 Class symbol | |
| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Frank Meldau |
| Location | United States |
| Year | 1962 |
| No. built | 710 |
| Builder | Fiberglass Unlimited |
| Role | One-designracer |
| Name | Isotope |
| Boat | |
| Crew | one |
| Displacement | 275 lb (125 kg) |
| Draft | 2.50 ft (0.76 m) with thecenterboards 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 | transom-mountedrudders |
| Rig | |
| Rig type | Bermuda rig |
| Sails | |
| Sailplan | Fractional riggedsloop |
| 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 |
TheIsotope is an Americancatamaransailing dinghy that was designed byFrank Meldau as aone-designracer and first built in 1962.[1][2]
The design is the larger stablemate of theCheshire 14 catamaran.[2]
The design is built byFiberglass Unlimited (now calledCustom Fiberglass International) inWake 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 recreationalsailboat, built predominantly offiberglass. It has afractionalsloop rig, withaluminum spars, a sealed rotating mast and fullybattenedmainsail, with eight ash wood or fiberglass battens. The hulls have spoonedraked stems, verticaltransoms, transom-hung, kick-uprudders controlled by atiller and retractable, self-tendingcenterboards. 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 adraft of 2.50 ft (0.76 m) with the centerboards extended and 6 in (15 cm) with them retracted, allowingbeaching or ground transportation on atrailer.[1]
For sailing the design may be equipped with options such as a mast limiter,roller furlingjib and atrapeze.[2][4]
The design has aPortsmouth Yardstick racing average handicap of 74.0. It is normally raced with a crew of onesailor 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 fivePortsmouth numbers faster."[2]
Related development