Sailing the 14.6ft American Sailboat at the lake. Here I look over the boat in good detail to show how this boat is equipped and a few of the options available.
I'm a lifetime powerboat owner who's always wanted a sailboat and to learn to sail. I just acquired a 1994 American 14.6 and I just got it home and getting it ready to launch today. Thanks for you review with the basics on this boat. That's exactly what I needed right now.
I just got this year is a 92 American 14.6 I have not been out yet but I will in the next couple of days. I love the idea of a topping lift kit . I have to get one of those . Thank you for the information.
love the mini review... I've been into sailboats for around 4 years and I've come across what seems to be a good deal for a used one of these... great to see what it offers.
You're welcome. When I was trying to buy one, I really couldnt find a good video showing the boat. Unfortunately I no longer have this boat, but I regret selling it. I have a Catalina 22 now. It's great, but there was something really cool about the American
@@DialedN_07 I purchased an American 14.6 from a couple here in town. Spent a lot of time cleaning it up and getting the rigging setup correctly. I've sailed her six times and she's a lovely little boat.
@@scotthuff4485 I have a Catalina 22 and an F16 Viper catamaran. I frequently miss this little boat. It's not "better" in any sense than any of the other boats, but it is unique and it fits really well into the mold that they wanted it to work in. I can see myself owning another one in the future.
@@bug512 hard to say. Mine wasn't quite that new. If sails are good and trailer is good, it wouldn't be a bad bet. Mine was about 2k cheaper (can't remember the year). But they don't come up for sale often. Again, great boat
If you have crew from other boats it might be good to place your halyard on the appropriate sides of the mast to avoid confusion with your crew. Main halyard on strd side of mast. Jib and topping loft on port side. Just a thought.
Thanks for the video! I’m looking for a good used 14.6 in Wisconsin. It would be perfect for our relatively shallow 1300 acre lake in Northern Wisconsin. I’m curious about the rope traveler. Would it be possible to build one spanning the aft on a wooden base with cleats at both sides? That would allow you to trim the boom to come in tighter to the wind.
Anything is possible on a fiberglass boat really. I do look at this boat as more of a cruiser/pleasure sailing craft, so even though the racer in me was bothered, the way the boat is set up was fine. I personally wouldn't spend the time to change it
Hi, just wondering roughly how far have you been able to get in a day with your American 14.6? Thinking about sailing one next spring and doing an open boat tour of the inner banks of NC...
I sailed this boat around Holden Beach island twice (on two different occasions). And from Holden Beach to the NC/SC border once out in the ocean. Around Holden Beach was 23.4 miles and took 5.5 hours. SC and back was 38 miles and took just a smidge over 8 hours, and included a capsize trying to come back into the inlet.
@@DialedN_07 WOW... Thanks, I appreciate it. That's not too bad for a little boat. I am thinking I will be fairly close to shore, skating the ICW. I am disabled, and pretty much have a lot of (as in way too much) free time, so I'm thinking I can do basically a camp out kinda thing. Got to relearn how to sail a small boat again... It's been like 30years since I sold my sunfish. Hopefully I can pick it back up again. My last boat was a 30' Coronado.. if I got in 6' of water I was hitting the bottom so I got to get over my rear of shallow water again. Lol.
@@hearsejr Why not come over to Lake Waccamaw sometime? We have a sailing club there with about 30 boats. It's an excellent place to sail and max depth of 12 feet that is pretty consistent all the way around. Pretty steady sea breeze every afternoon and a state park that is great for camping.
@@DialedN_07 thanks, I'm not exactly sure where it is, but I would love to go and get a first hand look and try out my luck on an American 14.5 before I commit to a complete rebuild of one over the winter. I'm in Goldsboro NC.
Just a simple marine cupholder from any sporting goods store. Suction cups hold it to the boat, and then the plastic bit just slides onto the suction cups.
I'm a lifetime powerboat owner who's always wanted a sailboat and to learn to sail. I just acquired a 1994 American 14.6 and I just got it home and getting it ready to launch today. Thanks for you review with the basics on this boat. That's exactly what I needed right now.
I just got this year is a 92 American 14.6 I have not been out yet but I will in the next couple of days. I love the idea of a topping lift kit . I have to get one of those . Thank you for the information.
I added one to my American 14.6 and it makes a huge difference, especially when single-handed.
