barnett butterfly sailboat parts

You have come to the source for Butterfly sailboats, Butterfly sailboat parts and information. Why? Jim has over 40 years of close association with the boat, the class, and the builders - not to mention his 12 National titles! This is the place to begin - and end- your search for anything you want, or want to know, about the Butterfly.

Looking for Parts, Sails, Accessories? click here!

Designed over 40 years ago as a mini-scow ("scow" refers to the shape of the hull), it has, like the other, larger scows, withstood the test of time and is still one of the very best small 1 to 2-person boats available. More comfortable to sail, with fewer specialized parts and pieces, and easy to sail, have made it one of the great simple designs of all time.

With plenty of room for 2, its a great kids boat to learn on and to develope skills to advanced levels - or to just have fun on the lake. For adults, it is easy to get comfortable in - one of the major problems with most boat this size - thanks to the deeper and roomier cockpit so you don't have to sail with you knees under you jaw. Iit is easy enough to sail that learning takes place fast.

And if racing is the goal, this boat shares with the other bigger scows the tradition of women sailing equally with men, but adds on it by making it possible for kids to sail equally with adults - all because there are no gimmicks or gadgets or special skills beyond simply being able to sail well.

With close to 11,000 built, this boat has succeeded in the marketplace by being a success on the water.

Its the ideal, simple, one-person recreational racing boat, or two-kid youth play, learn, or race boat.

C ontact us for availability and current pricing.

You might want to check out our Gear-->Dollies page.

We also offer Jim's own tiller extension , the right length, and with the right swivel connector that doesn't flip the extension away from you if you happen to let go. It is $60, you can find it on the Butterfly-->Parts page, which lists the Butterfly parts we normally stock.

All Ages Welcome! The ONLY small boat suitable for two kids or for single-handing by adults.

Northern Lake Sailboats

Specializing in the butterfly, northern lake sailboats - home of the butterfly sailboat. parts old style small lake racing one design, welcome, and thank you for visiting..

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The Butterfly

Why Sail a Butterfly?

Because it’s designed to do so many things so well. Large enough to accommodate several people. Fast enough for serious competition. Light enough for launching by one person. And virtually maintenance free. The Butterfly has a strong  National Organization  and holds annual National Championship regattas. From a cottage boat to serious one-design racer – the Butterfly does it all.

• Sail Secure
• Sail Easily
• Sail With Quality
• Sail Comfortably
• Sail Anywhere
• Sail "In Class"

The generous beam combined with 15 inch depth, keeps the boat quite dry and gives her additional capacity. A spray rail across the deck helps keep water out of the footwell.

In case you capsize, the Butterfly is swamp-proof because the footwell is molded into the deck, forming a completely airtight sealed hull. For added security there is enough foam inside the hull to float the boat and crew.

Easy handling and stability make the Butterfly ideal for young sailors. Many yacht clubs and camps use it as their junior training boat. With its large capacity and ample seating, it’s also a boat the entire family can enjoy together.

SPECIFICATIONS

Hull design : Scow sealed hull/deck with additional internal flotation Length : 12′ 2″ to extensions of rub rail; 11’11” LOA exclusive of rub rail Beam: 54″ Hull depth : 15″ Hull weight : 135 lbs. Crew capacity : 600 lbs. Sail area : 75 sq. ft. Mast length : 18′ Mast breaks into 2-9′ sections for travel/storage Nominal Draft : 26″ Designer : John Barnett Year First Built :1961 Builder : Windward Boat Works

A Brief History

Click here to read about the history of the Butterfly.

The Butterfly sailboat was designed in the early 1960’s and was put into production in 1961. It was designed to be a fun, lightweight, small lake version of the ILYA C-scow. It is one of the pioneers of One Design sailing, meaning in a racing situation, all of the boats are identical, so the race is truly a measure of the sailor’s ability.

The class today is virtually unchanged since 1962. Updates have improved only the overall quality of the boat, making new boats stronger and longer lasting than ever yet maintains the same level of performance. As such, the Butterfly is a regatta favorite and old boats and new alike sail together in the spirit of great competition.

Because of the Butterfly’s small size, light weight, and extreme durability, it is a very popular cottage and vacation boat. If you’re launching from a shoreline, it’s important to have a boat that can be easily handled, even by the kids – after all, there’s no point of buying a sailboat if it’s just too heavy and spends most of it’s life on a trailer.

The daggerboard and spring assisted rudder allow for the Butterfly to be launched and recovered from any sandy or grassy shoreline or off a trailer.

The stayed mast allows the sail to be raised and lowered. This feature allows the Butterfly sail to be easily hoisted – even by younger kids, and allows for the mast to remain on the boat when you’re taking a break or done sailing for the day. If it gets too windy on the water or a sailor needs to take a break, it’s an important safety feature to be able to lower the sail as needed. Many small sailboats do not enjoy this feature and have sails that fit over the mast and require removing the mast to take the sail down.

The Butterfly is a comfortable boat for the young, old, and everyone in between. The foot well is 15″ deep – much deeper than most boats in it’s size and weight class, allowing room for adults well over 6′ tall to sail comfortably.

The Butterfly is found on most vacation lakes, and is a popular youth training boat. Many youngsters have enjoyed their first sailing experience on the Butterfly. For a more complete history, visit the National Class Website history page.

Sail Colors

Instructions & maintenance, instructional videos.

Take your Butterfly sailing to the next level.

Telephone: 608.575.8033 W5302 Bend Road, Princeton, Wi 54968

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