Rebel 16 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

Drawing Diagram

Builder drawing

Hull type

Monohull · centerboard

Rig

Fractional Sloop

LOA

16.1' · 4.91 m

Displ.

700 lbs · 318 kg

First year

1948

The Rebel 16 holds a singular place in maritime history as one of the first production sailboats ever constructed of fiberglass. Originally designed by Ray Greene in the late 1940s, the model became a cornerstone of the postwar recreational sailing boom. Its transition to Nickels Boat Works—and eventually into the WindRider International portfolio—ensured that this 16foot dinghy remained in production for over half a century. The vessel is defined by its hardchine hull, which provides exceptional initial stability compared to the roundbottom dinghies of its era, making it a perennial favorite for family daysailing and clublevel onedesign racing. While the design has seen minor refinements in deck layout and rigging over the decades to accommodate modern hardware, the fundamental hull shape has remained untouched to preserve the integrity of its competitive class.