Single handed bigger boat!

   Hi All,
I'm looking to buy a new boat, the main criteria is that it is fun and relatively competitive for club sailing (not too bothered about speed).  Here's the catch!  I want a boat that for 90% of the time I can sail single handed but for the other 10% I can take the wife and two small kids sailing in coastal waters.

I was looking at the RS Vision which allegedly you can sail single handed, but I'm a little worried being able to take the boat out of the water on my own if the slipway is steep.

Does anyone have any experience of this?  Or can suggest any alternatives?

Thanks.

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EdNewman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote EdNewman Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Single handed bigger boat! Posted: 02 Aug 09 at 10:53pm
	Hi All, I'm looking to buy a new boat, the main criteria is that it is fun and relatively competitive for club sailing (not too bothered about speed). Here's the catch! I want a boat that for 90% of the time I can sail single handed but for the other 10% I can take the wife and two small kids sailing in coastal waters. I was looking at the RS Vision which allegedly you can sail single handed, but I'm a little worried being able to take the boat out of the water on my own if the slipway is steep. Does anyone have any experience of this? Or can suggest any alternatives? Thanks.

Scooby_simon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 02 Apr 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2415	Post Options Post Reply Quote Scooby_simon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Aug 09 at 11:40pm
	Hi Ed, Where are you sailing, how bid is the sail area, how much experience do you have ?
	Wanna learn to Ski - PM me..

EdNewman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote EdNewman Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 12:14am
	Currently not sailing anything, just getting back into after years out of sailing. But before that I sailed owned a solo and a fireball and have sailed plenty of other stuff. My level of experience if fairly good, probably about 10 years of club sailing. Don't currently have a club, I'm also looking for one of those! To be honest, I don't expect to sail at a club with enough water to use the geni, will probably keep that for the coastal trips. Edited by EdNewman

Medway Maniac Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788	Post Options Post Reply Quote Medway Maniac Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 12:26am
	If you're not bothered about speed, then try a Miracle (if you're lucky, you might even find a GRP one). Good for singlehanding, surprisingly roomy, and nice and light - easy to pull up the slip. A Vision, like most other rotomoulds, is heavy! Personally, I find it very unrewarding to sail too - heavy mainsheet and helm, plus it really needs two to balance it. Alternatively, find a club first, then see what they sail, get some demos etc. Frankly, without a club, sailing will be a bit of a hassle what with all the de-rigging and trailing, unless you choose something super-simple like a Topper or Laser, but none of the super-simple boats will provide a decent family ride.
	Wilsonian SC 3000 Class

tmoore Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 01 Nov 07 Location: Wales Online Status: Offline Posts: 880	Post Options Post Reply Quote tmoore Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 1:18am
	how would a tasar do? Iv never heard of or seen one sailed singlehandedly so others might be able to comment on this. Otherwise something like a vision? plenty of space and power for 2of you with the added attraction of something to do for your passenger?
	Landlocked in Africa RS300 - 410 Firefly F517 - Nutshell Micro Magic RC yacht - Eclipse

EdNewman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote EdNewman Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 8:37am
	Hi guys, thanks for your replies, a few comments: I said not too bothered about speed, I'm not quiet sure the miracle is the boat for me at the moment! Tasar, I have sailed before, and I think it would be too hard to sail single handed in any decent wind. The reason I haven't joined a club yet is that I would like to join a club that has a decent fleet in the type of boat I end up with, therefore I need to chose a boat and then look for a local club that has plenty of them. I won't be buying the boat before I have joined a club. Kind of chicken and egg syndrome I guess. I had a chat with a guy who sales a vision last night and his concern would be trying to pull it up a steep slipway. I'm kind of still at a loss here :(

alstorer Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 02 Aug 07 Location: Cambridge Online Status: Offline Posts: 2899	Post Options Post Reply Quote alstorer Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 8:52am
	You've got to compromise. Fundamentally. Boats that can carry your whole family in comfort are always likely to be fairly heavy. Boats that are simple for single handing are always likely to be a bit cramped for a whole family. Boats that try and straddle the two will almost certainly be low performance.
	-_ Al

EdNewman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 02 Aug 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote EdNewman Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 8:57am
	OK, but how heavy is heavy for something like a vision? What with the very good self bailers I should hopefully never have to drag a boat full of water up the slip. I'm not a weakling, but also not a strong man!

Medway Maniac Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788	Post Options Post Reply Quote Medway Maniac Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 9:21am
	The Vision is very heavy! RS quote 125kg, but I'm sure that is just for the hull - couples struggle to get them up the beach at Wilsonian. As they do Laser 2000's. The 2000 was quoted for years as having a hull weight of 100kg - turns out it's actually 140kg, but they still feel easier to manoeuvre on land (and water for that matter) than a Vision (our club boats). Couldn't recommend a 2000, either: they're noted for being pigs to recover in a capsize, and one of our better sailors, an instructor weighing 13 stone was unable to right one singlehanded once it inverted (twice in one day!). I still think the Miracle is the most capacious boat you'll easily lug around ashore on your own unless you have very shallow slips; thery're nice to sail too (nicer than a Vision which is only 10% quicker). If your club has a winch and all your weight issues are over, then I'd go for a Wayfarer; good to singlehand and genuinely large enough for a family.
	Wilsonian SC 3000 Class

winging it Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 22 Mar 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3958	Post Options Post Reply Quote winging it Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 10:50am
	With respect Ed, you're doing it the wrong way round! trying to get a boat then find a club to match it is going to be hard. It's much more important to find a club where you feel welcome, can get to easily, is family friendly and above all, affordable, THEN see what the sailing area is like, see what is being sailed, try a few boats out (go to a demo centre if need be) then choose your boat. If the club you choose is decent the sailors will there will always be ready with advice and tips - essential for someone getting back into sailing after a break - and will help you choose a boat that suits the club. If you choose the boat first you might well end up having to travel miles to get to the club that sails them and will probably end up hardly ever going sailing...
	the same, but different...