Downsizing to a Wayfarer (dinghy cruisers, please advise..!)

[Searush]

What about one of these?

Found at http://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/en/Drainman-1000-Wave-Operated-Bilge-Pump/m-4417.aspx, other suppliers exist.

I'd want a security strop around that for when the rubber snaps.

 

[Kelpie]

I'd want a security strop around that for when the rubber snaps.

The manufacturer agrees with you, it's in the instructions

 

[JumbleDuck]

I'd want a security strop around that for when the rubber snaps.

From what I recall of seeing on at a boat show, the black bit is actually webbing. It's the concertina thing in the middle which ss rubber, or rubbery. The one I saw looked pretty failsafe to me ... but, like you, I'd probably want a backup, just to be sure.

Nevertheless, it looks like a good idea. The cockpit sole of the Hunter 490 is about 3" below sea level, so I'm thinking of trying one of these pumps to save me bailing out for five minutes every time I go aboard.

 

[Seajet]

I'm a great fan of dinghy cruising, and micro-cruising for that matter.

Anyone who recommends a Nimrod hasn't seen or tried a Hunter 490, mainly for her wonderful handling but also seaworthiness; I met someone in St Peter Port who'd singlehanded his across from Salcombe ( 70 miles if memory serves ) then borrowed my pilot books and went on all around les Ilses Chausey & N Brittany - I'd hesitate to do that in a largely open Nimrod with a swampable cuddy, a Wayfarer might be easier in some ways.

 

[NUTMEG]

Are you sure the W Nimrod has an open cuddy. My mates certainly has a small cabin with sliding hatch and washboards.

 

[Seajet]

I'm probably going too far back, but the one I remember if not open was certainly not sheltered; and the cabin was a tiny portion of the boat, which frankly struck me as a glorified Kestrel.

Don't get me wrong, the best high performance dinghy I've ever tried let alone had and my one of choice now would be an Ian Proctor designed Osprey; but the Hunter 490 is so superior both to sail ( at lower but more consistent speeds ) and as a mini-cruiser there's no comparison.

 

[dylanwinter]

I'm a great fan of dinghy cruising, and micro-cruising for that matter.

Anyone who recommends a Nimrod hasn't seen or tried a Hunter 490, mainly for her wonderful handling but also seaworthiness; I met someone in St Peter Port who'd singlehanded his across from Salcombe ( 70 miles if memory serves ) then borrowed my pilot books and went on all around les Ilses Chausey & N Brittany - I'd hesitate to do that in a largely open Nimrod with a swampable cuddy, a Wayfarer might be easier in some ways.

 

[Seajet]

Yes Dylan but have you seen and much more to the point sailed a 490 ?!

Dare I mention the cruise details in post #24 ? If not a fully fledged ( 22' ) cruiser I would do that in either a 490 or a dinghy but I would hesitate to do that in reverse in a Nimrod unless I had Nazi hordes chasing me or something...

View attachment 49099

 

[dylanwinter]

Yes Dylan but have you seen and much more to the point sailed a 490 ?!

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=h...cLefD7gbIs4GQDA&ved=0CCIQsAQ&biw=1138&bih=505

 

[Seajet]

Right so you've clicked on ' images for ' and got everything including fat Americans doing the usual silly gut / beard contest and speedboats; still haven't sailed a Hunter 490 have you ?!

 

[dylanwinter]

Right so you've clicked on ' images for ' and got everything including fat Americans doing the usual silly gut / beard contest and speedboats; still haven't sailed a Hunter 490 have you ?!

I have sailed every production boat ever made in the UK under all conditions ever experienced here



I do know though that a pivoting keel is better for shallow sailing than a drop keel

 

[JumbleDuck]

I'm probably going too far back, but the one I remember if not open was certainly not sheltered; and the cabin was a tiny portion of the boat, which frankly struck me as a glorified Kestrel.

There were, I think, several incarnations of the Nimrod, with the Westerly version roughly in the middle. Mind you, the only yacht's I have come across with no back end to the cabin are the Cornish Crabber 17 (and that's more of a storage and sleeping place than a cabin) and the Seal 22.

Without wishing to knock the Nimrod, there are four reasons why I prefer the 490: (1) The cockpit has coamings, albeit small, so you sit inside rather than on (2) quarter berths rather than lockers under the cockpit benches give more possibilities (3) the Nimrod has a dinghy style pivoting centreboard whereas the 490 has lifting keel with heavy bulb: lots more righting and the effect stays in the same place when partially raised (4) I think the 490 looks cuter.

On the other hand the Nimrod has more headroom, dries out level and can use a standard trailer.

Ah, the hell with it. They're both nice wee boats.

 

[Reptile Smile]

All that said, and with thanks to all contributors, if I wanted something with a cabin, I'd probably hang on to the hurley (whilst accepting it's not really trailerable...).

So I'm down to - given more common, cheap and accessable boats - the Wayfarer, maybe GP14 and Mirror.

Sea-worthiness vs likelihood of capsizing when not sailed like a nutter vs ability to right single-handed - my choice isn't getting any easier..!

 

[Seajet]

reptile-smile,

be very aware, as a fit youngster I used to sail in the local winter seriwsn in a prat's Fireball then my Scorpion; in both cases it took both of us to right the things.

