- Marblehead (M Class): 

The M Class, or Marblehead, is a development class, which means that few measurements are controlled, allowing a lot of freedom in design. Among the main restrictions are the total length (maximum of 129 cm, or 50 inches) and the sail area (maximum of 5161 cm², or 800 sq feet). The class was created in USA in 1931, in Marblehead city, from where it took the name, and became one of the most popular classes in the world, being officially recognized by the International Sailing Federation in 1937. The few restrictions imposed by the rules allowed a high development of the M Class boat over the years, in a search for new concepts, in order to produce a high performance model that could be sailed in a wide range of conditions. Current hull designs are very narrow with stability coming largely from the deep fins. The hull and rigs (usually swinging rigs) tend to use advanced techniques and very light materials (like carbon fiber). The Marbleheads are light, responsive and very fast sailboats. 

 

Useful information:

 

- Class rules

 

- Builders in Brazil

 

Class pages:

- Australia

- France

 

Interesting links:

- Building a Monarch M Class boat

 

 

A table including some Marblehead models and their builders is shown below:

 

Boat (picture)

Designer

Builder Builder country
The Best Paulo Stier Paulo Stier Brazil

Dreadnought

Vibe

Jeff Byerley

Jeff Byerley

Mirage Radio Yachts Australia

DM4

DM3

Dibley Marine

Dibley Marine

DM

Australia

Grunge

Jive

Boogie

Brad Gibson

Brad Gibson

Brad Gibson

BG Radio Yachts and Sails England

Prime Number

Monarch

Rok

Paradox

Astra

Enigma

Graham Bantock

Graham Bantock

Graham Bantock

Graham Bantock

Graham Bantock

Graham Bantock

SAILSetc England

Starkers

Starkers Squared

Starkers Cubed

David Creed

David Creed

David Creed

Housemartin Sails England

Crazy Tube Too

Roar Edge

Roger Stollery   England

Margo

Tramontane

Quasar

Intox

Delphi

Nimbus

Paul Lucas

Guy Carpier

Léonard Fabiano

Léonard Fabiano

Philippe Sol

René Villeret

PG Modélisme

France

Gothic-MX Frank Russel MX Components / Free plan Italy

Viper

Bob Sterne

Bob's Boatyard Canada
Skalpel Janusz Walicki Walicki Boats Germany
Berlioz Torvald Klem   Sweden
Octave Dario Valenza Carbonic Boats New Zealand

 

Marblehead pictures

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