The design was created by Helge Wolpers, who also offers kits or the finished boat. In contrast to today's typical small cruisers, which are manufactured in Eastern Europe and designed to maximise living space, the Hamburg-born designer has focussed on beautiful lines and good sailing characteristics. According to the shipyard, the 6.15 metre long boat weighs just 400 kilograms and still offers space for two to sleep. With a large cockpit, high-quality fittings and, more importantly, a high-performance ratio of weight to sail area (sail carrying capacity) of 6.1 and a modern, stretched hull shape, the emphasis is clearly on performance and sailing fun. With its low weight, the small cruiser is of course also extremely easy to trailer.
Currently the prettiest small cruiser on the market
The boat certainly offers performance, as the test drive on Lake Ratzeburg showed. This pretty little boat is characterised by speeds of over five knots in moderate winds, high agility in manoeuvres and responsiveness at the helm. The small cruiser is available ready to sail and costs from 60,000 euros. It can also be cheaper: the kit for the hull costs around 10,000 euros.
In return, the customer receives an exquisite specimen that is almost unrivalled on the European market. The clinkered gem has a delicate, if not fragile, appearance. The edges of the clinker construction visually emphasise a pronounced, positive deck projection. The small angular superstructure with the sloping sides is painted in a natural colour, as is the half-open stern with the attached rudder. In addition, closely spaced shrouds and a self-tacking rail. All in all, an almost retro-classical, but also sporty and in any case independent appearance.
And the name? It refers to an excitatory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system, which is also known as the "neurotransmitter of happiness". That fits.
Technical data small cruiser "Dopamine":
- Hull length 6.15 m
- Width 2.02 m
- Draught 1.25 m
- Weight 400 kg
- Ballast 125 kg
- Large 14.5 square metres
- Jib 6.0 square metres
TV tip on the subject of self-build: Jan von der Banks "Remy"
More about self-build (selection):
More small cruisers:
Fridtjof Gunkel
Deputy Chief Editor YACHT