This is the video that helped me make up my mind. I’m picking mine up from Dave in Charleston on Monday⛵️
Awesome. Congrats!
love the mini review... I've been into sailboats for around 4 years and I've come across what seems to be a good deal for a used one of these... great to see what it offers.
Thanks Liam! Glad you enjoyed.
Just bought one, look forward to sailing it at High Rock and Blues lake. Nice video
I've got the same boat. I restriped mine and got AS to make some custom sails.
I just bought a 2015 and just took it out last week with 4 people. It was perfect.
Excellent boats!
Hope you enjoy
Looking at one for sale. I have always been interested in the boat to teach my kids to sail. Thanks for this nice and informative video!
Brian Shanahan this is exactly why I made the video. I tried to find views online and there wasn’t a detailed video available
Thank you for the review. I’m considering purchasing one and this video was extremely helpful.
You're welcome. When I was trying to buy one, I really couldnt find a good video showing the boat.
Unfortunately I no longer have this boat, but I regret selling it. I have a Catalina 22 now. It's great, but there was something really cool about the American
@@DialedN_07 I purchased an American 14.6 from a couple here in town. Spent a lot of time cleaning it up and getting the rigging setup correctly. I've sailed her six times and she's a lovely little boat.
@@scotthuff4485 I have a Catalina 22 and an F16 Viper catamaran. I frequently miss this little boat. It's not "better" in any sense than any of the other boats, but it is unique and it fits really well into the mold that they wanted it to work in. I can see myself owning another one in the future.
That was a very nice review, there is one close to us for sale 2018 for $5,500 boat / trailer
Great boats. I wish I still had mine.
@@DialedN_07 Great to know. I have no idea about pricing, what do you think about the above ?
@@bug512 hard to say. Mine wasn't quite that new. If sails are good and trailer is good, it wouldn't be a bad bet. Mine was about 2k cheaper (can't remember the year). But they don't come up for sale often.
Again, great boat
If you have crew from other boats it might be good to place your halyard on the appropriate sides of the mast to avoid confusion with your crew. Main halyard on strd side of mast. Jib and topping loft on port side. Just a thought.
They are on the correct side. Just because I said main first and jib second. I guess you assumed they are backwards?
Thanks for the video! I’m looking for a good used 14.6 in Wisconsin. It would be perfect for our relatively shallow 1300 acre lake in Northern Wisconsin. I’m curious about the rope traveler. Would it be possible to build one spanning the aft on a wooden base with cleats at both sides? That would allow you to trim the boom to come in tighter to the wind.
Anything is possible on a fiberglass boat really. I do look at this boat as more of a cruiser/pleasure sailing craft, so even though the racer in me was bothered, the way the boat is set up was fine.
I personally wouldn't spend the time to change it
Hi, just wondering roughly how far have you been able to get in a day with your American 14.6? Thinking about sailing one next spring and doing an open boat tour of the inner banks of NC...
I sailed this boat around Holden Beach island twice (on two different occasions). And from Holden Beach to the NC/SC border once out in the ocean.
Around Holden Beach was 23.4 miles and took 5.5 hours.
SC and back was 38 miles and took just a smidge over 8 hours, and included a capsize trying to come back into the inlet.
@@DialedN_07 WOW... Thanks, I appreciate it. That's not too bad for a little boat. I am thinking I will be fairly close to shore, skating the ICW. I am disabled, and pretty much have a lot of (as in way too much) free time, so I'm thinking I can do basically a camp out kinda thing. Got to relearn how to sail a small boat again... It's been like 30years since I sold my sunfish. Hopefully I can pick it back up again. My last boat was a 30' Coronado.. if I got in 6' of water I was hitting the bottom so I got to get over my rear of shallow water again. Lol.
@@hearsejr Why not come over to Lake Waccamaw sometime? We have a sailing club there with about 30 boats. It's an excellent place to sail and max depth of 12 feet that is pretty consistent all the way around.
Pretty steady sea breeze every afternoon and a state park that is great for camping.
@@DialedN_07 thanks, I'm not exactly sure where it is, but I would love to go and get a first hand look and try out my luck on an American 14.5 before I commit to a complete rebuild of one over the winter. I'm in Goldsboro NC.
What's that cupholder setup on the keel console?
Just a simple marine cupholder from any sporting goods store. Suction cups hold it to the boat, and then the plastic bit just slides onto the suction cups.