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McLaughlin PRO Racer Gallery

The McLaughlin PRO Racer is the most technologically advanced Optimist in the world. It also happens to be the the most customizable Optimist in the world! McLaughlin’s craftsmen take the time to customize every PRO Racer, while still guaranteeing maximum stiffness...

What makes for the perfect Sailor Support RIB?

What makes for the perfect Sailor Support RIB? In the last decade, we’ve seen a transition in sailing from Whalers and Carolina Skiffs as the preferred sailor support craft to Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs). With all the options out there, what makes the difference...

2020 Fall Specials!

Free Stuff! Purchase any Optimist boat package between September 1st and December 31st, 2020, and receive a free dolly and blade bag with your purchase. New boat packages will receive a new dolly and blade bag. Charter packages will receive a charter dolly and blade...

The 2020 Guide to Optimist Blades

McLaughlin’s 2020 Guide to Optimist Racing Blades This article applies to the top five percent of all Opti sailors and is intended as a guide to highlight the differences in the modern Optimist blades. Today’s Opti racers have more choice than ever before...

Simple to-dos for superior summer sailing

As sailors get back on the water, we decided to write something about how to play it safe when out summer sailing in the sun and heat. This article covers a few points that will help you have more fun and overcome the elements. As temperatures rise, our body kicks...

Picking the perfect Optimist bowline

When in it come to picking an Optimist bowline, your choices for a are getting ever more numerous. While it doesn’t get a lot of attention, this line is possibly the most critical piece of safety equipment in your boat, but it also happens to be dead weight. In...

Why choose a McLaughlin Optimist Sailboat?

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...

Selecting the right tiller extension

There are a variety of choices in Optimist Tiller Extensions. Which Optimist tiller extension is the best for you? It depends partly on your sailing style, but some features certainly make a significant difference in ease of use. The intent of a tiller extension is to...

Pay attention to Optimist airbag care

Many sailors don’t understand the problems inherent to an Optimist airbag and how to care for them. As a result, every summer, we go through a ton of airbags here at the shop. Why do we send out so many? Following are some helpful tips for keeping your airbags in...

Why Float When You Can Fly?

Everyone can conjure up the iconic image: A turquoise sea, light stray clouds skidding along in the heavens, and a white sail on the horizon standing out against the blue sky. Oh, to be a sailor! Onlookers often wonder about their destination. Is it somewhere...

Why teach your child to sail?

What follows is an article originally written by a father, Steve Sherman, who wanted to teach his boys how to sail. It was this experience that eventually made building the Optimist his life’s ambition. His love for sailing is now shared by his grandchildren (pictured...

Solo Sailing Drills and Safety

For this week’s article, we teamed up with a good friend and former teammate, Kevin Broome at American Yacht Club. We certainly know many of you are eager to get on the water sailing, so please check your local laws and regulations. With some of the waterways...

Guide to Optimist Racing Spars

McLaughlin Boat Works is the North American importer of all major brands of Optimist racing spars. In combination with being the largest Opti charter provider worldwide, we see spar sets in action in a variety of sailing conditions. Because we know that there are a...

Keep Your Boat Fast With Sailboat Hull Preparation

While a brand new hull from the factory may be the easiest way to have the fastest boat on the starting line, the cost can get prohibitive unless you charter. Here is a list of sailboat hull preparation tips to keep your boat in peak racing condition, both inside and...

Preseason Optimist Maintenance — What to Look For

Performing a little preseason Optimist maintenance can help you avoid wasting beautiful days on the water at the boat club doing work. How many times have you had a call from the yacht club or coach to discover your sailor’s Optimist is broken because of something...

Staying in shape during COVID-19

Staying in shape during COVID-19 Social distancing continues because of the country’s COVID-19 restrictions. As a result, we thought it would be helpful to remind you of a few sailing exercises you can do at home to stay in shape. Physical fitness is a key...