OUGHTRED Acorn Dinghy 7ft Custom Built Wooden Boat

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.