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Howmar 12 Sailboats for Sale

S&S·1983·Howmar Boats Inc.
Howmar 12 drawingBuilder drawing
Hull Type
Monohull · centerboard
Rig
Fractional Sloop
LOA
12.17' · 3.71 m
Disp.
175 lbs · 79 kg
First year
1983

The Howmar 12 is an American sailing dinghy conceived by Craig V. Walters of Sparkman & Stephens as a onedesign racer, trainer, and day sailer, and it carries the distinction of being that storied design office’s project number 2405. First built in 1983 by Howmar Boats Inc. and later by its successor, The New Howmar Boats Corp, a total of 200 were completed before the design went out of production. At just over twelve feet long, with a fractional sloop rig and a retractable centerboard, it occupies a niche between a pure pram and a keelboat—small, light, and thoroughly portable.

Specs & Review

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Howmar 12 Buyer's Guide

The Howmar 12 is a twelve-foot American sailing dinghy drawn by Craig V. Walters at Sparkman & Stephens to serve as a one-design racer, trainer, and day sailer, with 200 examples completed by Howmar Boats Inc. and its successor before production ended. For a shopper, it is a niche trailer-sailer dinghy whose value lies in portability and class simplicity rather than creature comfort.

Layouts on the Used Market

Every Howmar 12 shares the same one-design hull: a fiberglass shell with wood trim, foam flotation, a nearly plumb stem, and a vertical transom. The cockpit is open, with dry storage confined to a bow compartment. The retractable centerboard and polyurethane transom-hung rudder define the underbody, and the boat is self-bailing. Because it is a one-design, you are not choosing between hull variants but between condition and factory-option fit-out.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Factory options worth checking for include a boom vang, a hinged mast step, hiking straps, and a mount for an outboard motor. The hinged mast step and hiking straps matter most to a racing or training buyer, while the outboard mount extends the hull’s usefulness as a tender. Beyond those, any electronics or sail-handling additions are owner retrofits rather than original spec.

What to Inspect

The known construction points are straightforward: confirm the fiberglass hull with wood trim and foam flotation is sound and that the polyurethane centerboard and rudder are not degraded. Verify the retractable centerboard and transom-hung rudder operate smoothly and that the self-bailing arrangement is intact. Check the bow dry-storage compartment for water intrusion and assess any factory options present, such as the outboard mount, for corrosion or stress.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

For a buyer, the short checklist is: confirm hull number within the 200-boat run, inspect polyurethane foils for wear, verify the hinged mast step if trailering is planned, and confirm the self-bailing hull and foam flotation are serviceable.