Chickadee
The Chickadee was designed to be the ideal Junior Trainer after graduating from the Optimist. In many learn to sail programs, there is a gap between the Opti and the Club 420 or FJ. She serves the 12 to 18 age group perfectly.
What sets the Chickadee apart is the combination of size, performance, self-bailing safety, and the home/club building opportunity. She offers a fine format for learning, a great sailing “feel,” and a “cool” appearance. 125 lbs all up weight with over 70 square feet of sail add up to a hot package – yet the scow shape renders her relatively stable.
The 2 sail rig achieves another benefit: the Chickadee is sailed two-up when the junior is still small, and both have a sail to handle. When they are more skilled, at say 15, they will prefer going out single-handed – still with the jib up. The two-sail plan and scow shape create an enjoyable way to sharpen boat-handling skills over more years of development. Your investment is well rewarded!
Smaller adults will also love her as a recreational boat. In a good blow, their larger partners may sneak a fabulous outing in the waves too – see the photos!
Chickadee Technical Specifications
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 12 ft | 3.65 m |
| Beam | 3.9 ft | 1.2 m |
| Depth | 15 in | 38 cm |
| Weight | ||
| Hull only | 90 lbs | 41 kilos |
| All up | 125 lbs | 57 kilos |
| Sail Area | ||
| Main | 52 sq ft | 4.93 sq m |
| Jib | 18 sq ft | 1.6 sq m |
| Total | 70 sq ft | 6.53 sq m |
Chickadee Construction
- 5 mm Okoume marine plywood with Philippine mahogany and Obeche lumber. Thickened epoxy for gluing.
- All surfaces are saturated with epoxy resin.
- Seams are reinforced with epoxy-glass tape.
- Two-part polyurethane varnish finish.
