

The PDRacer is a developmental one design racing sailboat that is basically a plywood box with a curved bottom, and is the easiest boat in the world to build. The rules are aimed at keeping the lower 10" of all hulls the same, but the rest is up to the builder. A simple hull can be made from 3 sheets of plywood, titebond II glue, and latex house paint. If you work hard for 2 weekends, you can go sailing on the 3rd weekend. If you are really in a hurry, it is possible to go from lumber to the lake in 5 days.

The PD Racer was designed by David "Shorty" Routh, and was influenced by the $50 Sailboat Race, The Moth Class, Gavin Atkins's Mouse Boat group, Jim Michalak boat designs, the Phil Bolger "Brick" design, and a number of other box boats. While the hull designs of the Puddle Duck Racer and the Bolger Brick look very similar, the only similarities between them are the rectangular perimeter shape. The PD Racer design was first published & released on July 7, 2003, the first PD Racer hull was built in January 2004. Despite the design's young age, as of September 23, 2010 there were 500 PD Racers registered globally, primarily in the United States, but with growing fleets in other countries also, such as Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, and South Africa on a total of five continents with a scattering of other locations such as Hong Kong, Switzerland and Africa.

Don't know how to sail?
For most of the people that build these, it is their first boat too and they don't know how to sail either !! Sailing is easy, just point the boat in the direction you want to go, then pull in the sail till it stops flapping. The best way to learn is to have your own boat, and take it out on a very light wind day, on a very small lake, and give it a try. Take a set of oars, and if you can't figure out how to sail back, then drop your sail and row back. If you know a sailor, then invite them along and they will help you out, the PDRacer can easily carry 2 adults.