My first sailing dinghy question?

[Nick2]

As I tread the "road to Damascus" from power to sail and have now completed my level 2 dinghy course I would like to practice at a local gravel pit club just minutes from home.

Whilst my ego is taken to racy Laser type numbers my head says spend say £500 on an Enterprise or similar.

Any views on type of boat as I am hoping to move onto a family yacht once more competant ? Also are there any 2 crew car topable dinghys worth considering?

Thanks

Nick

 

[jimi]

Mirror

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Enterprise or GP14 were the old favourites and you won't go far wrong. If you want something a little bigger and heavier for the family, a Wayfarer is a safe bet.

 

[starboard]

I would go for the class that they mainly race on the gravel pit. There is no better way to improve your ability than to compete against like boats....you will not go far wrong with the "Enterprise" a fine boat able to potter and able to plane.

Enjoy

Paul.

 

[jimi]

Also super at pitchpoling .. oops should'nt have saaid that should I ...

 

[starboard]

Am talking about Mr Bells Enterprise not Mr Spocks...!!!!

Paul.

 

[Skyva_2]

Nick,
Well done on the level 2.

As for car topping - depends on what crew you have in mind. For small crews a Mirror will do very well, or perhaps a Byte.

Enterprise is a good allrounder particularly if the large mainsail can be reefed.

Its a bit powerful in a real blow (F4 plus) when if you let it heel the hull shape takes over the steering...but a great boat to take 3 people and a pleasure to sail. (Never seen one pitchpoled!) Wayfarer is nice but very heavy.

Best idea is to ask at the club, bearing in mind all owners will be biassed - just like Mobos.

 

[jimi]

Which club is it.. and erm I've seen Enterprses pitchpoled twice!!! but that was in quite heavy wind.

 

[corrcater]

Hi, GP14 is the safest bet , however if you wanted something a bit more exciting I have an old kestrel no trolleys but good sails and new spinaker kept on the beach for the last few years £250 very sailable

 

[jimi]

One thing I'd say .. avoid wooden boats like the plague

 

[corrcater]

P.S I didnt realise they made wooden kestrels this is glass fibre

 

[Sybarite]

Depends on age and agility. Enterprises, GP 14's and Wayfarers are all great: if young and agile (but let's not exaggerate either) start with an Enterprise. I did. If I were getting a UK dinghy now I would probably want the increased stability of a Wayfarer.

However if I were really going to get a dinghy for coastal cruising I would seriously consider a John Welsford design. Beautiful traditional designs.

http://www.smallsailboats.co.uk/jwdesign/jwdesign_files/pathfinder3_files/path2.jpg

John

 

[jimi]

Not aimed at you, just a general bit of advice

 

[reginaldon]

No one has mentioned the Heron, old yes, wooden yes, but quite light & a bit more roomy than the Mirror and they will sail well on the sea and they will plane. The Miracle another possibility light & used hereabouts on the lake.

 

[fireball]

No one has mentioned the wanderer either, but if you want car toppable then your after something smaller than the ent, gp14, wanderer, wayfarer etc etc ...

A Mirror will go on top, topaz, topper, 420 (yes - done that!), laser II - all sorts really, but if your intending a dinghy to be a longer term thing then a towbar is preferable ...

Best thing, to get good quick is (as said above) see if they race at your local pit, find the dominant class (or the most friendly!) and blag a lift for a few races, see how you like the boat first ... then get one...

 

[alastair]

Hi Nick,
Good to hear from you!
Agree with the others - I used to sail Bosun dinghys in the RN, and this would be too big. Mirror good
It must be boat topable too. That way you can charter Java Bean for yyour hols, and have your dinghy on the bow. You can then reach all those secluded spots combining the best of both worlds.
See here: www.javacharter.co.uk
Best Regards

Alastair

 

[Judders]

If it's a step onto a yacht I'd suggest a Wayfarer as it's size gives it that 'doesn't quite handle like a dingy' feel, which might be a good learning curve. The problem with gravel pit clubs is that, due to lack of space and lack of wind, not many have them.

Where abouts are you?

If your looking to learn your racing then Ents are accepted in a wider number of places and Nony I must still be out there somewhere.

 

[Talbot]

A few years ago, I went down the mirror route as being a good all round dinghy, but being fairly large found that there was not enough room for the full family. The enterprise is a bit heavy as a car topper, and most of the GP14s are rotten.

However, I saw a 16' dinghy last weekend in Lymington that is obviously great for families (there were 5 people in the boat!) This had the name Victoria 16 on it, but I have not found any data on the net yet. If I was looking for a dinghy for the family now, this is definitely the one I would be looking at.

 

[Guest]

As others said ...

Check out the club you want to sail in and what they have ... they may even have one up for sale ... at least then you have the advantage of loads people around you in club who know the boat etc. and can help with repairs etc.

As regards boats .... I raced a GP14 for Plymouth College .... excellent all-round boat but heavy for car-top. Enterprise - my fathers first boat and what I first sailed in ... excellent again , but too heavy for car-top. Mirror - thats a good starter boat ... and not too heavy.

But in honesty - I would suggest a trailer and dinghy .... far easier and if you look after the trailer - you can launch / recover the boat with it ... particularly if its fresh water lake sailing etc.

Wood or GRP ..... already we have had pictures of restored wood dinghy's on here and they have a cosmetic appeal that surpasses all else ..... but of course in terms of maintenance GRP is less work. But don't let the wood aspect put you off ... most are ply based and can be sorted ...

You also say about moving up the boat ladder .... whatever dinghy you choose ... whether topper, enterprise etc. - they will all stand you in excellent stead for that leap.... I learnt in Enterprise, GP14 etc. + all the other boats my Father went through .... once I had money of my own ... I bought an Alacrity 19 for about a grand with near new trailer ........... wonderful - sailed like a dinghy with a lid on .... towed behind car ........

I wish you all the very best success and enjoy it !!

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Re: As others said ...

[ QUOTE ]
Wood or GRP ..... already we have had pictures of restored wood dinghy's on here and they have a cosmetic appeal that surpasses all else ..... but of course in terms of maintenance GRP is less work. But don't let the wood aspect put you off ... most are ply based and can be sorted ...

[/ QUOTE ]

Ignore maintenance! Wood dinghies have a certain 'smell' on hot lazy Sundays when there is spray landing on the deck. Maybe it is a childhood thing, maybe I am just certifiable, but when I nip over at clubs to have a gander at the dinghies in the compound, the first thing I do is breathe in.....

Lovely!