Design and Construction
The hull is hand-laid fiberglass with closed-cell flotation. Its wide, flat-bottomed, hard-chine form helps the boat perform in both light breezes and stiff winds. With the centerboard raised, draft is roughly four to six inches.
The American 14.6 has a 6-foot 2-inch beam, a 13-foot 5-inch waterline, and a mast height of 20 feet 6 inches. Dry weight is 340 pounds. The boat floats high and carries that weight lightly.
The cockpit has non-skid flooring, and the hull is designed to be 80-percent self-bailing. That’s an unusual figure for a boat this size and a real asset when a sudden squall puts water aboard, though it doesn’t make the cockpit fully self-draining. Closed-cell flotation is built into the hull.
The supplied galvanized trailer is rated at 700 pounds and comes with a mast stanchion and winch. According to the builder, the package is easily towed behind smaller cars.
Rig and Handling
The American 14.6 carries a fractional sloop rig with 112 square feet of Dacron sail in the main and jib. Its tabernacle mast allows quick stepping and easy retrieval at the end of the day. The standard package includes color-coded mainsheet and jib lines, along with simple colored up and down lines for controlling the centerboard.
Anodized spars and Harken blocks are standard. The builder claimed that these quality parts would assure years of maintenance-free use for a new owner. A topping lift system is also included.
The weighted fiberglass centerboard and kick-up rudder are simple systems. The rudder can be raised or lowered from the cockpit, and its mechanism lets it kick up and spring down as necessary, helping protect the blade in shallow water or when beaching. The boat can also take an outboard on a motor-mount bracket.
Cockpit and Storage
This is a daysailer rather than a cruiser, but its cockpit is genuinely large for the boat’s length. There’s room for four adults, with generous freeboard, comfortable seats, and backrests.
The ends of the seats include spaces sized for drink coolers or a battery box. A large built-in storage compartment under the deck is reached through a hatch door and provides forward storage.
The cockpit’s volume, combined with the stable hull form, is why the design is recognized as an extremely stable, roomy, and dry daysailer that provides fun for all ages.
Known Issues
Buyers should understand the limits of the 80-percent self-bailing claim. The hull is designed to clear most water on its own, but the crew must manage the remaining 20 percent. The boat is therefore not fully self-draining and shouldn’t be left unattended with its drain paths blocked.
The kick-up rudder and weighted fiberglass centerboard are simple systems, but their pivots and spring mechanisms are moving parts exposed to the water. They deserve periodic functional checks.
The Verdict
The American 14.6 is a purpose-built entry-level daysailer that succeeds on its own terms. Its flat-bottomed centerboard hull is stable and easy to drive across a wide range of wind strengths. The tabernacle rig and cockpit-controlled rudder make launching and retrieval genuinely hassle-free, while the large cockpit and built-in storage keep days on the water uncomplicated.
It isn’t a racer or a camper. As a stable, dry, trailerable sailboat for newcomers and families, however, it’s a well-resolved design.
Pros
- Wide, flat-bottomed hull with a hard chine provides stability and performs in light breezes or stiff winds
- 80-percent self-bailing hull with closed-cell flotation and a non-skid cockpit
- Tabernacle mast and cockpit-raised kick-up rudder simplify launching, retrieval, and grounding
- Large cockpit for four adults, with under-deck storage and spaces for a cooler or battery box
- 112-square-foot Dacron rig with color-coded lines, plus standard anodized spars and Harken blocks
Cons
- Only 80-percent self-bailing, so it isn’t fully self-draining
- Strictly a daysailer, with no overnight accommodation or enclosed cabin
- Kick-up rudder and centerboard have moving parts that need periodic functional checks