Sailing my Osprey later she proved difficult to right, which is why Dancrane and I have discussed masthead buoyancy.

If you really want to go places and take your family with you it might not be as difficult or expensive as you think for a cruiser on a half tide mud mooring in Chichester Harbour; PM me if this is relevant.

 

[Kelpie]

Are the Nimrod or 490 really within the OP's budget?

On capsizes in Wayfarers- as rare as hens' teeth, unless racing, or some equipment failure. Although having said that, I downsized to a Wanderer because I felt I was too small/light to adequately singlehand the Wayfarer. More a case of not being able to fully power up, but capsize recovery was in the back of my mind. The one and only time I have capsized in the Wayfarer it took an age for it to right. Good excuse to eat more pies...

 

[Seajet]

I'd say the Nimrod definitley and 490 possibly if lucky can be got within budget, it's a matter of finding one as both are quite rare and the Hunter owners tend to hang on to them, for good reason as nothing like them will be made again !

I have raced in a not all that balls-out Wayfarer fleet ( No. 28, pristine as new ! ) and capsizes were not exactly unheard of, we got away with it but others didn't.

It's not that bionic a boat, some would call it ' Jack of all trades, master of none ' - what I do know is it takes an army to get up a slipway, and for that reason I'd say look to your Hurley 20 and devise easier methods for her and SWMBO to use a mooring.

As I was taught re labour saving devices like winches, " The Best Sailor Is The Laziest ! ".

 

[Greenheart]

Dancrane...is preparing a relatively cheap but effective Osprey for singlehanded cruising.

I'm delighted by Reptile Smile's enthusiasm regarding the idea of dinghy-cruising, and his apparent open-mindedness about which type might suit his purpose. But I didn't quite understand why his current boat isn't pretty close to perfect for his purposes. The slightly smaller cruisers suggested here (which are undoubtedly terrific) can't be that much handier than what he has already, can they?

Regarding dinghy choice, I looked in vain for Wayfarers in my price-range, which was even less than Mr Reptile's. There were occasionally such boats for sale, but long discussion here led me to fear that a Wayf would be too heavy for frequent singlehanded hauling-out, and not rewarding enough when afloat...actually, I'm not sure that's really the case, since my over-laden Osprey isn't much lighter than a Wayfarer, but I still always get her up the slipway by myself, eventually...

...that said, if she were stable enough to keep on a mooring I certainly would prefer to keep her afloat...although if I had been persuaded to go for a design as sedate as a Wayfarer, I'd far more likely have gone for a shoal-draft mini-cruiser, as suggested here. I'm working on a boom-tent for the Osprey, but I can recall several lousy nights under canvas ashore when I retreated into the car for the relief of solid walls and roof. Aside from happy dreams of Swallows and Amazons, I doubt the benefit of wilfully roughing-it.

Ultimately I wanted a yacht more than any unballasted boat, whose appeal was mainly affordability...and turning a sprightly old racing dinghy into a relaxed singlehandable cruiser hasn't been without problems, nor is it yet wholly accomplished. I do however enjoy her sporty performance, and relative portability...and her visual appeal is to me immeasurable.

Whatever dinghy you consider, remember that her behaviour under sail can be made far less volatile by a deep reef in the mainsail. So, lots of allegedly 'tippy' racing dinghies needn't necessarily repel non-racing men - their sails just need making smaller. Old race-boats are usually pleasingly cheap, because their primary usefulness has expired - they're no longer very competitive...unlike old Wayfarers, which stay costly when they're antique, because they're no less suitable for the leisurely business of cruising.

I'd be more concerned about whether the dinghy's design allows plenty of kit to be stowed in a properly dry place, and whether it's possible to lie comfortably on the floor. For that reason, a bigger dinghy strikes me as generally better than a tiddler...

" The Best Sailor Is The Laziest ! ".

Very true. Note, my little cruiser has lazyjacks.

...didn't think you'd get away without a photo of mine, did you?

 

[Seajet]

Very smart Dan, in fact worth a ' WOW ! '

 

[Greenheart]

Too kind Andy, but thanks. I reckon a few days with rubbing compound on the grubby topsides, and some careful work putting in the flat draining floor...and of course the boom-tent, and she'll be all ready for balmy summer nights at anchor in Newtown or Bembridge.

 

[Seajet]

I have sailed every production boat ever made in the UK under all conditions ever experienced here



I do know though that a pivoting keel is better for shallow sailing than a drop keel

You also know more than the bumbling berk you like to make out to be, so you know a vertical lift keel or board keeps the CLR - Centre of Lateral Resistance - in place for trim and it's the only way of having the ballast in the right place, on the end.

The Anderson 22 has tufnol bumper stops built into the keelcase to prevent or minimse anything nasty happening in event of hitting something nasty.

Speaking of which, I always smile at the idea of lift keels for ditch crawling; if trundling around in waters shallow enough to have a say 4'6" keel touch, there's every chance the next contact is the hull on a discarded cement mixer / tesco trolley / other interesting piece of industrial heritage.

Dylan have you worked out what my boat is named after yet ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcs3yLcKxiw