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Captain Heritage

OUGHTRED Acorn Dinghy 7ft Custom Built Wooden Boat

OUGHTRED Acorn Dinghy 7ft Custom Built Wooden Boat

Regular price $8,752.00 USD
Regular price $8,752.00 USD Sale price $8,752.00 USD
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The Oughtred Acorn Dinghy is a beautifully proportioned small sailing and rowing boat that reflects the refined design philosophy of traditional British dinghies. At just 7′ 10″ in length, the Acorn is compact yet remarkably capable, offering impressive stability and versatility within a lightweight 75-pound wooden hull. Its rounded sections and elegant sheer line give it a timeless appearance, while the beamy 4′ 2″ width provides reassuring steadiness for sailors of all experience levels. Our workshop faithfully recreates this versatile design using premium marine materials-including Western Red Cedar, Mahogany, Teak, and marine plywood reinforced with U.S.-made fiberglass cloth, sealed with marine-grade epoxy and finished with System Three marine spar varnish. Each vessel is handcrafted using a traditional plank-on-frame or stitch-and-glue construction method, depending on configuration, ensuring a strong yet lightweight hull. Typical build time ranges from 3-4 months depending on finish and outfitting selections. Clients may customize wood species, sail plan, spars, seating layout, paint or varnish finishes, and hardware details-creating a bespoke dinghy suited for tender use, training, or relaxed coastal sailing. General Specifications: - Length Overall (LOA): 7ft - Beam: 4.2ft - Draft: + Daggerboard Up: 6″ + Daggerboard Down: 2′ 1″ - Displacement (Hull Weight): Approximately 75 lbs. Performance & Use The Acorn Dinghy is designed for sheltered waters, lakes, and protected coastal areas. Under sail, it offers lively yet forgiving handling, with the lowered daggerboard providing effective lateral resistance for improved upwind ability. With the board raised, its shallow draft allows beach launching and easy exploration of tidal flats. Lightweight and easy to transport, it also rows efficiently, making it an ideal yacht tender or family day-sailer. This wooden boat crafted by us is built from woodenboat.com plans, with full credit given to the original designers. For each custom commission, we acquire the appropriate plans and construct the vessel to order-offering both full-size boats and finely detailed scale models. Disclaimer: Oughtred Acorn Dinghy (Auk) 7' 10" is a design by Iain Oughtred. Wooden Boat USA is not affiliated with or endorsed by Iain Oughtred. Combining traditional craftsmanship with practical small-boat performance, the Oughtred Acorn Dinghy embodies the charm and capability of classic wooden sailing craft in a compact and accessible format. The Acorn Dinghy was designed by Iain Oughtred, one of the most respected small-craft designers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Oughtred became widely known for reviving and refining traditional lapstrake (clinker-built) wooden boats, blending historical forms with modern amateur-friendly construction methods. The Acorn series was conceived as a compact, versatile dinghy that would capture the charm of classic British and Scandinavian working boats in a size accessible to home builders and families. Developed as part of Oughtred's broader portfolio of small sailing and rowing craft, the Acorn Dinghy reflects his design philosophy: moderate beam for stability, graceful sheer for visual balance, and rounded bilges for efficient rowing and forgiving sailing characteristics. Though only 7′ 10″ in length, the Acorn was carefully proportioned to perform beyond its size-serving as a capable tender, a training sailboat, or a recreational rowing dinghy. Its clinker planking pays homage to centuries-old Northern European boatbuilding traditions. Since its introduction, the Acorn Dinghy has gained international popularity among wooden boat enthusiasts and amateur builders. It stands as a testament to Iain Oughtred's commitment to preserving traditional aesthetics while adapting them for modern recreational use. Today, the design continues to be built around the world, appreciated for its elegance, practicality, and enduring connection to classic maritime heritage.
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What makes our wooden boats so unique and special? 

Hundreds of hours go into the construction of our boats, as perfection is the only options.

- ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY: We use only certified top-grade, hand-selected wood such as Canadian red cedar, mahogany, rosewood, teak and more. 

