Dinghy For Single-handing

[snowleopard]

Don't discount a Laser. You will capsize less if you get the radial rig though you would be frustrated in lighter winds. I recently sold mine which had a full rig and 4.7 for kids and gales. They plane easily and are fun to sail. The only times I have capsized them is accidentally letting go of the main sheet and tipping to windward. Yes, you have to crouch while tacking but as long as you ease the sheet so the boom pops up first it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

A Mirror, with or without jib, is very practical, nice and light for launching but not much performance.

Or if you want to be really silly - I had an International Canoe for a couple of seasons. I never completed a race without capsizing but I had a blast!

 

[TimBennet]

A Solo is the answer. There's an increasing number of them on the lake.

 

[graham]

Enterp[rise will be a struggle to launch and recover singlehanded.

In a fresh breeze you will find it hard to keep up right. There is a cruising sailplan for the Enterprise with a smaller main and jib which would make it more manageable.

I raced Solos a long time back.Great fun and designed for singlehanding.

 

[VicS]

As suggested above,, A moth

.

.... Gotta have a head for heights though

 

[Seajet]

The Solo would be fine when on the water, but it's still a lot of boat to haul up the shore, and being a racing boat with expensie fully battened sail - so may not get replaced too often - it may be tricky finding a good value one with a decent sail.

Another thought - how about a Miracle ? Versatile boat, lightish weight and they seem to go for low prices.

 

[Boomshanka]

How about a West Wight Potter 15, pretty stable and a high boom so no crouching. Some of the earlier ones are wood if you're looking for that sort of thing.

 

[Searush]

I have a Solo & a Laser, the Solo is much easier to sail than the Laser when tacking but marginally slower. The Laser is dead simple to set up & rig tho. I have also had a Heron in the past. It all depends what you want & from past experience, what YOU want changes quite often.

I have had no trouble getting the Heron, Solo or the Laser out of the water on a trolley. I have just got myself a GP14 for family cruising on Bala but expect that to be quite a struggle to get in & out of the water.

I also have a battered Minisail going free (Midlands, near M6 jcn14) if any one wants a simple project.

 

[Lakesailor]

Lots of good suggestion and from people who have sailed them as well.
It looks like an Enterprise wouldn't suit me really. I'm a consistent 11.5 stones (160lbs) so not really heavy enough to cope with the wind here.
There is no way you can rely on "up to F3" here. It goes from 0 to F4/5 in a moment.

It's very difficult to explain an awkward back to people. Most times it is no problem, but sometimes stiffness and pain just build up and you have to think back to what you have done.
It seems to be pulling whilst holding up and walking backwards. Sound familiar?
Also crouching to look under booms and sitting with my knees higher than my hips.

So there you are. Lots of dinghies likely to be a problem Heron could work and I enjoyed it, but I'd rather like something with a bit more pace.
GP 14s are a club class up here so there are a few about.

The launch and recover is not the issue, I can probably squeeze it in the boat house if the motor boat is pushed to the end. So it's the stepping of mast. I used to step the clinker dinghy when I used it. That was 16ft.

I rather like the Solo dinghies. They are a bit more than I want to pay......hah ha....always the case.

Solo

 

[Lakesailor]

Or if you want to be really silly - I had an International Canoe for a couple of seasons. I never completed a race without capsizing but I had a blast!

Steve Goacher has started racing one. I offered him a tow-in the other night but he preferred to persist pumping it in the absence of wind.

I wonder if he was going to claim a win as everyone else was getting a tow?

 

[VicS]

It seems to be pulling whilst holding up and walking backwards. Sound familiar?

Very! Don't do it!

Swimming is good exercise for dodgy backs. Across the lake and back 2 or three times a week will sort you out.

 

[rwoofer]

Another vote for the Solo, mainly because the rig doesn't have any tension in it, so you can rig it up fairly quickly.

