Howmar Boats Inc. began building the boat in 1983, followed later by its successor, The New Howmar Boats Corp. Production ended after 200 boats. At just over twelve feet long, the Howmar 12 occupies a niche between a pure pram and a keelboat. It is small, light, and thoroughly portable, with a fractional sloop rig and retractable centerboard.
Design and Construction
The hull is built predominantly of fiberglass with wood trim and foam flotation. This combination provides buoyancy and keeps maintenance modest while adding a traditional visual accent.
The underbody has a nearly plumb stem and vertical transom. Its sharp prow was intended to cut through waves rather than ride over them. Both the centerboard and transom-hung rudder are molded from polyurethane, and the rudder is controlled by a tiller.
With the centerboard lowered, draft is 2.5 feet; raised, it falls to 0.33 feet. That shallow draft permits beaching and helps make the boat practical to carry on a trailer or even a car roof rack. The hull is also self-bailing, a useful feature in a dinghy that may ship water in a breeze or during training drills.
Rig and Handling
The Howmar 12 carries a fractional sloop rig with anodized aluminum spars. Its loose-footed mainsail has an adjustable outhaul for controlling sail shape. The rig is simple enough for training but also tuned for one-design competition.
The light-displacement hull can plane, while its low weight makes cartopping relatively easy. A period review also noted the hull’s portability. The modest five-foot beam keeps the platform narrow, and the overall configuration lends itself to responsive handling in a breeze.
Storage and Uses
Although it’s a dinghy rather than a cruiser, the Howmar 12 has a bow compartment that provides dry storage for gear that needs to stay out of the bilge. In a 1994 assessment, Richard Sherwood described the boat as roomy for its size—an unusual quality in a twelve-foot racer-trainer.
Its standard roles were racing, instruction, and day sailing. The factory also offered an optional outboard-motor mount, extending the boat’s usefulness as a tender or harbor runabout.
Factory Options
In addition to the outboard bracket, the original order sheet listed a boom vang, hinged mast step, and hiking straps as factory options. The hinged mast step simplifies lowering the rig for trailering. Hiking straps reflect the boat’s one-design racing intent by allowing the crew to hike effectively to windward.
The Verdict
The Howmar 12 is a focused little dinghy. Sparkman & Stephens designed it from the outset as a racer, trainer, and day sailer, and its cartopping weight, self-bailing hull, and retractable centerboard suit launching from a beach or carrying on a roof rack.
Foam flotation and polyurethane foils help keep ownership straightforward. At the same time, the fractional rig and planing ability give the boat more spark than its length might suggest.
Pros
- One-design pedigree from Sparkman & Stephens, as design #2405
- Self-bailing hull with foam flotation and wood trim
- Retractable centerboard allows beaching and helps with cartopping
- Light and, according to a period review, roomy for its size
Cons
- Only 200 were built, so availability on the used market is limited
- Accommodation is minimal beyond the bow dry-storage compartment
- Outboard capability was a factory option rather than standard equipment
