Practical and pretty dinghy (not tender)

[PeterWright]

Going back to the 50's and 60's, clinker dinghies such as the FFS and the Tideway (and many other classes) were designed to be all rounders. Stable enough to be kept on an estuary mooring for the season but light enough for trolley launching & recovery by two. Roomy enough for a family outing but perfectly capable of racing two up. Modern dinghies have become racing machines, less suited to family outings.

A Devon Yawl may be the answer, it has the advantage of being local, but at 16 ft. With a really heavy centreplate and internal ballast, rowing would be really tough going. The FFS, when new, came with rowlock sockets in the gunwales, a pair of galvanised rowlock and a pair of spruce oars.

 

[stevie69p]

Anything over 14' is going to be heavy to launch and recover single handed. What about a Gull? At 11' and 88Kg they are light enough to manhandle, yet are rated to carry 4... though 2 or 3 would be more realistic. Can be rowed and sailed. Cracking wee boats... (disclaimer: I own one, so may be biased)

 

[stranded]

Anything over 14' is going to be heavy to launch and recover single handed. What about a Gull? At 11' and 88Kg they are light enough to manhandle, yet are rated to carry 4... though 2 or 3 would be more realistic. Can be rowed and sailed. Cracking wee boats... (disclaimer: I own one, so may be biased)

Now that is purty - and light. Daft question - could I haul myself on board from an inflatable kayak 'tender' without tipping it over?

 

[stevie69p]

Now that is purty - and light. Daft question - could I haul myself on board from an inflatable kayak 'tender' without tipping it over?

I don't see why not, if you are flexible enough... they are quite stable boats (apart from if you stand on the foredeck!)
It is said that the Mark 1, Mark 2 and the latest models are more stable due to the double chine hull, and I also feel are better looking than the round bilged Mark 3 models. Originally designed by Ian Proctor, designer of the bigger 14' Wanderer and the 16' Wayfarer...

 

[doug748]

Re: Practical and pretty dinghy (not tender) and

"I want to row! My muscles are turning to jelly, and I can't abide gyms or other 'for the sake of it' exercise. Maybe I need two boats - one to row for transport.."


If you are serious check out this thread:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?448079-Shaldon-Regatta

PS

The broken link on there is now at and around:

http://shaldonregatta.com/history-gallery/

 

[Ruffles]

Re: Practical and pretty dinghy (not tender) and

Tying the boom to the mast is a good trick. Nothing more irritating that rowing with the boom on your shoulder.

 

[nickd]

Re: Practical and pretty dinghy (not tender) and

I would have a look at something like the laser bahia
just under 16 ft can be rowed and fitted with an outboard
Can be sailed singlehanded but has capacity for 5 and only weigh 155kg
http://shopeu.laserperformance.com/2016-laserperformance-bahia/

 

[ex-Gladys]

Re: Practical and pretty dinghy (not tender) and

I would have a look at something like the laser bahia
just under 16 ft can be rowed and fitted with an outboard
Can be sailed singlehanded but has capacity for 5 and only weigh 155kg
http://shopeu.laserperformance.com/2016-laserperformance-bahia/

Not a single shot of it being rowed or under outboard... and £6300 plus...

 

[stranded]

Re: Practical and pretty dinghy (not tender) and

Not a single shot of it being rowed or under outboard... and £6300 plus...

Thanks for the suggestion Nick - all gratefully received. I fear though that this one fails the 'pretty' test, and, more importantly, the blurb mentions optional trapeze, which doesn't sound like it should be needed anywhere near the sort of conservative plodabout I have in mind!

 

[Romeo]

Re: Practical and pretty dinghy (not tender) and

Not a single shot of it being rowed or under outboard... and £6300 plus...

There is a shot of it under oars on page 26 of this document:

http://www.westcoastsailing.net/media/pdf/bahia.pdf

Looks hediously uncomfortable, with the position of the mast and boom. This is not meant to be a rowing boat. The oars shown are far too short, the fittings are plastic and inadequate. In short, it is a sailing boat that, in an emergency, could be rowed for a short distance. If you get this boat, you will hate your rowing experience, and therefor not stick with it. I think what the OP is looking for is a rowing boat that can be sailed, rather than a sailing boat that can be rowed. Of course what the OP really needs is more than one boat. I am sure that the Laser Bahia would give an enjoyable sailing experience to most.

 

[[70521]]

But I would like when there to have a sailing dinghy which I can potter around on, go shopping up to Topsham, maybe a spot of fishing.

Make sure you time the tide right especially if you are going to Darts Farm or The Bridge as that Exe mud is rather gloopy.

 

[stranded]

Make sure you time the tide right especially if you are going to Darts Farm or The Bridge as that Exe mud is rather gloopy.

I know! Lived in Topsham for a bit in the 80s and we would often drag my mates old clinker dinghy out after a few too many of his home brews. One would row while the other(s) would bale, and with not the slightest attention to the tides, we would find ourselves in all sorts of odd spots for rather longer than we had anticipated.