Boat for young family

   Miracle. Nice boat to sail with kids, relatively stable, not too much sail area. Small jib too for little hands to learn on. Light to handle on shore too. And the only class I can think of with "recessed" seating for the crew. 

The only downside I can think of is most Miracles are wood and are getting on a bit, plenty of rough ones out there but very few good examples. Shame they never managed the transition to plastic as I think they would still be great as a simple low cost family boat. 

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Late starter Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Feb 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 481	Post Options Post Reply Quote Late starter Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Boat for young family Posted: 02 Sep 09 at 4:35pm
	Miracle. Nice boat to sail with kids, relatively stable, not too much sail area. Small jib too for little hands to learn on. Light to handle on shore too. And the only class I can think of with "recessed" seating for the crew. The only downside I can think of is most Miracles are wood and are getting on a bit, plenty of rough ones out there but very few good examples. Shame they never managed the transition to plastic as I think they would still be great as a simple low cost family boat.

Wee Man Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Aug 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 214	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wee Man Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Sep 09 at 7:34pm
	Thanks all for your input. It looks like I'm on the right track looking for a Miracle (no pun intended). I've never sailed one but they look good. I'm up for the challenge of doing an older one up over the winter, if anyone knows of one looking for a good home as long as it's mainly solid.

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 Posted: 03 Sep 09 at 3:03pm
	Hi I was recently in your position - would've have bought a miracle... very cheap compared to alternatives. Light, and roomier than a mirror. The Class assoc. seem very keen and there was a bundle of Miracles for sail recently on ebay/apolloduck. I bought a Topper Cruz classic. ... stable boat, but fairly heavy for a 'sandy beach' pulling up. Nice 'family boat - outboard and oars too ! all the best

Wee Man Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Aug 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 214	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wee Man Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Sep 09 at 7:59pm
	Hi Fin, Light weight is important as I race an F18 cat from the beach & know just how hard it is to drag a boat up it. I've never sailed a Miracle but have sailed a Mirror and love the simplicity of design & build, I feel that the Miracle has more of a real boat feel than the Mirror.

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: 03 Sep 09 at 11:35pm
	If you've sailed a Mirror then get one of those! There's a great racing scene for the kids too if they get keen. You'll also be able to handle one in almost any conditions - not sure how much bigger a Mirror is but can vouch for the seaworthiness of the Mirror. And they are "real boats"...
	MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail

Late starter Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Feb 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 481	Post Options Post Reply Quote Late starter Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Sep 09 at 10:14am
	I'd echo the Mirror as a great little family boat. We've roof racked them, used them as row boats, put an outboard on the back, used the forward mast position to rig them as single handers, and even raced them properly on occasion! I'd completely forgotten what a fantastic flexible little boat they are. Back in the mists of time the Miracle was originally launched as the Mirror Miracle, and was expressly intended to be the Mirrors slightly larger sibling. I like them both, a lot, but I suspect the size of helm and crew will tend to persuade you to one or the other.

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: 04 Sep 09 at 11:03am
	I'm refurbing a Mirror at the moment for a parent to sail with a young girl of 11. It seems to me to be ideally suited for this task, and if the children were smaller there's no reason why it shouldn't take three. What I'm liking about the Mirror is its simplicity - so little to go wrong provided you take care of the hull. No fancy fittings to fuss with or worry about - unless of course you want to. Oh, and if you get one with bottle top bungs, don't throw them away the night before bin day....
	the same, but different...

dics Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 05 Oct 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 317	Post Options Post Reply Quote dics Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Sep 09 at 12:20pm
	For a family boat I looked at an Enterprise and GP14. Went of GP14 in the end. I discounted a Mirror simply becuase it is too small for a family all at once (two adults and two kids) and my family aren't exaclty short either. If I was just looking to go out with just me and a one kid each time then it would had been a Mirror hands down. Besides I was also looking for a cruiser that we could keep for a long time rather than sell on in a few years so it had to accomodate growth. When/if the eldest starts to take it seriously then a Mirror for her will be the next buy to race with.

Wee Man Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Aug 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 214	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wee Man Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 Sep 09 at 2:53pm
	There are certainly a lot more mirrors about at the right price and as said it is very versitile so I'll add Mirror to the list of options.