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The Howmar 12, sometimes written Howmar Twelve, is an American sailing dinghy that was designed by Craig V. Walters of Sparkman & Stephens as a one-design racer, trainer and day sailer and first built in 1983.^[1][2][3][4]

The design was Sparkman & Stephens’ design #2405. It was built by Howmar Boats Inc. and its successor company, The New Howmar Boats Corp, in the United States, starting in 1983. A total of 200 boats were completed, but it is now out of production.^[1][4][5]

The Howmar 12 is a recreational sailboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim and foam flotation. It has a fractional sloop with anodized aluminum spars and a loose-footed mainsail, with an adjustable outhaul. The hull features a nearly plumb stem, a vertical transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a retractable centerboard. Both the centerboard and rudder are made from polyurethane. The boat displaces 175 lb (79 kg) and is self-bailing.^[1][4]

The boat has a draft of 2.50 ft (0.76 m) with the centerboard extended and 0.33 ft (0.10 m) with it retracted, allowing beaching or ground transportation on a trailer or car roof rack.^[1]

The design’s sharp prow is intended to cut though waves and the design is capable of planing. It incorporates dry storage in a bow compartment.^[4]

Factory options included a boom vang, a hinged mast step, hiking straps and a mount for an outboard motor.^[4]

In a 1994 review Richard Sherwood wrote, “roomy for its size, the Howmar Twelve is a racer, trainer, and day sailer. The hull’s light weight makes for easy cartopping.”^[4]

• List of sailing boat types

• Howmar 12 photo
• Howmar 12 photo