Description
Seahopper refers to a popular brand of wooden folding boats (also called folding dinghies), handmade in England since the 1970s. They're designed for easy storage and transport—no trailer needed! You can carry them on a car roof rack, store them flat against a garage wall, or even hang them on a yacht's guard rails. They unfold in just a few minutes into a sturdy, versatile small boat.
Key features include:
Made from marine-grade plywood with a flexible PVC membrane that allows folding while keeping the hull watertight.
They slot together quickly (just a few pieces like thwarts, seats, and transom).
Versatile uses: yacht tender, rowing boat, motoring with a small outboard, sailing dinghy, fishing boat, or family explorer on lakes/rivers/estuaries.
Classic varnished wood look, stable, and durable—over 7,000+ built since 1974.
There are three main models:
Scamp — smallest (~2m / 6'8" long, ~22-32 kg depending on setup), super portable, great for 2-3 people, ideal tender or beginner boat.
Lighter — mid-size (~2.4m / 7'10", ~24 kg base), good carrying capacity for 4 people + gear, perfect compromise for family use or fishing.
Kondor — largest (~3m / 10', ~34-75 kg), more space for 4+ people/gear, excellent stability, can handle bigger loads or even club duties.
Each model comes in row-only, motor-ready, or full sail versions (gunter rig, often with mainsail + optional jib). Prices for new ones (as of recent listings) start around £4,000+ GBP for basic sail setups, depending on options.
