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Fulcrum Rocket

The Rocket is that classic form made modern by way of careful and sweeping improvements across the entire platform. An old favorite has jumped forward thanks to modern methods and materials executed by Fulcrum Speedworks. This is what happens when a company that makes hi-tech foiling UFOs gets to execute a classic concept. Made from an intensely rugged and extra lightweight cored composite construction, the Rocket weighs in at 90 pounds, fully 40% lighter than conventional builds of its type. Consider the process of launching and landing it, pulling it up the beach on the dolly etc. Light things are less cumbersome and easy to move around. Your back is already thanking you. The wind likes light boats too. Light boats accelerate more easily and hold quick speeds more readily. They’re easy to handle on the water and safer as a result. At an excellent power to weight ratio, the Rocket can really move! In light wind it’s quick and in good breeze it will plane upwind, downwind and on reaches. Go there faster! It’s no UFO, but it’s an impressively quick dinghy vs. other 14 foot dinghies on the market.

The Rocket comes with an expansive full length cockpit which stretches all the way to the stern. This allows ample room to bring friends or cargo. Three or four kids can easily take the Rocket for a sail together, two adults can take the Rocket for a sail together. With 6 feet 3 inches of floor length on the cockpit, there are easily four feet of cargo space in the back for dry-bags while still leaving room to sail comfortably. This makes the Rocket the pickup truck of the dinghy world. Stick your camping gear in the back and use it for sail-powered backpacking, or simply go sailing with the dog and a big cooler. You name it, it’ll go in your Rocket.

Hoisting the sail could not possibly be any easier thanks to the Rocket’s timeless tried-and true lateen sail setup. The sail, boom and gaffe lay down on the deck waiting for the halyard to be pulled. Pull the halyard 10 feet and cleat it. Congratulations! You’re done. Go sailing. Repeat these steps in reverse when you land. There is a good reason why the lateen sail has been uses on millions of production sailing dinghies since the 1950’s. Dollar for dollar, outing for outing, nothing gets the job done more easily.

Length: 14 feet, 2 inches Beam: 4 feet 4 inches Draft: 2 feet 9 inches. Hull weight: 90 pounds Sail area: 81 square feet

This product is not sold online. Contact us for a quote.

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Fulcrum’s Latest Rocket Launch

• By Dave Reed
• Updated: December 23, 2020

If one were strolling the shoreline of Bristol, Rhode Island, in late 2020, one might have admired a small craft gliding across Narragansett Bay. Low to water and swift, it was a dinghy for sure. But what the heck was it?

A triangular lateen-looking sail with thick red, white and blue stripes might lead one to believe it to be a Sunfish. Or even a Sailfish. Nope. It was the new Fulcrum Speedworks Rocket prototype. It may have looked old school from afar, but as the saying goes, looks can be deceiving.

The prototype launched that day by Dave Clark, the young entrepreneur and boatbuilder responsible for the pint-sized UFO foiling catamaran, has plenty of back story, and we’ll get to that shortly, but first, we must face the big colorful elephant in the room. Yes, that would be the Sunfish, the most iconic recreational centerboard dinghy of all time.

The Rocket is kind of like a Sunfish, but is not a Sunfish. It is a Sunfish that has been modified in very targeted and specific ways to make it perform better while maintaining simplicity and low cost. Steve Clark, David’s father and co-developer, says this is the combination of attributes sailors and small-craft dealers across the United States are seeking today. If anyone would know, it would be Steve, past president of Vanguard Sailboats, once the dominant builder of one-design dinghies in the States—including the Sunfish. According to both father and son, the Sunfish’s builder, LaserPerformance, has not met this demand and there is an opportunity to deliver “an alternate fundamental product in the marketplace.”

“With the UFO, we already have a very technologically advanced and different product,” says Dave Clark. “It sells well to people who want tectonic change. We wanted to add a boat for those who the UFO doesn’t appeal to as much. The sailing market on this continent gets showered with ‘smarter’ boats time and time again, and for hundreds of thousands of board boat purchases, those people have passed.”

