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Pintail
Designer: F. S. Ford  ·  Builder: Anchor Reinforced Plastics/Mfg Sailboats (Usa)  ·  First built: 1967
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About the Pintail

Designed by F. S. Ford in 1967, the Pintail represents a classic era of small boat sailing when simplicity and affordability were paramount. This 14-foot centerboard dinghy was manufactured by Anchor Reinforced Plastics as an accessible entry point into sailing, with approximately 1,800 hulls produced during its production run. Built with fiberglass construction and rigged as a fractional sloop, the Pintail offers straightforward sailing characteristics that make it ideal for learning and recreational day sailing. Its relatively light 400-pound displacement and modest sail area create a forgiving platform for novice sailors, while the centerboard configuration allows for easy launching from beaches and shallow water exploration. The boat's proportions suggest it was optimized for stability and ease of handling rather than pure performance. With its comfortable beam and reasonable draft when the centerboard is deployed, the Pintail provides sufficient initial stability for family sailing while remaining simple enough for single-handed operation. The design reflects the practical sailing dinghies of its era—unpretentious boats that prioritized getting people on the water affordably. Today, the Pintail serves as an excellent choice for sailing instruction, casual day sailing in protected waters, or as a tender for larger vessels.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 12.80 ft / 3.90 m
Beam 6.00 ft / 1.83 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Min Draft 0.50 ft / 0.15 m
Displacement 400.00 lb / 181 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 122.00 ft² / 11.33 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer F. S. Ford
Builder Anchor Reinforced Plastics/MFG Sailboats (USA)
First Built 1967
Number Built 1800
Associations MFG Sailboats
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 36
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
 85.15
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
 4.31
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 3.26
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. 4.79 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. 274.41 pounds/inch
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