As the son of Buddy Black, the class' founder, I grew up building and sailing EC-12's. During those years, I picked up a few of my father's traits and beliefs. Chief among those is the belief that the EC-12 is the prettiest boat on the lake and that each model should be built with that in mind.

For better, or for worse, that means custom painted hulls, all wood planked decks, straight waterlines, and a clean - simple rig.

Some might say that a 12 built to look prettty can't be fast. Dad never believed that and neither do I. Races are lost with the twitch of a thumb, not an extra ounce or two weight in the deck. He proved that when in 1976 he won Nationals with his US-1 hull which had a spruce deck and a mahagony veneered hull.

I've always believed a picture is worth more than a 1,000 words, so, I'll let the pictures and links below tell my story.

Black EC-12's

• Built to be the prettiest EC-12 on the lake
• Built the way they used to build them, with the care and respect for the beauty of the model
• Natural, all wood planked decks
• Painted hulls with double water lines
• Simple - clean rigs

History of the EC-12
Building EC-12 / US -23 Heritage
Sailing the original Heritage in Newpoprt w/
Charlie Morgan and Buddy Black - June 2007

My newest EC-12: US 21 Eagle

For more information, contact Jim Black