How to Draw a Sailboat (Easy Step by Step)
A sailboat is a great first drawing because it is built from just a few simple shapes: a bowl for the boat, a tall line for the mast, a triangle for the sail, a tiny flag, and wiggly lines for the water. You draw one part at a time, so it is easy to follow along and end up with a boat that looks ready to sail.
- Easy
- 8 minutes
- 6 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a sailboat step by step
How to Draw a Sailboat · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: The boat hull
Draw a long, flat line across the page for the top of the boat. Then draw a big smile-shaped curve hanging down from both ends, like a bowl, with a flat bottom and rounded corners.
Step 2: The mast and flag
Start in the middle of the top edge of the boat and draw a tall straight line up. At the very top, draw a small pointed flag, like a tiny triangle, that points to the right.
Step 3: The big sail
Draw a short flat line across the mast, a little above the boat, reaching out to both sides. Then draw a straight slanted line from the right end up to the mast, and a gently curved line from the left end up to the mast to make a triangle.
Step 4: The first wave
Under the boat, draw a long wiggly line with several small hills and valleys, about as wide as the boat.
Step 5: The second wave
Draw another wiggly line just below the first one, the same length and with the same kind of bumps.
Step 6: The third wave
Finish with a third wiggly line under the second one. Now your boat is floating on the sea.
All done!
Go over your lines with a marker, then color it in.
Finished your sailboat? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a planet or how to draw an astronaut next.
Tips for drawing a sailboat
- Draw the top line of the boat nice and long first. A wide boat looks steady and gives the sail room to sit above it.
- The sail is the trickiest part. Start with the short flat line, then connect both ends to the mast so the triangle closes neatly.
- For the waves, make your hand wiggle slowly like a snake. Keep each wave about as long as the boat so the water looks tidy.
Free sailboat coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this sailboat coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your sailboat drawing
Try a red or yellow hull, a bright sail, a little flag, and blue and teal waves. For a creative twist, add stripes to the sail.
Sailboat fun fact for kids
Sailboats move without an engine because the wind pushes against the sail. A sailor can even travel in a different direction from the wind by turning the sail at an angle.
Questions about drawing a sailboat
What shapes do I need to draw a sailboat?
You need a bowl shape for the boat, a tall straight line for the mast, a triangle for the sail, and a small pointed flag at the top. The water is just wiggly lines.
How do I make my sailboat look like it is floating?
Draw the waves right under the bottom of the boat, with the first wave about as wide as the boat. Three wiggly lines stacked below it make the boat look like it is sitting on the water.
How do I draw a straight mast?
Start at the boat and draw upward slowly, with your eyes on the top of the page. You can also lay a ruler beside it as a guide, then draw along the edge.
