Most successful daysailor ever?

Hello,
What have been the most successful small sailing boat designs ever? By successful I mean number of boats built, and by small, I mean less than about 25ft or so.
Just interested in what boats make buyers tick.
Matt

 

Most successful by numbers would probably be;

Dinghys,

1 Optimist pram

2 Sunfish

Cruisers,

1 Catalina 22

As for homebuilts, I have no idea.

 

Dyer Dhow
Mirror Dinghy

Separate category:

Snipe
Blue Jay
Lightning

 

I beleive the fastest selling dinghy was the Escape Captiva, which went into production in 1996, sold over 21,000 examples in its first two years.

That is why Escape Boats were billed as the "the best selling sailboats in the world".

 

the J24, a great boat

 

Could you throw the Javalin style into that mix?

 

I think you'll find the Laser is the best-seller to date.

No numbers on hand to back that up, but it sticks in the mind.

Now, whether you could class that as a "daysailer" is another question....

Steve

 

Here are some Sailing World numbers from 1998;

Take with a grain of salt, in no particular order;

Intl. Optimist 400,000 (Clark Mills, 1947)
9' Dyer Dhow 9,450
Intl. Mirror 70,000+ (Bucknell & Holt, 1965)
Intl. Enterprise 23,000 (Holt, 1958)
Intl. Sunfish 250,000 (Bryan & Heyriger, 1962)
Intl. Laser 150,000 (Kirby, 1970)
Force 5 12,500 (Scott & Evens, 1972)
Intl. Snipe 30,000 (Crosby, 1931)
Fireball 14,500 (Milne )
Lighting 14,800+ (S&S, 1938)
Flying Dutchman 10,000 (Van Essen, 1952)
Tornado 3900 (March/Pearce/White, 1966)
Catalina 22 15,350 (1969)
Star 7895 (Sweisguth, 1911)
J/24 5200 (Johnstone, 1975)
Thunderbird 1250 (Seaborn, 1958)
Dragon 5000+ (Anker, 1929)
IOD 256 (Aas, 1936)

All the best, Tad

 

Argh, Tad, you had to go and mess things up with numbers, didn't you?

I'm always amazed by the popularity of the Oppie. Horrible little boats.... I did all my learning in a Cadet. Tippy (wouldn't stay upright on a mooring or at anchor), slow, no cleats allowed, but had a jib and a real spinnaker (a grand 10 sq.ft IIRC) and forved you to stay awake.

Don't miss it a bit.

Steve

 

Steve,

I take it you have never seen a group of 8 year olds out on their own in Opti's, happily scooting around, bumping into each other and learning where the wind is blowing from.

There are certainly better boats, but not for kids.

 

Tom.
I have seen them by the hundreds, and I have noticed the smiles. I also know that they are young enough to be blissfully unaware of the fact that it is possible to design a small boat that is good to learn in, easy to sail, and GOOD LOOKING to boot! (Sorry for shouting...)
When I said "horrible little boats" I was not referring to their projrected use, but their looks. And why teach kids to sail with a sprit rig? It will be the only time they ever see it, and it leaves them underprepared for a bermudan rig when they get there.
Steve "in curmudgeon mode today"

 

Cruisers

What about less race boat, and more cruiser, in the 18-25ft bracket, with a cabin?
Matt

 

What, you mean to say people use boats for Cruising??!...

I know its a little off topic, but the P Class (NZ) is a superb race/trainer boat for little puppies, AND its good looking.

Actually, I think the Hartley 18 (mostly home built) would be one of the most popular small cruisers downunder, or maybe the Nolex 25 (production boat).

RobT

 

Steve

I believe you really are in "curmudgeon mood" today. Not to flog a dead horse, but I also have no love for ugly boats. However, I'd reserve that title for things like 2-story Bucaneers, many of the modern chlorox bottles and assorted Bolger boxes. We will just have to dissagree about the visual aspect of the little Opti.

Now, I really have a problem with a slam on the sprit rig. Not a pure racing rig to be sure but so practical, so easy to handle, so simple and so economical. My kids learned their ropes in the Opti and one son went on to to the Sunfish, Laser, Windmill and 49er. Didn't seem to stunt his sailing growth as we have trouble finding space for the trophys. At my "Past prime" sailing age, I find the unstayed mast, cat-ketch, sprit-boom rig to be a lost treasure rediscovered. Simplest rig imaginable and gives up little in performance to the marconi sloop.

Peace and cheer,

 

What could be less racy than the aforementioned Catalina 22? It's so far out in front on numbers that it's hard to imagine what's in second place.

Trying to pick a cabin boat under 20' is difficult. Here in the NE it's probably the Rhodes (O'Day, Stuart) Mariner. Worldwide, even USA-wide, I have no idea.

By the way, does anyone know who actually designed the 22' Rhodes Continental? I refuse to believe it was Mr. Rhodes, himself.