Iain C
Well-Known Member
Dan, I think I've found your perfect boat...
Sailing dinghies left on moorings, excluding Wayf & Wanderers
- Thread starter Greenheart
- Start date
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
As many grp ones as wooden.
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
Hmm. My tight little fists would only be looking at an oldie, but I'm glad if the class endures.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Can get one for a £ few hundred. Certainly no dearer than a wayfarer
Seajet
...
Daydream believer,
what's a Shearwater like for singlehanded capsize recovery ?
I had a Dart 18 which is supposed to be relatively easy for a cat, but proved a bit of a struggle for 12 stone self and 10 stone crew.
Capsized on its' side it also went downwind like a rocket ( it was about F6-7 ) and was all we could do to swim and catch it before it was out of reach.
what's a Shearwater like for singlehanded capsize recovery ?
I had a Dart 18 which is supposed to be relatively easy for a cat, but proved a bit of a struggle for 12 stone self and 10 stone crew.
Capsized on its' side it also went downwind like a rocket ( it was about F6-7 ) and was all we could do to swim and catch it before it was out of reach.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
The idea is not to capsize it
I had one several years & only capsized a couple of times when racing in silly weather
We have several in our club but i do not recall any capsizing in the last 5 years in spite of being raced hard
Worse problem is breakages. Rudders etc due to lack of maintenance. I never broke anything
If you are worried about capsizing fit an inflatable flotation bag on the top of the mast.
A lot of dinghies will blow away from you when on their side if you let go. It is really down to experience, knowing what to expect etc
Personally i think the idea of dinghy cruising is not what you might believe. Most dinghies bought for such purpose by dreamers usually end up rotting on the hard. To get the best out of a dinghy you need to join a club, get to meet people & join in the club activities, racing etc. then you get to have a purpose with your sailing rather than just wander about like a lost sheep
You will always hear about people who do dinghy cruising but thy are in a minority & do not always do as much as they like one to think
Golly that will start seajet & co off on a rant ---- sorry chaps but i am not far from the truth.
I had one several years & only capsized a couple of times when racing in silly weather
We have several in our club but i do not recall any capsizing in the last 5 years in spite of being raced hard
Worse problem is breakages. Rudders etc due to lack of maintenance. I never broke anything
If you are worried about capsizing fit an inflatable flotation bag on the top of the mast.
A lot of dinghies will blow away from you when on their side if you let go. It is really down to experience, knowing what to expect etc
Personally i think the idea of dinghy cruising is not what you might believe. Most dinghies bought for such purpose by dreamers usually end up rotting on the hard. To get the best out of a dinghy you need to join a club, get to meet people & join in the club activities, racing etc. then you get to have a purpose with your sailing rather than just wander about like a lost sheep
You will always hear about people who do dinghy cruising but thy are in a minority & do not always do as much as they like one to think
Golly that will start seajet & co off on a rant ---- sorry chaps but i am not far from the truth.
Seajet
...
Dunno about a rant, but it warrants a reply ! 
A boat which one daren't capsize isn't much use cruising.
I've sailed dinghies since 1971, and usually 'cruised' as in enjoying myself, rather than racing.
I've done a fair bit of racing, but don't really enjoy being told where to sail, I do my own thing.
I've cruised my Osprey from Chichester to Cowes and Bembridge etc, and cruised a Fireball between camp sites, sailed my Dart 18 around Hayling Island with a girlfriend, cruised my Scorpion to the IOW.
I enjoy sailing high performance boats fast, but under my terms; if I get going on a screaming reach pointing up the harbour I'll go the full length.
I've never felt like a lost sheep, and I can certainly do without following the orders of some OOD !
To me, racing shows a distinct lack of imagination, and you are very far from my truth.
Each to their own.
A boat which one daren't capsize isn't much use cruising.
I've sailed dinghies since 1971, and usually 'cruised' as in enjoying myself, rather than racing.
I've done a fair bit of racing, but don't really enjoy being told where to sail, I do my own thing.
I've cruised my Osprey from Chichester to Cowes and Bembridge etc, and cruised a Fireball between camp sites, sailed my Dart 18 around Hayling Island with a girlfriend, cruised my Scorpion to the IOW.