Why, Clark then posits, do so many sailors today still choose to buy iconic boats of the past— new, used, beaters and all? That’s easy: “Simplicity, safety, ease of use, cost.”

With a demand accelerated by a pandemic-induced rush on small boats, Clark’s company, Fulcrum Speedworks , had been looking for an opportunity to add something to its line. The opportunity presented itself when he came across a collection of small-boat tooling listed on craigslist. A score he identified in the pile of molds was the tools for the 14-foot Howmar Phantom. He and a buddy promptly rented a Penske truck and beelined to Bethel, Maine, where he forked over $1,800, dragged molds out of the barn and drove away with a bed full of fiberglass history and the start of his next venture.

“There’s always been a need for a new-model year of this thing,” says Clark who has an obvious fondness for what he says is “a uniquely potent example” of a good board-boat hull. “For those who don’t know the Howmar Phantom, it’s the second-most successful board boat ever introduced—after the Sunfish,” he says. “They sold about 1,000 of them per year for about a decade through the late 70s and early 80s.”

The elder Clark, a student and professor of high-performance sailing, says the Sunfish, Phantom and others of its ilk fall under the category of “board boat,” which he likens to the various scows preferred by American lake and flat-water sailors. “[Board boats and scows] are hard bilged with a bow whose primary entry angle is parallel to the water plane,” he says. “They could also be considered sharpies. In particular, V-bottom sharpies like Lightnings, Windmills and Snipes, but the low freeboard and beam-to-length ratio place them more in the scow genus. Board boats and scows both feature generous low-aspect-ratio sail plans. The result is a high sail area-to-displacement ratio and sail-area-to-wetted-surface ratio with a very low center of effort.”

Translation: they’re wickedly versatile boats across the wind range.

The Phantom was marketed as the recreational family sportsboat at the time, Clark says. During the 1970s, there were numerous attempts to capture a share of the board-boat market and take a slice out of Sunfish’s dominance. Builders littered the continent with cheap clones that were not as good; the Howmar Phantom was an exception. “It was not just a cheaper Sunfish but a slightly larger board boat that brought new performance and features to the party,” says Steve Clark. “I could design a new hull, and I flatter myself that it would be better than the Phantom hull, but we would have to go to some effort to prove that claim.”

So rather than start from scratch with an entirely new design, they simply improved upon the Phantom. “We saw the opportunity to salvage a storied and well-thought hull, and reconfigure it within its own legacy,” says Dave Clark. “This boat was destined to be constantly improved and renewed, so we are carrying on that journey into the 21st Century.”

How so? You have to see it to believe it, as I did on a recent raw winter’s night, meeting Dave Clark after dark at the family farm in Warren, Rhode Island. Inside a barn, alongside a half-restored wooden International 14 and an almost complete new International Canoe, the white-hulled Rocket prototype sat on its dolly, its sail and spars piled atop, ready to launch at any whim. The most noticeable feature is the deck layout—Clark did away with the Phantom’s crammed and enclosed cockpit and stretched it wide open from the centerboard trunk all the way to the transom. Through saving weight with a modern laminate and materials and ensuring it has durability (and yes, he smacked the deck forcefully to show me it could take a bit of blunt-force trauma), Clark says he now has a board boat that “will perform better and be a better family boat than before.” Better foils will certainly help, too.

In the process of 3D scanning the tooling, he says, they started to question a lot of the highly-improvable areas of the boat. Consequently, he butchered the old deck mold to get what he wanted: a more comfortable, more practical, and better-looking craft. The original Phantom eventually weighed upwards of 130 pounds (dry) so Clark set out to shave that down considerably, for the obvious reason that a proper beach boat better be easy to move around and put atop the family wagon.

“Make something light and strong and you’ve already done the best thing for it,” he says. Using a vacuumed-bagged vinylester resin and thermoplastic honeycomb core laminate, he has the hull weight reduced to a respectable 90 pounds.

