What advantage does McLaughlin Optimist Sailboat offer a youth sailing program?

McLaughlin has been a United States Optimist sailboat builder for more than thirty-five years. High quality and durable sailboats (Snipe, Windmill, Lightning, Daysailer etc.) are our business.

THE ONLY OPTIMIST SAILBOAT BUILT IN THE USA

We are a company with a reputation and we work very hard every day to help grow the sport in the USA. Our management team is accessible and can be held accountable.

Our factory is state of the art. Every day, we work hard to constantly refine and upgrade our processes to ensure the highest level of productivity and quality.

Because we are in the USA, we have access to the best materials in the world. These materials are both consistent and proven. We have a very high level of quality control with our state-of-the-art inventory management system.

THE DIFFERENCE IN DESIGN

It has been a long time since an independent study of all Optimist sailboat manufactures was conducted. When PRACTICAL SAILOR did their study, McLaughlin achieved the distinction of being the best.

This ensures that it will survive a dismasting or failed capsize recovery better than any Optimist sailboat built.

If there is any repair that might warrant retiring a boat, it’s when the mast step fails. Not only does the repair require special tools, it is a very difficult repair.

Our mast step is secured with special machine screws and a space age methacrylate adhesive to assure it never breaks free. No builder uses a better system to ensure that the mast step will be solid for as long as the boat is used.

The builder’s plans for the IOD95 hull require the hull to be hand laid. This means the laminator must be skilled and take the time to eliminate voids.

Our current laminator has built over 10,000 hulls! In addition to his expertise, we back our white surface gelcoat with a thin layer of black gelcoat so he can see voids.

This assures the technician sees and eliminates voids and builds a stronger laminate. Only the finest builders use this technique.

As with many sailboat designs, the hull to deck joint of the Optimist defines the gunwale of the boat. In the event of a collision, this is often the area that sees the most stress.

In order to minimize the chance of delimitation, we use methacrylate adhesives. These adhesives make glass-to-glass bond lines stronger than the substrate.

Other builders might use polyester putties, which are not as strong as the glass being bonded together and often fail.

The Optimist class allows the glass to be overlapped at the corners of the boat. McLaughlin takes full advantage of this to build a stronger boat.

Our corners are the thickest and strongest in the industry. This allows our hulls to be stiff yet balanced at the same time.

McLaughlin uses a custom biaxial glass with a 45 X 45 degree fiber orientation to build the most durable boat in the World. This material is produced to McLaughlin’s specifications.

Some competitors built boats with just matted cloth or with a 0 – 90 biaxial. These weaves, which are available off the shelf, are 50 percent less effective in preventing twist. Hull twist is a major factor in boat deterioration over time.

All McLaughlin hulls stay in the mold a minimum of 48 hours. Most other manufacturers pull the boat after 24 hours. This ensures that the laminate will be fully cured for maximum strength and fairness.

MCLAUGHLIN IS ACKNOWLEDGED AS THE FASTEST OPTIMIST IN THE WORLD

This might not interest a youth sailing program, but a fast hull needs to be a strong hull.

McLaughlin Optimist boats, when going head to head with the best in the world, have beaten them soundly. We only build every hull as if it was going to be sailed at a World Championship. The “racing” hull that won the worlds is the same that will go to a sailing program just like yours.

The detail finish of the McLaughlin Optimist sailboat is recognized the world over as the best. Place one beside any other Optimist and you can clearly see it!

Larger size air flotation bags with long inflation tubes and properly sized straps are standard. After capsizing the large air bags allow the boat to float higher with less water inside.

Even the detail of the straps clamped facing outward help hold the bag closer to the hull side, again, floating the boat higher for less bailing. This is all a McLaughlin exclusive!

The dagger board shock cord has been routed to leave the forward cockpit unobstructed for boarding and seating for a second youngster. Some builders use a different system that will prevent a sailor from sitting forward of the midship frame.

THE OPTIMIST IS OUR PASSION AND OUR LIFE

The staff at McLaughlin Manufacturing is dedicated to the Optimist and youth sailing. Far more than any other company, we support the United States Optimist Dinghy Association with our manpower, imagination, and funds.

A FEW EXAMPLES OF HOW WE SUPPORT JUNIOR SAILING

• We have donated the winning boats from the 2004 and 2002 World Championship to the class as prizes in their annual membership drive.
• Annually, we contribute thousands of dollars worth of merchandise and certificates to fund raisers and regattas.
• McLaughlin built and donated the measurement tools used at all USODA class events.
• When Hurricane Fabian hit Bermuda, grounding 30 of their Optimists, Steve Sherman, the President of McLaughlin, flew over and repaired the boats at no cost. In addition, he runs “Gelcoat Repair” clinics to help educate parents at USODA events as well as his do “on the spot” repairs for anyone regardless of boat manufacturer at events.
• We have supplied the Optimist sailboats and coach boats to the last 10 North American championships and 3 World Championships.
• We travel to and support more junior sailing events in Canada, Mexico, USA and the Caribbean than any other builder.

These are just a few examples of how much we enjoy engineering, building, supplying, servicing and supporting the Optimist to the benefit of youth sailing programs all over the world. We hope to have the opportunity to show you first hand.