80kg 42yr old with teenage kids seeks fastish dinghy to replace an aged laser 2 fun (which is really dull down wind).   Needs to carry 2 but be sailable singlehanded when the kids don't want to sail with dad.  What's the view?

• laser 3k?  - single handable, but a bit slow and a bit cramped and no-one else has one.
• 29er? - brilliant fun, but sailed entirely by wealthy and competitive 17 year olds (it seems) and can it be single handed?
• buzz? - looks big and hefty, heard bad things about the hull longevity, single handable?
• laser vago? - expensive as new, presumably it's going to be slow, as plastic and hence heavy.  I asked laser if they'd get it below a PY of 1000 - and they haven't answered!

Any suggestions?  Or should I dump the kids and get an RS600 or a contender before I'm too old?  Or give in to old age and buy a solo..... no.... not yet.

The monowobble sailors will no doubt sl*g me off for suggesting it but you seem an ideal candidate for a Stealth (or similar F16 cat) - designed to be sailed either two up with main/jib/spinni or one up with just the main or with main and spinni.

Not sl*gging you off chap.....BUT what you guys tend to forget is that many restricted inland waters simply don't allow cats anyway, so great option for the seaside but not so much fun otherwise.  I'd love a cat, but want to go sailing every weekend without a 60 to 70 mile round trip, along with the traffic jams.

Anyway to the matter in hand, I suppose a Vareo might be the sensible option or a Contender, or L2K if you're that way inclined.

Or if you're feeling butch, one of the FastSail classes .  http://www.fastsail.org - www.fastsail.org

Not that I'm biased of course....NOT>>>

Fireballs are gd single handedly ftom the wire on a three sail reach!

29er can be single-handed...have a look at the photo at the end of the Which Skiff thread...and at 80Kg you would be pretty close to being fully powered when on the wire compared to a "normal" 120kg crew with only 60Kg on the wire. 

Don't let the teenagers have all the fun...

Thanks folks, that's more interesting advice than I've had so far. 

I'd love a 505 - but if the kids go off in their own boats, I think I'd struggle by myself.

The single hand 29er photo is encouraging - but I think Blobby is a much better sailor than me.  Shall have to test drive one alone, but scared Dave Hall might recognise me from earlier "very nice but not buying one yet" test sails!!  Skiff Asia holiday needed perhaps.

Meanwhile my sailing club has banned fast monohulls (chap with an IC can't use his asymetric any more, so doubtless Musto Skiffs banned too) but there seem no limits on cats!  (2x F18s and an I17 already).  Odd, but there you go - must be some powerful cat sailors on the management committee!!  Maybe should consider a stealth.

 If you want some real high spead actoin, you should tried a Hobie 16 beam reach-double trapezee if you dare, skipper standing on foot on windward rudder, which happens to be up. Now that is fun. To top that try surfing some waves doing the same off Durban beach. But don't get it wrong or you'll be picking up all the pieces on the beach.

Good luck in your findings

Or my inter 17 ?  Where are you based ?

 That's got to hurt, no fast sailing boats.WE live in a modern day a must still sail no were slowly. It is a crying shame. I am origanly from South Africa, now in the UK on a working holiday. Sorry I have little experience on smaller mono hulls , once sailed an enterprise- what a disaster. It is a really slow bath tub. Can't sail it in strong winds. Good luck in finding a boat, sailing is a family afair.

The only cat I've sailed is a Dart 16 - which felt very nice and fast, in a straight line,  but VERY heavy to steer and didn't like to tack.  Not the easiest thing to get upright after a capsize either!  Damned thing felt HUGE after a dinghy.  Also, even trying to sail with only one hull in the water, I kind of missed the heeling bit.

But I'm guessing the Dart 16 is not a good cat.  So if anyone wants to convert me (Simon) - I'm based in Derby.

PS: going fast isn't everything Juan - slow boats make our little UK lakes seem bigger!  An F18 on my lake is turning round to come back every 3 minutes.

Nick,

Boat is for sale with 3 Kites, you already have one at your club, sounds ideal.

The 17 has large volume hulls and so can carry the kids for a pleasure sail and there is plenty to keep you busy !.  Been out today for a blast in a good F5 and no problems at all - and a 20mph reading on the GPS !!!!

drop me a private message if you want to discuss some more