Light. Strong. What else could he possibly do to redeliver a universal centerboard dinghy that a wide-range of sailors can relate to? That’s easy. He preserved the lateen rig (although, technically, Steve Clark points out, it’s a crab-claw sail), iconic and simple in its setup and trim: one mast, two lightweight spars linked with Spectra strops and a single halyard. “There were countless conversations about putting something more modern on it,” he says. “I can walk up to this thing and start it like a lawnmower. Pull the string, cleat it, and off we go. There’s not a simpler rigging system on the planet than a lateen mainsail. It’s a throwback but for a really good reason.”

Clark says the first hulls of the Fulcrum Rocket will be punched out in January 2021 and he’s already taking orders ($4,600 including North Sails Dacron sail and Fulcrum-made dolly). He’s forecasting a production run of several per week, so step right up, he says, because this Rocket launch is going to the stratosphere. And if, by chance, your goal is to go higher, ask him about the optional “Interceptor” upgrade…the one with the rudder elevators. Because good is never good enough.

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Sku: rocket fulcrum rocket.

• Description

The Rocket is the ultimate recreational sailboat - designed with the latest construction and materials to be light weight, stable, easy to rig, simple to sail, and sure to make everyone smile. If you're looking for a sailboat for the family, the Rocket is a great fit. The 6' open cockpit has plenty of room for 2 adults and even safe inboard seating for small childern. All of this comes in at just 90 lbs making the Rocket easy for anyone to mange on land and on the water. Plus, that light weight design also give the boat great acceleration and make it esier to maintain higher speeds - all in the name of pure fun.

If having fun on the water with the family is your goal, the Rocket is your boat.

• Light weight hull - Only 90 lbs!
• Easy to rig and simple to maintain lateen style rig
• Inboard seating for small children
• Soft, comfy, non-slip foam grip on the cockpit floor
• North Sails sail with window
• Ratcheting mainsheet block
• Made in the USA
• Length: 14' 2"
• Width: 4' 4"
• Hull Weight: 90 lbs
• Fully Rigged Weight: 110 lbs
• Sail Area: 81 sq ft

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Fulcrum Rocket

Introducing the Fulcrum Rocket, a remarkable sailboat that combines ruggedness, lightweight construction, and exceptional stability for an unparalleled sailing experience. Crafted from extra lightweight cored composite materials, this vessel weighs a mere 90 pounds, making it effortless to handle both on land and water. One of the standout features of the Rocket is its easy launching and landing capabilities, allowing you to embark on sailing adventures with utmost convenience. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a novice, the Rocket makes the entire process hassle-free, and the lightweight and stable construction of the boat ensures a safer sailing experience compared to other boats on the market. Comfort and versatility are also key aspects of the Rocket’s design. The boat is equipped with an easy-to-use sail system and features a full-length cockpit that stretches all the way to the stern, providing ample space for passengers and cargo. Whether you’re planning a solo adventure or a group outing, everyone can enjoy the journey comfortably.  The Rocket is a testament to innovation, combining cutting-edge materials, thoughtful design, and ease of use. This sailboat is a true gem for those seeking memorable adventures on the water. Get ready to set sail and explore the world with the Fulcrum Rocket!

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Taking Off with the Rocket Board September 14, 2022

Back in the late 1950’s, our Dad bought a Sunfish for the family. (He was too cheap to spring for the slightly more expensive Sunfish, which had a little cockpit for your feet!) Made by Alcort, this surfboard-with-a-sail could be tossed into the back of the family station wagon for the short drive to a nearby lake: unload on the beach, stick in the mast, raise the lateen sail, drop in the daggerboard and hook up the tiller and … that’s how we learned to sail!

Fast forward seventy odd years, and what’s old is new again with Fulcrum Speedworks exciting new entry into the popular board boat category: the Rocket Board Boat.

