Lake Union Swift
- Skill Level Pro-Kit
- Estimated Build Time 160 Hours
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Performance
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Overview
THIS IS A PRO-KIT
The Lake Union Swift is a 10'-long sailing dinghy that is a variant of our popular Tenderly Dinghy.
While Tenderly is optimized for all-around utility as, well, working as a tender, the Lake Union Swift is more of a pure sailing machine. The two designs share a hull shape, but are otherwise distinctly different designs. The prototype for this design was known as the "Tenderly XP." The Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle is currently building a fleet to use for sail training on Lake Union, and have given the design a much-better name, the Lake Union Swift.
Kits for the Lake Union Swift are available as a CLC ProKit, a format that is suitable for builders who have assembled a few stitch-and-glue boats already. The ProKit builder should be comfortable reading boat plans and have experience working with epoxy and fiberglass.
The Swift kit includes an illustrated builders guide that comprises 38 pages of detailed step-by-step diagrams. The sailing component kit includes a custom 17'-long aluminum Dwyer mast, shipped full-length, along with specialized hardware including goosenecks, aluminum spreaders, and spreader brackets. To learn more about CLC ProKits here.
Some background on this design:
Early on, it was noted that, quite aside from its admirable qualities as a yacht tender, the standard Tenderly is an unusually sprightly sailboat. Designer John C. Harris pondered whether a decked-in version with a taller rig and a bowsprit might make a fun daysailer, club-racer, or trainer.
One of the most obvious differences between Tenderly and the new design are the Lake Union Swift's structural bench seats, running most of the length of the boat. Without adding weight, the seats provide better ergonomics for sitting while under sail. The seats and forward deck enclose a vast watertight volume of built-in flotation. This allows for rapid recovery from a capsize, which is an event that could be more likely to occur with the sporty jib-headed sail plan.
While adding slightly to the building complexity, the Lake Union Swift's pivoting centerboard will be appreciated by anyone launching from, or sailing through, shallow water.
John Harris's original idea was for the Lake Union Swift to be sold as a purist's sailboat, great fun for knocking about bays and lakes with one or two adults, or an adult and a couple of kids. The additional strings of the jib-headed rig make that option fun for experienced sailors, and give beginners (and kids) more to do. With their shapely lapstrake hulls and bowsprits, a fleet of these racing around the buoys would be strikingly pretty to watch, and a barrel of fun for those aboard.
The first prototype was built at the WoodenBoat School in 2017. After a few test cycles refining the sloop rig, it was observed that the Tenderly Dinghy's lug rig was plug-and-play in the Lake Union Swift. They share a common mast step, and no modification is required. Et voilà! Suddenly the Lake Union Swift becomes the elusive small sailboat design WITH comfortable bench seating! For those whose knees no longer answer for sitting on the floorboards, a Lake Union Swift with the lug rig's simple, single sail is a perfect fit.
Since the Lake Union Swift and the Tenderly Dinghy are almost exactly the same weight, you get all of Tenderly's sparkling performance combined with the comfort and safety of bench seating. (If there's any doubt, check out the photos of the lug-rigged Lake Union Swift planing with a 185-pound crew aboard.)
Given watertight hatches in the tanks, the Lake Union Swift would work great as a small beach-cruiser. A thwart amidships supports the centerboard trunk and is sited for comfortable rowing when the wind dies or if you need to work yourself clear of the shoreline.
Questions will arise about the interchangeability of sailing components between the Tenderly Dinghy and the Lake Union Swift. The two designs share the same hull shape, rudder, and mast step. Otherwise everything is pulled from separate parts bins, and there are limits to what features can be shared.
Main Gallery
Line Drawings
Videos
Building a SAILBOAT in Just 6 Weeks!--XylaFoxlin
1 Lake Union Swift Build - July '22
11 Lake Union Swift Build - May '23
Frequently Asked Questions
Read the Review in 48North
Take One of our Boatbuilding Classes
We offer classes for many of the boats we sell. Teaching sites stretch from Maryland to Washington State and from Maine to California. Click here to find out more.
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