Design Brief & Intent
George Marzin conceived the Super Tiki as a dedicated double-handed racing dinghy during a period of fierce competition among French boat builders. While rivals aimed to secure massive government contracts for sailing schools with conservative, forgiving designs, S.P.B.I. targeted competitive private owners and yacht clubs looking for a higher tier of performance.
The hull is immediately recognizable by its heavily flared topsides and wide, flat-topped gunwales. This distinctive geometry was not merely aesthetic; it acted as integrated hiking wings, giving the crew significantly more leverage to keep the boat flat without the added complexity of a full skiff rack. The cockpit is intentionally spartan, designed to minimize weight and maximize crew movement. Structural focus was placed on speed, featuring built-in forward spinnaker launching compartments to allow rapid, clean hoists during tight regatta turnarounds.
Variations & Configurations
The Super Tiki was the largest and most powerful member of S.P.B.I.’s specialized "Tiki" lineup, which also included the smaller Mini Tiki and the standard Tiki. Measuring 16.01 feet overall with a 6.5-foot beam, the Super Tiki was optimized for a crew of two.
Its rig is a fractional sloop, which utilizes a shorter forestay to allow more flexible mast-bend control and easier headsail handling. The boat’s underbody features a pivotable centerboard rather than a daggerboard, allowing the draft to vary from a shallow 0.40 feet with the board retracted to a deep, high-aspect 4.0 feet when fully deployed. This swing-keel design allowed for effortless beach launches and safe sailing in shallow coastal bays, while still providing the high-aspect-ratio lift needed to claw to windward during closed-course racing.
Sailing Performance & Handling
On the water, the Super Tiki is defined by its extreme lightness and power. Boasting an incredibly high sail area to displacement ratio of 63.25, the boat carries 172 square feet of sail on a hull that weighs only 287 pounds. This ultra-light displacement-to-length ratio of 38.04 ensures that the Super Tiki acts as a pure planing hull, popping up onto a plane on almost any point of sail with just a moderate breeze.
However, this responsiveness comes at the cost of stability. A capsize screening ratio of 3.94 indicates a highly reactive hull that can easily roll over if the crew is inattentive, while its low comfort ratio of 2.39 promises a bouncy, energetic ride that transmits every wave and gust directly to the helm. The helm itself is feather-light and highly communicative. When sailing downwind under spinnaker, the flared hull design provides excellent dynamic lift, preventing the bow from burying and allowing the boat to reach speeds that easily outpaced conventional dinghies of its era.
Known Issues & Triage
Like many early fiberglass composites constructed during the 1960s and 1970s, the Super Tiki suffers from age-related structural vulnerabilities. Chief among these is deck and hull delamination, particularly in the double-bottom cockpit floor where crew weight and movement cause high point loads. Over decades of use, the internal foam core can break down or become waterlogged if the drainage fittings and inspection ports are not meticulously sealed, dramatically increasing the hull weight and ruining its planing performance.
Another serious mechanical reality of this class is mast-step compression. Because competitive crews often attempt to rake the mast or over-tension the shroud lines to improve upwind pointing, the deck and mast step are subjected to massive downward forces. Without aftermarket reinforcement, this compression can flex the hull, leading to severe gelcoat cracking around the chainplates and permanent deformation of the hull shape. Buyers should also inspect the centerboard trunk for structural cracks and examine the gudgeons on the transom, as the high rudder loads generated in heavy air can cause the surrounding fiberglass to fatigue and fail.
Market Snapshot & Economics
The Super Tiki is a true vintage classic that today occupies a highly niche corner of the brokerage market. Because S.P.B.I. ceased production in 1980, surviving examples are increasingly scarce and are almost exclusively found in France, Switzerland, and Italy, where they are cherished on alpine lakes. They command very little monetary premium, often trading hands at a value price point as retro restoration projects or casual club playboats.
The economics of owning a Super Tiki are highly favorable for a DIY-minded sailor, as the boat requires no expensive onboard electronics or mechanical propulsion systems. Refit costs are generally limited to cosmetic gelcoat repairs, replacing running rigging, and purchasing new sails. Notably, specialized French marine suppliers still manufacture fitted top covers and replacement sails specifically patterned for the Super Tiki, meaning that parts support remains surprisingly viable for European owners.
The Verdict
The Super Tiki remains a fascinating artifact of French naval architecture from the golden era of dinghy racing. For the modern enthusiast, it offers a beautifully styled, retro sailing experience that combines the kinetic excitement of a modern skiff with the classic lines of a mid-century European design. While its demanding handling and susceptibility to structural fatigue make it unsuitable for casual beginners, its historical charm, pure planing performance, and clever ergonomics make it a rewarding classic to restore and sail.
Pros:
- Extremely fast and responsive with exceptional light-wind planing capabilities.
- Flared hull sides act as integrated hiking wings for comfortable weight placement and maximum righting moment.
- Pivotable centerboard enables easy beaching, trailering, and shallow-water sailing.
- A rare, aesthetically unique classic that stands out in any vintage fleet.
Cons:
- Highly reactive and prone to capsize in the hands of an inexperienced crew.
- Structural design is prone to core delamination and water retention in the double bottom.
- Mast step and hull are vulnerable to deformation under high rig tension.
- Original parts and specialized deck covers can be difficult to source outside of Europe.
