Which single hander ??
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Choosing a boat
Forum Discription: Ask any questions about the sport!
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12010
Printed Date: 05 Aug 25 at 6:27am
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Topic: Which single hander ??
Posted By: Naiad
Subject: Which single hander ??
Date Posted: 20 May 15 at 4:14pm
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Hello All Im 64 years of age 6"2 tall and weigh approx 110kg I'm looking for a cheap second hand dinghy to sail at my local reservoir.I have limited experience passed my RYA 1 &2 9 years ago but did not sail regularly due to work commitments.I am now retired and would love to get on the water.Im resonably fit and cycle most days.Your comments on a dinghy to suit my stats would be most welcome. Thanks in advance |
Replies:
Posted By: MerlinMags
Date Posted: 20 May 15 at 7:02pm
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The usual question to ask first is: do you want to race in a fleet of similar boats?
Maybe you don't want to race, or maybe you are happy racing as part of a mixed 'handicap' fleet. |
Posted By: Woodburner
Date Posted: 20 May 15 at 7:51pm
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6'2" 110 Kgs = Phantom, nice boat to sail and there are a few about now, they're currently punished by a silly biased handicap system which has reduced prices and brought a few to the market, but if you're lucky enough to sail inland it won't matter too much.
------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/moses" rel="nofollow - Foil fun |
Posted By: turnturtle
Date Posted: 21 May 15 at 2:00pm
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do you have a budget in mind? There are several options with those stats... Phantom is the obvious one, but there's also this little boat which could be quite good fun: RS Vareo  |
Posted By: Naiad
Date Posted: 21 May 15 at 2:18pm
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Thanks for your responses I take on board the Phantom but what's your thoughts on a solo or maybe a Gull I just want to potter around while I hone my skills!!!
Thanks |
Posted By: turnturtle
Date Posted: 21 May 15 at 2:33pm
| You're far too heavy for a Solo if you plan to do any racing in it.... plus at 6ft 2 you're getting on the tall side for it to be comfortable. They are great boats mind, and if you just want something small for messing around in, then you could do worse. |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 21 May 15 at 2:33pm
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You'd be fine in a Solo for skill honing, though the boom is pretty low. The small doublehanders, like the Gull, Heron and Mirror are used singlehanded a lot. They are pretty slow, which is bad if you want to go fast, obviously, but means you have plenty of time to sort yourself out. You have the added bonus of being able to fit oars! Where would you be sailing? ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: Naiad
Date Posted: 21 May 15 at 2:43pm
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Yes I really like the look of the Solo but I think stability is an important consideration how stable is the solo?I will not be racing just enjoying the Lincolnshire countryside at Covenham Res.
Thanks |
Posted By: turnturtle
Date Posted: 21 May 15 at 2:48pm
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Solos are stable if you leave some centreboard down offwind. It's not fast from a racing perspective, but sounds like you're not concerning yourself with that b**locks. A reasonable Solo will hold its value- it's a safe 'first boat' on many levels.
|
Posted By: Naiad
Date Posted: 21 May 15 at 2:52pm
| That sounds like the ticket to me and a lot more available and cheaper than the Phantom!Next question wood or grp? |
Posted By: turnturtle
Date Posted: 21 May 15 at 2:57pm
| I'd choose a well maintained wood boat over the old GRP ones.... no question. |
Posted By: Naiad
Date Posted: 21 May 15 at 3:03pm
| And I thought GRP would be less maintenance!Just shows what I know!! |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 21 May 15 at 3:22pm
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Old GRP Solos tended not to be very well built, in order to keep them light enough compared to the wooden boats for racing. Many have soaked up water over the years and don't feel very nice to sail. A wooden boat will take looking after, however, and can't simply be left out all year round without deteriorating.
------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: turnturtle
Date Posted: 21 May 15 at 3:23pm
| on paper it would be, but I think you'd find it was falling apart, therefore leading to more maintenance than you bargained for. If you can stretch to a foam sandwich boat, ideally a 'Winder', then this will hold value very nicely and provide a relatively maintenance free option. I guess they probably start at about 3 grand these days... worth the extra if you have the money earning nothing in the bank imho.... |
Posted By: Naiad
Date Posted: 22 May 15 at 11:24am
| Thanks all for your comments most enlightening |
Posted By: gordon1277
Date Posted: 22 May 15 at 3:34pm
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Hi All
Does anybody make a short battened version of the Solo sail as I think fully battened mains can be less forgiving for a novice? No experience with the solo but had a 400 so thinking is based on this experience. ------------- Gordon Lossc |
Posted By: Happilyover40
Date Posted: 27 May 15 at 4:16pm
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I am in the same position just a wee bit younger but the rest the same. Looking at the Vareois the boom fairly high as I occasionally sail a laser and am struggling with a sore back bending under it. Is this the case? Graham |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 27 May 15 at 5:13pm
| I don't believe I've ever heard a complaint about the Solo rig being too challenging for anyone because of the battens. I suppose that means we'll hear a few now. |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 27 May 15 at 9:41pm
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Too challenging, no. Too annoying, yes. ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: gordon1277
Date Posted: 28 May 15 at 7:53am
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Hi Jim
I found that with a fully battened sail it was always powering up in some form or another but with a soft or semi soft this is easier which is why RS in more recent boats swapped from the fully battened rigs they used to use and cited ease of handling. Which when you are talking about people who have done RYA 1 &2 they really are novices. So anything to make life easier while theylearn to sail in the real world I would have thought would be good. As an IC sailor and used to sail Cherubs your hardly a novice and are so used to fully battened sails it is like me not seeing the problem sailing of a lee shore its what your used to. ------------- Gordon Lossc |