Used Thistle Sailboats for Sale

The Thistle, a distinctive 17-foot monohull, has carved out a enduring legacy as a high-performance, one-design racing sailboat since its inception. Conceived by the renowned American designer Gordon "Sandy" Douglass in 1945, the Thistle was designed with a clear purpose: to be an affordable, fast, and exciting racing dinghy accessible to families. Initially brought to life by Douglass & McLeod, the company co-founded by Sandy Douglass himself, the Thistle quickly became a testament to the builder's commitment to well-built and performance-oriented sailboats, a reputation they would maintain throughout their operational history.