Old Salt 15

The Old Salt 15 is the highly anticipated new sailboat design from Brandon Davis  and Josh Colvin and available exclusively through Kit Boats Co..

Designed from scratch with one goal in mind—ease of use—the Old Salt 15 is perfect for anyone who wants more sailing and less hassle. For many older sailors, tasks like stepping a heavy mast or keeping balance on a tippy boat can be major challenges. But even for the able-bodied, who doesn’t appreciate simplicity and stability? After all, the best boat is the one you actually use.

The Old Salt is a wide, stable catboat with just one sail—making it simple and stress-free. Built using the stitch-and-glue method, it’s available as an easy-to-assemble kit. A few smart innovations make this perhaps the most effortless boat of its size to rig, launch, and sail.

Highlights include:

• Ultralight 2-piece carbon fiber mast that steps easily by inserting the base into a socket on the cockpit sole and walking it up through a supportive cabin-top slot—no wrestling required.

• Water ballast for additional stability without added weight during transport.

• Boomless, full-battened sail to save on rigging time, reduce cost, and improve onboard safety.

The Rig: Simplicity in Action

The rig may be the most unconventional part of the OS15:

• A lightweight two-piece carbon fiber mast stows inside the boat and simply drops into a mast box.

• A single halyard hoists a battened, boomless square-topped sail 

• Snap on the downhaul and mainsheet, hoist the main—and you’re sailing.

• Reefing? Just move the shackles up one grommet.

That’s it. No mast-raising gear. No stays. No boom. No yard. No jib sheets or hardware.

Why Boomless?

There are actually plenty of successful precedents, and with the Pram and Scout we’ve shown that boomless rigs are not only viable but preferable in many ways:

Benefits:

• Less clutter and gear

• Lighter, easier to rig

• Fewer parts, lower cost

• No boom to trip on when heeling

• No swinging boom to worry about ducking

All considered, there may not be an easier rig to handle than the Old Salt’s. It will stow neatly, raise effortlessly, and rig in minutes.

Simple to Build, Easy to Customize

The OS15 kit has been designed with simplicity in mind: puzzle joints, tabs, and scribes to help locate parts and speed construction. Builders can choose to dress it up with bronze and brightwork—or just slap paint on and go sailing.

Not Just for Seniors

As we progressed, we realized: everything that makes this boat perfect for older sailors also makes it ideal for kids or new sailors. Who wouldn’t want a boat that’s simple, safe, and ultra-stable? Even more surprising was how excited we got about the boat for ourselves. Simplicity, comfort, and capability appeal across all age groups.

Despite its easy handling, the Old Salt should offer sparkling performance. She’ll be light and lively in light air—and even when ballasted her sail area-to-displacement ratio puts her up with race boats.

And for those seeking a little additional adrenaline? Brandon has drawn an optional bowsprit-asymmetrical spinnaker option, which we call the Tequila Package. It’s simple to add, doesn’t require shrouds or stays, and it effectively doubles sail area and transforms the Old Salt into a sportboat.

A Boat You’ll Use More?

A question we like to ask it this: How do you actually use your boat? And how much more often would you sail if trailering, launching, rigging and sailing required significantly less effort?

We’ve designed the Old Salt 14 with aging sailors in mind—but in making her simple, safe, and elegant, we think we’ve created a boat that should appeal to anyone who values enjoyment over complexity, and time on the water over time at the ramp.

BUILD TIME AND DIFFICULTY RATING: Easy/Moderate (approx 250 hours)