Single handed bigger boat!
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=5773
Printed Date: 07 Aug 25 at 8:39am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Single handed bigger boat!
Posted By: EdNewman
Subject: Single handed bigger boat!
Date Posted: 02 Aug 09 at 10:53pm
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Hi All, I'm looking to buy a new boat, the main criteria is that it is fun and relatively competitive for club sailing (not too bothered about speed). Here's the catch! I want a boat that for 90% of the time I can sail single handed but for the other 10% I can take the wife and two small kids sailing in coastal waters. I was looking at the RS Vision which allegedly you can sail single handed, but I'm a little worried being able to take the boat out of the water on my own if the slipway is steep. Does anyone have any experience of this? Or can suggest any alternatives? Thanks. |
Replies:
Posted By: Scooby_simon
Date Posted: 02 Aug 09 at 11:40pm
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Hi Ed, Where are you sailing, how bid is the sail area, how much experience do you have ? ------------- Wanna learn to Ski - PM me.. |
Posted By: EdNewman
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 12:14am
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Currently not sailing anything, just getting back into after years out of sailing. But before that I sailed owned a solo and a fireball and have sailed plenty of other stuff. My level of experience if fairly good, probably about 10 years of club sailing. Don't currently have a club, I'm also looking for one of those! To be honest, I don't expect to sail at a club with enough water to use the geni, will probably keep that for the coastal trips. |
Posted By: Medway Maniac
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 12:26am
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If you're not bothered about speed, then try a Miracle (if you're lucky, you might even find a GRP one). Good for singlehanding, surprisingly roomy, and nice and light - easy to pull up the slip.
A Vision, like most other rotomoulds, is heavy! Personally, I find it very unrewarding to sail too - heavy mainsheet and helm, plus it really needs two to balance it. Alternatively, find a club first, then see what they sail, get some demos etc. Frankly, without a club, sailing will be a bit of a hassle what with all the de-rigging and trailing, unless you choose something super-simple like a Topper or Laser, but none of the super-simple boats will provide a decent family ride. ------------- http://www.wilsoniansc.org.uk" rel="nofollow - Wilsonian SC http://www.3000class.org.uk" rel="nofollow - 3000 Class |
Posted By: tmoore
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 1:18am
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how would a tasar do? Iv never heard of or seen one sailed singlehandedly so others might be able to comment on this. Otherwise something like a vision? plenty of space and power for 2of you with the added attraction of something to do for your passenger? ------------- Landlocked in Africa RS300 - 410 Firefly F517 - Nutshell Micro Magic RC yacht - Eclipse |
Posted By: EdNewman
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 8:37am
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Hi guys, thanks for your replies, a few comments: I said not too bothered about speed, I'm not quiet sure the miracle is the boat for me at the moment! Tasar, I have sailed before, and I think it would be too hard to sail single handed in any decent wind. The reason I haven't joined a club yet is that I would like to join a club that has a decent fleet in the type of boat I end up with, therefore I need to chose a boat and then look for a local club that has plenty of them. I won't be buying the boat before I have joined a club. Kind of chicken and egg syndrome I guess. I had a chat with a guy who sales a vision last night and his concern would be trying to pull it up a steep slipway. I'm kind of still at a loss here :( |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 8:52am
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You've got to compromise. Fundamentally. Boats that can carry your whole family in comfort are always likely to be fairly heavy. Boats that are simple for single handing are always likely to be a bit cramped for a whole family. Boats that try and straddle the two will almost certainly be low performance. ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: EdNewman
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 8:57am
| OK, but how heavy is heavy for something like a vision? What with the very good self bailers I should hopefully never have to drag a boat full of water up the slip. I'm not a weakling, but also not a strong man! |
Posted By: Medway Maniac
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 9:21am
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The Vision is very heavy! RS quote 125kg, but I'm sure that is just for the hull - couples struggle to get them up the beach at Wilsonian. As they do Laser 2000's. The 2000 was quoted for years as having a hull weight of 100kg - turns out it's actually 140kg, but they still feel easier to manoeuvre on land (and water for that matter) than a Vision (our club boats). Couldn't recommend a 2000, either: they're noted for being pigs to recover in a capsize, and one of our better sailors, an instructor weighing 13 stone was unable to right one singlehanded once it inverted (twice in one day!). I still think the Miracle is the most capacious boat you'll easily lug around ashore on your own unless you have very shallow slips; thery're nice to sail too (nicer than a Vision which is only 10% quicker). If your club has a winch and all your weight issues are over, then I'd go for a Wayfarer; good to singlehand and genuinely large enough for a family. ------------- http://www.wilsoniansc.org.uk" rel="nofollow - Wilsonian SC http://www.3000class.org.uk" rel="nofollow - 3000 Class |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 10:50am
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With respect Ed, you're doing it the wrong way round! trying to get a boat then find a club to match it is going to be hard. It's much more important to find a club where you feel welcome, can get to easily, is family friendly and above all, affordable, THEN see what the sailing area is like, see what is being sailed, try a few boats out (go to a demo centre if need be) then choose your boat. If the club you choose is decent the sailors will there will always be ready with advice and tips - essential for someone getting back into sailing after a break - and will help you choose a boat that suits the club. If you choose the boat first you might well end up having to travel miles to get to the club that sails them and will probably end up hardly ever going sailing... ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: tmoore
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 11:20am
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how about removing the compromise? Find your favourite club local to you, see what doublehanders they sail and get one of those. Im sure if there is a fleet of them you will be able to find a reliable crew. ------------- Landlocked in Africa RS300 - 410 Firefly F517 - Nutshell Micro Magic RC yacht - Eclipse |
Posted By: G.R.F.