Of course, technology has not slowed in those seventy years, so the 14-foot long Rocket is made with rugged but extra-light-weight cored composite construction and weighs just 90 pounds. And instead of a tiny footwell, the Rocket’s cockpit is a full six feet, three inches in length, providing plenty of room for two adults, one adult and two kids, three kids, lots of gear … well, there’s lots of room. Some have taken to calling this boat “the pickup truck of the dinghy world.”

And performance? Boy howdy, this thing can fly! Board boats are great fun because they are close to the water and responsive to every gust. This is elemental sailing at its best. It points into the wind like a dream, yet it’s stable and controllable even in heavy winds. And the boom clearance is designed so you and your passengers don’t have to duck every time you tack or jibe.

People have loved board boats for generations. They are simple, easy to use, safe, and affordable. And they can move like a bat outta hell!

Have you seen the Rocket yet? Come take a look at one at Fay’s Boat Yard . If it’s not out on the lake being sailed by someone having more fun than is probably legal.

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Fulcrum Speed Works Rocket

Draft (board down):, manufacturer:, hull colour:.

The Rocket is fun and fast little sailboat. It is very similar to a Sunfish but with a bigger cockpit which will make it easier to sail with 2 people. The boat comes complete with all the parts needed to go sailing. 

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Recreational sailing dinghy Rocket single-handed double-handed catboat

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$ 5,200.00

Launch into a new adventure on a strikingly innovative execution of a timeless favorite. 90 lbs of hull weight, built for strength, built for fun and built to go quick. Built to take friends along.

Please contact us for availability, share this:.

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Description

Rocket  “the classic – made modern.”.

Light Weight = Easier and Faster!

6’3″ Cockpit – Room Galore!

The Rocket comes with an expansive full length cockpit which stretches all the way to the stern. The cockpit bottom is padded with soft non-slip marine deck foam which is both gentle to the touch and rugged to survive the elements. This allows ample room to bring friends or cargo. Three or four kids can easily take the Rocket for a sail together, two adults can take the Rocket for a sail together.

Lateen Rig – Ease of Use!

Hoisting the sail could not possibly be any easier thanks to the Rocket’s timeless tried-and true lateen sail setup. The sail, boom and gaff lay down on the deck waiting for the halyard to be pulled. Pull the halyard 10 feet and cleat it. Congratulations! You’re done. Go sailing. Repeat these steps in reverse when you land. There is a good reason why the lateen sail has been used on millions of production sailing dinghies since the 1950’s. Dollar for dollar, outing for outing, nothing gets the job done more easily.

Each $5200 Rocket is a complete “sailaway package” with -Fully outfitted hull -Complete assembled mast and spars -Sail and all lines and ropes -daggerboard and rudder

ORDER YOUR ROCKET TODAY:

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How do i rig the rocket sailboat | rigging the rocket, by fulcrum speedworks.

So you’ve just purchased your Rocket sailing dinghy and you’re eager to get out on the shimmering sea. “But wait a second, how do I rig a lateen sail?” you ask. Don’t worry, you’ve come the right place! The Rocket rigging tutorial above will break down each and every step of the process. Lucky for you, it’s not much of a process at all, it’s actually quite simple. Let's take a look!  

You will not be able to rig your sail without a couple of knots. There are only a few knots to know for The Rocket, so put away that notebook. Here are the knots you will need to know:  

If you have any questions about rigging your Rocket reach out to us at   contact.fulcrumspeedworks@ gmail.com  

Why does my center board not stay down?

