New Starter Boat

[Ru88ell]

Cape Cutter 19? They're supposed to be little rocket gaffers, but most would be home built, so quality variable.

Mine is a Cape Cutter 19. None of them are home built though - the first 60 or so were made in Cape Town, the rest in Rochdale.

Here's a video of mine in action last summer. Video also has a Lugger in it. http://youtu.be/w0rc3L2_soY

More details on http://www.honnormarine.co.uk/

 

[Seajet]

That sounds like the Stratos, as in post #15 - as much fun to sail as a dinghy, but with all the benefits of a keelboat.

r h,

no, I looked up the Stratos when mentioned; the one I'm on about was a good deal chunkier & less racy, presumably discontinued.

 

[aquaplane]

Or the Laser 16.

Both look very dinghy though, and another version of the Wayfarer.

I could fancy a go in that Seascape 18, it looks good for day sailing.

That was @ post #20, three more replies since I started typing

 

[Seajet]

Laser 16 rings a bell; so only the length of a Wayfarer, though it looks a lot more useful for the OP's purposes ( I don't subscribe to the 'Wayfarerers are wonderful' idea, fine with a lot of bods but a pig to right after capsize - except latest Mk 4 maybe - and like pulling Stonehenge up a slipway ).

Edit; just checked and the Laser 16 is even heavier than the Wayfarer, 550 & 370lbs respectively, so not something to pull up & down a steep slipway too often.

 

[boatsRus]

How about this:

http://www.pippin-yachts.com/

 

[Fantasie 19]

Hunter 20 mini C?

http://www.britishhunter.co.uk/page11.html

Gets my vote...

 

[E39mad]

www.swallowboats.co.uk have something to suit

+ 1 - love the design concept of these boats.

 

[Lakesailor]

For the Arthur Ransome experience, but grp he wants to look at Character Boats

There's a few on the lake. The Post Boat is no rocket, but very stable and roomy.
A forumite has a Lune Whammel, can't remember who. (this is a Whammel)

 

[Seajet]

Or a Norfolk Oyster, there's one at my club used for Sailability which I've taken out with disabled crew, nice boat but not something to trail at all often.

 

[jwilson]

Bit of an unusual one this.

I have a friend who is looking for a boat to get started day sailing with his young family. He's a very good dinghy sailor, but now wants something to take his kids and their friends pootling around harbours / estuaries and possibly indulging in some Swallows and Amazons like activities. So small enough to tow behind a car but large enough to provide some security for small children and stable not dinghy like. He's not sure if he wants a traditional looking boat or a more modern look, but the one thing he has decided on is he wants to buy new, not second hand.

I'm not really that up on this market, so could only think of the Hawk 20 and the Drascombe Lugger to recommend he looks at. There must be others that would be suitable, although I'm guessing they spend more time on their boats than their websites - as Google isn't coming up with much!

Anyone got any suggestions?

Very good dinghy sailor is a very variable thing. There are plenty of good dinghy sailors in old-fashioned slow traditional dinghies, who might be distinctly unhappy stuck into a twitchy planing-capable mini-cruiser like a Ben 21.7. Equally you could have someone used to skiffs, who would find a Crabber, Memory etc a complete slug.

There are not that many small yachts sold new now: the Pippin 20 might suit as a middle-of-the-road option. If used was an option there are dozens if not hundreds of choices, some perhaps better suited - from the description of the requirements a Seal 22 sounds good.

 

[rwoofer]

I'm looking at something similar and my eyes are on a Bayraider Expedition from Swallowboats. You can have more Cabin than Cockpit if you go for the Baycruiser 20. Bit more space needed than there is the Baycruiser 23. All of them are light, have a carbon rig, but look nice.

 

[armchairsailor]

Mine is a Cape Cutter 19. None of them are home built though - the first 60 or so were made in Cape Town, the rest in Rochdale.

