sorry but what singlehander for lowcost speed?
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Choosing a boat
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URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11744
Printed Date: 05 Aug 25 at 6:26am
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Topic: sorry but what singlehander for lowcost speed?
Posted By: isotonicake
Subject: sorry but what singlehander for lowcost speed?
Date Posted: 05 Nov 14 at 1:03pm
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I'm looking to get back into dinghy sailing after a bit of a sabbatical for a few years where I've focused on solo big(ger) boat sailing.
Through my yoof I had or sailed on lasers (1&2), larks, ents and microtonners before heading off for west coast Scotland remote rocky bits and away from racing. I'm 192cm /6'4"ish, 85kg naked and quite fit. My requirements are for a boat <£1,500 but pref <£1k thats good for a blast, easy to right without rescue boat (which the Lark was anything but) and light enough to get up the beach without assistance. As a wild card requirement something big enough to strap a 30l dry bag and hip flask of whisky too for occasional weekend bivvy trips is a bonus. I'm versed in fair weather, traveling light bikepacking on the mountain bike so you don't need to suggest a wayfarer with boom tent, I have a cruising yacht for bigger trips. I'm thinking something along the lines of a Sprint 15 or Contender, what else should I be looking at? |
Replies:
Posted By: Wee Man
Date Posted: 05 Nov 14 at 8:29pm
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Catapult. Inflatable catamaran, no idea what price they go for. ------------- Nacra Infusion F18 |
Posted By: PeterG
Date Posted: 05 Nov 14 at 9:34pm
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Sounds like you want an old beach cat. Sprint 15 might do. You would want a good big wheel trolley single handed on a beach - they're not cheap. I wouldn't go far on my own in a Contender, it would be a real pain to handle on a beach on your own, and I don't think bivvying on it would be very comfortable. Or just get a Laser for some cheap fun, and forget the bivvy trips. ------------- Peter Ex Cont 707 Ex Laser 189635 DY 59 |
Posted By: chris_wht
Date Posted: 05 Nov 14 at 9:56pm
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RS600 quite a few going in the 1k region, sub 70kg all up, cant think of anything faster for cheaper. Easy to right on your own, which you may need to get good at if its your first go at helming from the wire. ------------- |
Posted By: robin34024
Date Posted: 05 Nov 14 at 10:14pm
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I'd agree with the 600, although i'm wayyy too small for mine, its been great for blasting and such a fun boat to learn helming from the wire in over the summer! Also generally robust, light and quick to rig and get on the water in minutes! ------------- |
Posted By: craiggo
Date Posted: 05 Nov 14 at 11:43pm
| I'd say Sprint15 quick, stable and a good little boat for going on an adventure. My father in law sailed his from Thornbury SC. To Flat Holm island in the Severn Estuary for a weekend away and loved it. |
Posted By: piglet
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 12:58am
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You won't get much Contender for £1500
What about a cheap old L2/Fun with harness and long stick? If it really blows up you can get home old skool with just the jib. |
Posted By: IanW
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 9:25am
| International Canoe got to be the best value in the speed/cost stakes |
Posted By: PeterV
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 12:27pm
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It's not light but an older Finn would otherwise fit the bill. I've camped and cruised in mine many times, you can sleep aboard or take a tent. I use an OK sail if it gets too windy. It's a heavy boat but I've never not been able to get it up a beach or slipway by myself, but help is appreciated! ------------- PeterV Finn K197, Finn GBR564, GK29 Warsash |
Posted By: transient
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 12:55pm
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It's possible that you are asking too much of a single boat. Fast, light and suitable for cruising with luggage.....I don't think that boat exists.
Gull for single handed cruising. Cheap Laser for a quick blast. |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 1:21pm
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A cat with a bridgedeck tent would make a great cruiser/blaster. Fully battened sails can be made reefable very easily. I wonder if a Dart 18 would work S/H for a biggish chap? In the olden days you could get cats with plywood bridgedecks, which would have been even better for camp-cruising. ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: PeterV
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 2:11pm
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Rupert's suggestion is a good one. I've cruised a bridge deck catamaran, gear in the hulls during the day and a tent over the boom at night. I have friends who have cruised the Western Isles in a Tornado, gear in waterproof drums lashed on deck and sleeping in tents overnight. ------------- PeterV Finn K197, Finn GBR564, GK29 Warsash |
Posted By: isotonicake
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 2:54pm
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Just been looking at dart 18 website over lunch looks a better fit and more common than the 15 which should facilitate choice.
