Building

Enjoying Boatbuilding – At Home, Club, or School

Dads, mums, grandads, teenagers, schools—everyone’s getting involved, and loving it!
Building a Rainbow is a fun, hands-on project that brings people together, whether it’s in the garage at home, a school tech room, or a sailing club workshop. You don’t need to be a pro—just some basic skills, a few essential tools, and a space that can serve as a temporary workshop.

Many Rainbow builders have never built more than a bookcase before, and they’ve successfully completed their boats. If they can do it, so can you!

Tools & The Home Workshop

A well-equipped workshop is great—but not essential. You’ll be surprised at what can be achieved with just the basics. The most important tools are patience, curiosity, and a willingness to learn.

If you’ve got:

A drill
A jigsaw or handsaw
Some clamps
A sander
And a good work surface...

... you’re already most of the way there!

With detailed instructions, CNC-cut kits, and modern materials like epoxy, the building process is simpler and more forgiving than ever. Whether you're doing it solo or as a group project, the sense of achievement when you step into a boat you built yourself is something special.

Getting It About – Storage & Transport Made Simple

One of the great joys of small boats like the Rainbow is how easy they are to store and transport.

Rainbows are incredibly versatile:

Trailerable: Tow them on a standard trailer—either alone or stacked with others, such as on top of a powerboat or catamaran.
Stackable: Clubs or families with multiple Rainbows often store them in a space-saving stack.
Roof Rack Ready: For a budget-friendly option, a single Rainbow can travel easily on a car roof rack—no trailer needed!

Easy to Store

Unlike many other 12-foot dinghies, the Rainbow is compact. With a hull depth of just 375mm (excluding breakwater), three Rainbows can fit in the space it takes to store one Heron or 125. That means more boats, more fun, and less hassle with storage space.

Learning the Language of Sailing

Every sport has its own lingo—and sailing is no exception. Whether you stick with small boats or move on to larger yachts, learning the basic sailing terms is a key part of building confidence on the water.

To help new sailors get started, the Rainbow building instructions include a glossary of sailing and boatbuilding terms—perfect for beginners of any age.

Sailing Clubs & Community Involvement

Introducing Rainbows at a sailing club can generate great publicity—and even greater opportunity. For example, local high schools may become interested in building their own fleets. Club members can support these initiatives by helping with:

Construction guidance
Boat storage
Learn-to-sail sessions
Mentoring programs

Keen students can then go on to join the club and become active members of the sailing community—bringing fresh energy and future champions into the fold.

Build a Boat at School – Fun, Practical Learning

Yes, you heard right—fun learning in the classroom! Across Australia, schools are getting hands-on with the Rainbow as part of practical education programs. Some schools even receive special funding, and students can earn credits towards future vocational or tertiary study.

Kids love it—and there are even stories of students working on their boats after school hours, completely hooked on their project!