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Post Options Post Options   Quote dics Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: family dinghy
    Posted: 08 Jul 09 at 12:15pm

Fin.

I have just bee through the same process. Boat for me, other half, 4 year old and another one when he is of age too. I ended up with Miracle, Enterprise and GP14. Miracle no becuase i did not want something made of wood. Enertprise no as this had a too large main and being relatively lighter than  GP14 it would be a bit more "lively".

GP 14 yes. Made of GRP, in biult bouyancey, mark II version has bags of space for the family, oars, anchor, fenders, out board, lunch and beers. Picked it up for £300 including combi trailer. Needed new suspension units, new wheels, repaint in the bilge, I revanished the wood bits, added an outhaul, replaced the shrouds, added some furling gear on the genoa, bought a cover and geneal tidy up of some dodgy gel coat work and a good polish. Additional cost of £300. So for £600 we have a great cruising boat that is 40 years old and will last for another 40.

The thing is I recon with any older boat you will be looking at spending a bit on it after you have bought to get it how you want so I kind of discount that additoinal expenditure.

Oh yes, When look I found the boats on ebay go for an inflated price. If you can by privately.

Dics

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jul 09 at 8:42am
Two from left field.  Leader 2 and Pacer.
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Graham T View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Graham T Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jul 09 at 8:37am
Miracle with two large adults and two not exactly small
children having fun....

The best thing about the Miracle is if we land on a
remote beach for a picnic two of us can easily pick it up
and carry it out of the water. If the kids are cold I can
send them to get changed whilst I pull it up the slip on
my own - it really is that light.



Edited by Graham T
Osprey 55 "Tebutinnang"
Osprey 1245 "Two Bob Bit"
Miracle 1358 "Thumper"
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Medway Maniac View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Medway Maniac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jul 09 at 8:26am

I think the message is that the class weight and the weight of the boat before you can be quite different things! The Wanderer was, as I said, an early example, and the owner had to hack out loads of foam from inside the buoyancy tanks.

But frankly, 167kg, 190kg - you're into 'get help' mode or a winch in either case, aren't you? Often with the L2000's 140kg too (was quoted by Laser as 100kg tilll this season!). But you can easily lug around even a 'heavy' Miracle...

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Andymac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jul 09 at 2:53am
Originally posted by Medway Maniac

Re. the Wanderer, surely they're pretty much as heavy as a Wayfarer? An early example I sailed was actually heavier at 190kg!

I didn't know that. The figures I looked at quoted hull weight; Wanderer 129.5kg vs. Wayfarer 167kg. I know they also do a metal centreplate (as well as wooden)which would obviously add a bit more weight and if it had all the cruiser options added i.e.outboard bracket etc...

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Medway Maniac View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Medway Maniac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jul 09 at 11:05pm

If you feel you can all squeeze into a Miracle, that's definitely a course I'd take. Surprisingly roomy in practice, light and lively. One of the few boats you could seriously sail both singlehanded or two-up - most two handers are simply overcanvassed for singlehanding.

Re. the Wanderer, surely they're pretty much as heavy as a Wayfarer? An early example I sailed was actually heavier at 190kg! Less stable and roomy than a Wayfarer too. If the Miracle is too small then I'd certainly consider next whether a Wayfarer is really too heavy for the circs you'll be using it in. A friend has a 2000 and a Wayfarer, and we don't really notice much difference on-shore; afloat the L2k is significantly more tippy and a real problem if you capsize. The Wayfarer is very much on your side in a blow, and you can use a jib rather than a genoa, or even better, a cut-down genoa that I think Mike MacNamara can supply.

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FireballNeil View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote FireballNeil Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jul 09 at 10:29pm
Yet another vote for the miracle, brilliant, lightweightm
controllable but still exciting boats
Neil

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Post Options Post Options   Quote Andymac Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post 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.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote neilgb Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post 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
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Roy Race Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post 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.

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