Which dinghy best matches my requirements
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=7635
Printed Date: 07 Aug 25 at 10:37am
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Topic: Which dinghy best matches my requirements
Posted By: Martin63n7
Subject: Which dinghy best matches my requirements
Date Posted: 09 Mar 11 at 4:50pm
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I am a 46 year old relative novice and I am looking for a boat which does not exist unless you advise otherwise.
I have 3 young kids the eldest being 7 and who loves sailing
I learned in a Pico and love them and would have one tomorrow but it just does not match my requirements whic are
1 Fun boat and not some big old bucket-
2 Can he manouvred into water by myself so relatively light
3 Ideally can be sailed single handed even perhaps by dropping the jib
4 Is big enough to put at least a couple of young kids in with me ( and at a squeeze my wife) for a bit of fun- we are all relatively small
5 I am on a budget so no brand new models- I would like to get something for £1000 but could go to perhaps £1500
Suggestions put forward thus far
1 RS Feva ( top end of budget)
2 Toper Magno ( as above)
3 Graduate
4 Miracle
5 National 12 ( these look fun)
6 Pacer
I have not sailed nor indeed seen any of these in the flesh.
I am keen to get out there so any advice would be gratefully received.
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Replies:
Posted By: chrisclark123
Date Posted: 09 Mar 11 at 5:21pm
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I have no experience with the boats mentioned above, apart from the feva, which i would of said is a bit small for your needs. Another thought would be possibly a GP14, its larger so moving on land would be harder but by no means impossible, it also has room for the kids to grow into and would fit the whole family in. Main could be reefed so no problem with sailing it by yourself. Hope that helps Chris
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Posted By: SoggyBadger
Date Posted: 09 Mar 11 at 5:27pm
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I don't think a grad or a N12 would be a good idea for you at your level of experience. They're both out-and-out racing dinghies and the N12 is rather tippy. You might not mind ending up in the water but what about your children? Could you cope with a panicking child and a capsized boat? Fevas and Magnos are just pieces of plastic crap IMO. So really you're down to the Miracle and Pacer, both designs by the late, great Jack Holt. Probably not much between them. I'd also recommend that you take a serious look at the Heron. Although it's smaller and slower than the Miracle or Pacer, it's a lot more stable. It was also designed to accommodate two adults and two children so should fulfil your capacity requirement. ------------- Best wishes from deep in the woods SB |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 09 Mar 11 at 5:31pm
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A big question is material, are you happy to do the maintenance on a wood boat, if so your choices are far higher.
The Feva is going to be too small, shame, because its a nice boat, but not a hope of getting 4 people in one and still speaking to each other when you get ashore. I'm personally not a fan of the Magno The Grad might be a bit small, but worth trying. The Miracle isn't going to be a bad match. N12s are indeed super boats, but not for this task I fear. Pacers are pretty rare in the UK these days I think. Advice as always is to get in touch with the class associations and see if they can put you in touch with local owners who'll give you a trip round the bay. If they can't then probably good to cross that one off the list. Also worth asking at your local club. Everyone will be completely partisan for their own boats, but again you should get trips round the bay. Where you propose to sail also makes a big difference to what's suitable. |
Posted By: ob1
Date Posted: 09 Mar 11 at 5:48pm
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I would say be realistic about the number of times you will sail the boat more than two or three up. If you really want to sail with four or more then (and I know its a bit heavier) thinks about a wayfarer. They can still race well on handicap even though they might fall in your big old bucket category.