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 2:58pm
Hmm.. Hmmmmm indeed. I wonder if any diligent searching of this fine forum might find previous information contrary to this on the face of it excellent advice.. I'm sure, back in the dim and distant long before the recent love affair with RS there were some fairly heavily expletitive laden descriptions about the Vareo.. By the way what have you decided to call your new 100? Bandit by any chance? ------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ease-distribution.com/ |
Posted By: EdNewman
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 3:23pm
oh dear, double quoting doesn't seem to work and it's lost my reply!! I was trying to see if you can expand a bit on the issues with the vareo, done a search here and it comes back with over 20 pages and I don't have the time to read all that. Just checked them out on a few sites and they look like a fun boat that could fit and extra adult for some casual stuff. But I'm still preferring the look of the vision, all dependent on the weight. |
Posted By: G.R.F.
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 3:55pm
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Pay no mind to me, it was a long time ago I suspect and the Vareos that are
around now appear to have no issues, indeed I was trying to buy one only recently and couldn't find one they are that popular or their owners hang on to them. I bought a Blaze, probably not ideal for two although there's certainly room. Be O.K. in lighter weather I guess. ------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ease-distribution.com/ |
Posted By: Rockhopper
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 4:54pm
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If you want a boat with plenty of room for two and can still sail well then the vareo does tick all the boxes if you need more speed put the kite up then it flys. Now days all boats are very well sorted and as james says old ones are as fast as new ones just put a new set of sails on then you have a level playing.The vision is also a very good boat so the choice is yours the vareos do seem to be holding their money very well. andy ------------- Retired now after 35 seasons in a row and time for a rest. 2004 national champ Laser5000 2007,2010,National Champ Rs Vareo |
Posted By: zailor
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 5:43pm
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Laser Vago. Sorted 
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Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 7:14pm
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We have Vision as a club boat and I really do think it is too heavy for one person to lug around. An old style phantom has lots of passenger space. ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: Andymac
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 8:39pm
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Why should a club get snotty about that? It is in the Laser class rules that it can be raced 1 or 2 up. I don't think it would enhance performance though!
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Posted By: zailor
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 8:48pm
Depends how windy it is
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Posted By: ham4sand
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 8:49pm
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i agree with zailor....laser vago ------------- John Hamilton cherub 2645 - cheese before bedtime cherub 3209 - anatidaephobia laser 176847 - kiss this [FORSALE] |
Posted By: zailor
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 9:00pm
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Score one for me No really its a good boat. I have a thread on it some place im sure you'll find its quite recent. A little heavy up the slip but its a rotomould. |
Posted By: ham4sand
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 9:23pm
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its not that heavy, even i can pull it up and im 15. lol
its a great boat singlehanded on the wire in f5, it simply flies with the kite up ------------- John Hamilton cherub 2645 - cheese before bedtime cherub 3209 - anatidaephobia laser 176847 - kiss this [FORSALE] |
Posted By: zailor
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 9:48pm
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Well obviously my slipway is steeper and also the fist bit is made of stones so that adds some drag 
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Posted By: G.R.F.
Date Posted: 03 Aug 09 at 9:49pm
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Boys....
It's a washing up bowl And It's time you were in bed. ------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ease-distribution.com/ |
Posted By: zailor
Date Posted: 04 Aug 09 at 5:46pm
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Oh brilliant. The ideal boat for the Housewife |
Posted By: redback
Date Posted: 04 Aug 09 at 11:21pm
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There's probably less room in a Vago than a Miracle. I have to say the Miracle fits the bill better than any other suggestion. You can get 4 in it and yet it is light enough for a reasonably sized male to pull up a reasonable slip. It can certainly be sailed single handed in a wide range of winds. However somebody said that he's going about it in the wrong order and I'd have to agree. First find a club and then see what boats they sail. PS my brother has an almost new, glassfibre Pacer he's trying to sell - that might do the trick. |