You can get them cheap as well. I bought a Solo in sailing condition with road trailer for £100. Sailed it for a half season and sold it to my neighbour for same amount. (I was just to big for a Solo and am enjoying my Phantom much more)

 

[Skylark]

Mr Lakesailor, you're heavier than me by about 1.5 stone and I've had two Solo's and never really had a problem rigging them and getting them in/out of the water.

The hull can be wood or grp depending upon your love of maintenance

There used to be (haven't checked recently) and active Solo website with a dedicated For Sale section, worth a look?

I was once a member of an inland sailing club with a thriving Solo class. Lots to tweak for those that way inclinded but will cruise equally well without the need to keep pulling the bits of string. There are a number of mast options for old blokes that can still run 10k and for those who've eaten too many pies

Good choice. Can't wait to see your photographs and follow your exploits on and off the Lake.

 

[Boomshanka]

Not sure if a Laser Stratos has been mentioned yet?

http://sailingdinghies.apolloduck.co.uk/listings.phtml?cid=106&sti=34

 

[Penton Hooker]

I single hand a Drascombe Longboat on The Broads. Personally I think it fine for old gits/goats. Reasonably stable, ideal for walking around, rigged with booms on main & mizzen she gives a good performance. At my age I really don't want a boat that capsizes but I do want a boat that sails well. I keep her afloat, a pleasure to step aboard and be off!

 

[Lakesailor]

Not sure if a Laser Stratos has been mentioned yet?

Eeek!
There has been one for sale about 400yds up the road for nearly a year at about £3.5K.
Way too much for me. I am looking for something that I can buy and not feel guilty about not using.

 

[Lakesailor]

Solo.
There are a number of mast options for old blokes that can still run 10k and for those who've eaten too many pies

Good choice. Can't wait to see your photographs and follow your exploits on and off the Lake.

The guy I was talking to was in the Pie-eating category and had the big rig. The advantage seemed to be quite a high boom.

I'm going to keep my eyes out for a Solo. This seems to be the way to go.

 

[Searush]

Phil,
I have an old GRP Solo with a crack on one chine & similar along the hull/tank joints inside the hull. Nothing serious, I sail her like that, the starboard tank fills slowly, but I just beach her & empty her after an hour or so if she starts to feel sluggish.

You have the skills to sort her out & clean her up & she would probably sell on at a profit where you live. There is no trailer or trolly, but I could deliver if you are interested enough to consider an offer. Pics below with g-daughter at Bala.

 

[IanH]

Eeek!
There has been one for sale about 400yds up the road for nearly a year at about £3.5K.
Way too much for me. I am looking for something that I can buy and not feel guilty about not using.

Good boat though. Agree about not wanting to pay too much to leave it unsailed.

 

[lw395]

The Solo would be fine when on the water, but it's still a lot of boat to haul up the shore, and being a racing boat with expensie fully battened sail - so may not get replaced too often - it may be tricky finding a good value one with a decent sail.

Another thought - how about a Miracle ? Versatile boat, lightish weight and they seem to go for low prices.

Boats that have serious racing often have very useable secondhand sails available at sensible cost.
Miracle is not a bad boat either. Most of them were ply, don't know if any grp ones would be cheap enough.
It has a mast gate/partner at the deck, so stepping the mast might not be too awkward.
They've had a bit of a renaissance lately I think.

 

[Seajet]

Boats that have serious racing often have very useable secondhand sails available at sensible cost.
Miracle is not a bad boat either. Most of them were ply, don't know if any grp ones would be cheap enough.
It has a mast gate/partner at the deck, so stepping the mast might not be too awkward.
They've had a bit of a renaissance lately I think.

Hmmm !

Had a lot of time with my and mates old racing dinghies, none of us ever had what I'd call an actually 'good' suit !

Surely the point with the Miracle is it's all wood, for DIY like the Mirror ?

I still think an Otter would be best overall if a good one could be found at a sensible price...