FLYING TERN
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 13.94 ft |
| Beam | 5.09 ft |
| Draft | 3.12 ft/ 0.49 ft min |
| Displacement | 287 lb |
About the FLYING TERN
One of the earliest and most popular (to this day) European production GRP sailing dinghy. Spinnaker and trapeze permitted for racing. See class association for more details. VDS design #56.
The Flying Tern is a compact 13.94 ft fractional sloop designed by E.G. van de Stadt and built in 1955. With a displacement of 287.0 lb and a beam of 5.09 ft, this vessel represents a specialized micro-cruiser or daysailer category with a variable keel configuration.
- Best for:
- This boat is best suited for local coastal cruising, daysailing, or as a tender due to its extremely light displacement and short length overall.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a capsize ratio of 3.09 and a displacement of only 287.0 lb, this boat is not suitable for offshore bluewater cruising and is strictly limited to protected coastal waters.
- Comparables:
- Comparable vessels include other 1950s micro-cruisers and daysailers with similar fractional sloop rigs and variable keels, such as the Microcruiser or early daysailer designs, which share the emphasis on portability and shallow draft.
Performance
Pricing
We don't have market pricing data for the FLYING TERN yet. If you own one, help other buyers — what did you pay for it? Reports build a community price estimate over time.
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 13.94ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
We don't have enough data on the FLYING TERNyet 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 FLYING TERN? 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 FLYING TERN?
We haven't confirmed the engine for this model yet. If you own or know one, tell us — as owners report in, we build an accurate picture over time.
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Used sails that fit the FLYING TERN
Checking eBay for sails sized to this boat's rig…