The H-Boat is a one-design keelboat

Keelboat

Keelboat has two distinct meanings related to two different types of boats: one a riverine cargo-capable working boat, and the other a classification for small- to mid-sized recreational sailing yachts.-Historical keel-boats:...

 designed by Finnish Hans Groop

Hans Groop

Hans Groop, born 1932 in Vaasa is a Finnish yacht designer based in Helsinki.He has designed more than a hundred yachts and motorboats, the most famous being the H-boat, one of the most popular yacht classes in the world. Hans Groop has been a lifelong member of the HSS - a leading yachtclub for...

 in 1967, with some minor modifications by Paul Elvstrøm

Paul Bert Elvstrøm

Paul Bert Elvstrøm is a yachtsman from Denmark. He has won world championships fifteen times in eight different types of boat, including Snipe, Soling, Star, Flying Dutchman and Finn....

 in 1971. The boat gained international status in 1977. Since 1967 over 5000 hulls

Hull (watercraft)

A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...

 have been made, making it one of the most popular yacht classes in the world. The boat is mostly sailed and raced in Nordic countries

Nordic countries

The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...

 and Central Europe, although there are a few boats in the UK

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 and the US. It is still a popular cruising/racing yacht, with 69 boats participating in 2007 H-boat World Championships.

Used H-boats are fairly inexpensive, so it is popular for people looking for their first yacht

Yacht

A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...

. Major manufacturers of H-Boats have been Eagle Marine (Finland), Elvstrøm (Denmark), Scanboat (Åland), Hydrospeed (Finland), Artekno (Finland), Botnia Marin (Finland), O.L. Boats (Denmark), Ott Yacht (Germany) and Frauscher (Austria).

Trivia

The "H" in the name "H-boat" is derived from the Greek mythology

Greek mythology

Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...

 goddess Hestia

Hestia

In Greek mythology Hestia , first daughter of Cronus and Rhea , is the virgin goddess of the hearth, architecture, and of the right ordering of domesticity and the family. She received the first offering at every sacrifice in the household. In the public domain, the hearth of the prytaneum...

, not "H"ans Groop.

Groop also designed H-35 and H-323, both based on H-boat but much larger.

External links

• Class Page
• H-Boat UK Class Association
• H-boat Finnish Class Association
• H-boat Swedish Class Association
• H-boat Norwegian Class Association
• H-boat German Class Association
• H-boat Austrian Class Association

ISAF licensed H-Boat builders (06/2008):

• Bootswerft Frauscher
• Eagle Marine
• Ott-Yacht