The Optimist has a pram hull, originally formed primarily from five pieces
of plywood. It was the biggest hull Clark Mills could make from two 4 ft
by 8 ft sheets. Just in front of a bulkhead, which partitions the boat
nearly in half, is the daggerboard case. Right behind it on the centerline
of
the
hull floor are attached a pulley and ratchet block. These anchor the sheet
and its pulley on the boom directly above. At the bow resides a thwart
to support the mast which passes through a hole in its centre to the mast
step
mounted on the centre line of the boat.
The single sail of the Optimist is sprit-rigged. Two battens stiffen the
leech. It is secured evenly with ties along the luff to the mast and along
the foot to the boom, pulled down tightly by a vang. The light, slim third
spar, the sprit, extends through a loop at the peak of the sail; the bottom
rests in the eye of a short cable or string which hangs along the front edge
of the mast. Raising and lowering the sprit and adjusting the boom vang allow
for adaptation of sail trim to a range of wind conditions. It is usually correct
to tighten the vang and sprit in heavy winds and loosen them in light winds.
As well as this, huge adjustments can be made to sail shape, due to all of
the ties running along the mast and boom.
The painter, a rope used for securing
a boat like a mooring line, is usually tied around the mast step.
Buoyancy bags are installed inboard along each side in the front half
of the boat and at the stern to add buoyancy in the event of capsizing. Originally designed in 1947, the Optimist Dinghy has become the world standard
as both the introductory junior trainer and a premier one design racing class.
It is the only sailboat designed specifically for children allowing them to
learn the essentials of sailing without danger or fear. It is also the biggest
and fastest growing racing class in the world with over 300,000 hulls built
worldwide. |
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best you can find. If within 30 days you find a better price,
we’ll refund the difference as a store credit. 
