Acorn Skiff (11'9)
Description
The Acorn Skiff 11'9" (also sometimes referred to as the 11'8" Acorn in design evolutions but standardized as 11'9" in plans) is a classic, elegant small boat designed by renowned naval architect Iain Oughtred. It's primarily a rowing skiff with excellent sailing capabilities, inspired by traditional Whitehall designs. Known for its lightweight construction, slippery hull, and beautiful lines, it's ideal for solo or light tandem use on calm waters like rivers, lakes, or coastal areas. The boat emphasizes simplicity, low windage, and ease of handling, making it a favorite among amateur builders and enthusiasts of glued-lapstrake plywood boats. No lofting (full-scale drawing) is required for construction, which lowers the barrier for builders with basic to intermediate woodworking skills. This design evolved from Oughtred's earlier work, starting with a 7'10" dinghy, refined into the 11'9" version for better rowing and sailing balance, and later stretched to a 13' variant by spacing molds wider. It's often praised as a "sweet-lined, slippery little jewel" that's light enough for easy transport but robust for occasional rough handling.
The standard boat dimensions
| i | - |
|---|---|
| j | - |
| p | - |
| e | - |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
Blueprints
Sails
| Sail Type | LEG-O-MUTTON |
|---|---|
| Luff | 12.75 ft - (3886 mm) |
| Foot | 7.5 ft - (2286 mm) |
| Leech | * 12.83 ft - (3911 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 74.26 ° |
| Diag (clew/head) | 12.92 ft - (3938 mm) |
| Head (Inches) | 1.75 |
| Area | * 46.76 ft² |
| Sail Type | LUGSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 5.625 ft - (1715 mm) |
| Foot | 6.292 ft - (1918 mm) |
| Leech | 10.92 ft - (3328 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 90.83 ° |
| Diag (clew/throat) | 8.5 ft - (2591 mm) |
| Head | 7.25 ft - (2210 mm) |
| Area | * 48.47 ft² |
| Sail Type | LUGSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 5.17 ft - (1576 mm) |
| Foot | 6.58 ft - (2006 mm) |
| Leech | 10.92 ft - (3328 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 84.92 ° |
| Diag (clew/throat) | 8.42 ft - (2566 mm) |
| Head | 7.25 ft - (2210 mm) |
| Area | * 47.51 ft² |
| Sail Type | SPRIT |
|---|---|
| Luff | 6.58 ft - (2006 mm) |
| Foot | 6.42 ft - (1957 mm) |
| Leech | 9.75 ft - (2972 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 83.65 ° |
| Diag (clew/throat) | 8.67 ft - (2643 mm) |
| Head | 6.083 ft - (1854 mm) |
| Area | * 47.01 ft² |
| Sail Type | SPRIT |
|---|---|
| Luff | 6.83 ft - (2082 mm) |
| Foot | 6.58 ft - (2006 mm) |
| Leech | 9.5 ft - (2896 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 73.22 ° |
| Diag (clew/throat) | 8.67 ft - (2643 mm) |
| Head | 4.83 ft - (1472 mm) |
| Area | * 43 ft² |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite.