PAGE 6 • WINTER 2005 THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SAILING ASSOCIATION
FEATURED SAILBOAT • AMERICAN 14.6
By Dave Stanton, ASA Sailing Instructor, American Sail, Inc.
T
he American 14.6 was designed in 1989 as
a basic, simple daysailor that would be
desirable for use in beginning training
programs and as a no-hassle daysailor for those
seeking good sailing characteristics. The major
feature of the A-14.6 is that it was designed to
sail “flat” and hiking out on the gunnel was not
required. This characteristic was achieved by
giving the hull shape a flat bottom and hard chine
sides with the girth of the hull being widened such
that the boat has a six foot, two inch beam. The
hull is a flat-bottom planing design that will jump
up and run on top of the water when under sail. In
addition, the design feature allows the boat to give
excellent performance in light air.
One of the great features of the American 14.6 is
the large cockpit, which allows room for four full-
size adults and an instructor. With the seating
down each side and a small foredeck area, the
cockpit is spacious. The rigging is that of a basic
daysailor with a very high boom. A seven-foot tall
sailor can sit on the seats, and the boom will still
swing above his head. The rigging is stainless with
an aluminum mast, which contains foam flotation.
In the event of a capsize, which is relatively hard
to do with the wide, flat-bottom hull, the mast
foam floatation will help to keep the boat on its
side for easy righting. The cockpit layout includes
an area at the rear of each seat for a cooler or
instructional gear. The foredeck storage area is 24
inches deep and provides enough space to store
the main and jib or a spinnaker sail. An optional
Plexi Glass hatch door is available for the entry
access to this storage area. The A-14.6’s wide beam and flat bottom give it excellent light-air
performance and add stability.
The sail package features 112 square feet of 3.8
ounce Dacron sail. An optional spinnaker sail package is If you are interested in the American 14.6, contact ASA so
available. Back plating under the gunnel for spinnaker we can put you in touch with a dealer near you!
cleat hardware installation is included, so the addition of
a spinnaker package at a later time will be easy. The pound mast can be stepped by the average-size student.
main sail is equipped with a row of jiffy reef grommet All blocks are Harken throughout the boat.
points across the lower one third of the sail for
instruction in jiffy reefing. A larger jib can be ordered on Equipped with a kick-up, all-fiberglass centerboard with a
a special basis, however, most of the programs opt for five-pound toe weight, the centerboard will retract into the
the standard sail arrangement. The American 14.6 can hull centerboard trunk if it hits ground underwater. The toe
be sailed with the main only. Being able to be rigged and weight will cause the boards to have a spring-like return
sailed single-handed is a feature desired by many of the once the underwater object has been crossed. Unlike most
individual owners. The boat can be rigged and launched daysailors, the American has two centerboard control lines,
off the trailer in less than 15 minutes by one person. one to raise the centerboard into the trunk and one to
The mast is extremely easy to step. Equipped with a allow the board to be pulled out of the trunk should it
base pin that slides into a slotted tabernacle, the 22-
continued on page 8
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