- C-Lark
Infobox Sailboat Specifications
caption = A C-Lark (background)
class_symbol =
numberofcrew = 2
loa = convert|14|ft|m|abbr=on
lwl =
beam = convert|5|ft|9.5|in|m|abbr=on
draft = convert|4|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on
hull = convert|275|lb|abbr=on
mainsailandjib= convert|133|sqft|m2|abbr=on
mastheight =
mainsail =
jib =
spinnaker =
dpn =
phrf =
portsmouth =
updated =
currentoly =
formerolympic = The C-Lark 14 is a small and fast racingdinghy designed and first produced in the mid 1960's. They were manufactured by theClark Boat Company ofSeattle (the same company that produced the popular San Juan sailboats) and were meant to be Bob Clark's version of theinternational 14 . C-Larks look like a Thistlesailboat , only they are three feet shorter and have a closed instead of anopen bow . They aresloop rigged with ajib and amainsail and can fly aspinnaker . They are very versatile boats and can be sailed by one person, or can fit up to four people in the large opencockpit . The pivotingaluminum centerboard draws about four and a half feet of water when locked in the down position, with a kick uprudder C-Larks are very easy boats to sail on and off of abeach . Aside from making excellent training boats C-Larks can perform and keep up with many modern race dinghies. The C-Lark andLaser Radial share a nearly identical rating according to theirPortsmouth handicap . A C-Lark carries more sail area (about 130 square feet) than other boats of similar size like a Snipe or aFlying Junior . In 15knots of air they will begin to plane quite easily (if sailed properly) reaching speeds of 10+ knots in heavy air, and in light wind the plumb bow and sleek lines help the boat glide effortlessly across the water. C-Larks are very sea worthy little boats and can sail with little discomfort in convert|25|kn|km/h of breeze by two people of average size hiked out under the boat'shiking straps . In a stiff breeze these are very fast and exciting little boats. In their heyday there were not many small boats that were faster than a C-Lark. One weakness is that they do have a tendency to turtle rather quickly once capsized, yet the 300 pound boat can be popped back up relatively easily by an average size skipper, just be prepared for a lot of bailing since the open cockpit design holds a lot of water. C-Larks were once a very competitive one-design class raced across the country, but now many of the boats have fallen into disrepair, with most of the surviving ones concentrated in thePacific Northwest . There are active racing fleets at thePeninsula Sailing Club (nearPoulsbo, Washington ) [ [http://www.peninsulasailingclub.org Peninsula Sailing Club ] ] and onLake Chelan in Washington as well. Despite their age these boats are still a lot of fun and can usually be found for under $1500. Their dimensions and weight make them easy to trailer, even behind a small car, and easy to enjoy in a variety of ways.References
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