Tanzer 16 - The Day Sailer that Loves to Race

The Boat

The Tanzer 16 is a centerboard day sailer that is known for its good manners and simplicity. It can be rigged and on the water in less than 30 minutes. The rig consists of a non-tapered mast with external halyards and no spreaders. The mainsail shape is controlled with a downhaul, an outhaul and an adjustable traveler. The boat can be rigged with either a jib or a genoa. Tanzers often sport a spinnaker that can be easily launched from a chute in the foredeck, simplifying set up and take down. Mast rake can be adjusted on the water by sliding the foot of the mast forward or aft on the keelson.

With its simple rigging design, it is the skill of the skipper rather than the technology of the boat that makes the difference. With the Tanzer, sailing strategy and understanding the boat's performance in different conditions are more important than fancy hardware. The boat is responsive to slight variations in the sail plan, and it is not unusual to see two skippers sailing the boats quite differently, especially in light winds. While the class rules are aimed at keeping a true one design class, no two Tanzers are rigged exactly alike, and a variety of ergonomic preferences are visible in the layouts of the boats. The topping lift for the spinnaker pole may be made from rope, rather than shock-chord, and a downhaul is only needed in heavy air. The continuous halyard/retrieval line and topping lift can be cleated under the thwart so the skipper can handle the lines while the crew sets the sail. The sheets may be run above or below deck. Boats can be seen sailing with the original traveler bar, a rope traveler, or travelers with cars on tracks. Recent changes in class rules allow the use of synthetic materials to replace the jib halyard and the shrouds. However, most class rule changes have been done with an eye to keeping the cost of outfitting a race-competitive Tanzer at a "budget" level.

The Tanzer 16 is active both at the club level and on the circuit. The SAYRA One Design Championship calendar covers five venues. The fleets promote family sailing and racing, while focusing on keeping the cost of sailing the Tanzer 16 low. Some of our skippers have been sailing the Tanzer 16 since the 80s, while other skippers are still competing in their high school sailing teams. Yet other seasoned skippers are joining our ranks from PHRF racing and other one-design dinghy racing. Old boats are getting makeovers with new hardware and paint, while other boats are sailed pretty close to the way they came out of the factory 40 years ago.

For more information, contact the Tanzer 16 Class Association President, Arch Altman, (raleighwoodcab@aol.com).

TANZER HISTORY

The Tanzer 16 was designed by Johann Tanzer, an Austrian who built and raced small boats in Switzerland. After moving to Canada, Hans opened his own shop, Tanzercraft, where he built Lightnings, International 14s, and Y-Flyers. Recognizing the need for a more "family friendly" boat, he designed the Constellation. Tanzer accomplished the goal of a "family friendly" boat with a solid design that was both stable and fast. When Hans' company expanded in 1968 and became Tanzer Industries, the Constellation was renamed the Tanzer 16. Production of the Tanzer 16 continued until 1985 with the last boat (1585) being built in the plant in Edenton, NC. After Tanzer Industries closed, the Class Association acquired the molds and continues to look for a builder to manufacture new Tanzer 16s. A few "new" boats have been manufactured, with sail numbers in the 2000's, and can frequently be seen on the water.

Tanzer 16 Bond Program

Tanzer 16's come on the market fairly regularly. The Tanzer 16 Class Association maintains a "bond" program, whereby the Class Association purchases these boats. Interested Tanzer owners put up a $500 bond towards a boat. The bond is held in escrow, and can be returned anytime before purchasing a boat. When boats become available, bondholders are notified. Boat prices vary, but good, race-ready boats, with a titled trailer typically run between about $1000-2500. The Class Association makes sure that the boats meet weight and other Class specifications, and that they are seaworthy. Thus, boats coming from the bond program are ready to sail and race.

The full bond can then be earned back by racing the boat for 10 days in any 1-year period (not necessarily a calendar year), and there is no "cutoff", so it is possible to wait a year or two.