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Best 2 person dinghy

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12779
Printed Date: 05 Jul 25 at 9:43pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Best 2 person dinghy
Posted By: Jon Heath
Subject: Best 2 person dinghy
Date Posted: 29 Jun 17 at 2:52pm
I am a 'returning to sailing' sailor with basic skills from 20 years ago.

I am looking for a 2 person dinghy with simple rigging that is reasonably swift but doesn't draw too much water.

I am considering a Wayfarer.

Any suggestions?


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Jonathan Heath



Replies:
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 29 Jun 17 at 3:03pm
Where you want to sail, what sort of sailing you plan to do and who you want to sail with would be useful information.


Posted By: Jon Heath
Date Posted: 29 Jun 17 at 3:10pm
Thanks,

I will be sailing in Christchurch Harbour, often alone but sometimes with 1 crew member. Probably not for racing (but who knows).

Once confident I would like to take the boat out through the harbour entrance and sail in Christchurch bay. Light loads (eg.g occasional picnic and not sailing long distances.


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Jonathan Heath


Posted By: maxibuddah
Date Posted: 29 Jun 17 at 4:24pm
The wayfarer is a big boat for one. Perhaps a wanderer is more suitable. Good for cruising and has a spinnaker if you want to race. Still damn heavy to be pulling around on your own though after sailing.

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Everything I say is my opinion, honest


Posted By: turnturtle
Date Posted: 29 Jun 17 at 4:25pm
RS Vareo could be an option


Posted By: Eisvogel
Date Posted: 29 Jun 17 at 4:52pm
Enterprise? Never sailed it single-handedly, though it is possible, and it's also possible to rig it on your own. And not too heavy on the trolley. Also simple in terms of controls, no kite to faff about with... :)

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Enterprise 20361 (Eisvogel), Laser 102727 (Halcyon), Laser 121986


Posted By: ttc546
Date Posted: 29 Jun 17 at 5:07pm
Originally posted by Jon Heath

I am a 'returning to sailing' sailor with basic skills from 20 years ago.

I am looking for a 2 person dinghy with simple rigging that is reasonably swift but doesn't draw too much water.

I am considering a Wayfarer.

Any suggestions?

Sounds like you have a similar requirement to one I had. There isnt one boat that suits all needs so you have to balance as to what you do most and can accomodate the rest. I chose the Vareo. If you sail singlehanded most of the time, but have a crew occassionally, then, as do I - I chose a Vareo. Handling a 2-person boat in and out of the water can be challenging - especially a Wayfarer

See post here as I chose a Vareo and am loving it.  :
http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12751&title=2up-in-a-vareo-or-1-up-in-a-vision


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Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 29 Jun 17 at 5:08pm
The Enterprise would be my suggestion too, beautiful boat. The Ent is a few inches shorter than a Wanderer and over 25% lighter at 96 kgs (not super light by todays standards but pretty much on a par with a similar sized rotomoulded boat). Sailing one singlehanded is easily possible and a cruising rig is available. I'm sure it would be cheap to get a mainsail fitted with a reefing system too. There's an active class association and secondhand boats available from £500 up to several thousand. If you have the inclination to care for a wooden boat some truly beautiful examples turn up for very little money (£800-1500).

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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"


Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 29 Jun 17 at 5:12pm
Oh and, sailing alone on the sea, I would strongly suggest budgeting for a handheld VHF radio and the associated course to gain a licence as an essential safety aid.

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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"


Posted By: transient
Date Posted: 29 Jun 17 at 5:33pm
The Enterprise sails reasonably well on jib only, upwind an' all.....combine that with the possibility of a cruising main and you have a boat that will do alright  in a wide range of winds.

Hull weight about 96 kg if memory serves.


Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 29 Jun 17 at 7:51pm
I sailed my Enterprise solo, inland lake, launched and recovered solo.
Donated to club to make room for my new boat, 1979 Mirror.


Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 29 Jun 17 at 9:16pm
Ent hull weight is, indeed, 96kg :) a old-un will probably have absorbed some water though. Probably still considerably lighter than it's contemporary competition though.

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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"


Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 29 Jun 17 at 9:56pm
If you are looking for secondhand, a Leader could fit the bill. Even more like a 14 foot Wayfarer than the Wanderer. Heavier than the Enterprise, but sails beautifully.

Of course, I have one for sale, so may be biased, and I would say it is hard to pull out of the water on your own.

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Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686


Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 30 Jun 17 at 11:45am
Originally posted by Jon Heath

I am a 'returning to sailing' sailor with basic skills from 20 years ago.

I am looking for a 2 person dinghy with simple rigging that is reasonably swift but doesn't draw too much water.

I am considering a Wayfarer.

Any suggestions?

Weta

http://www.wetamarine.com/the-boat/" rel="nofollow - http://www.wetamarine.com/the-boat/


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Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 30 Jun 17 at 1:02pm
Although they're very out of fashion, you might want to consider a boat in the 11ft-12ft region which will still hold a second person on occasion, but be a lot more handy with just one. Something like a Gull or Mirror perhaps. They've both got reasonable storage for a picnic.


Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 30 Jun 17 at 1:19pm
Wayfarer,really heavy to launch,helped one of our CVRDA members launch a beautifully restored wooden one at Staunton Harold,well four of us.


Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 30 Jun 17 at 5:26pm
[TUBE]https://youtu.be/nieTAsEurQE[/TUBE]

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Posted By: Cirrus
Date Posted: 01 Jul 17 at 6:52pm
I thought the 3.7 was for 'billy no mates' types .... aka single-handers


Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 01 Jul 17 at 7:38pm
By the looks of they post Jack is suggesting the OP doesn't buy a boat at all :)

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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"


Posted By: Riv
Date Posted: 02 Jul 17 at 1:10pm
Age matters in respect to strength, so many older people at my club have wayfarers, Bahia, GP 14 and so on, Ents as well. 

The OP says he might single hand.

The boats above don't get used much, simply because they are too heavy for one person to handle. 

As Jim C pointed out it would be better to go for a boat whose weight is within the Op's ability to handle ashore, and that means for maintenance as well. 10 to 12ft should be the max. Uffa was wrong about age and boat length.

Wayfarers, Wanderers, GP14 are lovely to sail and look at, but no good if you are by yourself moving and maintaining.

Our older members often go for Mirrors and Gulls (we are on a tidal river). I'm biased because I owned a Mirror and they are brilliant for single handing and sea worthy as well. It's a long time since I was in a Mk 1 Gull but I remember them as solid dependable and dry sea boats. Both have Gunter rigs that make life a lot easier.

So what do you want to do? Go sailing and have fun in a simple light easily handled boat or buy a glorious lump that will moulder in the dinghy park?


Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 02 Jul 17 at 2:36pm
I am enjoying sailing my new Mirror, always interested in them,real pleasure to sail, makes me smile, what more can you ask.


Posted By: Jack Sparrow
Date Posted: 03 Jul 17 at 12:20pm
Originally posted by Jon Heath

I am a 'returning to sailing' sailor with basic skills from 20 years ago.

I am looking for a 2 person dinghy with simple rigging that is reasonably swift but doesn't draw too much water.

I am considering a Wayfarer.

Any suggestions?

 Thanks,

I will be sailing in Christchurch Harbour, often alone but sometimes with 1 crew member. Probably not for racing (but who knows).

Once confident I would like to take the boat out through the harbour entrance and sail in Christchurch bay. Light loads (eg.g occasional picnic and not sailing long distances.

Returning sailor - Weta
Simple rig - Weta
1 or 2 or more crew (grand children?) - Weta
Shallow draft - Weta
Not to heavy - Weta
Harbour / Bay = unsupported - Weta
Racing or Picnics - Weta
Speed - Weta

(out of the Harbour into the Bay is a long distance, and you will need to fight the tide)

Anything else is too heavy, too slow and too risky for a returning sailor (a bit rusty / not as fit as once was) to sail unsupported.

