Mirror dinghy - should I?

[Mirror Painter]

Not much more than one year ago I bought my first boat - a tiny cabin cruiser which is moored on the Thames. It has been an obsession and used nearly every weekend since. Last week I was at a boat show and took a photo of Mirror dinghy number 1 and sent that photo to a friend who I thought had built a Mirror some years ago.

Said friend has replied to say that he still has his Mirror and I can have it! This amazingly generous proposal does come at a point when I had been thinking of some sailing lessons. That is, I don't just want the boat because it is free.

BUT, I have already amazed myself and my wife by realising how much money can be spent on one boat. Would it be crazy to take on another?

A few thoughts race through my mind:

* If it needs new sails what might they cost?

* I live fairly near to a lake sailing club - what might it cost to be a member and could I leave my boat there?

* What might it cost to not be a member but turn up with a trailer and have a go? Is that done?

* Could / should a Mirror take a small outboard so I could muck about on the river?

* Everything else.

I appreaciate that answers will be available in the internet and am not being lazy by posting here. It's more a question of not wanting to delay a gushing 'yes please' to my generous friend - if I do say yes or understanding why I should politely say no thank you very much.

Your advice as always is welcomed,

Thank you!

 

[dylanwinter]

yes

yes you should

you can get some great sailing on the thames

keep it at home

car toppable

rows really well

sails wondwerfully with just the main up in the forward position

if it has no sails then find another one with everything with it

canibalise the two

 

[VicS]

Not much more than one year ago I bought my first boat - a tiny cabin cruiser which is moored on the Thames. It has been an obsession and used nearly every weekend since. Last week I was at a boat show and took a photo of Mirror dinghy number 1 and sent that photo to a friend who I thought had built a Mirror some years ago.

Said friend has replied to say that he still has his Mirror and I can have it! This amazingly generous proposal does come at a point when I had been thinking of some sailing lessons. That is, I don't just want the boat because it is free.

BUT, I have already amazed myself and my wife by realising how much money can be spent on one boat. Would it be crazy to take on another?

A few thoughts race through my mind:

* If it needs new sails what might they cost?

* I live fairly near to a lake sailing club - what might it cost to be a member and could I leave my boat there?

* What might it cost to not be a member but turn up with a trailer and have a go? Is that done?

* Could / should a Mirror take a small outboard so I could muck about on the river?

* Everything else.

I appreaciate that answers will be available in the internet and am not being lazy by posting here. It's more a question of not wanting to delay a gushing 'yes please' to my generous friend - if I do say yes or understanding why I should politely say no thank you very much.

Your advice as always is welcomed,

Thank you!

Standard sails from Trident are £395. You could probably get 2nd hand though

I dont know what club you live near so cannot answer the second question.

Its not done, at least not without permission unless public sailing is allowed

Yes a Mirror easily takes a small outboard. It was designed to do so without further strengthening of the transom.
Use on a river will most likely require some sort of licence or payment of a daily charge.

 

[chanelyacht]

Another vote for yes.

They're great fun, easy to work on, and any parts needed are readily available. Set of sails, even racing ones, come up cheaply on ebay regularly.

Still got mine from years ago, and have just as much fun on it as I do on the offshore boat!

I'm sure most dinghy clubs wouldn't object, just give them a ring and explain the situation, after all, you're a prospective member at that point and certainly our club happily welcome you along.

 

[prv]

Here's another "yes" for you

Since you asked, if for some reason you want to put a small outboard on it, you can. Might need a bit of local strengthening under the clamps perhaps - a loose piece of wood inside and out would probably do until you could fit something properly.

Pete

 

[Searush]

Almost all clubs will let you use their faclities (inc toilets, bar & showers) for a tenner or so "day visitor" fee. If you do this often it soon becomes cheaper to be a member. cost of membership is hugely dependant on any given club - it could be anything from under 50 squid to a few hundred to join, but most will be under a ton I suspect. All clubs will have a semi-secure dinghy park, some may make a small charge for using it.

E-bay has Mirror sails or even battered project boats for other donor parts on a regular basis & generally quite cheap. A reasonabe suit of sails can be had for under 50 squid, but if it has any sails at all, don't replace them until you understand the difference between good sails & knackered ones.

The Mirror is designed for novices & can be set up with the mast in the forward position without the jib so it can easily be sailed solo. It should have rowlocks so it can be rowed home when the breeeze fails - in general sail up river so you can simply drift back down again when the breeze fades.

Just rip his arm off, you will have a ton of fun & no trouble selling it on for £150 when finished with even if it needs a bit of work. The biggest cost is likely to be getting a reasonable trailer, especially a combi raod/ launch one, but as already said, it can be car-topped if you have a couple of strong people to lift the 150lb hull onto your roof racks (or spend another 150 squid for an "easy lift & slide" frame to get it up there with two feeble people).

Read the Ladybird book of sailing & with just the main set up you will be sailing in an afternoon. Go for it, you'd be mad not to.

 

[Iain C]

I'd say yes too, however just check its not a complete rot box. There's one in my club compound where every joint has sprung and if you tried to move it I'm pretty sure it would be instantly back to kit form! That said, unless it's totally shot, repairs are easy.

Great little boats, 11973 was my first boat many years ago! However a word of warning, they are quite tippy as a tender and do motor better if you get an extension on the outboard tiller to get the bow down.

 

[Mirror Painter]

Warning - I am on the phone to said friend right now and have sent him a link to this thread

Thanks for the replies so far!

 

[Reptile Smile]

And make sure you read The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow as soon as you can... Fantastic book.

 

[hmr]

Definitely buy - best £100 ever last summer. We were given a second set of sails and she sails brilliantly and is a fab tender to our yacht when the kids want a sail around Clamerkin at the end of the day. Favourite book presently is 'The Adventures of Chit Chat' - the tale of an unloved Mirror dinghy from Shalfleet on the IOW which can talk. MAGIC.
DO IT! And enjoy having it in your dining room for the all important new varnish for the next season. My wife was ecstatic...

 

[Steve Clayton]

A few thoughts race through my mind:

* I live fairly near to a lake sailing club - what might it cost to be a member and could I leave my boat there?

Thank you!

Dorchester? I know the Commodore

 

[onesea]

BUT, I have already amazed myself and my wife by realising how much money can be spent on one boat. Would it be crazy to take on another?

Go for it:

Firstly point out she will have to call you Admiral now not just captain

As for money think about your fender thread....

There is a great source of info here and people do not seem to tire of answering questions..

Including Col Regs, Macgreagors and Anchors try it

When ever you see a need for your boat visit a chandlers TO LOOK.

Then go away and think:
What do I have at home?
What can I buy in a camping or car shop?
Can I make it?

If you can do the above it will probably be cheaper and better...

 

[Pasarell]

It's all been said already but go for it.
Mirrors are incredibly cheap to own and maintain unless the kids get into serious racing - and then you will want to support them anyway
Inland clubs are usually very reasonable to join and you will meet lots of like minded people too. Many have very good training programmes.
I acquired one for my children in similar circumstances about 20 years ago. Said to friends I planned to get one and she said her father had built one for them as children. Thought he still had it. Turns out it was in slings in the garage after being used for 2 family holidays years before. Only been taken down about every 5 years for painting and varnishing. Plenty like this still around.
Enjoy

 

[Lakesailor]

There are always more Mirror rigs about than whole boats because the wooden boats can rot.
I remember someone was gifted one on the forums a couple of years ago and the forum relay delivered it to the North from Chichester.
There is a Mirror rig in the roof of my boathouse, but it's not mine so you can't have it.