Breeze Baby: A 12 ft Catboat for Sail or Small Outboard
William D. Jackson's 12 ft Breeze Baby carries a cat rig or a 2 to 3 hp outboard on an AA plywood hull built over removable molds.
Breeze Baby is the easy-going kind of sailboat that makes learning to sail a pleasure. At 12 ft (3.7 m), it carries a single cat-rigged sail, so there is just one sheet to handle. On windless days a 2 to 3 hp outboard keeps you moving. William D. Jackson drew it in exterior AA plywood over mold frames that are removed afterwards, leaving a clean, open interior for crew and picnic baskets.
Breeze Baby at a glance
| Detail | Breeze Baby |
|---|---|
| Type | Cat-rigged sailboat |
| Length | 12 ft (3.66 m) |
| Construction | Exterior AA plywood over mold frames that are removed |
| Power | Cat-rigged sail or 2–3 hp outboard |
| Designer | William D. Jackson |
| First published | Boat Builder's Handbook, p. 118 |
| Craft Print | No. 182 |
| Plan sheets | 6 |
Simple sailing
A cat rig has only one sail, with no jib to manage, which makes it ideal for beginners and relaxed afternoons. The 12 ft (3.7 m) hull is small enough to rig quickly and handle alone. Building in AA plywood over removable molds gives a fair hull and leaves no frames cluttering the inside. A small 2 to 3 hp outboard is a handy backup when the breeze dies.
The original plan sheets
These are the 6 original sheets, scanned from the magazine. For building, use the full-size PDF in the download section below.
Who designed it
William D. Jackson drew Breeze Baby for the Boat Builder's Handbook, page 118, as Craft Print 182. The six sheets cover the molds, plywood hull and cat rig. It is a gentle, beginner-friendly design.
Before you build
- Step the mast and check all rig fittings at the dock before each sail.
- Keep the outboard light, around 2 to 3 hp, so it does not upset the boat's trim.
- Learn to sail in light winds on a sheltered lake before trying stronger breezes.
Download the plan
Breeze Baby's six original plan sheets in one file, ready to print full size or open on a tablet in the shop.
Download the complete plan (PDF, 6 sheets, 3.9 MB)
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