Bombardier 7.6

The Bombardier 7.6 is a Canadian sailboat racer design by Ron Holland, first built in 1980.

Production

The design was built by Bombardier Limited in Canada between 1980 and 1983, with about 163 boats completed, but it is now out of production.

Design

The Bombardier 7.6 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fibreglass. It has a fractional sloop rig, a raked stem, a slightly reverse transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller and a fixed fin keel. It displaces 3,300 lb (1,497 kg) and carries 985 lb (447 kg) of lead ballast.

The boat has a draft of 4.50 ft (1.37 m) with the standard keel fitted. The design is normally fitted with a small outboard motor of 3 to 6 hp (2.2 to 4.5 kW) for docking and maneuvering.

Several different port configurations were used during production, including a single and double side portlight.

The design has sleeping accommodation for five people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin, an dinette table in the main cabin that converts to a double berth and an aft starboard quarter berth. Cabin headroom is 54 in (140 cm).

The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 165, with a low of 159 and a high of 171.

Operational history

In 2009 a Bombardier 7.6, named Gizmo, sailed by Marc Doedens and his father, Ric Doedens, won the overall Lake Ontario 300 competition.

In a 2010 review Steve Henkel wrote, "best features: She is quick and agile, and with her Ron Holland pedigree, she is apt to make the average around-the-buoys racer happy, while still serving the typical young sailing family as an overnight cruiser. Worst features: Her iron keel and thin hull may need more than the usual amount of maintenance to keep in first-class condition."