Choosing a sailing dinghy

[Davydine]

A friend is looking for a family friendly sailing dinghy and has asked for my advise but it is not really my field. He is only looking to spend a few hundred pounds for something that can safely take him and his two young sons sailing on a local reservoir.

I have suggested an Enterprise but would appreciate advice on other types to look for. The emphasis is definately on easy and safe sailing rather than a racing machine

Many thanks
David

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by david_walkerdine on 11/05/2004 17:48 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Jeremy_W]

I dislike the Enterprise because you have to sit so far forward. At that price, other good ideas would include Mirror (if friend is smallish and sons young), GP14, Miracle and Pacer.

<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Jeremy_W on 11/05/2004 17:32 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[jhr]

Re: Choosing a sailing dingy

Enterprise can be a bit full-on for gentle family sailing, especially if equipped only with racing sails, as many are. I'd go for a Wayfarer.

Alternatively, I have a Mirror which is fine for me and my two young kids (aged 9 & 6), so I'd recommend that as an alternative.

Both boats are cheap as chips and plentifully available, though subject to the usual caveats in relation to stitched ply construction. (GRP available, but costs much, much more).

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[KeithH]

Re: Choosing a sailing dingy

A lot depends on the size and age of the children. Personally I like Enterprises, and they are relatively cheap, as the HiTech dinghy sailers want asymetrics and other go-faster goodies. They still can sail well - better than some asymetrics in light winds. So an Ent is often good value - and safe - especially if you cut down an old set of sails for cruising. I prefer wooden construction - the GRP ones are good when new, but dont age well.

A Wayfarer is a good sturdy boat, but is never cheap, as there is always demand for them. An alternative might be a Comet (they come in various sizes now - or perhaps a pair of Toppers or Picos (though Picos are fairly new). Two single handers might introduce a bit of competition?

KeithH

<hr width=100% size=1>KeithH

 

[blackbeard]

If the sailing is on a local reservoir there may be a sailing club associated with said reservoir.
In which case, your friend will need to speak to the club. They will be able to advise. Best choice will probably be a type which is already used by the club.
VERY IMPORTANT POINT (obvious, I know, so I apologise to the majority who already know this). Do not take children sailing in a dinghy unless you REALLY know what you are doing, in particular are confident of being able to sort out a capsize.


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[mirabriani]

For a "few hundred pounds " probably limits it to mirror (slow) or enterprise.
Just thought I have both at the end of the garden. Keep meaning to put on Ebay
If your friend is interested p.m. me.
Briani

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[Talbot]

One that has not been mentioned, but really deserves a look is a bosun. Much more space than the mirror, and better if you are built on the generous side. This will also enable you to sail as a family for longer than the mirror and there are some about that are reasonably priced. Be aware that none of the boats that have been mentioned are very light - they are designed as safe, predictable boats. When the kids get to love sailing they will quickly be after something with a bit more zing.

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[claymore]

The main on an Ent makes them a bit of a handful downwind for novice crews - better a more balanced rig as on the GP or Wayfarer. The added advantage is a spinnaker which with care and caution can give a load more for crews to do.
Perhaps weight might be a problem - I developed muscles in strange places - or perhaps they were hernias when lugging wayfarers up and down steep slipways. The Graduate is a lovely little boat and of course the ubiquitous Mirror which has had a few mentions.

<hr width=100% size=1>regards
Claymore
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[ashanta]

I would go for the wayfarer like the previous replies suggest or look at some of the old GRP dinghys of the sixties/seventies which are still around. The Bosun for instance. Not sparkling in performance by todays standards but hard to capsize as long as you are cautious. However, the wayfarer is a great boat for the family and would be my first choice. My kids wanted Toppers and lasers because the loved to compete against each other and enjoy getting wet. You may find that they feel the wayfarers, enterprises etc are too restrictive and slow for them.
get them to go down to the club and spend a weekend there and I feel they will learn quickly what boat(s) they should buy.

Hope they have a great time!

Regards.

Peter.

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[Merlin3435]

My advice to this prospective boat buyer is to wait before buying.

Join the resevoir club and find out what classes are adopted. And get the boys into the clubs Cadet training program, they`ll probably learn far quicker than their Dad.

Pond sailing soon turns into racing - so a popular class is a good idea. (speaking from many years of happy resevoir sailing). Afterall you can only explore so far - and the fastest way to improve is to follow others who are sailing better than you.

See if its possible to rent boats from the club - and blag lots of trips in different classes, really try before buying a boat. Every class is keen to recruit new members - so don`t consider it too cheeky to ask - new owners are key to the survival of a class.

