2 person dinghy that can be single handed
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=14037
Printed Date: 04 Aug 25 at 1:40pm
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Topic: 2 person dinghy that can be single handed
Posted By: Alfachats
Subject: 2 person dinghy that can be single handed
Date Posted: 23 Aug 23 at 4:38am
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Hello all, A few years ago I came on the forum as a returning sailor to ask for advice on a single hander to have some fun it, I ended up with a lovely Lightning 386 which TBH I haven't sailed as much as I had hoped so I'm thinking of going down a different route. Me and very often my wife enjoy sailing the the Wayfarers at our club but available times are often restricted and I'd like my (our) own boat. So its a big ask, what I'm after is a 2 person dinghy that I can also sail on my own, its got to be light enough that I can haul it out of the water on my own (something around the same weight as the Lightning) as I will mainly be sailing solo but big enough for 2 adults. I thinking something like a Mirror but I feel it may be a little snug so my second thought is a Miracle. Has anyone any experience of one, can I sail it solo etc. Any advice or boat suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Roger.
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Replies:
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 23 Aug 23 at 6:18am
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Mirror will feel underpowered next to a Wayfarer, Miracle not much bigger than a Mirror, faster though. My old club had both a couple used to sail a Mirror together, average size adults, both easily single handed.
Firefly faster than Miracle and Mirror, larger capacity and light. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: davidyacht
Date Posted: 23 Aug 23 at 7:01am
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Like the idea of a Firefly … it was after all an Olympic singlehander ------------- Happily living in the past |
Posted By: Alfachats
Date Posted: 23 Aug 23 at 8:39am
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Thanks for the replies chaps, I didn’t even consider a Firefly, looks ideal but when I checked it out on wiki it appears to be twice as heavy as a Miracle. Wiki has a miracle at 59kg and a Firefly at 118kg, surely that can’t be right.
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Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 23 Aug 23 at 12:04pm
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The 118kg is all up weight, never felt heavy to me, Enterprise felt heavier and GP14 felt like pulling a car.
Not sure many double handers will be much lower than 100kgs. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 23 Aug 23 at 12:06pm
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Miracle 77kg all up weight. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 23 Aug 23 at 1:41pm
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Firefly is 74kg hull weight, the Lightning 368 is 54, and the extra sail and associated bits and you're looking at the Firefly being least 30-35kg heavier than the Lightning. The Heron is another option for a single and double hander but has the same issues as the Mirror for two adults, i.e. limited space I the cockpit. The class rules (like the Mirror) allow them to be raced singlehanded though which may be important. If racing is not important but space in the boat is (at the cost of some extra weight) I'd suggest the Enterprise and get either a set of used Firefly sails or have some Ent cruising sails made for sailing it solo. The standard rig is a handful for one in any sort of breeze. Weightwise they're heavier at 95kg hull weight but the all up sailing weight of around 125kg is still manageable off the water unless the slipway/beach is steep. The Ent is somewhat more lively than a Waybarge (as anything so much lighter will be) but is well mannered and refined boat.
------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 23 Aug 23 at 2:00pm
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Wayfarer staggeringly heavier than any of the boats mentioned, how did you launch? ------------- Robert |
Posted By: Alfachats
Date Posted: 23 Aug 23 at 2:10pm
| We use a club boat, they are kept on moorings for the season. |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 23 Aug 23 at 2:58pm
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That would help, good practice for mooring to a buoy if you take up yachting. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: SoggyBadger
Date Posted: 24 Aug 23 at 4:17pm
There's a lot more room in a Heron than a Mirror. The boom is a lot higher too which really helps, especially for the crew. The average lady should have no trouble fitting into the front of one. Finding a race-competitive on one would be a challenge though as such boats rarely seem to come onto the market. A Gull would be another option. ------------- Best wishes from deep in the woods SB |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 25 Aug 23 at 6:21pm
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Not sure how a Mirror cockpit can have less room than a Heron as it's slightly wider, has no side decks and, while 3" shorter it has a pram bow so carries the extra width further forward (and it has no foredeck). The Heron is a lovely boat though, I learned to race in one. ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: ColPrice2002
Date Posted: 27 Aug 23 at 4:28pm
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There's a range of 2 handers around - if you liked the Wayfarer (apart from hauling up the ramp!) there's the Wanderer - 14' smaller brother of the Wayfarer (same designer). That one is a lot lighter, but still has room for 2-3 adults, GRP hull - avoiding the problems with the plywood Mirrors & Miracles. Go visit your local clubs and see what's popular and practical Colin
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Posted By: skslr
Date Posted: 28 Aug 23 at 11:59am
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Beneteau 14 comes to mind... Very light, but not exactly as stable as a Wayfarer
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