Downsizing to a dinghy

[Zen Zero]

Nereide is for sale. With the prospect of eventually being replaced with a slightly larger GRP hulled boat. But, at the same time, I'm reflecting on being a slave to too many masters.

With this in mind, as an alternative to actually performing the duties for which am paid by my employer, I am engaging in hypothetical daydreaming about dinghies.

In the experience of the forumites what sailing dinghy meets these requirements:

1. singlehandlable
2. passenger carryable (1 passenger/crew)
3. roof-rackable - I have an antique camper van 5 meters long

that's it.

And yes I do ask a lot of questions but no, I'm not writing a book!

 

[Zen Zero]

forgot another criteria (criterion for the grammatically correct)

ability to hang a 2hp outboard off the transom

 

[Romeo]

Sounds like a mirror dinghy to me. Not easy to roof rack any boat single handed, unless it is a canoe.

 

[Seajet]

I'd suggest an Otter; grp 12', singlehandleable by an adult or carries 2 + picnic easily, reasonable turn of speed & seaworthiness.

Some have 2 piece masts.

 

[Sybarite]

Nereide is for sale. With the prospect of eventually being replaced with a slightly larger GRP hulled boat. But, at the same time, I'm reflecting on being a slave to too many masters.

With this in mind, as an alternative to actually performing the duties for which am paid by my employer, I am engaging in hypothetical daydreaming about dinghies.

In the experience of the forumites what sailing dinghy meets these requirements:

1. singlehandlable
2. passenger carryable (1 passenger/crew)
3. roof-rackable - I have an antique camper van 5 meters long

that's it.

And yes I do ask a lot of questions but no, I'm not writing a book!

Sounds like a Foxer would be a good compromise:

http://www.foxerdinghy.com/Foxer_Dinghy_Site_optimised/Welcome_to_Foxer.html

Rooftop with a rack which has rollers on it.

 

[BAtoo]

Sounds like a Foxer would be a good compromise:

http://www.foxerdinghy.com/Foxer_Dinghy_Site_optimised/Welcome_to_Foxer.html
Rooftop with a rack which has rollers on it.

But it is pig-ugly....

 

[Seajet]

But it is pig-ugly....

Well, I wasn't going to mention that, but...

Here's an Otter;

 

[EuanMcKenzie]

if you really want to roof rack it - a laser with a paddle

roof rackable and outboardable don't mix except mirror but don't fancy trying to get it onto a camper van

 

[ianat182]

Try a Miracle dinghy, light enough for the rack and a good performer with racing potential, space and good sails and bermudan rig; you could pick one up for the same price as the Mirror, around £450-500 and worth looking for.

Other options like one of the various Scows are overpriced @ £6k new in my opinion, but hundreds of them about in wood or GRP that are usually very well looked £1800-2000.
Versions of these are the Keyhaven, Lymington,Yarmouth and Seaview One designs, and a little known one the Jacqueline designed I believe by Tom Booth, but few made.

ianat182

 

[G12]

Try a Miracle dinghy, light enough for the rack and a good performer with racing potential, space and good sails and bermudan rig; you could pick one up for the same price as the Mirror, around £450-500 and worth looking for.

Other options like one of the various Scows are overpriced @ £6k new in my opinion, but hundreds of them about in wood or GRP that are usually very well looked £1800-2000.
Versions of these are the Keyhaven, Lymington,Yarmouth and Seaview One designs, and a little known one the Jacqueline designed I believe by Tom Booth, but few made.

ianat182

Mirrors have one piece masts these days.

 

[Seajet]

Mirrors have one piece masts these days.

Eh ?

The Mirror has a short gunter rig, I'm pretty sure the mast has always been one-piece, the one in my garage is and if 2 piece would give something like 2 chair legs to stow !

Or do you mean the Miracles' longer bermudan mast ?

 

[lw395]

Eh ?

The Mirror has a short gunter rig, I'm pretty sure the mast has always been one-piece, the one in my garage is and if 2 piece would give something like 2 chair legs to stow !

Or do you mean the Miracles' longer bermudan mast ?

New Mirrors are bermudan now.
Thousands of old ones about though.

 

[Seajet]

New Mirrors are bermudan now.
Thousands of old ones about though.

I must admit that one passed me by; what flaming genius came up with that ?! The whole point of the Mirror is / was being one-design, and easily stowed...utter madness, if looking at a bermudan rigged Mirror I'd certainly go for an Otter, or as mentioned a Miracle.

 

[Zen Zero]

The mirror is growing on me (I confess to having always* found them a bit of a joke)!

*since about 1975

Can you just buy the plans?

 

[londonpiper]

Or, for complete versatility, you could go for a Seahopper folding dinghy! The largest are more or less Mirror sized and sail very well. If the price of a new one is beyond your means there is an owners group on Facebook where the latest eBay offerings are put up. The price of a second hand one is quite reasonable at the moment!

 

[BarryH]

The mirror is growing on me (I confess to having always* found them a bit of a joke)!

*since about 1975

Can you just buy the plans?

Look on the Trident website http://www.tridentuk.com/ They are the people who build and supply the kits.

I have a Mirror. I got this one to teach the kids to sail. It does sterling service as a multi role dinghy.
I cruise it. The kids race it and the family (4) picnic with it. For the money you really can't go wrong with one......for the money. If its such a bad boat why are there so many still being used/raced and built after all these years...........

 

[onesea]

The mirror is growing on me (I confess to having always* found them a bit of a joke)!

*since about 1975

Can you just buy the plans?

If you are looking to build and not for class.... IF you can hold of some plans, what about one of these:

http://www.noblemarine.co.uk/boats/dinghy/Embassy/
http://homepages.rya-online.net/driftwood/

Cracking little dinghy's, in my mind everything that a mirror should of been. Sadly after a hard life as tender/ dinghy ours became past economic repair...

 

[Zen Zero]

If you are looking to build and not for class.... IF you can hold of some plans, what about one of these:

http://www.noblemarine.co.uk/boats/dinghy/Embassy/
http://homepages.rya-online.net/driftwood/

Cracking little dinghy's, in my mind everything that a mirror should of been. Sadly after a hard life as tender/ dinghy ours became past economic repair...

If I can get hold of the plans I'll build anything. I'm a little concerned about size, I'm big (my wife says I'm a fat barstead, and she's no skinny runt either)!

 

[Woodlouse]

I must admit that one passed me by; what flaming genius came up with that ?! The whole point of the Mirror is / was being one-design, and easily stowed...utter madness, if looking at a bermudan rigged Mirror I'd certainly go for an Otter, or as mentioned a Miracle.

I believe it was a move to keep the boat cheap and simple. One bermudan rig with spars is cheaper and less complicated than a gunter rig with spars.

 

[Seajet]

I believe it was a move to keep the boat cheap and simple. One bermudan rig with spars is cheaper and less complicated than a gunter rig with spars.

I can't really believe that, I have a Mirror alloy mast & rig from my old 10' Caricraft ( I souped up the rig from original, sadly the boat herself is no more ).

Going to bermudan has thrown away all the essence and versatilty of the Mirror, and put her up against bermaudan boats, as I say like the Otter for a start which is a considerable step up in ability, but not as luggable as the Mirror.

I once sailed a Mirror solo all night for a charity do at the club.

I remember the Embassy, nice boat but always in the shadow of the Mirror; I have the 'Small Boat' magazine where they reviewed it and offered one as a prize.