Best Dinghy for Estuary use

   RS Vareo - not sailed one, but can take two people however nothing for second person to do upwind.
RS Feva - can take a 6ft guy (I am 6ft) and can be sailed singlehanded or double. Slightly deeper than its rivals, either the Pico, Topaz or Q'ba. 
Topper have the vibe, but al little racy too.
Laser 2 is another boat to look at or 2000,

Where are you looking to launch, where are you storing it, and how far do you want to travel?

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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 Topic: Best Dinghy for Estuary use Posted: 03 May 12 at 6:18pm
	RS Vareo - not sailed one, but can take two people however nothing for second person to do upwind. RS Feva - can take a 6ft guy (I am 6ft) and can be sailed singlehanded or double. Slightly deeper than its rivals, either the Pico, Topaz or Q'ba. Topper have the vibe, but al little racy too. Laser 2 is another boat to look at or 2000, Where are you looking to launch, where are you storing it, and how far do you want to travel?

ham4sand Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 Jul 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 452	Post Options Post Reply Quote ham4sand Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 May 12 at 6:28pm
	id also say laser vago, they arent that racy but maybe a bit tippy for you
	John Hamilton cherub 2645 - cheese before bedtime cherub 3209 - anatidaephobia laser 176847 - kiss this

Estuary Bound Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 May 12 Location: South Essex Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote Estuary Bound Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 12 at 9:29am
	Thanks for all the replies. No club as yet but looking at any of the Estuary clubs, probably Leigh on Sea S.C. Will either store at the clubs (little worried about vandalism) or at home. Sailing area will be mainly Thames Estuary but also other East Coast rivers etc (all within about a 40 mile radius). Does anyone have any experience of the Tideway? Really in a quandary whether to go classic comfort or "sporty" fun or soething in the between.
	It's just plain rude to live on the coast and not be afloat

Contender443 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 01 Oct 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1211	Post Options Post Reply Quote Contender443 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 12 at 9:31am
	Wanderer, maybe a bit heavy but plenty of space. Can be sailed easily singlehanded, made of glass and I guess there should be a few secondhand versions around.
	Bonnie Lass Contender 1764

Estuary Bound Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 03 May 12 Location: South Essex Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote Estuary Bound Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 12 at 9:46am
	Thanks Contender443. Any experience of the lighter Gull? This is one I keep coming back to.
	It's just plain rude to live on the coast and not be afloat

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 12 at 11:52am
	Gull is a nice boat, but will seem small with 2 6 footers on board, I'd think. Mind, you are just starting out, and so don't want too much to handle. Also might be a bit slow to get against the tide? GP14 with a reefable main sail might work - plenty of cheap GRP boats around, I'd have thought.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

Steve H Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 29 Jun 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 48	Post Options Post Reply Quote Steve H Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 12 at 3:16pm


Steve H Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 29 Jun 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 48	Post Options Post Reply Quote Steve H Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 04 May 12 at 3:20pm
	Estuary, The vandalism at Leigh is not too bad now we have put up the fencing around the racks, we just have to make sure they are chained down and can't be moved. Why don't you pop down to the club over the weekend and have a look at what is sailed I think there are most of the boats being talked about including a few tideway owners. PM me if you need any other information or people to speak to

Athene Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 12 Aug 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Post Options Post Reply Quote Athene Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 May 12 at 1:30pm
	Hi, If dinghy cruising is your main ideal then a Gull would be excellent - not hugely fast and exciting but safe - I have a friend who has sailed a Gull single handed in a F5 with no safety cover and felt comfortable he wasn't going to get into trouble. Can also add an outboard if it looks like the wind might die / or if you wind up with a strong tide against you. Gulls appartenetly hold their value well so you wouldn't have trouble re-selling if you wanted something bigger or faster in the future. And one person can launch and retrieve a Gull Athene

Caveman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 17 Sep 11 Location: Kent Online Status: Offline Posts: 64	Post Options Post Reply Quote Caveman Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Jun 12 at 8:08pm
	IMO most two person boats are not great to sail single handed. As you are a novice, I would suggest joining a club, and offering yourself as a crew. There are plenty of sail racers looking for reliable crews. Someone will quickly "adopt" you and drill you into a competent racing crew. You will learn loads from this experience. The Alternative is to acquire a relatively simple one person boat like a Laser or a Solo and start doing some club racing in that. But expect to spend the first year finishing at the back of the fleet.
	Enthusiasm>Skill