The Paper Tiger is a small, single‑handed catamaran designed for accessible, close one‑design racing. Its simplicity, lightness and forgiving handling make it attractive to juniors stepping up from dinghies, experienced sailors who want sporty single‑handed catamaran work, and amateur builders who enjoy wooden construction. The class has active associations in New Zealand and Australia; both domestic club regattas and international events continue to draw healthy fleets.
Physically compact but performance‑oriented, the boat is tuned around a fully battened sail and a simple aluminium mast. The class rules are deliberately prescriptive on key measurements while allowing choices in hull material and a limited tuning range for sail controls. That keeps boats close on the race course while permitting owners to build or refurbish hulls in plywood, fibreglass, Kevlar or carbon as budgets and skills allow.
Overview and design purpose
The Paper Tiger was conceived as an affordable, competitive single‑handed catamaran for club and regional racing. The design objective was a boat that could be home‑built with basic woodworking skills, yet still offer lively performance. Tight class rules ensure racing is determined by skill and set‑up rather than expensive materials or exotic foils.
On the water the Paper Tiger sits between junior training cats and larger high‑performance machines: it is light and responsive, fast in suitable breeze, but not so extreme that it requires specialist foils or professional tuning. That balance has made it a common next step for sailors graduating from boats like the Starling and other junior classes, and it retains strong multi‑generation participation where parents and grandparents still compete alongside teenagers.
Designer, builder and production
Designer: Ron Given (New Zealand), original drawings dated 1968. Given’s design established the class that evolved into a formal international association. Over time the Paper Tiger community has grown through plan sales and local building activity.
Builder and production: The Paper Tiger is primarily a plan‑based one‑design class. Plans have been sold internationally and the boat has been widely home‑built; class records indicate thousands of plan sales and an estimated three‑thousand or more boats built. Class rules permit a range of construction methods, so there is no single factory builder tied to the class — boats are completed in plywood, GRP/fibreglass, Kevlar or carbon depending on owner preference and class measurement compliance.
Class administration: The Paper Tiger Catamaran International Association and national owner associations (for example New Zealand and Australian state associations) manage class rules, measurement and event organisation. Those bodies maintain a historical register of built boats, issue sail numbers via plan purchase and run national and international championships.
Construction and hull design
The Paper Tiger is a classic small catamaran: two slender hulls joined by crossbeams and trampoline platform. The hulls are long and relatively narrow for the boat’s length, which reduces wave resistance and yields good acceleration and upwind speed for a craft of this size.
Construction options are a defining class feature. The class rules permit plywood (the traditional material for home builders), fibreglass/GRP, Kevlar or carbon‑composite hulls. In practice many older boats are plywood and many newly built or upgraded hulls use composite skins or complete composite construction to reduce maintenance and weight. The rules set a clearly defined minimum unrigged hull/platform weight to preserve fairness between material choices.
Keel/boards and rudders: The Paper Tiger typically uses centreboards (also commonly called daggerboards or retractable centreboards in class literature) and transom‑mounted rudders. Both centreboards and rudders may be retractable to facilitate launching, landing and shallow‑water sailing. This arrangement keeps draft shallow when boards are raised and offers a clean, low‑drag underwater profile when deployed for windward work.
Rig: The boat carries a single aluminium mast supporting a fully battened mainsail (no jib). The rig is small and manageable for a solo sailor while offering sufficient sail area to be exciting in moderate to fresh breeze. The class permits a modest set of adjustable controls — downhaul, outhaul, kicker (vang) and lower forestay tension — to tune sail shape across a wide wind range.
Specifications
Cockpit, deck layout and sail handling
The Paper Tiger is an open, trampoline‑decked catamaran with simple ergonomics designed for single‑handed control. The trampoline spans between the hulls and provides the cockpit and hiking platform; there is no enclosed cockpit or cabin. Controls are routed close to the helm position so the sole sailor can manage sail trim and steering without leaving the trampoline.
Primary sail controls include mainsheet, vang (kicker), downhaul and outhaul; a lower forestay adjustment is permitted by class rules to alter mast rake/tension. The mainsheet commonly leads aft to a quick‑adjust block and cleat near the transom or to a traveller/centre‑sheeting arrangement depending on owner preference and local tuning practice. Fully battened sails preserve sail shape and provide consistent power across a broad wind range.
Deck movement is straightforward but does require attention: the narrow hull spacing and light hulls can make weight transfer and rapid movements critical in gusty conditions. Retractable rudders and centreboards simplify launching and recovery from shore and reduce the risk of damage in shallow water.
Interior and accommodation
As a lightweight racing catamaran the Paper Tiger has no interior accommodation. The boat’s liveability considerations are limited to the ergonomics of the trampoline, storage for small items (tackle, bailer, personal buoyancy) and practical space for carrying a mast, sail bags and a minimal tool kit. That simplicity reduces maintenance and keeps focus on sailing performance rather than cruising comfort.