More details on http://www.honnormarine.co.uk/

My mistake - just thought that would be the case since you can buy the plans direct from Dudley Dix. Cracking little boats.

 

[Sequoiah1]

Bit of an unusual one this.

I have a friend who is looking for a boat to get started day sailing with his young family. He's a very good dinghy sailor, but now wants something to take his kids and their friends pootling around harbours / estuaries and possibly indulging in some Swallows and Amazons like activities. So small enough to tow behind a car but large enough to provide some security for small children and stable not dinghy like. He's not sure if he wants a traditional looking boat or a more modern look, but the one thing he has decided on is he wants to buy new, not second hand.

I'm not really that up on this market, so could only think of the Hawk 20 and the Drascombe Lugger to recommend he looks at. There must be others that would be suitable, although I'm guessing they spend more time on their boats than their websites - as Google isn't coming up with much!

Anyone got any suggestions?

I think a Beneteau First 21.S great little boats should keep all happy, been built since the nineties so you could either get anearly new one or brand new without the extras for under 20k ex Vat

 

[Lakesailor]

I got the impression from the OP that a day sailer that could be towed behind a car was required. I reckon the 21 series is a bit too much hassle for that.
Trailer sailing really is a bit too much with anything much bigger than 17ft. My Seahawk 17 was just do-able but even then I got fed up and put it on a mooring.

 

[Seajet]

I got the impression from the OP that a day sailer that could be towed behind a car was required. I reckon the 21 series is a bit too much hassle for that.
Trailer sailing really is a bit too much with anything much bigger than 17ft. My Seahawk 17 was just do-able but even then I got fed up and put it on a mooring.

Very true; whenever I get an enquiry about Anderson 22's as 'trailer sailers', largely because it has a lift keel, I say 'no, they're trailable to maybe take home for the winter if there's space ( but you can't maintain the plate on any lift keel boat if it's sitting on a trailer ) or just maybe trail to some distant spot for a holiday, but as for taking to a slipway for a day or weekend, forget it !

My neighbour bought his Anderson from the East Coast and trailed her to West Sussex with a RangeRover, by the time we got back we were completely frazzled by the stress & hassle.

 

[Davy_S]

Winkle Brig?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4I080_NKGw

 

[Neil]

For the Arthur Ransome experience, but grp he wants to look at Character Boats

There's a few on the lake. The Post Boat is no rocket, but very stable and roomy.
A forumite has a Lune Whammel, can't remember who. (this is a Whammel)

That might be me.

I have a Coastal Whammel (double skinned with the enclosed foredeck), and as a towable day boat, easy launch and retrieve, able to be rigged in under 30 min, it would be difficult to beat. Well made and solid as a rock. Built in buoyancy, unsinkable, plenty of room and freeboard - safe for children. A lot of sail to make progress in lighter airs that needs reefing early, but may not set any speed records. Relatively inexpensive new.

The Hawk 20 is a better sailer, by all accounts, but quite expensive.

The Swallow boats would be worth looking at.

 

[Penton Hooker]

Swallowboats has been mentioned, and very nice they are to. I have a rather dated Honnor Marine Longboat and was out in something of a blow. Also out there was a Swallowboat, forget which one right now but she was a similar size. I was still working to windward when she turned and went before it. Am sure that Swallowboats have some advantages over Drascombes, but am not convinced that coping with a gale is one of them.

 

[Romeo]

Plus one for character boats. Ballasted and very stable. Much more satisfying to sail than a drascombe. Can be rowed or motored, and trailers are really well set up for launch and recovery. Not one though if you are keen to go to windward in a hurry. Get the Hawk if that is an important measure.

 

[ProDave]

.... but you can't maintain the plate on any lift keel boat if it's sitting on a trailer

You can if the trailer is built right.

I nearly got it right with last summers modifications, and I can lower my keel partly.

Once I do the second mod (next summer), to correct the bit I overlooked, I should be able to lower the keel fully on the trailer (may need the trailer parking over a hole in the ground, or jacked up)