Skate 15

A 15 ft performance beach cruiser and adventure racer, wedge shaped in plan and 8 ft wide at the transom. The wide planing hull lifts much of itself clear of the water when heeled, and water ballast tanks under the seats can be filled on the windward side or on both sides for calmer sailing. The rig is a square-headed mainsail with no boom on a sealed wing mast, about 190 sq ft, plus a retractable bowsprit for an asymmetrical spinnaker or code zero. There are twin rudders and a deep daggerboard that kicks back on impact.

The cabin sleeps two, with a double berth running aft under the raised cockpit, and sealed compartments and collision bulkheads keep the boat afloat. In the builders' capsize tests the sealed mast made it very hard to turn upside down. It is a simple plywood shape built over a jig that comes with the kit. Kit Boats Co. rates the build moderate, at about 400 hours, and was still pricing the updated kit in November 2026. Real hours from logged builds appear below.