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List classes of boat for sale |
Suitable day sailing dinghy |
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Baz
Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 12 Location: ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 7 |
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Topic: Suitable day sailing dinghy Posted: 14 Mar 12 at 1:28pm |
Hello All,
Im looking for advice on buying a dinghy for day sailing on the sea, in estuaries and harbours. Ive no interest in racing at the moment, if i start to get competitive i'll look for a different type/class, but for now its just messing about in boats. For the most part I will be singlehanded, occassionally doublehanded. There are many types out there but for me at 60kg im not sure are they really practical at such a lightweight. Im 37, have sailed lasers and toppers as a teenager, 25 foot sailboats for the last number of years, have the RYA Dayskipper , powerboat levels 1,2 etc and 11 years diving experience, winter and summer so im well aware of what the sea can throw at you and my own limitations despite what the brochures say. Can you recommend any dinghy which will be both manageable trailing from place to place and on the water for someone of my weight, im open to any ideas and appreciate your time and efforts,
All the best,
Barry
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ColPrice2002
Far too distracted from work Joined: 25 Nov 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 222 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Mar 12 at 1:38pm |
Hi,
You may want to consider the Wanderer... It's the Wayfarer's smaller brother. I've sailed ours single handed in up to F4 (inland), and it has the cruising rig (roller furling genoa) and a slab reefing mainsail. That means that I can lose sail area quickly (pull on the jib roller) then about 2 mins to slab reef (possibly less). It's quite stable, and appears to be well-mannered. it's also possible to row (oars + rowlocks) or to motor (2-3hp outboard). It's also light enough for me to recover single-handed up the club slipway (but it is a gentle slope - something like 5 degrees. any more and I need another hand (or a winch). Anything bigger/heavier isn't going to be manageable for 1 person (launching/recovery - no sapersions cast on your sailing ability). Other possibiiltes:- Enterprise (possible overcanvassed for s/handed), GP14 (heavy), Drascombe lugger (v heavy!). Look at the class associations' web sites and ask for a trial sail - usually this can be arranged (though it may cost you a point or two!) Colin
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SoggyBadger
Really should get out more Joined: 26 Oct 10 Location: The Wild Wood Online Status: Offline Posts: 552 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Mar 12 at 1:51pm |
The Dinghy Cruising Association recommend one stone crew weight per foot of boat for single-handed dinghy cruising. So for your weight that would suggest an 11 footer. A Mirror, Heron or Gull would all fit that bill. The Mirror would be the easiest to find second-hand. Compared to the other two though it's a bit cramped, not quite as good in waves and has a dagger board which I personally find a bit of a pain in shallow estuaries.
Enjoy whatever you end up buying. |
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Best wishes from deep in the woods
SB |
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Guests
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Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Mar 12 at 2:08pm |
The Gull has a forum here, it seems quite popular for cruising. They also organise the odd cruising weekend. As there's little or no class racing I suspect you could get a second hand one at a very reasonable price.
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RS400atC
Really should get out more Joined: 04 Dec 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3011 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Mar 12 at 2:31pm |
Th OP said 'daysailing' which can mean anything from cruising, as the subsequent posts have assumed, to pottering in the sunshine.
If you are pottering about where help is at hand, then you don't need to worry about risk of capsizing nearly as much as cruising on your own. If you want reasonable performance on nice light days, you want more sail area that if you are cruising along the coast in force 5. When I was your weight, I used to sail an enterprise singlehanded up to about F3/4 without capsizing, it was a long time ago. A lot is down to taste, do you want a two sail boat which is OK one-up, or a singlehander that can take an occassional passenger? As an aside, don't dismiss racing, it's social, people won't mind you being there if you are sensible on the start line and there is more likely to be a rescue boat, a bit of help up the slip etc etc. You absolutely do not have to take it seriously. I would suggest having a look at some local clubs and maybe pinning down what you want from a boat a little. A word of warning about bargain boats, those that are cheap to buy are often hard to sell if they are out of the mainstream at all. Some boats you might pay more but have a better chance of getting a high percentage of it back should you move on. |
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rogue
Really should get out more Joined: 04 Dec 08 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 978 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Mar 12 at 2:48pm |
Laser Vago- plenty of options and versatility.
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dics
Far too distracted from work Joined: 05 Oct 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 317 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Mar 12 at 2:58pm |
Would recomend a GP14. Good sail plan - smaller main and larger jib. I stuck a roller reef on the jib and it is so easy to sail single handed. Easy enough to manage around on shore provided it is well balanced on a trolley & robust enough. Should be able to pick one up cheap too (paid £300 for my tub) bash it about and sell it for the same. Makes cruising more pleasurable if you do not have to worry about beaching your boat and scratching the bottom or have crispy sails you must roll up at each pub stop.
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Owenfackrell
Posting king Joined: 19 Jul 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 129 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Mar 12 at 3:41pm |
The mirrors big brother is sutiable for what you want (in faact if you go on there website is seem thats what it was desgined for). i have one and its easy to sail/manage on your own including rigging the mast they can be had cheaply and you can race them if you want to. I sail in the type of waters you describe and mine has been more than cappable of light wind drifting to hitting big ish waves. I can't comment on righting it as ive not managed to capsize it yet as it very stable. Thats not to say you can't capsize it though. |
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Contender443
Really should get out more Joined: 01 Oct 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1211 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Mar 12 at 4:37pm |
What about one of the Cornish boats, was there a Y&Y test on one lately? The most "famous" would be the Cornish Crabber.
And what about the K1?
Edited by Contender443 - 14 Mar 12 at 4:39pm |
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Bonnie Lass Contender 1764
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Medway Maniac
Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 14 Mar 12 at 6:46pm |
You must be joking. It's a racing boat; far too unstable to be sailed singlehanded offshore without rescue cover.
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