Weighing just 350 pounds and measuring 6 feet in beam, the Pintail was conceived as a family boat that could carry a household from children’s early sailing lessons through the more relaxed sailing of later life. It was also built to withstand the rough treatment an exuberant young crew can deliver.
Design and Construction
The Pintail has a deliberately full hull and generous freeboard. That volume allows it to carry a load of more than a thousand pounds while the boat itself weighs only about 350 pounds on the trailer.
The bottom is cored fiberglass, with extra reinforcement at every stress point, and the hardware is stainless steel throughout. The structure was intended to take punishment rather than require pampering.
A galvanized steel centerboard and painted aluminum rudder blade complete the underwater gear. The rudder blade hangs from a rugged cast-aluminum rudder stock and gudgeon plate, secured with half-inch pintles. It’s a no-nonsense small-boat build rather than that of a delicate racer.
Rig and Handling
The National Pintail Class Association describes rigging the Pintail as a one-person job that’s easy to master. The boat also launches with minimal effort—a useful quality in a 14-footer intended for frequent family sailing.
The fractional sloop rig carries 122 square feet of sail, with the mast standing 23 feet from keel to masthead. Once afloat, the Pintail shows just enough weather helm, but never too much. That balance keeps it manageable for novices without making it feel dead.
The kick-up centerboard operates with a simple pendant and cleat, and the kick-up rudder uses the same arrangement. Both can be raised for shallow-water sailing with no drag and quickly recovered after a grounding.
Cockpit and Storage
There’s enough clearance below the boom even for a tall sailor. The cockpit seats four adults upright, with plenty of legroom and 10 inches of back support for older sailors. In a good breeze, wide coamings give more adventurous crew members a place to sit out.
An extra-large dry-storage area under the foredeck provides useful space for family gear. A handsome wooden tiller with a comfortable feel rounds out a cockpit designed for practicality rather than luxury.
Stability, Dryness, and Draft
The full hull and generous freeboard make the Pintail exceptionally stable and dry. Importantly, the boat doesn’t depend on a bailing system to keep the interior dry—a meaningful point in a small daysailer that youngsters may flood if given the chance.
With the centerboard down, the Pintail draws 3 feet 9 inches. With it raised, draft falls to just 9 inches. The arrangement combines stability to weather with the ability to dry out on a ramp.
Auxiliary Power and Ownership
A built-in motor mount accepts a small outboard. More than one owner has also reported being very satisfied with an electric trolling motor, which moves the boat quite well and makes a tidy solution for a lightweight trailer-sailer.
During more than 20 years of production, the Pintail acquired several second- and even third-generation owners—a quiet testament to a simple family boat that people keep rather than trade.
The Verdict
The Pintail is a straightforward, overbuilt little daysailer that trades speed for tough, practical family utility. It’s easy to rig, dry in the cockpit, and stable enough for teaching. Its shallow-draft centerboard and kick-up rudder also make mistakes in shoal water more forgiving.
The cored bottom and stainless-steel hardware suggest longevity, though the boat’s small size limits anything beyond daysailing.
Pros
- Exceptionally stable and dry for a 14-foot daysailer, without relying on a bailer
- One-person rigging and quick centerboard and rudder handling in shallow water
- Cored fiberglass bottom, reinforced stress points, and stainless-steel hardware
- Four-adult cockpit with good back support and storage beneath the foredeck
Cons
- Only 350 pounds and 14 feet—strictly a daysailer, not a cruiser
- Modest sail area limits its performance ambitions
