The Mutineer is a 15′ sloop that was introduced in 1971 by Chrysler Marine’s Sailboat division. It was developed by boat designers Rod MacAlpine-Downie and Dick Gibbs. The boat was initially intended to be marketed as a beginner’s daysailer and trainer, but with the extensive features such as the roller-furling jib, spinnaker, foredeck launcher tube, boom vang, hiking straps, hiking stick, jib haulers, and more, this was no beginner’s boat. If anything, it was a racer trainer. All of these features were considered innovative, and leading edge in those days, so the fact that the basic design was never changed, and that many of the innovations are found on most of today’s racing boats says a lot about the designers. It turned out to be an all-round fun daysailer for families, couples or individuals. Her exceptionally wide beam and spacious 7′ cockpit make it easy for her to carry a large crew, yet sail on her proper lines. The Mutineer’s large sail plan feels every wisp of breeze. If you are looking for a boat that you can get into for cheap, just look around your home town. According to Dick Gibbs, the designer in charge of production, Chrysler Corp. built almost 6,000 of these boats from 1971 to 1980. When Chrysler Corp. restructured, they sold the sailboat division to Texas Marine Industries, (TMI). TMI built the boats from 1981 thru 1982. In 1982, Wellcraft Marine bought the rights to the boat and built them under the Starwind name until 1984 when Gloucester Yachts got the rights to build them. Then in 1987 Cardinal Yachts acquired the rights to be the builder. Harry Sindle, the owner of Cardinal Yachts, built some nice Buccaneers but I have never seen a Cardinal Mutineer. In 2003, Nickels Boats purchased the molds from Cardinal with plans to clean and refurbish them. NBW started building Buccaneers right away but waited until 2007 to finally clean up the molds and actually build a Mutineer. The first Mutineers in over twenty years are now being produced and sold across the United States and Canada. The craftmanship of NBW is exceptional and the boats are beautiful, so if you are in the market for a new boat visit our friends at Nickels Boat Works. |
