Optimus as tender

[Wansworth]

Came across a wooden Optimus ,seemed quite light to haul aboard and have on nthe fore deck as a tender would save making a tender,anybody use one?

 

[Boathook]

Nothing wrong with the concept. Possibly limited in number of adults it will carry and the size engine unless you paddle.

 

[VicS]

Came across a wooden Optimus ,seemed quite light to haul aboard and have on nthe fore deck as a tender would save making a tender,anybody use one?

Did you mean "Optimist"... If so a very popular international class of children's sailing dinghies

Like this ?

Max capacity two smallish adults I would think... Intended to be sailed by one small child!

 

[Wansworth]

Did you mean "Optimist"... If so a very popular international class of children's sailing dinghies

Like this ?

Max capacity two smallish adults I would think... Intended to be sailed by one small child!

Yes.Looking at drawings for a tender the oppie has a lower freeboard but as it would only be used in sheltered waters it oughtto be ok,save building a dinghy!

 

[dylanwinter]

nope

having watched men trying to sail optimists I am not sure that they would be any good

they do look pretty tender to me

low freeboard, not designed to row

I think you could do better with a proper tender

but I was a topper dad and not an oppy dad so I have never sailed one myself

Dylan

of course you could always build yourslf a duck punt

http://youtu.be/EgHoxtC46zg

fun ... but no good as a tender

 

[VicS]

Yes.Looking at drawings for a tender the oppie has a lower freeboard but as it would only be used in sheltered waters it oughtto be ok,save building a dinghy!

I thought you perhaps meant Optimist.

Optimus on the left of this picture

 

[Wansworth]

I thought you perhaps meant Optimist.

Optimus on the left of this picture

HA,HA!!!Looks like the doyne of creek crawling has given the thumbs down,back to the drawning board!!!!!

 

[boatboat]

stable but wet. don't even think about sailing it with 2 adults, paddling should be ok.

Spent 1000's of hours in one as a kid, no problem going in big waves ... but bring a bailer!

 

[dylanwinter]

can they be rowed

stable but wet. don't even think about sailing it with 2 adults, paddling should be ok.

Spent 1000's of hours in one as a kid, no problem going in big waves ... but bring a bailer!

can you row an oppie?

my guess is you could build a wooden tender in a few days

or even unbuild one



D

 

[Wansworth]

can you row an oppie?

my guess is you could build a wooden tender in a few days

or even unbuild one



D

The Wooden Boat Mag had a boatbuilding contest in Newport R.I sponsored by sykaflex.Each team of two builders had two sheetsof ply and assorted wood.The test was to get round a small widward/leeward course carrying the two builders and all the tools they used.A small dory won.......I have since lost the article

 

[boatboat]

can you row an oppie?

my guess is you could build a wooden tender in a few days

or even unbuild one



D

ha! that looks great. Sail very familiar ... but no tiller!

paddling an oppie short distances is no problem. maybe a mod to put in oarlocks would help. or failing that my favourite trick .. tiller waggling.

 

[Leighb]

can you row an oppie?

The answer is Yes, but, with difficulty!

The problem is the thwart is too far aft to sit on when rowing. We used our kids Oppie as a tender in Salcombe many years ago. It was fitted with rowlocks, and a plastic "box" that was intended as a toddler's stand-on for the loo fitted nicely just ahead of the centrecase. I sat on this to row, not comfortable but it worked.

We used to trail down to Devon with a Devon Yawl on the trailer, Oppie upside down in the Yawl and a Topper on the roof. Great holidays.

 

[Seajet]

It never ceases to amaze me how people with £100,000 cruisers go out to them in tiny, lethal tenders with the dimensions and seaworthiness of a toboggan...

 

[Leighb]

It never ceases to amaze me how people with £100,000 cruisers go out to them in tiny, lethal tenders with the dimensions and seaworthiness of a toboggan...

Not sure if that referred to my post? We only used it to get out to a Devon Yawl on a mooring 50 yards from South Sands beach, so not exactly high risk.

 

[Seajet]

Leighb

No, not particularly referring to yourself; but going over the side of a dinghy in heavy clothing, - and don't even think about in the dark - makes 50 yards to shore seem like 50 miles - and I have been overboard from my tender, can't say it was much fun, and I was lucky to get away with it !

 

[Leighb]

Leighb

No, not particularly referring to yourself; but going over the side of a dinghy in heavy clothing, - and don't even think about in the dark - makes 50 yards to shore seem like 50 miles - and I have been overboard from my tender, can't say it was much fun, and I was lucky to get away with it !

Ah but this was "Summer" , shorts and T-shirt plus a buoyancy aid were max clothing worn. Water being pretty shallow was fairly warm as well.

 

[Seajet]

Leighb,

the water at my half tide mooring rarely gets over 10' deep; I had a real struggle, even with the aid of a chum, to get back aboard.

That was last summer, I was wearing a jersey, cotton trousers and a lifejacket; I was a reasonably fit 49 then, 4 other people at my club - all experienced - have also managed to end up swimming, none of us rated it as easy or fun !

 

[boguing]

I weigh 12 Stone-ish, and sailing the kids Oppies I have about 2" of freeboard.

Rig, daggerboard and rudder won't make a lot of difference. Using one as a tender would be crazy on anything but a calm day.

 

[onesea]

Ah but this was "Summer" , shorts and T-shirt plus a buoyancy aid were max clothing worn. Water being pretty shallow was fairly warm as well.

Did that one once in the meddy, paddled out in a Canadian canoe.

Could not find the painter (think I should of tried the other end ) so used a jib sheet. When I let go of the yacht I distinctly remember finishing the knot under water (although admitadly not much else about the night ).

The 100m to the beach suddenly looked very far, being younger and lighter then I climbed jib sheet and passed out.

I nearly missed the first date with my X-wife, the next morning. It taught me to be carefull if it was not for the swim I would of slept through...

 

[dylanwinter]

As the man says

I weigh 12 Stone-ish, and sailing the kids Oppies I have about 2" of freeboard.

Rig, daggerboard and rudder won't make a lot of difference. Using one as a tender would be crazy on anything but a calm day.

I think it would be a rubbish tender

but then I have never sailed one - this bloke has

D