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Building Steps

1 - The Level 1 kit for sale on MiniOpti's Shopify cart has all of the main components precut and ready for assembly. The kit includes the main components assembled, which includes the daggerboard glued and fitted to the hull. The thwart installed and glued to the hull. The mast step aligned and glued in as well as the rudderpost glued up. These are the core components of the build.

The next steps can be done in most any order.
  • Turn the deck upside down and apply the self-sticking weatherstripping to the under edge of the cover.
    • You could use an occasional drop of super glue to keep it from lifting.
    • Put the cover onto the hull and turn it upside down so that you can drill the six holes for the screw downs. (See Pics) The screws are installed from underneath using 8-32 x 1/2" S.S. machine screws.
    • Do not attach the cover yet
  • For the radio cover you will do the same process as the deck. 
    • Turn the radio cover upside down and apply the self-sticking weatherstripping to the under edge of the cover.
    • Put the cover onto the deck and turn it upside down so that you can drill the four holes for the screw downs in the corners. (See Pics) The screws are installed from underneath using 8-32 x 1/2" S.S. machine screws.
    • Do not attach the cover yet.
    • Servo & Receiver components Installation
      • Additional steps to take for the servo cover.
        • Attach the rudder and sail servo to the underside of the cover using plasti-weld or epoxy.
          • Before attaching the sail servo attach the drum cover to the servo (4 small screws included)
            • Line up the servo with the drum towards the rear of the cover dome. Glue and let it set thoroughly.
          • Attach the rudder servo aligning the arm centered in the slot provided for the linkage. Glue as well.
        • Drill out the linkage slot and the mainsheet pass thru. You will use a rubber grommet supplied with the servo install into the hole you drilled make sure it is large enough to insert the grommet, but not too big!
        • Attach the mainsheet to the inner drum. Temporarily attach the inner drum and the line thru the grommet. It will need to be adjusted later and screwed on.
    • Install the battery into the battery well at the lowest portion of the deck cover towards the rear of the well. I prefer Velcro so it can be removed for replacement when necessary.
    • Additionally, add the receiver to the underside of the cover and drill a hole for the antenna. (expand on this)
    • Install the waterproof switch to the cover (expand on this)
    • Plug it all together and test by binding the transmitter and receiver and cycling the servos. Before you can attach the cover, you need to adjust the drum and rudder arm so that they have the necessary travel then you can screw the arm and drum together.
    • Attach the rudder yoke to the rudder servo and pass the rod thru so it can be attached to the rudder. Once this is done you can screw down the cover and attach the yoke to the rudder.
  • Airbag's 
    • There are three airbags to install into the hull two forward of the thwart, one in the rear.
      • There are six elastic straps used to attach the airbags to the hull. (These are optional but recommended since they make the Miniopti nearly unsinkable.
      • Inflate the airbags, attach the straps. You can use either a hot glue gun or plastic bonder from JB Weld to attach the straps to the hull. 
      • Once the airbags are installed you can attach the cover with the six screws you have previously installed.



















  • Assemble and attach the rudder
    • Drill and glue the rudder hinges to the rudder.
      • Install the tiller hinge to the top left of the rudder.
    • Align the hinges and drill and glue the transom hinge to the transom.
      • Note: Make sure the rudder bracket clears the deck, this requires the rudder arm to be high enough to clear the deck.
  • Rigging
    • ​​​Includes
      • ​​Mast, Boom, Sprit, Sail, Battens, Main-hoist, Rigging lines, Boom Jaw, Bowsers, Mini Harken Hoist Block
        • Larger Regatta Rig Mast Height 26" x 1/2"  (660 mm x 12mm)
          • Classic Rig 23-3/8" x 1/2" (595mm x 12mm)
        • Larger Regatta Rig Boom Length 18-3/4" x 1/4"  (475 x 8 mm)
          • Classic Rig 18-3/4" x 1/4" (475mm x 8 mm) [Both use the same sized boom]
        • Larger Regatta Rig Sprit 24-1/2"" x 1/4"  (620mm x 8mm)
          • Classic Rig Sprit 22-1/2" x 1/4" (570mm x 8mm)  
        • Instep Mast Deck Collar
      • The Mast, Boom & Sprit can be carbon fiber or wooden dowel. Both function equally well.
        • You can use a boom jaw or eye hooks to attach the boom
        • The end of the boom is slotted for the outhaul.
        • The Sprit is slotted as well on both ends for the clew and uphaul rigging.
  • "Glues and Attachment accessories you can use
    • ​Epoxy 30 Minute
    • Plastic Bonder from JF Weld
    • Crazy Glue in various consistencies (Thin, Medium, Thick)
    • Velcro - For Batteries and Transmitter
    • Optional Mast Hoops
    • Instep Mast Deck Collar