K6

Rye, NY; The new K6 is going to an interesting place–home to one of the very first one-design classes ever, commissioned in 1899.

These 32′ gaff riggers which are still raced on today, making them the oldest one-design class continuously racing. Still sporting Egyptian cotton sails, they are a glorious and beautiful anachronism. Of the 12 original boats, one was donated to a museum, and the remainder have been lovingly maintained and passed down over the generations, remaining on their original home lake.

The new K6 is inevitably compared to the Rondar-built Viper 640. Rondar’s Dan Tucker compared them this way, “The Viper is a muscle car in comparison. The K6 is like a Lotus or Miata, very light and super responsive to the controls and helm and incredibly difficult to stall the rudder or broach.” Weighing in at only 600 pounds, compared to the Viper’s 748 pounds, with the same 262 pounds in the keel, and a narrow, easily driven hull, the K6 has a higher ballast to displacement ratio, making it extremely forgiving in the inevitable sportboat broaches. Just ease the spinnaker sheet and the boat is back on its feet and racing in seconds–no drama!

With a ready-to-race price of only $24,995 for a boat complete with trailer and Class-mandated single-source North Sails, the K6 is a tremendous value in a two-person racing boat. Fleet prices are a mere $22,495 when ordered by the six boat container.