Real Sailors Build Their Own Boats

Here it is - just what you’ve been looking for!
It’s the FireBug, a small sailing boat that you can build at home, build at the sailing club or build at school, then learn to sail! The FireBug is a 2.4 metre sailing dinghy, a small sailboat, 8 feet long. The construction from plywood is simple and full size patterns make it almost foolproof. You can learn wooden boat building, then when the boat is complete you can say, ‘Now I’m going to teach myself to sail!’ Read more...

Stunning Success – Over 1330 planpacks sold!
Originating in the ‘City of Sails’ Auckland New Zealand (almost home of the America’s Cup) the FireBug was designed by Ruth Buckley and Peter Tait. So far over 1330 planpacks have gone to more than 35 countries. More than 600 of the small sailing dinghy have been successfully amateur built. The FireBug sails well with adults as well as children and two up on a nice day for tuition. "This is my first time at building something like this. It has been a fantastic experience!" JS Wellington
"Thank you for your quick responses via email and being such a pleasure to deal with!" BR Indian Head USA.
"Hello, I’m Nick. I’m trying to convince my teachers into building a FireBug." NA Queensland
"Congratulations on your instructions and plans. They are certainly easy to follow." F.M. Masterton
"Hello! Here it’s Maria, I am ready to start project but now I’m 3 months pregnant so I’m living to start that when I'm back in Brazil next summer. Don’t worry since I’m still in love with the Bugs!" MFBF Brazil
Read more...

It’s a Fun Project at Home or at School
It’s a fun project for dad, grandad or mum with the kids at home and for sailing clubs. And also a popular larger project for school technology classes, needy kids and charitable organisations. Students love learning from bigger projects like build a boat at school especially when they attend learn to sail classes with boats they have built themselves. Read more...

FireBug – The Fastest Small Boat in the Bay!
Quotes from happy sailors:
‘Personally I don’t really race, just cruise around (but faster than any other boat the same size)’. DT Tasmania
‘What a wonderful little sailer she is. We are delighted! He was sailing rings around us in the "Rosella’. DS Queensland
‘We soon caught up the Sabots - sailed around, over and under the them and generally blew them away.’ CS Queensland
‘He will be sailing with a fleet of El Toros at our sailing club and the boat is every bit as fast.’ RTS California. Read more...

Build a Small Boat – Costs
The finished cost to build your own FireBug using all top quality materials is typically 35-50% the cost of an equivalent off-the-shelf boat. And probably a better boat too!

Build a Small Boat – Supplies
Supplies for the woodwork are normally obtained locally as they are common building materials, not specialist marine products. In New Zealand and Australia the woodwork supplies, plywood, fastenings, glue, etc can be bought in kits direct from supportive suppliers or from FireBug Yachts. Sails, spars, rope and deck hardware are all available in kits by post or door-to-door air courier to most countries. Spars (for non class racing boats) can also be made from timber. Further details regarding building supplies are included with the Planpack.

Support for Builders
Support for builders if required is provided by email, phone or post.

Scale Model Yacht
If you are wanting to build a small model yacht, a scale model then the FireBug is suitable. Boat building plans are available for both a 1/5 and 1/3 scale model and there is also a design for a radio control yacht or sailboat. Read more...