Good Cruiser
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=3052
Printed Date: 05 Aug 25 at 7:52am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Good Cruiser
Posted By: Copper
Subject: Good Cruiser
Date Posted: 06 Jun 07 at 2:51pm
| I am looking to buy a good cruising boat for myself, wife and young lad. Anyone got any good suggestions, something like a Wayfarer (I know this appears to be the perfect choice but they are a bit pricey). I would prefer a wood boat as I want to buy an old one and restore it. |
Replies:
Posted By: rich96
Date Posted: 06 Jun 07 at 7:04pm
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GP14 ? Albacore ? Enterprise ? Miracle ?
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Posted By: Copper
Date Posted: 06 Jun 07 at 7:28pm
| Thanks, I thought the Albacore was a bit more of a racer than a cruiser. It needs to be very stable as I am hoping by the time I have restored it he will be about 3-4 years. |
Posted By: sailor_420
Date Posted: 07 Jun 07 at 6:57pm
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Id second the GP14 and the ent. |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 07 Jun 07 at 7:08pm
| If not the Wayfarer then the Wayfarer's little brother the Wanderer might be an option. There ought to be plenty of old wood wayfarers about at reasonable prices... |
Posted By: sailor_420
Date Posted: 07 Jun 07 at 7:30pm
| Whats your price range? |
Posted By: English Dave
Date Posted: 08 Jun 07 at 8:49am
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I'd go for a Miracle. Wanderer is a good choice though as well. Wayfarer is large enough for whole family inc grandparents but heavy to pull up slip if wife is in charge of your son. There's a Miracle for sale on ebay in High Wycombe if that's convenient for you. Wooden boat in need of tlc. You'd get her for a couple of hundred max ------------- English Dave http://www.ballyholme.com - Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700 |
Posted By: WildWood
Date Posted: 08 Jun 07 at 9:35am
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When I was young we had a Mirror, which was a great wee boat for cruising about. You can easy fit a small outboard to the back if you want to motor, they can be rowed pretty well, and they are good wee boats for learning to sail. Plus there are loads of old wooden ones in need of some tlc which you could pick up cheap. ------------- |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 08 Jun 07 at 1:15pm
http://www.drascombe.co.uk/scaffie.html - drascombe scaffie or a bit bigger http://www.drascombe.co.uk/lugger.html - drascombe lugger good crusing scean, you can sleep in them as well, also an inboard outboard motor. Worth having a look at. Edit: http://www.drascombe-association.org.uk/drascombe.htm?drascombetext.htm%7Einfo - www.drascombe-association.org.uk ------------- 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: HannahJ
Date Posted: 08 Jun 07 at 9:39pm
I'd second a Mirror, they're easy to single-hand if you have small kids. Have a look at http://www.ukmirrorsailing.com">www.ukmirrorsailing.com 
------------- MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail |
Posted By: English Dave
Date Posted: 09 Jun 07 at 6:50am
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Copper, you'll have to pitch in a bit on this. Cruising means different things to different people. Do you mean "Not racing" or "touring" or "taking the family camping a la "Swallows an Amazons"? Will you be on inland waters or coastal? I've gone camping with a Laser and I've certainly done picnics in my Hurricane59. Neither would be classed as cruisers. If, by cruising, you mean alround family boat for day-sailing and not racing then the boats listed above are definitely work a look. (although any boat can be raced) If you really want a project then the self-build plans for the Mirror must still be available somewhere. If you are on a sever budget then any of the ebay boats are in contention. See what's available at your nearest club and have a look. ------------- English Dave http://www.ballyholme.com - Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700 |
Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 09 Jun 07 at 8:57am
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we have a rhyme at hill head, it goes along the lines of: "i'm a drascombe lugger and i dont give a b*****r" read into that what you may... ------------- 600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318 |
Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 09 Jun 07 at 6:56pm
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sorry I don't understand. as far as I can see from what the original poster asked the Dranscombe's would be a good option. There is a 'Scaffie' on the association site for £2,500. If that is to rich with a bit of searching he may be able to find one that need's doing up. There is an active Cruising scene. And the boats are good stable, seaworthy platforms that carry crew, gear an outboard well. Sailing isn't all about racing and it isn't all about going as fast as you can in extreme boats, any body that looks down on people who just Cruise should take some time out and reconsider things a while. I love sailing in all it's forms - high performance skiff to comfy old cruising boat with a mackerel spinner out the back, they all have a time and a place. ------------- 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: sailor_420
Date Posted: 09 Jun 07 at 10:27pm
| Yeah the mirror is a great boat for the family! They look small but are a bit of a tardis. Very safe aswel and very simple to rig. Generally a good all rounder! |
Posted By: Copper
Date Posted: 10 Jun 07 at 10:43am
|
Thanks everyone, that has certainly given me some options! My budget is currently under negotiation with my wife! I expect we will be able to stretch up to about £1000, but that will have to include trailer and launching trolley/combi and at least some of the materials needed to do it up. I have had a good look at Drascombes, would love one but I think they are going to be out of my price range and are a bit heavy for launching etc.. I did initially rule out a Mirror because I thought them too small for two adults and a child. Miracle seems to be a good contender, anyone know where I can get Miracle plans from? I have tried everywhere! Same with the mirror, if anyone knows where I can get plans of these, Trident supplies the kit but not just plans. The type of sailing I will be doing will be initially jaunts along the Solent coast and over to the island. Picnics and possibly taking a tent/sleeping on board occasionally. I would like to be able to take on a few longer distance trips when my son is older, although by then he will probably be bored of cruising and want an RS800!!! |
Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 10 Jun 07 at 11:00am
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by the sound of that a mirror would definately be too small. you could get 2 adults and a child on board but not all the necessary gear for a weekend. if you can find an old wooden wayfarer to do up that would be your best bet i think. we used to have a wayfarer with a boom tent when i was 5ish and i remember my parents, my sister and i all sleeping on it one night. im not sure what a mirracle is like so i cant comment on that. ------------- 600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it. Also International 14, 1318 |
Posted By: English Dave
Date Posted: 11 Jun 07 at 10:53am
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Miracle might also be too small, especially for camping "in". My memories of it are from when I was 10 and a bit smaller than I am now. Starting to look like the Wayfarer is youir best bet as it is cavernous. Make sure you save a bit of cash to convert the mainsail (if necessary) to have reefing points as the main is large and can be a bit of a handful in a blow (although most Wayfs have reefable sails). Roller reefing for the jib might be a good idea as well. ------------- English Dave http://www.ballyholme.com - Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700 |
Posted By: rogerd
Date Posted: 11 Jun 07 at 1:24pm
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Posted By: Skiver
Date Posted: 12 Jun 07 at 8:59pm
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Be worth you checking out the Dinghy Cruising Association website. They have a lot of info on different dinghies for cruising. My own recommendation would be the Wayfarer, especially if there's more than 2 of you on board. She's a great sea boat,and there are no other dinghies I'd rather be in if the weather and sea gets rough. Reefed right down she'll take care of you. Look on ebay and you may be lucky enough to get one for around a grand. |