The Raven is a recreational sailboat, originally built of cold molded plywood. In 1951 it was converted to be constructed of fiberglass, with teak wood trim, including the cockpit coaming. It has a fractionalsloop rig with aluminum spars, including a double-spreader mast, supported by stainless steelstanding rigging. The hull has a spooned raked stem, an angled transom, an internally mounted, fiberglass, spade-type rudder controlled by a tiller and a retractable fiberglass centerboard. It displaces 1,170 lb (531 kg) and carries no ballast.[1][2][6]
The boat has a draft of 5.33 ft (1.62 m) with the centreboard extended and 7 in (18 cm) with it retracted, allowing beaching or ground transportation on a trailer.[1]
Class rule changes instituted in 1970 allowed for a one-piece aluminum centerboard, a trapeze, a full width mainsheet traveler mounted on the aft deck and hiking straps.[2]
The design has a Portsmouth Yardstick racing average handicap of 82.6 and is normally raced by a crew of three sailors.[2]
Operational history
When the Raven was first built of fiberglass, starting in 1951, the initial eight production boats were purchased by the United States Coast Guard Academy for cadet training.[2]