Do learn to sail before putting kids off for life!!! A panicy capsize will do more to harm confidence than just about anything else.

And remember that boats stable the right way up will turtle really fast and are harder to right - the Mirror being an extreme example of this.

A great class - with some cheap ones around is the Merlin Rocket - agreed a handful to begin with but a really lovely boat to sail and nowhere as scarey as their reputation seems to indicate, and really easy to right after a capsize.

Personally I think the more often they capsize and right easily the faster confidence is built - rather than a boat that rarely capsizes and is very difficult to right. For years capsize scared the hell out of me - because I learned to sail in a Mirror.

Resevoir sailing is about as safe as sailing can be - and it would be a shame to get a dull boat that gets outgrown too quickly.

Another important decision is material - wood (cheaper but higher maintenance) or GRP - (or plastic).



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[ashanta]

I would agree wholeheartedly!

Regards.

Peter.

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[LeonF]

Merlin is right and this would be an excellent approach. Bosuns are also a good starter boat. Very stable and forgiving and much easier to handle after a capsize thna a Wayfarer. In fact they can be sailed fully swamped (provided the buoyancy tanks are sound and don't admit water) to a shore jetty etc where they can be bailed out. They are strong boats and were used by the armed forces as teaching boats. I learnt to sail in one and capsized every week to the point where no one would sail with me. I now sail a cruiser, often single handed-no I don't capsize very week- so I must have learnt something.

<hr width=100% size=1>L.A.R.Ferguson

 

[jimi]

Agree that ease of righting after a capsize is essential, got a GP14 which is difficult to tip, but when it goes it goes quickly and is an absolute bugger to get back up again ... otherwise great boats to start in!

<hr width=100% size=1>I Have The Body Of A God... Buddha

 

[aitchw]

I would endorse the view that joining the club at the reservoir is a good first step however, not knowing what type of club and classes sailed leaves me with some reservations. Many clubs are almost exclusively race oriented and concentrate on a limited range of classes, not necesarily what you want.

As far as choices go, Mirrors are a common choice but many of the other suggestions I would avoid. Merlins are beautiful, fast and cheap (older designs) but they are a handful for a beginner and easily damaged in a knock. Bosuns, Wayfarers, GP14s and the like weigh a ton, knackering on a steep or rough slip. Scorpions, 505s, Fireballs can all be bought cheaply but are way too powerfull.

Unless you are very lucky your first boat purchase will eventually no longer suit your needs for various reasons so I would say buy cheap but sound and get on with enjoying yourself. If you have paid only £200 to £300 you will probably get your money back after a year and by then you will have learned so much your next choice will last.

I was lucky when I bought my first dinghy. Not only was she a great boat to learn in but she was a capable, fast racer yet happy pottering 3 or 4 up. She was an Albacore and I still have one. They are big, light and strong and use a simple main and jib rig. You can buy them for as little as £250 but generally around £450 for a worthwhile older one.

Whatever you choose, join the Class Association. It is cheap and you will get lots of knowledgeable advice and help.

Good luck and have fun.

Howard

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[Peppermint]

Re: I agree

with the wait and see posts. Ask around at the lake. Look at the slipway(if it's steep to or with difficult access something lighter makes dad look stronger.
Often overlooked an therefore often low priced are Graduates, and Firefly's. (Firefly's are my favorite dinghy & teach good technique with plenty of racing options.)
There's nothing wrong with a Mirror though. Well apart from a tendency to split the floor if your friends a heavy boy.

Look at the safety arrangements, do you have to join a club, what are the restrictions( most lakes have them)

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[Tai_Lam]

If your friend is intending to race it will be worthwhile finding out what class is sailed at the local club. If its a handicap fleet he's got complete freedom of choice. If he's not intending to race then it doesn't matter.
The enterprise has a large sale area for its size and can be a handful once the wind picks up. The mirror lacks room and will be cramped with three on board. The Wayfarer is big and stable but it's weight is too much for one person to haul up and down a slipway..... the kids wont be much use. Having sailed in a wide variety of dingies I opted for the GP 14 it is stable without being too heavy and if sailed with a jib rather than a genoa the sheet loads will be manageable for the kids. One can be picked up for a few hundred quid. Another possibility could be the Mirror Miracle. Not as many about as the GP and although its not as stable as the GP it has a smaller sail area.

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[freebird1]

Another 14 footer is the Leader. You might find one of these fairly cheap.
On the 11' scale, i mainly learnt to sail in an 'Otter' (Ian Proctor designed) very similar to the Gull. Should find one of these quite cheap, but i don't know how many were made.

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