin extension (sleeping 1–2 modestly). It's trailerable, easy to launch solo, and emphasizes low-cost, low-maintenance fun over speed or complexity—perfect for club sailing, family outings, or as a first wooden boat project.