Boat for young family
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=5895
Printed Date: 07 Aug 25 at 10:41am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Boat for young family
Posted By: Wee Man
Subject: Boat for young family
Date Posted: 01 Sep 09 at 8:49pm
|
I'm thinking of getting a boat I can sail with daughter 8 & son 6. We sail off a sandy beach so light weight is important. I'm drawn towards a Miracle is there anything else out there I should look at? |
Replies:
Posted By: HannahJ
Date Posted: 01 Sep 09 at 9:27pm
|
Mirror! Best boat for it:) Have a look at www.ukmirrorsailing.com - www.ukmirrorsailing.com . Yes I may be biased but it's the obvious answer, a little smaller than the Miracle so lighter, but still plenty of room.
------------- MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail |
Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 01 Sep 09 at 9:38pm
|
Depends on what you also want from the boat, wood/GRP/Plastic, Main/Jib/Kite....... If you are after low maintance then there is also the Laser Pico and and RS Feva. Others are the Gull or as said a Mirror. ------------- |
Posted By: Medway Maniac
Date Posted: 01 Sep 09 at 10:13pm
|
I'd definitely second your choice of a Miracle. Appreciably faster and more roomy than a Mirror, but still light enough to pull up the beach. I can't think of anything else that's comparable. Wooden ones are cheap, but you'll struggle to find a grp one in a hurry, though they do exist. ------------- http://www.wilsoniansc.org.uk" rel="nofollow - Wilsonian SC http://www.3000class.org.uk" rel="nofollow - 3000 Class |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 02 Sep 09 at 9:09am
|
I think a pico would be a bit too small. I would also go for a Mirror or a Miracle.
------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: asterix
Date Posted: 02 Sep 09 at 10:45am
|
have a look at a Laser2000 - stable, forgiving and flexible:-) http://www.laser2000.org.uk/ - http://www.laser2000.org.uk/ |
Posted By: drifter
Date Posted: 02 Sep 09 at 10:50am
|
Graduate. Nice to sail, and very good value for money. Get a trolley with bthe right wheels for sand! ------------- Stewart |
Posted By: Medway Maniac
Date Posted: 02 Sep 09 at 11:08am
I can't imagine pulling a 2000 up a sandy beach with just children for assistance - the hull weight is 140kg. ------------- http://www.wilsoniansc.org.uk" rel="nofollow - Wilsonian SC http://www.3000class.org.uk" rel="nofollow - 3000 Class |
Posted By: craiggo
Date Posted: 02 Sep 09 at 11:59am
| I'm firmly in the Graduate camp for this one! |
Posted By: stuarthop
Date Posted: 02 Sep 09 at 12:04pm
|
MIracle sound like the right boat for you, easy to handle alone both on the shore and the water. ------------- |
Posted By: Late starter
Date Posted: 02 Sep 09 at 4:35pm
|
Miracle. Nice boat to sail with kids, relatively stable, not too much sail area. Small jib too for little hands to learn on. Light to handle on shore too. And the only class I can think of with "recessed" seating for the crew. The only downside I can think of is most Miracles are wood and are getting on a bit, plenty of rough ones out there but very few good examples. Shame they never managed the transition to plastic as I think they would still be great as a simple low cost family boat. |
Posted By: Wee Man
Date Posted: 02 Sep 09 at 7:34pm
|
Thanks all for your input. It looks like I'm on the right track looking for a Miracle (no pun intended). I've never sailed one but they look good. I'm up for the challenge of doing an older one up over the winter, if anyone knows of one looking for a good home as long as it's mainly solid. |
Posted By: Fin.
Date Posted: 03 Sep 09 at 3:03pm
|
Hi I was recently in your position - would've have bought a miracle... very cheap compared to alternatives. Light, and roomier than a mirror. The Class assoc. seem very keen and there was a bundle of Miracles for sail recently on ebay/apolloduck. I bought a Topper Cruz classic. ... stable boat, but fairly heavy for a 'sandy beach' pulling up. Nice 'family boat - outboard and oars too ! all the best
|
Posted By: Wee Man
Date Posted: 03 Sep 09 at 7:59pm
|
Hi Fin, Light weight is important as I race an F18 cat from the beach & know just how hard it is to drag a boat up it. I've never sailed a Miracle but have sailed a Mirror and love the simplicity of design & build, I feel that the Miracle has more of a real boat feel than the Mirror. |
Posted By: HannahJ
Date Posted: 03 Sep 09 at 11:35pm
|
If you've sailed a Mirror then get one of those! There's a great racing scene for the kids too if they get keen. You'll also be able to handle one in almost any conditions - not sure how much bigger a Mirror is but can vouch for the seaworthiness of the Mirror. And they are "real boats"...
------------- MIRROR 64799 "Dolphin" The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist hopes it will change; the realist adjusts the sail |
Posted By: Late starter
Date Posted: 04 Sep 09 at 10:14am
|
I'd echo the Mirror as a great little family boat. We've roof racked them, used them as row boats, put an outboard on the back, used the forward mast position to rig them as single handers, and even raced them properly on occasion! I'd completely forgotten what a fantastic flexible little boat they are. Back in the mists of time the Miracle was originally launched as the Mirror Miracle, and was expressly intended to be the Mirrors slightly larger sibling. I like them both, a lot, but I suspect the size of helm and crew will tend to persuade you to one or the other. |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 04 Sep 09 at 11:03am
|
I'm refurbing a Mirror at the moment for a parent to sail with a young girl of 11. It seems to me to be ideally suited for this task, and if the children were smaller there's no reason why it shouldn't take three. What I'm liking about the Mirror is its simplicity - so little to go wrong provided you take care of the hull. No fancy fittings to fuss with or worry about - unless of course you want to. Oh, and if you get one with bottle top bungs, don't throw them away the night before bin day....  ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: dics
Date Posted: 04 Sep 09 at 12:20pm
| For a family boat I looked at an Enterprise and GP14. Went of GP14 in the end. I discounted a Mirror simply becuase it is too small for a family all at once (two adults and two kids) and my family aren't exaclty short either. If I was just looking to go out with just me and a one kid each time then it would had been a Mirror hands down. Besides I was also looking for a cruiser that we could keep for a long time rather than sell on in a few years so it had to accomodate growth. When/if the eldest starts to take it seriously then a Mirror for her will be the next buy to race with. |
Posted By: Wee Man
Date Posted: 04 Sep 09 at 2:53pm
|
There are certainly a lot more mirrors about at the right price and as said it is very versitile so I'll add Mirror to the list of options. |