Advice please!

   Hi all
We are looking for a first boat to get our kids into sailing. I used to sail Dart 18s but know they'd scare them!
They are 12, 10 & 8. I'd also like it to be (just) big enough for us all (5) to go for a day out/picnic.

My budget is about £1500-2000 so I guess older boats.

I've been looking at the normal options, Enterprise & Wayfarer, are there any others that fit the bill?

Thank in advance  

Alex

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Wander Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 15 Jun 11 Location: Nr Bristol Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wander Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Advice please! Posted: 15 Jun 11 at 9:42pm
	Hi all We are looking for a first boat to get our kids into sailing. I used to sail Dart 18s but know they'd scare them! They are 12, 10 & 8. I'd also like it to be (just) big enough for us all (5) to go for a day out/picnic. My budget is about £1500-2000 so I guess older boats. I've been looking at the normal options, Enterprise & Wayfarer, are there any others that fit the bill? Thank in advance Alex

SoggyBadger Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 26 Oct 10 Location: The Wild Wood Online Status: Offline Posts: 552	Post Options Post Reply Quote SoggyBadger Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jun 11 at 10:05pm
	Add GP14 and Wanderer (smaller sister of the Wayfarer) to your list.
	Best wishes from deep in the woods SB

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: 15 Jun 11 at 10:19pm
	5 people in one boat, either a Wayfarer, or out of price range, Laser Stratos. However a Laser 16 might be ok if you can find one. It might be worth getting them on a sailing course to see if they like it before spending money on a boat, 5 x Bouancy Aids, 5 x wet shoes, spray tops etc etc. You may find they like it or hate it.

Wander Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 15 Jun 11 Location: Nr Bristol Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wander Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jun 11 at 10:37pm
	Thanks for those inputs guys. I'll have a look at those boats. They have done a course already, but as I'm sure you know, with 3 it doesn't work out cheap! So thought the dinghy would be better value in long term. Cheers.

Wander Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 15 Jun 11 Location: Nr Bristol Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wander Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jun 11 at 11:29am
	Looking at the difference between the Enterprise & Wayfarer, whilst the Wayfarer's longer it appears to have less room to squeeze the family in, is that right? Thanks

asterix Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 01 Aug 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 621	Post Options Post Reply Quote asterix Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jun 11 at 12:22pm
	don't think so - the wayfarer is probably better for more bodies - I have memories of being taught to sail in both boats and of having a teacher and at least 3 and sometimes 4 teenagers in the wayfarer

Wander Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 15 Jun 11 Location: Nr Bristol Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wander Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jun 11 at 1:01pm
	Ah, ok thanks for that. :-)

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: 20 Jun 11 at 2:10pm
	Seconded- there's acres more (useful) room in a Wayfarer than in an Enterprise.
	-_ Al

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jun 11 at 2:28pm
	We aquired an Ent for sailing with our then 9 yr old grandaughter.......sailing 3 up was much more enjoyable and comfortable in the Laser 2 to be honest. There's less usable length in an ent than a L2 cockpit. 5 people? You're gonna need a bigger boat.