Larger family boat

   Hi,
Me and a mate are looking to buy a dinghy to sail with our families (5-6 with a mix of adults and kids) on the sea mainly on the South coast of England. We're looking for something we could either trailer or keep in a dinghy park so nothing too heavy to launch with a couple of adults. We're both reasonably experienced sailors and it'd be nice to have something with the right combination of seaworthy and not too tippy / fun to sail (an assymetric spinnaker would be good) / not too expensive.

I've spent plenty of time sailing a Drascombe lugger, and they're really comfortable boats with good capacity but not all that much fun to sail and too heavy to launch regularly.

We're thinking of something like a Laser Stratos / Topper Sport 16 / RS Venture. The Stratos seems to hit the sweet spot of old enough to be cheapish (£1-2k) but have a relatively modern rig. I think a Wayfarer would be a bit small.

Anyone got any views on those boats, and is there anything I'm missing?

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darwin59 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 25 Aug 20 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote darwin59 Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Larger family boat Posted: 25 Aug 20 at 5:15pm
	Hi, Me and a mate are looking to buy a dinghy to sail with our families (5-6 with a mix of adults and kids) on the sea mainly on the South coast of England. We're looking for something we could either trailer or keep in a dinghy park so nothing too heavy to launch with a couple of adults. We're both reasonably experienced sailors and it'd be nice to have something with the right combination of seaworthy and not too tippy / fun to sail (an assymetric spinnaker would be good) / not too expensive. I've spent plenty of time sailing a Drascombe lugger, and they're really comfortable boats with good capacity but not all that much fun to sail and too heavy to launch regularly. We're thinking of something like a Laser Stratos / Topper Sport 16 / RS Venture. The Stratos seems to hit the sweet spot of old enough to be cheapish (£1-2k) but have a relatively modern rig. I think a Wayfarer would be a bit small. Anyone got any views on those boats, and is there anything I'm missing?

Pierre Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 15 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1532	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pierre Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 25 Aug 20 at 7:47pm
	Think you are about right. Laser Stratos would fit the bill or the RS Venture which would be my choice.

darwin59 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 25 Aug 20 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote darwin59 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 Aug 20 at 9:38am
	Thanks. Just out of interest, why would you choose the Venture? I haven't sailed either, but looking at both hulls on land it seemed that the covered foredeck on the Venture meant it had a bit less space. Then again, not having a kicker below the boom gives you more usable space in the cockpit I guess. I imagine the Venture, being a newer boat, would be a bit more expensive second hand, but I'll see what turns up.

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3400	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 Aug 20 at 10:58am
	Stratos is a good boat but no lightweight at 240kg hull only (more than 50% heavier than a Waybarge). I've sailed the keel version a couple of times in a good breeze. It is big and stable and faster than you'd expect, we got nearly 12 knots out of it in F5+, but it can capsize I believe (we didn't manage it).
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Old bloke Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 03 Nov 17 Online Status: Offline Posts: 121	Post Options Post Reply Quote Old bloke Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 26 Aug 20 at 3:15pm
	All the boats mentioned are eminently suitable and sensible. Another direction might be to look at one of the long performance dinghies, Osprey Javelin Flying Dutchman. 6 would be a squash but plenty of space for 4.Less weight, more fun (especially when small children and other halves have been offloaded). With moderate skill and moderate conditions they are really quite stable.

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: 26 Aug 20 at 8:50pm
	National 18 could be worth a look if something racy wanted, with oodles of space. But all in all, the Stratos would do the job. Agree about the foredeck cutting down on usable space in the Venture, which I use on a regular basis. If you can find a Sport 16, they are truly massive.
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darwin59 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 25 Aug 20 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote darwin59 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 27 Aug 20 at 3:43pm
	Thanks for those suggestions guys - can't say I know much about any of those so it's great to have some boats to google.

rb_stretch Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 23 Aug 10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 742	Post Options Post Reply Quote rb_stretch Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 27 Aug 20 at 9:09pm
	I highly doubt you'll get an RS Venture for £1-2k or indeed any used one at all. I know I looked for a while and ended up with a Wayfarer for just over £2. We've sailed it with 5-6 no problem even though it is less spacious than a Venture.

darwin59 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 25 Aug 20 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote darwin59 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 Sep 20 at 2:04pm
	That sounds realistic. The £1-2k estimate was more for a Stratos, so I guess the Venture being newer would likely be more expensive. I think I saw advert or two for used Ventures earlier in the summer (closer to £4-6k if memory serves).