Difficult Boat Choice

Hi

My wife and I would like to take up dinghy or day boat sailing. Our aim is to potter round some inland lakes with a picnic (we don't want to race)

Unfortunately my wife had a serious accident some years ago and has a serious and chronic back condition together with a badly damaged knee and is generally limited to walking about 50 meters using a stick

Our key criteria for picking a boat are

Easy to rig, launch and recover by one novice (while wife offers helpful comments from the shore)
Light enough to be towed by a 1.6 Astra
Low maintenance
Stable ( I appreciate that any small boat can be a handful in gusty weather but I want something that won't bite in good weather)
Boom height high enough to prevent too much stooping for my wife while out sailing
Large enough to allow us to keep a picnic on board 

We've looked at a number of boats but have questions about each and would welcome your thoughts....wanderers (bit small?), wayfarer (too heavy to launch solo?), skipper 17 ( too heavy to launch solo, too heavy to tow with the Astra?)

Target price £5000 and max £10,000

Thanks

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Skelpagb Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 31 Oct 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Skelpagb Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Difficult Boat Choice Posted: 01 Nov 13 at 1:28pm
	Hi My wife and I would like to take up dinghy or day boat sailing. Our aim is to potter round some inland lakes with a picnic (we don't want to race) Unfortunately my wife had a serious accident some years ago and has a serious and chronic back condition together with a badly damaged knee and is generally limited to walking about 50 meters using a stick Our key criteria for picking a boat are Easy to rig, launch and recover by one novice (while wife offers helpful comments from the shore) Light enough to be towed by a 1.6 Astra Low maintenance Stable ( I appreciate that any small boat can be a handful in gusty weather but I want something that won't bite in good weather) Boom height high enough to prevent too much stooping for my wife while out sailing Large enough to allow us to keep a picnic on board We've looked at a number of boats but have questions about each and would welcome your thoughts....wanderers (bit small?), wayfarer (too heavy to launch solo?), skipper 17 ( too heavy to launch solo, too heavy to tow with the Astra?) Target price £5000 and max £10,000 Thanks

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: 01 Nov 13 at 2:47pm
	Topper used to make a boat called the Cruz, with a ketch rig of 2 Topper style sails, big hatches for storage and the like. Whether you can find a 2ndhand one, I don't know, but might be worth a look. I sailed one on Bristol Docks in about 1996 - seemed OK for pottering, but was too "different" to sell well. They then used the hull for more conventional boats, the Cruz Classic and the Sport14, neither of which set the world on fire.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

jeffers Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3048	Post Options Post Reply Quote jeffers Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 13 at 4:59pm
	The problem you will find is that anything that offers the stability you are after is likely to be too heavy to launch single handed on most slipways. Something that might fit the bill though would be a Laser Stratos Keel. You can always launch it using the car (as long as you can get near a slipway) and having a jockey wheel on the launch trolley makes even the most heavy boat much easier to handle on shore. You will always struggle on slopes though unless you can collar a friendly passerby or use your car.
	Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74

Jon711 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 04 May 07 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 465	Post Options Post Reply Quote Jon711 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 13 at 5:38pm
	It depends on where you are planning to sail, a small keelboat, such as the Squib can be easily craned in, but you would need to be sure that the local club has a crane! Launching issues aside the Squib would fit all the other criteria ... Most clubs that sail keelboats will have a crane for club members use... Jon
	Blaze 711

RichTea Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 22 Jan 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 207	Post Options Post Reply Quote RichTea Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 13 at 6:41pm
	Where do you live and where do you intend on sailing? Is getting in and out a boat and moving around the boat going to be an issue for your wife? A laser 2000 is an option
	RS200

yellowwelly Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 24 May 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2003	Post Options Post Reply Quote yellowwelly Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 13 at 6:54pm
	RS cruising range is worth a look...

Skelpagb Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 31 Oct 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote Skelpagb Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 13 at 7:35pm
	Hi all Firstly many thanks to all for your thoughts and comments. Rich Tea: we're Doncaster based and though we haven't been yet, Beaver sailing club will be our closest. Really we fancy some trips up to the Lakes or maybe down to Rutland Water etc (find a nice small guest house or hotel and base ourselves there for a few days). Oddly enough, getting in and out of the boat shouldn't be a problem but once in the issues will be lack of ability to swap sides quickly while hunched and also sitting too long in any one position Thanks again!

NickM Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 May 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 328	Post Options Post Reply Quote NickM Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 01 Nov 13 at 9:47pm
	What about the new K2?

Mister Nick Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 01 Aug 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 389	Post Options Post Reply Quote Mister Nick Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Nov 13 at 9:04am
	RS Venture? Pretty pricey, but it looks like a really nice boat that would be perfect for your needs. :)

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: 02 Nov 13 at 7:17pm
	hmmm, the only dinghy that's really going to suit is the stratos with a keel - anything else is still capable of capsize - but as Jeffers says, it will be heavy. At Grafham Sailability we use some trimarans called Mirage Tandem Island. These are made by Hobie, can be pedalled, paddled or sailed, you sit one behind the other and there is no swapping from side to side. They are rotomoulded so can be run up a shore without much damage, plus they are easily and quickly rigged, can be launched singlehanded and fold up neatly for towing. There is no boom for head bashing and they would probably be ok for your wife to get into - you have to step over a narrow hull. There is lots of storage space - these boats were designed for fishermen to take up creeks etc for the day. However, before you get over excited there is a drawback - you will get wet on a windy day, and would need good waterproof trousers to stop getting a wet bottom as there is not much freeboard. They are a fun, stable ride and if you can cope with the spashing are very much worth considering. If you can get to Grafham and want to see one ina ction let me know.
	the same, but different...