The Rocket has many issues. The owner, who I have been in contact with, admits this. I own a first version Rocket. Here are some fixes for you: Hull: Lightly sand hull edge because it is sharp. Halyard: the rope I got slipped right through the clam cleats. I bought a softer rope that held and then installed 2 standard cleats and did not use the manufacturer’s parts. The Boom/Mast junction with a ribbed rubber sleeve does not work. Use bungie cords to lash the boom to the mast…unless you want your boom dragging in the water. Rudder? The stock setup has a poly cord leading to a cleat that does not hold. Replace the cleat with a standard cleat. Replace cheap, poly cord with a thicker poly/dacryon cord. This will keep the rudder down. Release as you approach shallow water. Replace all 3 cords tying the sail to the boom and mast. They are cheap, weak poly. Replace what passes as a bow rope handle with 1/4 in dacryon rope with a sleeve. * My issues with the rocket are regarding a 2022 “beta” version. The owner sent me info that he has corrected the issues I stated to him. He has not offered a “fix” to his beta owners nor the parts to fix the issue any honest, recreational sailor would have known using COVID as his excuse. There is a club in NY that races these boats with satisfaction. They have the corrected boats. Fulcrum also offers a Rocket with a much larger sail and has a proper boom/mast junction and a few fixes for past issues. For most, the standard will be fast enough.

Hello, we are heading into our second summer with the Fulcrum Rocket. All went well last year except we could not figure out how to rig the rudder so that it will stay down when we want it to stay down (most of the time we are sailing) and stay up when we want it to stay up (when we are hauling the boat out of the water on a small trailer). Our old Sunfish solved this with a spring, as you probably know. Is there a trick for the Rocket? Thank you, Peter

Hi, I purchased a rocket last year and now am finally in a situation where I can take it out. I was going through the video to rig the sailboat and am stuck with the Rolling Hitch knot to attach the halyard. I find it slips and doesn’t hold – very frustrating!! Even in your link for a rolling hitch it mentions that it doesn’t work well with modern line. Any other knot you would recommend? Also, do you have an instructional manual on how to rig the Rocket? I think that would be helpful for us novice sailors. Thanks

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Rocket Explodes in Epic Fireball During Test

Trial by fire.

A rocket exploded this week during a test in the UK's Shetland islands, resulting in a massive fireball that engulfed the entire launchpad.

No one was injured in the epic blaze, according to The BBC , which was set off during a round of testing for the German spacefaring company Rocket Factory Augsburg's (RFA) vertical rocket, meaning it takes off from an upright position directly from a launchpad — a complex launch process that demands an immense amount of energy and power.

"We will take our time to analyze and assess the situation," RFA told The New York Times , adding that the fire was caused by one of the space industry's choicest euphemisms: an "anomaly." SaxaVord Spaceport, the builder of the launch structure, told the BBC that "this was a test, and test campaigns are designed to identify issues prior to the next stage."

"We will work with RFA to understand and learn from the causes," SaxaVord added, "and support them as they move forward to the next phase of their preparations."

If RFA is ultimately successful in building its rocket, its launch would be the first vertical rocket launch in European history, according to the BBC. Judging by the massive fireball, however, the rocket company might still have a ways to go.

A rocket engine exploded in flames, spewing plumes of fire and smoke into the air during a test at the SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland, which last year became Britain's first licensed vertical rocket launch site https://t.co/y30tWAIIOj pic.twitter.com/VF1kFT9Les — Reuters (@Reuters) August 20, 2024

Drawing Board

Per the BBC , SaxaVord hasn't been operating for very long, having been first approved for orbital launches by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as recently as December 2023. And unfortunately for a few other spacefaring hopefuls, RFA wasn't the launchpad operator's only client; European rocketmakers HyImpulse and Skyrora were both slated to use the port, as was a German offshoot of Lockheed Martin dubbed ABL Space Systems (although the latter was due to use the launchpad to send smaller payloads into orbit, not test rockets.)

The CAA, for its part, is defending RFA and SaxaVord. In a statement posted to X-formerly-Twitter , the governing body wrote that "advancing space technology is complex" and "tests like the one at SaxaVord are essential to achieve future success."

"Incidents like this are anticipated by operators and the regulations," the CAA added.

At the end of the day, though expensive and destructive, this kind of stuff does happen pretty frequently in spaceflight, especially during earlier testing rounds. We're glad no one's hurt, and hey — at least the mistake happened down on the ground.

More on rockets exploding: Spacex Rocket Suffers Catastrophic Failure, Explodes While Deploying Satellites

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