Dinghy for single handed river or estuary sailing

[Deerhunter]

I found the above discussion facinating and helpful and joined this YBC forum as a result. My name is Brendan Rohan and my nickname in the army was The Deerhunter but for reasons which I feel are unfail, some began spelling it Dearhunter!

I've always been afraid of water and as a result of a serious back injury in the 80s ( a gift which changed my life, for the better), I felt that Dinghys were never an option for me. However, reading Tim Severin's book about my namesake (St Brendan, The Navigator)'s trek to the Americas in the 6th centuary propmted me to buy a 19ft sailboat as soon as I got out of hospital in '85 and, I then bought a 32ft mahogany sloop the following year and sailed that round Ireland two and a half times, most singlehanded in the following years.

In 2007 I bought a 37ft ocean cruiser and crossed the Atlantic, following what I believe was St Brendan's actual route, via SW England, NW France, Spainish and Portugese coasts and from there to the Caribbean via the Canary islands (part in my own boat and part, crewing for a German couple). Now that I have the new gift of "inoperable cancer" I feel that my long distance cruising days are over but having sold my business and bought a lovely, very private property on Ards Estuary Co. Donegal, where I feel I could (perhaps?) manage to teach myself to sail a traditional wooden dinghy in safety, before venturing into Sheephaven bay in fine weather and turning left for coffee in Portnablagh or right, for right for lunch in Downings.

Obviously I was looking for one that I can sail in, rather than on, and which sails mostly upright. Almost immediately I found a lovely old, little used, 12ft Wootten Bridge design with Gunter rig, online and I agreed a price with the broker (for the owner). Comments attempting to confirm my madness are wasted because I've been listening to that from jealous people all my life but any useful pointers and even commical jibes (no pun intended) will be very welcome.

Basically I'd like to know more about the methods and practicality of my undertaking (errr, no pun intended here either (-; ) because I cnnot find much online.

 

[Deerhunter]

PS By "method and practicality" above, I mean the finer detail of rigging, launching, sailing and recovering such a dinghy, mostly if not totally, singlehanded.

 

[scottie]

Go and enjoy it.
I had many great times in a similar boat as a youngster only instructions I got was to always go up wind to start with as it made rowing back easier
This of course was last century before tides were invented?eventually was allowed to take the seagull

 

[Deerhunter]

Many thanks Scottie. Typical Ranger briefing. "Jump in!!!"

Not sure that catching Seagulls is allowed, especially in this Nature Reserve I live on but I suppose if I nailed a dead Mackeral to the mast head, I'd have several in attendance??

 

[scottie]

Many thanks Scottie. Typical Ranger briefing. "Jump in!!!"

Not sure that catching Seagulls is allowed, especially in this Nature Reserve I live on but I suppose if I nailed a dead Mackeral to the mast head, I'd have several in attendance??

Seagull outboards were practically the only option in the 50s

 

[Deerhunter]

I know.Scottie. Many thank.
I used to have one, in the 90s. Great little engine and probably more appropriate to my potential Dinghy.

 

[oldbloke]

I would probably start with a book. Probably an old one, even the simple primers used to be very keen on seamanship-y elements of sailing. For details of rigging your boat , Mirror dinghy techniques would be right most of the time.
Speaking of time as ,by the sound of it, your sailing days will be fairly limited I would consider investigating some sessions of instruction, if you can find a grizzled old salt even better

 

[Deerhunter]

Oh, thank you so much 'Oldbloke' . That's great advice and encouragement.
On your advise I've adready made contact with on old (younger than me) sailing buddy who is retired from a small sailing school (why did I not think of him before?) and who is exactly the right man to keep me right as well.
On your original point, I recall that when I got out hospital in '85 I went straight to Cork and bought my first, small, sail cruiser and on the way home, called in a bookshop and bought a Teach Yourself How to Sail book, so, with the tiller in one hand and the book in another, I was off. Many many thanks for your timely, concise and perfect advice.?
B.

 

[PeterWright]

You don't need to spend the King's ransom asked for the modern go faster sit on (not in) dinghies. In their earlier years, Enterprises had two rigs, known as cruising and racing both well balanced and the cruising rig suiting me for single handing from about 10 years of age. Now in my 70's, I still find plenty of space inside an Enterprise, but have not seen one with a cruising rig for decades, although I'm sure Jeckells will still have the measurements. With the cruising main, you can move the goose neck to the top of its short track on the mast, giving an extra foot under the boom.

These boats are often offered for peanuts on sites such as E-Ba, sometimes including trailer and trolley. As a popular dinghy class, tens of thousands were built, first in wood, as mine no. 2234, then in grp with alloy mast so no problem finding one. Even a top class one in racing trim will be way cheaper than any Drescombe although a cheaper one (<£1000) will be in need of a bit of tlc and a suit of cruising sails, then you can use the "racing" sails on light days or when you have a mate to sail with you.

If price is important to you, you will be far better off looking for one of the traditional sit in racing dinghies than a modern old gaffer look alike, simply because of the number built. Depowering a rig is very simple - smaller sails!

Peter.

 

[oldbloke]

Oh, thank you so much 'Oldbloke' . That's great advice and encouragement.
On your advise I've adready made contact with on old (younger than me) sailing buddy who is retired from a small sailing school (why did I not think of him before?) and who is exactly the right man to keep me right as well.
On your original point, I recall that when I got out hospital in '85 I went straight to Cork and bought my first, small, sail cruiser and on the way home, called in a bookshop and bought a Teach Yourself How to Sail book, so, with the tiller in one hand and the book in another, I was off. Many many thanks for your timely, concise and perfect advice.?
B.

Thank you, my pleasure.
A couple of bits of gratuitous advice which may or may not be relevant.
Old dried out clinker boats will leak, a lot!. If you can Moor it somewhere sheltered , below the high tide mark, and let it fill and drain for a week you will be amazed at how much it "takes up" and reduces the leakage.
The bolt roles in old sails shrink and it can be impossible to fit or use the sails, just cut the sticking holding the bolt ropes near the tack of the sail, let the ropes relax and you are good to go. No need to re stitch or replace.

 

[Deerhunter]

Thanks Peter.
I enjoyed reading your resonse and appreciate the time you spent writing it but I have now comitted to buying a 1989 Wootten Bridge, 12ft Gunter rigged, beautifully turned out, little used, mahogany dinghy ... For a Few Dollars More. I have to collect her from London, which I'll do on Monday and (hopefully) load her into a Courier's van I've organised, for the long road trip, via Scotland, and Belfast, back to Donegal.
I feel younger and full of apprehension for this new adventure, full of unknows but confident that the same group of Guardian Angels are still on duty, who guided and protected me through many such previous adventures.