| The Lido 14 Sailboat |
A History
The Lido 14 sailboat is exclusively manufactured by the W.D. Schock Corporation.
Lido 14 history begins with Barney Lehman, boat builder and designer. Barney, best known for his Lehman series of dinghies, had been in development of a 14 foot version of his successful Lehman 10 when he sold his business to W.D. "Bill" Schock. Bill, a successful small boat builder, completed the work that Barney had started by creating a fractional sloop rig, increasing the boat's beam for stability, adding internal seat tanks for comfort and buoyancy, and providing a foredeck and a deck stepped rig rather than the Lehman's traditional keel stepping.
The year was 1958 and the location was Newport Beach, California. Newport Beach is one of the sailing centers of the nation, due primarily to the mild weather and the extensive sailing environs of Newport Bay. The bay, naturally created by the void between coastal bluff and a peninsula running along the Pacific Coast, was originally nothing more than sandbars and silt from estuaries. Dredging and development led to a navigable harbor containing eight islands, thirteen yacht clubs and boating associations, thousands of "cottages" large and small, nearly an equal number of boats, and 26 miles of shoreline. It is an ideal location for family sailing and served as the impetus to build a simple, fun, and comfortable sailing dinghy.
What followed is nothing short of spectacular. Within three short years, almost 1000 boats had been built. By 1970, with the total approaching 3000. Of these, a very large percentage involved in competitive racing around the nation. It was common for relatively minor regattas to have 60 or more boat and major regattas having limits of 100. As with all one-design boats of the era, the popularity of the Lido 14 peaked in the mid-70's. By 1980, the total number of boats constructed had risen to nearly 5000 but the number of new boats was quickly decreasing. A testament to the quality of the construction is that boats built in 1960 are still actively racing and will continue to sail many years to come given a little maintenance and loving care. Perhaps to the chagrin of W.D. Schock Corp., the availability of quality used boats sustains the popularity of the Lido 14, providing an unmatched entry into the wonderful world of small boat sailing.
Currently, the Lido 14 is experiencing resurgence due to the continued support from the Lido 14 Class Association and the tremendous effort of W.D. Schock Corp. to revitalize the Lido 14 for the 1990's and beyond. In 1995, W.D. Schock Corp. re-introduced the Lido 14 with a modern two piece mold design that greatly reduced the complexity and cost of construction while simultaneously improving upon the safety, comfort, and longevity of the design. The "new" Lido 14 was showcased to the nation in the running of the 1996 U.S. Sailing Championship of Champions held in Newport Beach (see photo). This event, held in conjunction with U.S. Sailing's annual meeting, brings twenty one-design class champions together in a common boat to crown one sailor the champion of champions.
Contact the factory for further technical information, authorized dealers, etc.
| W.D. Schock Corp. | www.wdschock.com |
| 23125 Temescal Canyon Road | Email: schock@schock.com |
| Corona, California 92883USA | Phone: (951) 277-3377 |
| Length Overall | 14 Feet |
| Beam | 6 Feet |
| Draft - Centerboard Raised | 5 Inches |
| Draft - Centerboard Lowered | 4 Feet 3 Inches |
| Sail Area - Main | 76 Square Feet |
| Sail Area - Jib | 35 Square Feet |
| Spar Material | Aluminum |
| Hull Construction | Hand Laid Fiberglass |
| Weight (Fully Rigged) | 310 Pounds |
| Seating Area | 4+ Adults |