Tech Dinghy

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Tech Dinghy

T

Class symbol
Development
DesignerGeorge Owen
LocationUnited States
Year1935
Builder(s)Herreshoff Manufacturing, Beetle Boat Co., Paceship Yachts, Whitecap Composites
RoleSailing dinghy
NameTech Dinghy
Boat
Displacement250 lb (113 kg)
Draft2.00 ft (0.61 m) with centerboard down
Hull
TypeMonohull
ConstructionWood or fiberglass
LOA12.00 ft (3.66 m)
Beam4.67 ft (1.42 m)
Hull appendages
Keel/board typecenterboard
Rudder(s)transom-mounted rudder
Rig
Rig typecatboat rig or Bermuda rig
Sails
SailplanFractional rigged sloop Masthead sloop
Total sail area72.00 sq ft (6.689 m2)
Racing
D-PN111.2

[edit on Wikidata]

The Tech Dinghy is an American sailing dinghy that was designed by George Owen, a professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), as a one-design racer and for sail training. It was first built in 1935.[1][2][3]The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is known for its groundbreaking study and new ideas in many areas of science and engineering. However, the school has a long history that goes beyond its labs and classrooms. The Tech Dinghy, a sailboat that has become a symbol of MIT’s maritime culture and the school’s sailing program, is one of the most interesting and long-lasting parts of this past.[4]

The Tech Dinghy design was later developed into the Intercollegiate dinghy by Paceship Yachts.[1][5]

Production[edit]

George Owen was a professor at MIT's Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering between 1915 and 1941, designing more than 200 sailing boats and commercial ships. He was also a competitive sailor and conceived the Tech Dinghy for student competitive sailing at MIT in the Charles River, which is adjacent to the MIT campus.[1][2]The early 1930s, when the Tech Dinghy was being thought up, leisure sailing was becoming more popular in the United States.[6]

The design was first constructed from wood by Herreshoff Manufacturing in the United States, starting in 1935.[1][3][7]Professor Owen focused on making the boat stable, easy to handle, and long-lasting, all of which were important for a teaching boat. Wood was used to build the body, and the rigging was simple so that it was easy to fix and maintain. With the centerboard down, the Tech Dinghy was 12 feet long, 4 feet wide, and had a draft of about 2 feet. It had only one sail, which was a simple but effective design that made it perfect for teaching people how to sail.[8]

The design was next built by the Beetle Boat Co in New Bedford, Massachusetts. In 1958 the company started building them from fiberglass instead of wood, one of the first boats to use the then-new material.[1][9]This change was a big step forward in the design of the boat because fiberglass construction made it possible to make the hull shapes more precise and the finishes smoother, which made sailing more enjoyable.[10]

The design was also constructed in Canada, by Paceship Yachts of Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, although they went out of business in 1981 and production had ceased by that time. This manufacturer created the Intercollegiate dinghy, based upon the Tech Dinghy for use in racing between universities.[5]

The boat has gone through several redesigns over time, including being modified for sailing in rougher conditions in the Midwestern United States. In the 1970s it was modified by Halsey Herreshoff working with the MIT sailing director, Hatch Brown. This version made the boat faster, less prone to ship water and more forgiving to sail for beginners.[1][3]

The sixth version of the boat, marketed as the Turbo Tech, was drawn by Penn Edmonds during the early 1990s and is 100 lb (45 kg) lighter than the previous generation. This version is now produced by the current builder, Whitecap Composites of Peabody, Massachusetts.[11][12]

Sailing Program at MIT[edit]

MIT’s sailing school is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the United States. The Tech Dinghy is the main boat used in the program. The program gives students, teachers, and staff a lot of training and chances to compete. These events take place around the MIT Sailing Pavilion on the Charles River, which has a group of Tech Dinghies and other sailboats available for use.[13]

MIT’s sailing school is known for putting a lot of emphasis on technical skill and hands-on learning. It is promoted for students to sail for fun and in races against other students. The school teaches students about sailing theory, how to handle a boat, and how to race, with a strong focus on safety and good manners. The Tech Dinghy is a great way for sailors to improve their skills and trust on the water because it is built to last and is designed to be forgiving.[14]

Being competitive and having an effect on culture[edit]

The Tech Dinghy is a big reason why MIT has done so well in college sailing events. Many national championships have been won by the Institute’s sailing teams, and many Olympic and America’s Cup pilots have come from those teams. The Tech Dinghy’s dependability and versatility have been very important in training these professional sailors and giving them a strong foundation in the basics of sailing.[15]

In addition to its success in competition, the Tech Dinghy has had a huge effect on the culture of the MIT community. Innovation, hands-on learning, and perseverance are all important to the Institute. For many MIT students and graduates, learning to sail in a Tech Dinghy is an important part of their education. It brings people together and connects them to the Institute’s maritime history.[16]

Design[edit]

The Tech Dinghy is a recreational sailboat, built predominantly of wood or, in later versions, from fiberglass. The sixth generation boats are made from infused vinylester over a Core-Cell foam core, with an inner carbon fiber skin, for improved durability.[1][3][12]

The boat has a fractional sloop rig or catboat single sail rig, with the mast repositionable on different mast steps for either configuration. The spars are aluminum. It features a spooned raked stem, an over-vertical transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a retractable, lever-controlled centerboard. The hull alone displaces 250 lb (113 kg).[1][3][12]

The boat has a draft of 2.00 ft (0.61 m) with the centerboard extended and 3 in (7.6 cm) with it retracted, allowing beaching or ground transportation on a trailer.[1]

For sailing the design is equipped with a mainsheet traveler, a boom vang and an outhaul. The vang is led to the mast step casting.[3]

The design has a Portsmouth Yardstick racing average handicap of 111.2, noted as "suspect". It is normally raced as a sloop, with a crew of two sailors.[3][12]

Operational history[edit]

MIT has sold off their older wooden boats and some of these are now sailed privately.[3]

It was reported in 1994 that some of the original wooden 1935 boats still existed and were still in use, even though almost 65 years old at that point.[3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Tech Dinghy sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b McArthur, Bruce (2020). "George Owen". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Sherwood, Richard M.: A Field Guide to Sailboats of North America, Second Edition, pages 20-21. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994. ISBN 0-395-65239-1
  4. ^ "The Tech Dinghy A Nautical Legacy at MIT - Tech Splle". 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Paceship Yachts Ltd". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  6. ^ "The Tech Dinghy A Nautical Legacy at MIT - Tech Splle". 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  7. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Herreshoff Mfg. Co". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  8. ^ "The Tech Dinghy A Nautical Legacy at MIT - Tech Splle". 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  9. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Beetle Boat Co". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  10. ^ "The Tech Dinghy A Nautical Legacy at MIT - Tech Splle". 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  11. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Whitecap Composites (USA)". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  12. ^ a b c d Whitecapt Composites. "Turbo Tech Dinghy". whitecapcomposites.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  13. ^ "The Tech Dinghy A Nautical Legacy at MIT - Tech Splle". 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  14. ^ "The Tech Dinghy A Nautical Legacy at MIT - Tech Splle". 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  15. ^ "The Tech Dinghy A Nautical Legacy at MIT - Tech Splle". 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  16. ^ "The Tech Dinghy A Nautical Legacy at MIT - Tech Splle". 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.

External links[edit]

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