Development | |
---|---|
Designer | Frank Meldau |
Location | United States |
Year | 1962 |
No. built | 710 |
Builder(s) | Fiberglass Unlimited |
Role | One-design racer |
Name | Isotope |
Boat | |
Crew | one |
Displacement | 275 lb (125 kg) |
Draft | 2.50 ft (0.76 m) with the centerboards down |
Hull | |
Type | Catamaran |
Construction | Fiberglass |
LOA | 16.00 ft (4.88 m) |
Beam | 7.50 ft (2.29 m) |
Hull appendages | |
Keel/board type | twin centerboards |
Rudder(s) | transom-mounted rudders |
Rig | |
Rig type | Bermuda rig |
Sails | |
Sailplan | Fractional rigged sloop |
Mainsail area | 140 sq ft (13 m2) |
Jib/genoa area | 45 sq ft (4.2 m2) |
Total sail area | 185 sq ft (17.2 m2) |
Racing | |
D-PN | 74.0 |
The Isotope is an American catamaran sailing dinghy that was designed by Frank Meldau as a one-design racer and first built in 1962.[1][2]
The design is the larger stablemate of the Cheshire 14 catamaran.[2]
The design is built by Fiberglass Unlimited (now called Custom Fiberglass International) in Wake Forest, North Carolina, United States. A total of 710 have been built and the design remains in production.[1][2][3][4]
The Isotope is a recreational sailboat, built predominantly of fiberglass. It has a fractional sloop rig, with aluminum spars, a sealed rotating mast and fully battened mainsail, with eight ash wood or fiberglass battens. The hulls have spooned raked stems, vertical transoms, transom-hung, kick-up rudders controlled by a tiller and retractable, self-tending centerboards. The hulls are joined with three cross-members. There are two stowage compartments, with hatches. The boat displaces 275 lb (125 kg) and has flotation for positive buoyancy, plus a righting bar.[1][2][4]
The boat has a draft of 2.50 ft (0.76 m) with the centerboards extended and 6 in (15 cm) with them retracted, allowing beaching or ground transportation on a trailer.[1]
For sailing the design may be equipped with options such as a mast limiter, roller furling jib and a trapeze.[2][4]
The design has a Portsmouth Yardstick racing average handicap of 74.0. It is normally raced with a crew of one sailor although it can carry three people.[2]
In a 1994 review Richard Sherwood wrote, "sister to the Cheshire, the Isotope is two feet longer and five Portsmouth numbers faster."[2]
Related development