Which dinghy for sailing with a child?

   My son will be five soon, and I'm thinking about getting a boat which we can sail together.  I'm 90kg so have a lot of the weight requirement "covered", and I've sailed high performance boats for years right up to Moths and 18s, so it doesn't nesessarily have to be something really safe and boring.
I've taken him out in my Fireball when it was very light (obviously he wasn't trapezing or using the kite haha) but I want something that we can sail "properly" in reasonable breeze.  Obviously I have no desire to put him off, so I won't take him out in big winds until he's older and wants to do it.

We may wish to do the odd club pond race, but we won't yet be thinking about Nationals etc...let's see if he enjoys it first.

Needs to be fairly cheap, and ideally nothing wooden unless it's in very good order/epoxied.  I thought of the following...

N12...cute little boat but is it too tippy?
Mirror...seems a bit "obvious" and not very comfy to sail but could be good when he starts helming..
Miracle...do they all have 'orrible aft sheeting?
Tasar...is it a bit fast, and is that spanner hard work for a small child?
RS200...probably out of budget but if I found a knacker could that be an option?

Anything else?

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Iain C Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1113	Post Options Post Reply Quote Iain C Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Which dinghy for sailing with a child? Posted: 14 Sep 20 at 4:40pm
	My son will be five soon, and I'm thinking about getting a boat which we can sail together. I'm 90kg so have a lot of the weight requirement "covered", and I've sailed high performance boats for years right up to Moths and 18s, so it doesn't nesessarily have to be something really safe and boring. I've taken him out in my Fireball when it was very light (obviously he wasn't trapezing or using the kite haha) but I want something that we can sail "properly" in reasonable breeze. Obviously I have no desire to put him off, so I won't take him out in big winds until he's older and wants to do it. We may wish to do the odd club pond race, but we won't yet be thinking about Nationals etc...let's see if he enjoys it first. Needs to be fairly cheap, and ideally nothing wooden unless it's in very good order/epoxied. I thought of the following... N12...cute little boat but is it too tippy? Mirror...seems a bit "obvious" and not very comfy to sail but could be good when he starts helming.. Miracle...do they all have 'orrible aft sheeting? Tasar...is it a bit fast, and is that spanner hard work for a small child? RS200...probably out of budget but if I found a knacker could that be an option? Anything else?
	RS700 GBR922 "Wirespeed" Fireball GBR14474 "Eleven Parsecs" Enterprise GBR21970 Bavaria 32 GBR4755L "Adastra"

Oinks Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Oct 14 Location: Bandol Online Status: Offline Posts: 267	Post Options Post Reply Quote Oinks Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Sep 20 at 4:52pm
	Enterprise would probably tick a lot of boxes. Aft-sheeting, yes...but you'd get used to it and makes moving around in the boat with a young child a bit easier.

423zero Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 08 Jan 15 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3420	Post Options Post Reply Quote 423zero Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Sep 20 at 4:58pm
	Enterprise, you can centre/aft main it, same as Laser.
	Robert

Paramedic Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 27 Jan 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 929	Post Options Post Reply Quote Paramedic Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Sep 20 at 5:49pm
	Enterprise

Rupert Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 11 Aug 04 Location: Whitefriars sc Online Status: Offline Posts: 8956	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rupert Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Sep 20 at 5:54pm
	My brother in law, a Musto sailor, bought a 200 for this purpose.
	Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686

GarethT Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 21 Apr 07 Online Status: Offline Posts: 714	Post Options Post Reply Quote GarethT Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Sep 20 at 5:59pm
	Loved our mirror when the boys were that age. With a flyaway pole they were trimming the kite aged 5. Lots of admiration from the older kids in fevas that the little boy could use a proper spinnaker! The best thing for me is that you can go out in any wind and be safe, so my boys grew up not fearing a windy day (won the slow handicap at the club regatta in 20 plus knots with a 5 year old crew giggling all the way round!)

jeffers Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3048	Post Options Post Reply Quote jeffers Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Sep 20 at 6:01pm
	Dont discount the Mirror, cheap as chips and you can rig it how you like pretty much. My youngest has been sailing since she was 2 in our £300 one. Its now pretty much fully race rigged. It wont win the nationals but if/when she decides she wnts to have a go at helming more its ready for her.
	Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74

Riv Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 23 Nov 13 Location: South Devon Online Status: Offline Posts: 353	Post Options Post Reply Quote Riv Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Sep 20 at 6:40pm
	Mirrors have so many advantages. In light winds he will soon be able to single hand it with the mast moved forwards. Also you can go camping in one. I used to do this with my Dad. Good fun.
	Mistral Div II prototype board, Original Windsurfer, Hornet built'74.

davidyacht Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1345	Post Options Post Reply Quote davidyacht Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Sep 20 at 7:44pm
	National 12 Crusader worked for us
	Happily living in the past

rich96 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 20 Jan 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 596	Post Options Post Reply Quote rich96 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Sep 20 at 6:01am
	Graduate ? Firefly ? You cant sail a 200 or Tasar with a Five YO