the other possibility not on your list is a mirror, which Could be great for you and your 7 year old, or for you single handed
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Posted By: ob1
Date Posted: 09 Mar 11 at 5:49pm
| or of course a cat... |
Posted By: Mister Nick
Date Posted: 09 Mar 11 at 5:50pm
| You probably won't that many people in an RS Feva to be honest. You could have a look at the RS Vareo? I'm not sure about how much they are but they meet your requirements. A Laser Vago or Topaz Magno/Topaz Xenon would also work well :) |
Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 09 Mar 11 at 6:11pm
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Laser 2000, but would be hard to find one in budget. I'd say Miracle but with wooden boats come work ------------- |
Posted By: bferry
Date Posted: 09 Mar 11 at 6:35pm
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I highly recommend the Miracle. It can be used as a family boat which can take a combination of people including two adults and two kids at a squeeze. It can be sailed single handed with or without the jib easily or with two persons for optimum performance. Its light to launch single handed, fast enough to be fun, easy and safe. There is a strong class association and you'll probably find them at most clubs around the uk. If you're not after a wooden boat, which in my opinion can be fun to maintain if you've got the time, there is a GRP version which would be a bit costlier. there is also a compostite GRP hull with wooden deck version. Butler Boats are the manufacturers. Have a look at the Miracle Class Association website for more information and maybe get to try one out for yourself. I learnt to sail in a wooden Miracle and despite moving on to a faster boat I still have a lot of respect for it. Regarding the other boats you mention. My opinion is that the Feva would be too small, the National 12 too challenging, The Magno pretty good for size and low maintenance with the option to use a kite but maybe a bit heavy to handle on land, Graduate would be heavy, Pacer - don't know anything about it I'm afraid. Hope to be of help. ------------- Bernard Vareo 249 Miracle 2818 Malta |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 09 Mar 11 at 7:54pm
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The Magno is pretty small for 2 adults, let alone with kids. Miracle would be the best bet if you don't mind wood, but there are also a whole plethora of GRP boats out there, such as the Otter, Skipper, Pacer (as mentioned) which would do the job of getting you on the water cheaply while you gain confidence and decide what sort of sailing you'll end up doing most of. Trouble is, they are likely to be a little bit old and sad, in need of TLC. ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: Menace
Date Posted: 09 Mar 11 at 11:04pm
| Enterprise... beautiful boats, could accomodate the kids and the wife, nice to sail and not that hefty. Single-handable too. Would be top of my list. |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 10 Mar 11 at 7:03am
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As said, most of your suggestions so far are unsuitable- too small. An Enterprise or GP is probably the best bet within your budget (the GP is slightly bigger and has more sails), in terms of "modern" boats the 2000 would have met your criteria if it wasn't for their staggeringly high second value.
------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: Owenfackrell
Date Posted: 10 Mar 11 at 8:00am
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Like you i either sail by myself or with either my 7 year old dauaghter or with my whole family and i use a Miracle. I find the boat easy to sail, rig and manover on my own which if your sailing with small kids is something to think of. She is fun to sail on your own though mine has a centre main which i can cleat off which makes it easier. For the amount your looking to spend you should be able to find a GRP one if you dont want a wooden one. The thing the settled it for me was the fact that i had a comfrotable seat to sit on in terms of the side bouancy tanks and there are lower seats for the kids to sit on which are inside of the boat and they don't feel like they are going to fall off the side.
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Posted By: GybeFunny
Date Posted: 10 Mar 11 at 8:38am
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What kind of water are you planning on sailing on? if you plan to sail on a small lake you will get a very different reccommendation to if you plan on sailing on the open sea. Are you planning on joining in any racing? If so you may be best looking at classes of boat that are popular at your chosen club, afterall the popular classes will probably be popular as they suit the water.
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Posted By: Martin63n7
Date Posted: 10 Mar 11 at 9:18am
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Great advice all. Some conflicting but interesting that the newer Magno ( quality) and Feva ( for size) are ruled out.
The Miracle looks a sound bet.
I am looking at a Pacer shortly but my concern is with such a rare boat bits may be hard to find.
I was a little dissappointed no one backed the N12 as I had my heart set on one but clearly I will end up dunking my kids and my wife.
On the Miracle can anyone explain what has happened to their website. It looks loike they haven't paid the bill.
On Apollo Duck and E Bay there are a few older ones but they look like they need a lot of work.( I once had a riverboat that I spent 2 hours maintaining for every one hour sailing which I want to avoid again.)
I would like one in better order and even possibly a GRP- any ideas where I can look.
Further feedback re oter options still welcome also.
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Posted By: kfz
Date Posted: 10 Mar 11 at 11:59am
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I think some has already asked where your sailing, if its lakes only and you like racing, than an Enterprise is hard to beat in the value stakes,. The GP is arguably a better family boat and a bit heavier (and still a good racer), so better if your sailing everywhere, in all conditions. If your doing a lot of open sea, dont care about racing, then id take the hit on the weight and go for a Wayfarer, though money may be tight here. Ents and GP's are common (with good reason) so plenty about in your price. Good GRP GP's come up quite often. Kev ------------- GP14 Fleet Captain Liverpool Sailing Club http://www.liverpoolsailingclub.org/ - Liverpool SC |
Posted By: patj
Date Posted: 10 Mar 11 at 1:47pm
| An older narrow N12 would probably be alright, but they only come in clinker built wood. Firefly? |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 10 Mar 11 at 2:29pm
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No N12, and certainly not the firefly, will get two adults AND two kids in it. ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: Graham T
Date Posted: 10 Mar 11 at 2:59pm
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Shown this photo before but I still like it - Me and the missus (not small people!) and the two kids (10 and 12 Years) having a great time in our Miracle. Light enough for one person to handle easily on shore or afloat, great for cruising or racing, of all the boats I have owned if I could only keep one it would be this one.   ------------- Osprey 55 "Tebutinnang" Osprey 1245 "Two Bob Bit" Miracle 1358 "Thumper" |