Beginner boat choice advice please

   Hi. Just passed our rya 2(me and the missus) and looking to buy a dinghy to improve on. Our combined weight is 140kg approx. Having real trouble working out what to go for. Have a budget of up to £2k possibly more if we had to. We want something fairly stable but not too boring, that will be easy to sell on if neccessary. Ideally there would be a gennaker and maybe even a trapeze. We have thought of Topaz vibe or maybe a Buzz.

Any help would be very welcome. 

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portlandboy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 02 Nov 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote portlandboy Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Beginner boat choice advice please Posted: 02 Nov 09 at 9:04pm
	Hi. Just passed our rya 2(me and the missus) and looking to buy a dinghy to improve on. Our combined weight is 140kg approx. Having real trouble working out what to go for. Have a budget of up to £2k possibly more if we had to. We want something fairly stable but not too boring, that will be easy to sell on if neccessary. Ideally there would be a gennaker and maybe even a trapeze. We have thought of Topaz vibe or maybe a Buzz. Any help would be very welcome.

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 09 at 9:25pm
	Have you joined a club yet? If so, get down there on a Sunday and see what is popular that looks like it's within your budget and skill range. Think as much about your levels of physical fitness as about what looks exciting ie don't go for something you won't manage. Also, bear in mind you don't have to buy a 'boat for life' - you are at the start of your sailing career, so it's very much a 'suck it and see' process for a while as you learn more and then work out which bits of sailing you like best - racing or cuising, for example. Try and get a sail in lots of different boats - there are demo centres for some, and also club members may let you try their boats if you ask nicely. Which boats did you do level 2 in?
	the same, but different...

portlandboy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 02 Nov 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote portlandboy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Nov 09 at 9:35pm
	level 2 was done on laser bahias picos and stratos keel! basically we had 8 lessons , 1 was a force 2, 1 no wind (practised knots!), and 6 lessons it was blowing a hoolee so we were with in with instructor..

MerlinMags Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Admin Group Joined: 19 Mar 04 Location: UK, Guildford Online Status: Offline Posts: 589	Post Options Post Reply Quote MerlinMags Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Nov 09 at 9:54am
	Definately find out what your sailing club are sailing. If you want to race (even without fierce competition) it is nicer with a group of similar boats. Most clubs are friendly enough that someone will take you out in their boat, just to give it a quick trial.

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: 03 Nov 09 at 2:18pm
	Congratulations on the RYA course, and good on you for taking it to the next step. As you mention Laser boats and been a Portland boy makes me think you did your course at Sail Laser. Did you like anything about the boats you sailed? Are you looking for a trapeeze/spinnaker boat? The Topper Vibe is a teenage boat and is quite shallow so can make light wind sailing uncomfortable. The Buzz is a bit of a handful especially as the crew has a trapeeze and also a kite to play with. Boats you may want to consider are Lark Enterprise Vision N12 Plus others, what was the Y+Y site for New people to sailing?

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: 03 Nov 09 at 2:59pm
	If they weren't about double your budget, the laser 2000 would meet your spec, it even has the option of a (strictly for training/cruising purposes) trapeze kit.
	-_ Al

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: 03 Nov 09 at 3:01pm
	You don't mention where you intend to sail. It also sounds like you were a bit unlucky with the weather on your L2. I'd echo the other comments made about getting yourself along to a club, with a view to hiring/borrowing some club boats and perhaps seeing if the club do any "follow on" type training.

portlandboy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 02 Nov 09 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote portlandboy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Nov 09 at 5:12pm
	Thanks for all the replies. Heres a bit more info on us that may help with suggestions......we'll be sailing in Portland harbour and keeping our boat in the marina - ideally we'd have a bigger version of the pico to start us off - we'd thought of the 2000 or bahia but both are a bit beyond our budget (actually had a few goes crewing in 2000, lovely boat but we thought it was perhaps bigger than what we wanted) - don't mind a boat that may capsize fairly easily as long as it's fairly easy to right again i.e. don't mind wet sailing - not too bothered about racing at present just wont to get out in the water and perfect our skills - we're both fairly agile and fit - only 10 mins away from marina so can pick our times for sailing (force 3 only at first if we're finding boat a handful!) - would prefer plastic boat or fibreglass of newish design......... Don't really want to go club sailing yet as we have a couple of friends who are regularly sailing we can hook up with. Any further suggestions of a boat that would be suitable around the £2k mark would be very welcome!! Cheers.

redback Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: Tunbridge Wells Online Status: Offline Posts: 1502	Post Options Post Reply Quote redback Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Nov 09 at 7:47pm
	You could always buy a plastic Enterprise. I have an old one that has given me hours of fun and is excellent for cruising. It cost me £350 with a trailer. I have to say the Lark is a good idea too.

ellistine Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 06 Mar 08 Online Status: Offline Posts: 762	Post Options Post Reply Quote ellistine Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Nov 09 at 8:09pm
	Come the summer you should be able to sail regularly with Sail Laser for not a lot of money. Last year we sailed with the 'On Board' lot on a Tuesday night. I think it was about 14quid and you could sail any of the Laser boats. That way you could then save up another grand and buy our Vago! If you're planning to eventually do a spot of racing (we didn't plan to at first either) then you'll need to get in at Castle Cove. The Asymmetric fleet is Laser 2000 dominated although we're looking to get some 4000's in.