Wayfarer 16

A beautifully built wooden Wayfarer dinghy, constructed in 2022 to the properly licensed Ian Proctor design and carrying sail number 8001. Built by my brother to a very high standard using faced marine ply, this is a rare opportunity to acquire a near-new wooden Wayfarer with exceptional finish, proper provenance and only four launches from new.

The Wayfarer has long been regarded as one of the great all-round sailing dinghies. Designed by Ian Proctor in 1957, it earned its reputation as a tough, stable and versatile boat, equally suited to family day sailing, cruising, club racing and sail training.

The class has endured for good reason: with its generous beam, practical cockpit, reassuring stability and easily managed rig, the Wayfarer is large enough to feel secure and useful, yet still simple enough to launch, trail and sail without fuss. The UK Wayfarer Association describes the design as having an unrivalled reputation as a tough and seaworthy cruising dinghy while still being responsive and rewarding to race.

This particular boat is a very special example. Unlike many older wooden Wayfarers that now require ongoing restoration or careful recommissioning, this one presents in superb, virtually as-new condition throughout. The varnished timber work is excellent, the black hull finish gives it a smart and traditional appearance, and the overall standard of detail is immediately apparent.

Small touches, such as the brass strip fitted to the leading edge of the rudder to protect the timber, show the care that has gone into the build.

The boat is fitted with an aluminium Proctor Masts mast and boom, Hood sails, a roller reefing jib and a slab reefing mainsail with reefing points, making it a practical and confidence-inspiring boat for a wide range of conditions. The rigging and running rigging are in perfect condition, as would be expected from a boat that has seen such light use.

Buoyancy is provided by two 200kg buoyancy bags, and there is useful built-in storage in the form of a large sealed bow locker and a stern storage locker. A manual bilge pump is also fitted, along with numerous stainless fittings throughout.

The boat comes complete with a road-legal Rapide trailer with winch, making it straightforward to store at home, tow to the coast, or take to different sailing venues.

For anyone looking for a highly capable dinghy with real character, this is a rare find: the practicality and proven reputation of the Wayfarer, combined with the warmth and beauty of a properly built wooden boat. It would suit someone looking for a premium day sailor, a capable cruising dinghy, or simply a beautifully made boat to enjoy and preserve.

Features and Equipment

2022 wooden Wayfarer dinghy

Properly licensed Ian Proctor design

Sail number: 8001

Faced marine ply construction

Used only four times on the water

Excellent, virtually as-new condition throughout

Aluminium Proctor Masts mast and boom

Hood sails

Roller reefing jib

Slab reefing mainsail with reefing points

Rigging and running rigging in perfect condition

Two 200kg buoyancy bags

Large sealed bow locker

Stern storage locker

Manual bilge pump

Stainless fittings throughout

Brass protective strip on the leading edge of the rudder

Road-legal Rapide trailer with winch included

Full winter cover

The Wayfarer is one of the most respected dinghy designs of its type. At around 15ft 10in long with a beam of just over 6ft, it offers more space, stability and carrying ability than many smaller dinghies, while remaining manageable to tow, launch and recover. Published class figures list the Wayfarer at 4.827m in length, 1.855m beam, with a minimum hull weight of 169kg.

Its reputation was cemented not only through club racing and training use, but also through serious dinghy cruising. Frank and Margaret Dye famously undertook remarkable offshore passages in a wooden Wayfarer, including voyages to Iceland and Norway, demonstrating the underlying strength and seaworthiness of the design.

That blend of stability, practicality and heritage is what makes the Wayfarer so enduring. It is a boat that can be enjoyed gently with family, raced at club level, taken cruising, or simply admired as a piece of traditional small-boat craftsmanship. This example adds the appeal of a recent, lightly used wooden build finished to an unusually high standard.