BLUE JAY
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 13.5 ft |
| LWL | 11.25 ft |
| Beam | 5.17 ft |
| Draft | 3.67 ft/ 0.5 ft min |
| Displacement | 275 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 4.5 kn |
About the BLUE JAY
Once seen widely in novice programs and in yacht clubs from Florida to Maine (USA), but also in teen's, men's, and women's events. The BLUE JAY was originally constructed of plywood. The class association voted to allow fiberglass in the early 1960s. Total Sail Area 90 sqft. Main 62 sqft. Jib 28 sqft. Spinnaker 56 sqft.
The Blue Jay is a classic 13.5 ft fractional sloop designed by Drake Sparkman/Sparkman & Stephens, with a production run of 7200 hulls built in 1947. This high-volume, lightweight vessel offers a compact footprint with a displacement of 275.0 lb, reflecting its origins as a popular trailerable day sailer rather than a heavy cruising yacht.
- Best for:
- This boat is best suited for casual day sailing, learning the basics of sailing, or as a trailerable weekend project for owners seeking a low-cost entry into classic boat ownership. Its light displacement and small size make it ideal for single-handers or couples looking for easy transport and storage.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a displacement of 275.0 lb and a capsize ratio of 3.18, the Blue Jay is not suitable for offshore or bluewater cruising. Its light weight and small size limit its seaworthiness to protected coastal waters and inland lakes, where its fractional sloop rig can be managed easily.
- Comparables:
- Comparable boats include other Sparkman & Stephens designs from the late 1940s, such as the Sparkman & Stephens 14 or similar trailerable daysailers like the O'Day 14. These vessels share the Blue Jay's emphasis on simplicity, trailability, and light air performance over heavy weather capability.
Performance
Market Price
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 13.5ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
We don't have enough data on the BLUE JAYyet to publish model-specific findings we'd stand behind — but here's a free general inspection checklist, built from our research into what actually goes wrong on boats of this kind.
Drawn from 7,029 documented issues across 2,391 models, ordered so the areas that most often turn up problems come first.
Own a BLUE JAY? Reports from owners are what turn this into a model-specific checklist — and they're the reason the boats above it have one.
Similar Sailboats
Which engine powers your BLUE JAY?
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Used sails that fit the BLUE JAY
Checking eBay for sails sized to this boat's rig…