The Echo doesn't seem to be near as popular as the CL 14 or 16. How shallow a lake are you in? What kind of bottom are you dealing with (Mud,sand,rock)? The Cl's draw very little water and has enabled me to sail into very shallow coves. The kick-up centreboard and rudder will allow you to venture into many shallow areas.

Your Echo will no doubt do the same. I would guess that you have little to worry about.

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Originally posted by Laurie:
My lake has mostly muddy bottom and weedy along the shore. The average depth is about 20 feet down to 2-3 feet closer to shore. I am a full size adult and would like to take one other adult person on board at times. Does anyone have any experience with the Echo that they could tell me about?

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I have one of the original Atlanta Kolibri which, I think, is the ancestor of the CL Echo (I posted a question about this under another topic, but there has been no reply)

The boat is easy to sail, hard to tip. It has been in my family for almost 25 years, has seen a lot of use (and abuse), and is still sailing.

We mostly sail it off the beach, and it has two characteristics that perhaps make it less than ideal in this situation:

1) In my opinion, it is a bit heavy for such a small boat - it is hell to carry or drag across a beach.

2) The cockpit is not self-bailing (at least not in mine), which can be a problem with lots of wet swimmers climbing in and out of it.