Weta is the only sensible option.

The other boats being suggested will not fight the tide very well and will require far more effort and skill to sail, and are just too heavy to handle on your own.

The Weta was the boat of choice at this years World Masters.

Jon Heath - you should consider it.





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Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 03 Jul 17 at 5:33pm
Not familiar with this boat, is this the trimaran ?


Posted By: Tmay1991
Date Posted: 04 Jul 17 at 12:39pm
How about a miracle? 77kg for a plywood one, very easy handling on land I can pick mine up as a bare hull with little issue, very easy to move about on launch trolley, nice size for sailing with crew and if fitted with a center main single handed would be no great issue, will also take a kite for racing


Posted By: laser47
Date Posted: 04 Jul 17 at 5:40pm
As much I hate to suggest it, what about a Comet Duo? They're fairly simple, doublehanded but small and light enough to sail or move round on your own, low maintenance GRP construction and unlike a Wayfarer or Enterprise you'll be able to sail around in the harbour without getting stuck on the sand bars all the time.

A couple of years ago when I was a member a Highcliffe there was a few of them sailing and racing in the harbour. I can't remember seeing them out in the bay but I'm reasonably confident a Duo would make 'The Run' (the very narrow, very currenty, channel between the Quay and the Spit) too as it's not too much slower than a Firefly.

I wouldn't bother with the Weta as, from experience, it can be quite challenging to get a multihull in and out of The Run. 




Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 04 Jul 17 at 6:42pm
Originally posted by laser47

and unlike a Wayfarer or Enterprise you'll be able to sail around in the harbour without getting stuck on the sand bars all the time.

Not sure I understand why?

A couple of years ago when I was a member a Highcliffe there was a few of them sailing and racing in the harbour. I can't remember seeing them out in the bay but I'm reasonably confident a Duo would make 'The Run' (the very narrow, very currenty, channel between the Quay and the Spit) too as it's not too much slower than a Firefly.

Slightly slower than a Firefly yes, which is a bit slower than an Ent or Wayfarer.
Not saying it would be a bad choice though, it's slightly lighter than an Ent and half the weight of a Waybarge ;) 


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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"


Posted By: Riv
Date Posted: 04 Jul 17 at 8:08pm
You can also use an engine. One of our older members uses a 1.5hp engine on his mirror. Lashes it to the dagger board case when sailing. It's light enough to put on the transom on the water. Works well on the mirror. We are on a strongly tidal river. Its weight probably adds to stability. Who says you have to sail all the way? Mirrors row well if you get oars the right length.(this means too big to fit inside the boat so you have them sticking a couple of feet over the bow.Good memories of mirrors. I'LL get another....


Posted By: maxibuddah
Date Posted: 04 Jul 17 at 9:49pm
Originally posted by Sam.Spoons

Originally posted by laser47

and unlike a Wayfarer or Enterprise you'll be able to sail around in the harbour without getting stuck on the sand bars all the time.

Not sure I understand why? 

Because Sam apart from the channel for the ferries from Christchurch, you can stand up in the harbour even at high tide. Laser rudders even ground over most of it.


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Everything I say is my opinion, honest


Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 04 Jul 17 at 11:32pm
The Ent draws 1.17m, the Duo only 1m. I guess that makes all the difference Wink

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Spice 346 "Flat Broke"
Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"


Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 05 Jul 17 at 7:01am
Most Comet sailors, well all the ones I have seen, sail with the boat heeled, this more than couple of inches.
Must be a stressed place to sail, dragging boards every couple of minutes.


Posted By: maxibuddah
Date Posted: 05 Jul 17 at 7:11am
It's lovely and if you capsize no need for swimming, you just stand up.

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Everything I say is my opinion, honest



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