- THE ART OF CRAFTSMANSHIP: Merging centuries-old customs with technological innovation, we bring you boats that excel in every categories. 

- IN-HOUSE QUALITY CONTROL: Each of our wooden boats goes through a demand quality control process including in water testing before leaving the workshop.

 

About Woodenboat USA™

The story of time-honored traditions of boat building. 

More than just watercraft, our wooden boats, kayaks and canoes represent connections to a legacy of craftsmanship and old world techniques. Woodenboat USA is invested in the type of construction that recalls generations of boat making. Over thirty years in business, our commitment has always been and will continue to be, to excellence, to tradition and to creating products that you can enjoy both for their performance and incredible beauty.

Inspired by history, the names of our watercraft are derived from the northern waterways where natives and settlers have used them for centuries. Merging centuries-old customs with improvements in technology, we bring you boats that excel in every category.

Beginning with pliable, high quality Canadian cedar and hardwood, our craftsmen hand join each individual strip. Hundreds of hours go into the construction of our boats, as perfection is the only option. Once built, the piece is encapsulated in fiberglass epoxy resin adding an extra layer of durability and strength. At last, the water craft is ready for its nautical debut.

FAQ's

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What are your canoes and kayaks made of?

Our canoes and kayaks are made of the highest quality western red cedar and some hardwoods. The larger boats are made of western red cedar, pine, and hardwoods such as oak, mahogany, teak, and some locally available woods. Our wooden watercraft are then coated both inside and out in an incredibly durable American made fiberglass and epoxy resin.

You mentioned that you use fiberglass in your boats, so what is the difference between your boats and fiberglass boats?

We only use 1 or 2 clear thin layers of fiberglass coating on top of the wood for reinforcement and added integrity. You never see any fiberglass, only beautiful, hand-joined cedar and hardwoods.

What is a typical cedar strip canoe or kayak weight?

A 15’ kayak weighs approximately 45lbs, making it very easy for one person to carry. A 16’ canoe weighs about 48lbs.

What type of boats do you build?

Our wooden strip canoes and kayaks are hugely popular for touring and recreational purposes. We also build wooden dinghies, wooden sail boats, classic wooden runabouts, and speedboats. Additionally, we can custom-build any design with which you supply us.

What methods do you use to build the boats?

Focused on integrating traditional technique with modern design, all boats are built by hand, typically taking hundreds of man hours to create.

How do I order?

Please contact our dealers or call (877) 88 Boats for more information.

How long does an order take?

Boats that we have in stock can be shipped to you within a week). New or custom products generally take 2-3 months as everything we sell is 100% hand crafted.

How do you ship it?

We can ship via trucking company very safely. We also insure all freight so in the very rare case that a shipment is damaged during transit, we will take care of the details and immediately replace the item for you. We also have distributors all over the world, so please contact us to find out more information.

How do I become a distributor of your products?

We welcome qualified dealers and distributors all over the world. Please contact us today at (877) 88 Boats or email us at info@woodenboatusa.com for more information.

What kind of warranty can I expect?

For all products we offer a 6 month limited warranty on materials and craftsmanship.

Guidelines for use

CARE:

With a little bit of care and maintenance, your beautiful canoe can last for generations. While our products are certainly durable and solid, they still require the right type of care and handling to ensure that they perform optimally.

  • It is recommended that you rinse your canoe off with fresh clean water after every use.
  • Upon returning from the trip, allow your canoe to air-dry in the shade.

STORAGE:

Besides taking care of your canoe, storage also plays an essential role in maintaining your canoe’s appearance and beauty.

  • Always store your wooden canoe in shade.
  • Turn it upside down on the support thereby keeping it off the ground.
  • Hanging your boat from the rafters in your garage or shop would be ideal storage.

REPAIR:

Minor scratches can be repaired by marine spar vanish or some brand of automobile wax. Smooth the damaged area with sand paper, wipe clean, then apply marine spar vanish.

SAFETY:

Wooden Boat USA strongly recommends that a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) is worn whenever paddling.

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