I’m very grateful for the modest success of the kits that I’ve offered here for more than seven years. Support from skippers all across America has been entirely positive. My biggest regret is that I couldn’t offer them economically to international customers.
“All good things must come to an end,” they say. So it is with a some regret that I’m selling off the remaining inventory of kits and won’t make any more.
- $tingy Sailor Pop Top EZ-Lift Kit [SOLD OUT]
- $tingy Sailor Lazarette EZ-Lift Kit [SOLD OUT]
- $tingy Sailor Double-Ended Main Sheet Upgrade Kit [SOLD OUT]
The reason is that sales have declined steadily for the past several years to the point where it isn’t practical for me to continue to stock the parts and materials that are required. Also, I have never raised the prices of the kits despite climbing inflation. The sad reality is that the sport of sailing is slowly dying. Younger generations than mine are more interested in the speed, excitement, and convenience of power boating than learning the unique skills and simple joys of sailing. If you’ve been a long time follower of this blog, I trust that you’ll keep sailing as long as you’re able and that you’ll share your love of sailing with others, whether they choose to take it up or not.
So if you’ve been thinking about purchasing one of the kits above, now is the time. Click any of the links above or in the menu to learn more and place your order today. I’ve cut prices $5-$20 on each kit. This sale is limited to current stock only, first-come, first-served. Six or less than of each kit are available. When they’re gone, they’re gone, and the pages linked above will disappear accordingly.
Note that I am NOT shutting everything else down. This website will remain live as long as sufficient numbers of people visit it to keep it in the green. I will also continue to sell the ebooks. With over 230 articles published here, there’s bound to be many that you haven’t read yet, so dig in!
Ever windward,
$tingy
The $tingy Sailor 
Oops! That page can’t be found
All 3 of your links
Sorry ’bout that. Links are fixed now.
Hello. I have two of the three kits left already and I love them. I went to get the third since it won’t be available after they’re gone, but the normal price shows when I go to check out.
I also got the book of patterns and have used the cushion one to make a few cushions. Thank you for putting all of this together! I’m glad the articles will continue to be available.
Prices during checkout have been fixed. Thank you for your support, Linda!
None of the links to the kits work. FYI Sent from my iPhoneOn Aug 22, 2026,
The links have been fixed.
Re: younger generations
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Hold out hope, $tingy. I might be a generation younger, and in taking my kids to sailing camp, I am seeing a good number of kids interested in sailing. My daughters really appreciate being on the water, camping, and exploring — without having to burn fossil fuels.
A generation younger than me (those in their 20s and 30s) might not be financially able, because they’re getting hosed by so many expenses rising, and AI-hype thrashing the job market. But, that too will pass, and the appreciation of sailing will rise again.
Dear Stingy, I had a great experience this past week. I have an annual trip to an island in Maine where I drag up the McGregor 26 to go sailing for a day or two or three in Penobscott Bay. This year on the island, there were three interns working for the state of Maine to help maintain the trails on the island. Two of the interns were both very interested in sailing since they had both seen sailboats but no one had ever offered them the opportunity to be on one and especially not to learn how to sail. I took them both out and we spent quite a bit of time explaining how sails work and why they do what they do.This may be beginning of a sailing career for two young people. It is really important for those of us of this generation to be willing and excited to share our love of this sport with the younger ones so they know that it is accessible and understand the joys of working hard to go so slow. Lonnie
Sent from AOL on Android
The links to the kits don’t seem to get to the page intended…but the blog paves are available if clicking that link at the top.
I wonder if the pop-top kit would work for a sliding hatch that one wants to convert to a pop-top? I am co sidering how I might make my MacGregor (1974 Venture) 21 slider into a pop-top. I guess the key is to remake the cabintop to include essentially dual overlaying hatches (if that convays an adequate description of the typical 2-part pop-top hatch system). Or I suppose the normal sliding hatch could have support structures that are removable to allow sliding functionality…
You inspired my day dreaming…
Cheers!
Edward Bachmann (https://namedrop.io/ebachy) | ebachy@gmail.com
The links have been fixed. Keep on dreaming!
Thanks for all you have done to promote the sport, learned with you and enjoyed sailing more because of you.
Fair winds!
None of this is here. I do want the pop top ez lift. Both actually, but I’m sort of poor. I clicked the link below and got an error. Best, Marsh
Von meimen iPhone gesendet
They’re all sold out, sorry.
Sorry to see your store closing down! I had great success with your pop top kit, and numerous articles and how tos- I’d still be buying and upgrading if I hadn’t moved on from my C22 to larger, but far less trailerable, keel boats. I understand the sport has shrunk significantly, but glad to report that our little PHRF racing fleet here in Pueblo CO has doubled in size recently, and every boat posted for sale has found an eager local buyer. Not a huge stampede of interest, Ibut think the younger generation here is realizing there is something unique about the beauty of a craft under sail or at anchor, and why no one has paintings of a wakeboard boat in their office or living room. Anyway, you have been a lot of help to myself and the C22 community, and I hope and pray that you continue to find sailors seeking to absorb your sage advice and experience! Steve in COLORADO
That’s great to hear things are going well down in Pueblo, Steve.
I’ve really enjoyed checking out your site over the last five, six… is it seven? years that I’ve been sailing. I learned a-lot of great stuff here and am sad to see it go… Cheer to the next years and gears big ears!GDBlue Cloud (’74 CalC35)Vashon, WA
Hello $tingy, The tyrany of distance always meant it was impractical to order from the USA, however since about 2019 have enjoyed the articles you posted and a few of your tips have been applied, er maybe with some modifications to suit my boat, in particular wiring (my boat was brand new and is sold without electrics) and installing a Raymarine tiller pilot.
You may find the following links of interest, the first is my sailboat Rust Never Sleeps, there are now 50 built and sailing, and exported (crikey, as we say politely in Oz) 1 to the USA and 1 to The Netherlands. https://smallboatsmonthly.com/article/cygnet-20/ Cygnet 20 | Small Boats smallboatsmonthly.com
The second a RAID in my home state. https://smallboatsmonthly.com/article/tasmania-tawe-nunnugah-cruise/ The Tawe Nunnugah 2025 RAID | Small Boats smallboatsmonthly.com
Regrettably concur with your assessment about sailing, too few getting involved, many yachts sit idle in the marinas, and our kids are not interested…
Cheers,
Jan Melbourne
>
Thank you for your years of support from down under!
Just want you to know that while many younger folks are foregoing sailing, there are a lot of us that do sail. I have also been a reader of your blog even before I had a sailboat, so do not lose hope. I am also raising my young daughter to be a sailor.