I hasn't planned on actually sleeping on board but bivvyin on shore. I have got my kit minimised down to fit in a small day sack. The cat's tramp does look comfy though. I spend a few weeks on my main cruise up the west coast each year and have found many wee nooks which would great for bivying and whilst I could use the bike to get there, i like the idea of driving up after work on a Friday when forecast favourable, a short sail and camp down for the night. All in an attempt to maximise weekends. Realistically I will manage that a small handful of times so principal use will be post work blasts. Thus no real interest in a gull as may as well buy a drascome, Birkenstock sandles and red socks. I'm not ready for that yet! |
Posted By: piglet
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 3:14pm
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'drascome, Birkenstock sandles and red socks'
Bit harsh.
Everything gets wet on a cat, even on flat water.
Phantom?
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Posted By: transient
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 4:27pm
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.....and what exactly is wrong with Birkenstock sandles and red socks.
I'm well miffed now 
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Posted By: piglet
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 4:59pm
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Good look, goes nicely with the hair loss. |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 5:01pm
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http://sailingdinghies.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=390628" rel="nofollow - http://sailingdinghies.apolloduck.co.uk/display.phtml?aid=390628
This would be a good option. ------------- http://www.uk3-7class.org/index.html" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Class Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/1092602470772759/" rel="nofollow - Farr 3.7 Building - Facebook Group |
Posted By: PeterG
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 5:35pm
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Can you right a Dart 18 singlehanded? ------------- Peter Ex Cont 707 Ex Laser 189635 DY 59 |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 6:12pm
Why not? ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: PeterG
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 8:21pm
Well it was a question - so I suppose I was looking for an answer not another question! An 18 is a fairly large, heavy boat, but I'm quite happy to accept it's possible if you are saying it is. Peter ------------- Peter Ex Cont 707 Ex Laser 189635 DY 59 |
Posted By: Pike
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 9:28pm
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The Dart 18 has a satchel on the trampoline which you can use in a capsize by filling it with water and slinging the straps over your shoulders to give you more weight to right it.
Going back to the first post, I sail both a Contender and a Sprint/dart 15. Out of the two I'd pick the 15 to fit your requirements. |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 06 Nov 14 at 10:17pm
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I'd not sail a Dart 18 singlehanded, but our OP appears to be made of sterner stuff, so I was wondering if you knew something about the design (apart from the usual cat righting problems, which apply to all and can be solved with a masthead float) which make actually sailing the boat hard.
------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 08 Nov 14 at 6:59pm
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Megabyte. Like a laser but better and certainly suitable for your height and weight. Pretty stable, fast enough but easy to right. Lots of room in the cockpit - designed so you could take a child out with you if you wanted to, so certainly space for a kitbag. ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: Owenfackrell
Date Posted: 08 Nov 14 at 11:41pm
I have sailed a dart 18 singlehanded including righting it. The mast is sealed so they don't need a float (it can still turtle but there is a method for righting them). It was desgin for either a crew set up or singlehanded under main alone. They are a good boat. I currently us a catapult which is great fun but has the advantage of going on the roof rack which makes it easier to transport to different places. |
Posted By: pondlife1736
Date Posted: 09 Nov 14 at 6:12pm
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Dart 18 OK singlehanded under main only. You will get overpowered in a breeze though, they are a handful on your own above F4. Reefing as Dart 16 has would help I guess. They can be hard to right singlehanded becauseof the weight of the mast - much heavier than Dart 15. What about the Dart 16? Very robust, reefable as mentioned, can carry loads of weight, easy to singlehand, and almost never pitchpole (well, compared to Dart18/15 anyway!). Cheapish too. Not exciting enough? Add the optional gennaker.
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