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Mirror Dinghy Int
Designer: Bucknell & Holt  ·  Builder: Ameture And Professonal  ·  First built: 1965
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About the Mirror Dinghy Int

Originally designed by Jack Holt and Barry Bucknell in 1965, this compact dinghy has become one of sailing's most enduring success stories, with over 7,000 boats built across nearly six decades. The Mirror's distinctive gunter rig and hard chine hull design have made it a favorite among sailing schools and families worldwide. At just under 11 feet in length with a 69-square-foot sail plan, this lightweight 135-pound dinghy offers an ideal platform for learning to sail and recreational day sailing in protected waters. The dinghy's shallow 2.5-foot draft allows exploration of beaches, shallow bays, and inland waterways where larger boats cannot venture. Its moderate beam of 4.58 feet provides stability while remaining easily manageable for single-handed sailing. The boat's construction combines traditional wood with modern fiberglass reinforcement, creating a durable yet maintainable craft. Built by both amateur and professional boatbuilders, many Mirrors have been constructed from kits, fostering a strong community of owners who understand every aspect of their boats. The gunter rig simplifies rigging and reduces overall height for easier transport and storage, making this an excellent choice for sailors seeking an uncomplicated, reliable small boat for coastal day sailing and sailing instruction.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 10.83 ft / 3.30 m
Beam 4.58 ft / 1.40 m
Max Draft 2.50 ft / 0.76 m
Min Draft 0.50 ft / 0.15 m
Displacement 135.00 lb / 61 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 69.00 ft² / 6.41 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Dbrd. Dinghy
Rigging Type Gunter
Construction Wood/FG
Designer Bucknell & Holt
Builder Ameture and Professonal
First Built 1965
Number Built 7000
Associations Mirror Dinghy Int. (UK Mirror Class Association)
Related Sailboats Topper · Heron · Penguin · Europe International · Classic Moth
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For
High Hull/Deck
Amateur-built wooden Mirror hulls frequently suffer from rot at the butt joints of the ply panels, particularly at the bow and transom corners where the stitching wire holes were not properly sealed during construction. Inspect these joints carefully for soft spots and discoloration.
High Hull/Deck
The hard chine ply construction relies on epoxy or resin-filled stitch-and-glue seams; on older or amateur builds these seams can crack or delaminate, allowing water ingress into the ply core and subsequent rot. Tap along all chine seams and check for hollow sounds.
High Hull/Deck
The glassed-over plywood transom is prone to delamination and rot, especially around the outboard motor bracket cut-out and tiller pintles and gudgeons where water consistently pools and hardware fasteners allow moisture ingress.
High Hull/Deck
Buoyancy tanks (bow and stern) built into wooden Mirrors are sealed ply compartments that can develop leaks at the seams over time. A waterlogged buoyancy tank dramatically reduces capsize recovery ability and is a safety concern; tanks should be tested by pressurizing with a simple pump and checking for air loss.
Medium Hull/Deck
On fiberglass production Mirror hulls, the glasswork is very thin and light, and the hull can develop stress cracks or spider cracking around the centreboard case, which is a high-load area. Check the interior of the centreboard case for delamination or cracking.
Medium Hull/Deck
The distinctive red oxide paint finish on wooden Mirrors was often applied over poorly prepared or already-damp ply, trapping moisture. Boats that have been repeatedly repainted without stripping back should be probed for soft ply beneath the paint layers.
Medium Hull/Deck
Thwart and mast partner area on amateur builds is a common weak point; the mast compression loads are transmitted to the thwart and hull sides, and poor quality glassing or gusset installation leads to cracking or movement in this area.
Medium Rigging
The unstayed lateen-style balanced lug rig places significant repeated loading on the mast step and partner. On older boats the mast step block can work loose from the keel, particularly on amateur builds where bonding was minimal.
Medium Accommodations
The centreboard pivot bolt and the wooden centreboard itself are common maintenance items; the pivot pin corrodes or the wooden board swells, making it impossible to raise or lower. Check for free movement and inspect the pivot area for corrosion or splitting of the board.
Low Sails
Original Mirror sails used a distinctive red and white design with a specific sail number; many older boats carry heavily UV-degraded or patched sails that no longer hold their shape. Class legal sails are required for racing and should be verified against current Mirror class rules.

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Performance Ratios
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 77.26
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 2.82
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 4.07 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 0.9 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Classic Moth, Europe International, Heron, Penguin, Topper

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Mirror Dinghy Int ★
10.8 ft
Classic Moth
11.0 ft
Europe International
11.0 ft
Heron
11.3 ft
Penguin
11.4 ft
Topper
11.2 ft
Beam
Mirror Dinghy Int ★
4.6 ft
Classic Moth
5.0 ft
Europe International
4.4 ft
Heron
4.5 ft
Penguin
4.7 ft
Topper
3.9 ft
Displacement
Mirror Dinghy Int ★
135 lbs
Classic Moth
75 lbs
Europe International
99 lbs
Heron
140 lbs
Penguin
140 lbs
Topper
99 lbs
Sail Area
Mirror Dinghy Int ★
69 sq ft
Classic Moth
72 sq ft
Europe International
76 sq ft
Heron
70 sq ft
Penguin
—
Topper
—
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Mirror Dinghy Int ★
—
Classic Moth
64.8
Europe International
56.8
Heron
41.6
Penguin
—
Topper
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Mirror Dinghy Int ★
2.8
Classic Moth
—
Europe International
1.9
Heron
2.9
Penguin
2.7
Topper
2.5
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Mirror Dinghy Int ★
—
Classic Moth
4.74
Europe International
3.82
Heron
—
Penguin
—
Topper
—
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Mirror Dinghy Int ★
77
Classic Moth
—
Europe International
33
Heron
71
Penguin
68
Topper
51
Hull Speed
Mirror Dinghy Int ★
4.1 kts
Classic Moth
—
Europe International
4.4 kts
Heron
4.1 kts
Penguin
4.2 kts
Topper
4.1 kts
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