Boston Whaler Squall
Description
The Boston Whaler Squall is a compact fiberglass sailing dinghy introduced in 1965 by Boston Whaler (USA), designed by naval architect Hermann G. Chapelle. As one of the company's earliest forays into sailboats (predating the Harpoon series), it's a lightweight, versatile centerboard daysailer optimized for recreational use, training, or as a tender on lakes, ponds, or sheltered coastal waters. The Squall's round-bottom hull (unlike the flat-bottomed power Whalers) provides smoother sailing, while its foam-core construction ensures unsinkability—a signature Whaler feature. Available with Marconi (Bermudan) cat rig standard, plus optional sliding gunter or lateen rigs, it was marketed for simplicity and portability, with production running until 1985 (around 1,000+ units built). Today, it's a collectible vintage favorite, often praised for its durability and charm, though its round hull can feel rolly compared to modern flat-bottom designs. At under 10 feet, the Squall is ideal for solo or duo use, with quick rigging and shallow draft for beaching. Owners highlight its towing stability as a tender and ability to float level when swamped, as famously shown in 1960s brochures with overloaded examples.
Construction Details
| Designer | Hermann G. Chapelle |
|---|---|
| Builder | Boston Whaler |
| Notes | Note that there are three "blueprints" detailing the Bermuda, Lateen, and Gunter rig types for which the factory provides specifications. |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | - |
|---|---|
| j | - |
| p | 13.58 ft |
| e | 7.50 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | 13.58 ft | 7.50 ft | - | - | - | - |
Blueprints
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 13.58 ft - (4139 mm) |
| Foot | * 7.01 ft - (2137 mm) |
| Leech | 14.67 ft - (4471 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 84.46 ° |
| Diagonal | * 14.67 ft - (4471 mm) |
| Head (inches) | 1 in - (25 mm) |
| Area | * 48.001 ft² |
| Sail Type | GUNTER |
|---|---|
| Luff | 6.42 ft - (1957 mm) |
| Foot | 8.33 ft - (2539 mm) |
| Leech | * 16.09 ft - (4904 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diag (clew/throat) | * 10.34 ft - (3152 mm) |
| Head | 8.33 ft - (2539 mm) |
| Area | * 61.03 ft² |
| Sail Type | LATEEN |
|---|---|
| Luff | 13 ft - (3962 mm) |
| Foot | 11.167 ft - (3404 mm) |
| Leech | 13.58 ft - (4139 mm) |
| Tack Ang | * 67.89 ° |
| Area | * 67.25 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. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.