Keelboat or Dinghy
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Beginner questions
Forum Discription: Advice for those who are new to sailing
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6979
Printed Date: 26 Jun 25 at 9:10am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Keelboat or Dinghy
Posted By: pij27
Subject: Keelboat or Dinghy
Date Posted: 27 Jul 10 at 2:13pm
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I am looking to take up sailing and my question is what is the better boat to learn on, a small keelboat or a dinghy. Also what is the difference as when looking at some information they appear to be talking about the same thing.
I am in my forties and therefore don't want an out and out speed machine, but something that can be sailed fairly easily but is safe to take a passenger. All advice is greatly welcomed.
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Replies:
Posted By: ChrisJ
Date Posted: 27 Jul 10 at 2:40pm
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Depends where you will be sailing.
Recommend you join the local club and see what they are sailing.
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Posted By: MerlinMags
Date Posted: 27 Jul 10 at 2:58pm
It partly depends on what you are looking forward to doing in the future. If your goal is to cruise the coast for a week, living aboard and visiting new ports...well, you're a keelboat sailor and don't ever need to step into a sailing dinghy!!!
If the idea of something cheaper and more responsive, for days out sailing or racing appeals, perhaps take a course at your nearest club in whatever dinghy they provide, and go from there.
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Posted By: pij27
Date Posted: 27 Jul 10 at 3:21pm
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Sorry, I think I may of got my terminology wrong and thats where my confusion is coming from.
What I am wondering is wheter it is better to learn to sail in a Drascombe longboat, Hawk 20 etc or a GP14, Wayfarer, Laser etc. I don't know whether I like the idea of getting a turn wrong and then capsizing, especially if I do it alot.
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Posted By: Stefan Lloyd
Date Posted: 27 Jul 10 at 4:43pm
Originally posted by pij27
I am in my forties and therefore don't want an out and out speed machine, but something that can be sailed fairly easily but is safe to take a passenger. |
Bear in mind this is a dinghy racing forum and you'll probably get advice to the contrary but from everything you have said, you'd be happier in a keelboat, or possibly a Wayfarer, which is a dinghy that's often used for teaching and is much more stable than most dinghies.
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Posted By: MerlinMags
Date Posted: 27 Jul 10 at 4:47pm
Until you are 70 or have mobility problems there is not really anything to fear about capsizing! Any decent course will make sure you are familiar with the process, but you'll probably find you hardly capsize anyway, until you risk stronger winds or push things hard in a race.
I've taken plenty of newbies out in Wayfarers and capsizes were rare even when they had control.
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Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 27 Jul 10 at 6:08pm
The only thing about keelbats is that because they are heavier and react more slowly it can take longer to get the feel of sailing than in something lighter.
Remember is that you aren't signing up for a marriage when you buy a boat, you can change your mind and flog it, which is why its probably better for the firstboat not to be brand new so you can pass it on fairly quickly without too much depreciation should you wish to.
What I would advise anyone in your position to do is to find a local club that runs taster type sessions. From that you can get a better feel for what suits you. No point in shelling out cash for a boat and flogging it again 3 months later.
For instance my club, Island Barn, in Molesey, Surrey, runs a basic learners course on Tuesday evenings through the Summer. We use club owned boats, and the idea is that by the end of it you have a pretty reasonable idea of what sort of boat you want to get, and are ready to get it, join [we hope] our club and be confident of being able to sail around in any kind of moderate conditions. I'm sure lots of other clunbs run something similar...
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Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 27 Jul 10 at 6:12pm
Unless it is stupidly windy weather it is pretty difficult to capsize a Wayfarer on purpose, let alone by accident
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Al
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Posted By: Stefan Lloyd
Date Posted: 28 Jul 10 at 7:51am
Originally posted by MerlinMags
Until you are 70 or have mobility problems there is not really anything to fear about capsizing! |
There are people who like to sail but don't much like to swim. There are people who like to swim but are scared out of their wits by capsizing. There are also those happy souls whose idea of a good sailing session is a dozen capsizes. Different strokes for different folks. If you don't wish to capsize, Wayfarer or keelboat is the way to go.
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Posted By: Mister Nick
Date Posted: 30 Jul 10 at 6:23pm
I would go with a dinghy. There is much more to think
about, and much more to go wrong with a keelboat than a
dinghy. For instance, if you keep it on a mooring and
screw up whilst trying to come off of it, you could quite
easily run the boat aground and get stuck. You could also
have problems coming back onto it. Also, Keelboats are
sailed in a different way to dinghies. There is a lot
more to consider with them.
Maybe go with something like a Wayfarer (Dinghy)? Not
particularly quick, very stable (People have sailed the
channel in these things), difficult to capsize, big
enough for 4 people and not too expensive either.
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Posted By: MerlinMags
Date Posted: 02 Aug 10 at 9:51am
Originally posted by Stefan Lloyd
There are people who like to sail but don't much like to swim. There are people who like to swim but are scared out of their wits by capsizing. There are also those happy souls whose idea of a good sailing session is a dozen capsizes. Different strokes for different folks. If you don't wish to capsize, Wayfarer or keelboat is the way to go. |
My fear of being trapped underwater is worse on a keelboat. I know dinghies capsize more often(!) but I still feel happier on a smaller boat without a cabin.
Having said the Wayfarers are good for learning....you'll need 5 friends to help you pull the damn thing up the beach. They are heavy!
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Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 02 Aug 10 at 11:59am
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Originally posted by Mister Nick
Maybe go with something like a Wayfarer (Dinghy)? Not
particularly quick, very stable (People have sailed the
channel in these things). |
They've sailed a bit further than that- Frank and Margaret Dye sailed to Iceland in one- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ocean-Crossing-Wayfarer-Iceland-Norway/dp/0713675683 - they wrote a book about it . Mindyou, that's not exactly beginner sailing.
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Al
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Posted By: laser4000
Date Posted: 04 Aug 10 at 11:00pm
Originally posted by alstorer
Originally posted by Mister Nick
Maybe go with something like a Wayfarer (Dinghy)? Not
particularly quick, very stable (People have sailed the
channel in these things). |
They've sailed a bit further than that- Frank and Margaret Dye sailed to Iceland in one- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ocean-Crossing-Wayfarer-Iceland-Norway/dp/0713675683 - they wrote a book about it . Mindyou, that's not exactly beginner sailing. |
And a well known dinghy racer has just http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=153040 - done a lap of the uk in one...
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Posted By: Sailaboat
Date Posted: 05 Oct 10 at 11:21am
Dinghies are generally easier to tow, rig and launch and are cheaper but will give you the inevitable capsize. You dont mention where you sail, but pop along to your local sailing club for a look around and chat. Avoid dashing out and buying the first boat you see. it is best to try a few out and then decide.
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www.Sailaboat.tv for high quality training videos on sailing
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