Sailing and handling
Handling is lively and direct. The long slender hulls and light overall weight give a Paper Tiger brisk acceleration, particularly in building wind. Upwind, a well‑trimmed Paper Tiger can point reasonably high for a small catamaran thanks to its centreboards and narrow hulls; on reaches and runs the boat is fast and enjoyable for solo sailors.
Balance and helm feel depend strongly on set‑up. Correct centreboard rake and rudder alignment, combined with appropriate mast rake and sail tuning (downhaul/outhaul/kicker), keep weather helm modest and reduce pitch‑poling risk. The fully battened mainsail stabilises tell‑tale behaviour and makes trim control forgiving for sailors stepping up from conventional dinghies.
In gusty or strong conditions the Paper Tiger demands active weight control and quick mainsheet work from the solo sailor. The boat is prone to rapid acceleration and, if overpowered, can trip‑pole on accidental forward‑weight surges. Conversely, in light winds the low wetted surface and narrow hulls help maintain momentum where broader multihulls might falter.
Australian sailing uses and conditions
In Australia the Paper Tiger is chiefly sailed as a competitive one‑design class at club and state levels and at national/regional events. Its ability to handle a broad wind range means it adapts well to Australia’s varied venues: sheltered lakes and inland waters, coastal club racing in moderate conditions and protected bays where lighter winds prevail.
Typical programs include single‑handed club regattas, state championships, and the Paper Tiger Internationals — an event that alternates between Australian and New Zealand venues. The boat’s suitability for juniors makes it a useful progression class within sailing clubs that support youth pathways.
Principal strengths
- Accessible one‑design racing: tight class rules keep costs down and racing close.
- Home‑build friendly: plans and straightforward construction allow amateur builders to produce competitive boats.
- Lightweight and responsive: good acceleration and lively performance, enjoyable for a wide range of sailor weights.
- Tolerant rig and sail control package: adjustable downhaul, outhaul, kicker and lower forestay let owners tune across varying conditions.
- Active community: well‑organised national and international associations that support events, measurement and knowledge sharing.
Limitations and compromises
- No accommodation: the Paper Tiger is a pure racing machine, not a cruiser.
- Minimal safety margin in extreme conditions: the light, unballasted hulls and single sail plan mean the boat is best kept to sheltered or inshore racing rather than serious offshore work.
- Variability in construction quality: because many boats are home‑built, condition and build standard vary; second‑hand buyers must inspect carefully.
- Limited downwind control compared with foiling or large sports cats: the design predates modern foiling technology and remains displacement‑mode in heavier airs.
Ownership, maintenance and refit
Maintenance is straightforward compared with keelboats or larger catamarans, but condition depends on construction material. Plywood boats require regular attention to seams, epoxy coatings and any water ingress. Fibreglass or composite hulls reduce ongoing timber maintenance but require inspection for osmotic blistering, impact damage and delamination around beam attachments.
Common maintenance items include: checking trampoline and crossbeam fittings, inspecting and servicing centreboard trunks and rudder stocks, checking mast step and partners for wear or water ingress, and ensuring control lines and blocks remain smooth and corrosion‑free. Because boats are light, trailer and launch gear should be inspected frequently — chafe or poor support under the hulls can cause localized damage over time.
Refit considerations: owners who wish to modernise often replace sails with contemporary fully‑battened sections, update control blocks and cleats, and fit composite centreboards and rudders. Any changes that could affect class compliance must be measured and accepted by the class measurer; maintaining measurement certificates and valid sail numbers is essential for regatta eligibility.
What to inspect before buying
- Hull integrity: look for signs of water damage, soft spots, repaired impacts and delamination at hull‑to‑beam joints.
- Beam and trampoline attachments: these are load paths and frequent sources of failure — inspect bolts, backing plates and any signs of movement.
- Centreboard trunk and boards: ensure smooth operation, check for corrosion or timber rot if wooden, and owners commonly upgrade to composite boards for durability.
- Rudder stocks and gudgeons: inspect for wear, play and straightness; retractable rudders should operate freely.
- Mast step and mast condition: check for corrosion (if aluminium), dents, and soundness of the base fitting; check lower forestay and mast tangs for fatigue.
- Sail condition and battens: check for UV damage, repairs and batten wear. Fully‑battened sails are integral to controlled performance.
- Rigging and control gear: test blocks, cleats, lines and shackles; aged running rigging is inexpensive to replace but critical to safety and performance.
- Measurement and sail number paperwork: confirm the boat complies with class rules and has a valid sail number if you intend to race in class events.
Who this boat suits
The Paper Tiger best suits sailors who want a sporty, single‑handed catamaran with strong one‑design racing and an active class community. It is a natural fit for youth sailors transitioning from high‑performance dinghies, for adults seeking lively solo racing without the complexity and cost of multihull foilers, and for amateur builders who appreciate the satisfaction of constructing a competitive boat.
It is not a cruising platform — if your priorities are overnight accommodation, long‑distance passagemaking or heavy‑weather offshore sailing then other vessel types are more appropriate. For club racers, juniors and sailors after close tactical fleet racing, the Paper Tiger remains a compelling option.
**Sources consulted:** papertigercatamaran.org, papertiger.org.nz, sail‑world.com, doylesails.com