Lis Information, Review, Specs

With over 1600 units sold, the Lis has become a staple on numerous German inland lakes, appealing to a broad spectrum of sailors from beginners to those with sporting ambitions, 3]. Its design ethos, focused on creating durable and accessible sailing vessels, has ensured its continued relevance and popularity for over five decades.

History and Design

The story of the Lis begins in 1966 when Dieter Gade launched the "Lis-Jolle" through his newly founded company, Gade Bootsbau Kunststofftechnik GmbH, in Aachen, Germany, 3]. Gade Marine was among the first German boat manufacturers to wholeheartedly embrace fiberglass-reinforced plastic (GRP/GFK) for boat construction, a revolutionary choice at the time. This material offered significant advantages, including lighter weight for easy trailering and greater freedom in hull design, aligning with Gade's core motivation to produce durable and user-friendly sailing vessels.

The initial "Lis-Jolle" was a compact dinghy featuring a modest cuddy cabin, often referred to as a "Schlupfkajüte," providing basic shelter. The success of this foundational model quickly led to variations that expanded its versatility. In 1969, the "Lis-Jollenkreuzer" was introduced, built on the same proven hull but incorporating a small cabin, approximately 1.10 meters high, with two berths and a table, transforming it into a more comfortable vessel suitable for overnight trips. A further evolution saw the introduction of the "Lis-Family," which featured a hull broadened by 13 centimeters, a slightly enlarged cabin, and a higher freeboard with a distinct coaming. The cockpit of the Lis-Family also became self-bailing starting in 1978, further enhancing its practicality. Gade Marine's in-house design philosophy has consistently prioritized ease of handling, capsize stability, and unsinkability across the Lis range, making it a favorite for family sailing and instruction.

Sailing Performance and Handling

The Gade Lis, with its 16.4-foot length overall and a light displacement of 375 pounds, is designed for nimble and responsive sailing, characteristic of a recreational and racing dinghy. As a fractional sloop with 129 square feet of reported sail area, it offers a lively performance for its size, making it engaging for both casual cruising and regatta sailing. The boat's centerboard keel system, allowing the draft to vary from a shallow 0.82 feet with the board up to 4.1 feet fully extended, provides exceptional versatility. This feature enables access to shallow anchorages and easy beaching, while the deeper draft with the board down enhances upwind performance and stability.

Owners and enthusiasts praise the Lis for its user-friendly nature and balanced handling. Particularly the Lis-Family variant is celebrated for being easy to operate, capsize-proof, and unsinkable, emphasizing its design for safety and accessibility, especially for families and new sailors, 4]. The allowance for a single trapeze in its class rules further underscores its potential for competitive sailing, offering an exciting experience for more performance-oriented sailors. Its relatively broad beam of 5.64 feet contributes to its initial stability, providing a confident feel on the water.

Accommodations and Layout

While the Lis is primarily known as a dinghy, its design variations offer surprising levels of accommodation for a boat of its size. The original "Lis-Jolle" features a "small low cuddy containing 2 berths". This "modest cuddy cabin," or "Schlupfkajüte," provides a basic sheltered space, often used for storage or as a minimal overnighting spot.

The "Lis-Jollenkreuzer" variant extends this with a more defined small cabin, approximately 1.10 meters (around 3.6 feet) high, which includes two berths and a small table. This arrangement transforms the dinghy into a compact cruiser, suitable for short trips and basic overnight stays, offering more comfort and utility than the open dinghy version. The "Lis-Family" further enhances these accommodations with a slightly enlarged cabin compared to its predecessors, providing a bit more interior volume. While full standing headroom is not typical for these models, the emphasis remains on providing comfortable, functional spaces within their compact footprint, prioritizing user-friendliness and trailering convenience over extensive creature comforts.

Owner's Perspectives

The enduring appeal of the Gade Lis is strongly reflected in its active and dedicated owner community. The "Lis-Klassenvereinigung e.V." (Lis Class Association) in Germany fosters camaraderie among owners, organizes events, and supports the continued enjoyment and preservation of the Lis class, 8]. This robust association is a testament to the lasting satisfaction and loyalty that Gade Marine's boats inspire.

Owners consistently praise the Lis for its solid GRP construction, which contributes to its durability and low maintenance, making it a practical choice for recreational sailing. Its ease of operation and reputation for being capsize-proof and unsinkable are frequently highlighted as major strengths, particularly by families and those new to sailing. The ability to easily trailer the boat is also a significant advantage, allowing owners to explore a variety of inland waters and expand their sailing horizons. The versatility of the Lis, capable of both relaxed cruising and competitive dinghy racing, is another often-cited strength, offering a broad range of sailing experiences within a single model, 3].