family dinghy

   hi 
I am looking for  (among other things) for a family dinghy.
Objective - take Missus and  3 year old son out for  a sail every so often.  
Requirements;

Doesn't have to be trendy.  
stable
sufficient  space for 2 adults and 1-2  children
Manageable  (weight-vs-slips,  reefs/depower ability).
Was thinking of:

GP14
Wayfarer
enterprise
Topper cruz
Topper sport 14
have  people experience of the above for  'family' sailing or  suggest other ?
Am considering an old  GP14 at the moment. 
I quite like the  like of the sport14 - might be able to sail it  single-handed from the trapeeze ... my other boat is a  skiff!
/f

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Fin. Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 12 Feb 07 Location: Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 128	Post Options Post Reply Quote Fin. Report Post Quote Reply Topic: family dinghy Posted: 07 Jul 09 at 1:28pm
	hi I am looking for (among other things) for a family dinghy. Objective - take Missus and 3 year old son out for a sail every so often. Requirements; Doesn't have to be trendy. stable sufficient space for 2 adults and 1-2 children Manageable (weight-vs-slips, reefs/depower ability). Was thinking of: GP14 Wayfarer enterprise Topper cruz Topper sport 14 have people experience of the above for 'family' sailing or suggest other ? Am considering an old GP14 at the moment. I quite like the like of the sport14 - might be able to sail it single-handed from the trapeeze ... my other boat is a skiff! /f

English Dave Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 06 Location: Northern Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 682	Post Options Post Reply Quote English Dave Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 09 at 1:43pm
	Wayfarer is too big. The big jib is difficult to depower and when you reef down hard you find the windage of the hull stops you sailing effectively. GP14 is fine but I think the cockpit is too cramped for what you want. Enterprise. It's a personal thing but I hate it. Hate-it, hate-it, hate-it. But it would suit your needs. Sport 14. Good choice. Cruz. No experience of that I'm afraid. Rather than an Enterprise can I suggest a Miracle? Small enough to be sailed alone, large enough to take the family. The cut-outs in the deck forward of the thwarts allow children to "sit-in" while adults can "hike-out" at the same time.
	English Dave Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700

radixon Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 27 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2407	Post Options Post Reply Quote radixon Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 09 at 2:04pm
	Miracle or the Forum Favourite the Laser 2000. they will fit the bill, take a look at some other Threads for these boats.

Graham T Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Posting king Joined: 09 Apr 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 123	Post Options Post Reply Quote Graham T Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 09 at 2:34pm
	Another for the Miracle - other boats are available but for a cheap, roomy, light dinghy that can cruise or race it is hard to beat... See the class video on http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=h7NXL7VwWj4
	Osprey 55 "Tebutinnang" Osprey 1245 "Two Bob Bit" Miracle 1358 "Thumper"

HannahJ Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 23 Jul 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 861	Post Options Post Reply Quote HannahJ Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 09 at 2:44pm
	GP14! Would be perfect. Bags of room, the cockpit isn't cramped at all especially if you get an older one without the double floor. Can tuck the little one right at the front on either side and still have room for the crew. The older ones (wood) when looked after stay beautiful and last forever.
	MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail

no limits Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 09 Feb 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 88	Post Options Post Reply Quote no limits Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 09 at 3:58pm
	Another vote for the miracle very stable but fun at the same. I started of in them at the age of 5 and then moved out at 11 only to be back crewing on the circuit at 15. A very nice class association who im sure would be willing to give you a test sail.

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: 07 Jul 09 at 4:46pm
	The forum favourite! the forum favourite! Or, perhaps, a Comet?
	-_ Al

Roy Race Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 15 Aug 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 275	Post Options Post Reply Quote Roy Race Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 09 at 4:46pm
	GP14 - Perfect! A good balance between being reasonably heavy and stable on the water but light enough to manage onshore. The hard chine hull shape also gives it loads of stability and there are plenty around in either wood or glass. Wayfarer - Too heavy. Nice and stable when on the water, but you'll give yourself a hernia onshore. Enterprise - Too tippy. Big mainsail and round hull means it's easy to tip them in after a gybe and scare your wife and kid off sailing for good. Topper cruz - Don't know, but suspect you may struggle to find one for sale without travelling a long way. Topper sport 14 - Don't know, but suspect you may struggle to find one for sale without travelling a long way.

neilgb Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 20 Oct 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 29	Post Options Post Reply Quote neilgb Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 09 at 7:34pm
	How much have you got to spend ? I had an Enterprise as a family boat for 5 years whilst the kids were very young, GRP, cheap and cheerful and with a set of old cut down cruising sails was very manageable (or reefed main)....it all depends on how you sail them as with any boat....We sailed ours all over the place and no capsizes. Despite what others say a really delightful and classic boat to sail.....did consider a Miracle but its amazing how quickly they grow and space becomes an issue ! Wayfarer best option (jib rather than Genoa etc in a blow) but heavy ish, 2000 nice boat but tendency to invert. GP14 must be good bet,more stable than the Enterprise can be cheap but perhaps less room....as for the others sailed a Sport 16 and less said etc but a lot of room

Andymac Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 04 Apr 07 Location: Derbyshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 852	Post Options Post Reply Quote Andymac Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jul 09 at 7:38pm
	If you were considering a Wayfarer, I have always found them a nice boat to sail. I would however agree with the former comments about the weight ashore, it probably doesn't tick the box for manageable (weight v slipway). Whilst you could scratch that one from your list, you could think about adding a Wanderer which is also designed by Ian Proctor at 14' long, could be described as a 'baby' Wayfarer. I've never sailed one so I cannot pass further comment.