I enjoy sailing high performance boats fast, but under my terms; if I get going on a screaming reach pointing up the harbour I'll go the full length.
I've never felt like a lost sheep, and I can certainly do without following the orders of some OOD !
To me, racing shows a distinct lack of imagination, and you are very far from my truth.
Each to their own.
westernman
Well-Known Member
You must ensure that the mast has enough internal bouyancy or alternatively a float on the top to ensure that a capsized cat will not turn turtle.
A cat which has turned turtle is pretty much impossible to recover without outside help.
To recover a cat you need to get it at the right angle to the wind so that the wind on the trampoline helps you bring it up right. In a strong wind you won't angle it at 90 degrees but less - otherwise it will come up too fast and go over again. Unless you are very heavy, you will need the wind to help you.
You should have a piece of rope attached to the bottom of the mast which you sling over the top hull. You should ensure it is long enough (the standard one from Hobie Cat is on the short side) and put some knots in it at convenient places so you can confortably lean back to get the maximum righting moment while hanging on to it with you feet against the bottom of the bottom hull.
If there is no wind at all, it can be difficult for a single light person. But then how did you manage to capsize???
Seajet
...
I capsized my Dart because I let it pause after tacking, so the F6-7 hammered us over instead of being translated into drive.
I am familiar with capsize recovery techniques, yes one could have a masthead float if cruising but we were in racing trim.
We didn't have time or much control to adjust the direction into the wind, we would have been blown with the mast sticking into mud if we'd waited and acted as a sea anchor to change attitude, plus from what I remember it was quite stable - ie difficult to persuade otherwise - with the trampoline facing the wind square on.
Another method is for both crew to get on the lower stern and the thing will hopefully corkscrew back upright.
I am familiar with capsize recovery techniques, yes one could have a masthead float if cruising but we were in racing trim.
We didn't have time or much control to adjust the direction into the wind, we would have been blown with the mast sticking into mud if we'd waited and acted as a sea anchor to change attitude, plus from what I remember it was quite stable - ie difficult to persuade otherwise - with the trampoline facing the wind square on.
Another method is for both crew to get on the lower stern and the thing will hopefully corkscrew back upright.
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
The idea is not to capsize it.
Personally i think the idea of dinghy cruising is not what you might believe. Most dinghies bought for such purpose by dreamers usually end up rotting on the hard. To get the best out of a dinghy you need to join a club, get to meet people & join in the club activities, racing etc.
Very important that one speaks for one's self - as I'm sure you have, here.
However...
...my dad, with the best of intentions, always believed I ought to be joining in and taking part in races when I did belong to a club, many decades ago...and a wholesale waste of money that membership was!
Aside from the convenience of a dinghy-park near the water, I never, ever raced and was endlessly repelled by the other junior members' shrill rule-quoting and restless insecurity about where they stood in the race order; competition had nothing whatever to do with why I had always wanted a boat, nor was it why I sailed every weekend when I had one...
...so, join a club and join in? No. Thanks, but no thanks. Your doubt about my purpose, wanting a dinghy to cruise in, only sums up the limits of your own approach. Not meant to be offensive...indeed you may be right about most people's dinghy-cruising ambitions...
...but I actually enjoy starting in one place and ending the day somewhere else, according to a passage-plan...akin to cruising in any cabin-boat, but downsized to fit my wallet. Not a very complex concept, but hugely rewarding, providing one doesn't only live to race.
I'm not even particularly keen to join the Dinghy Cruising Club - I've nothing against them, but I don't need their company to justify making a journey under sail. And...here's the ironic thing...I think I'd be really irritated by the necessity to form a slow-moving convoy...
...just like taking a good car on an empty open road in fine scenery, one doesn't need competition to enjoy performance, and drifting along in a traffic jam is always dubious fulfilment.
Well, you knew you were asking for a response!
Not a rant, I hope.P.S., you put me off the Shearwater with that comment about the idea being to avoid capsize...reminds me of the quote I once read about dinghy sailors, prior to the general inclusion of permanent internal buoyancy...that those who capsized, were expected to sink!
Andy, d'you know what Vern paid for his Osprey? I'm stumped about where to look - nothing on Apollo Duck just now.
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
In spite of quite a lot said against Darts, over various threads hereabouts, there's some great racing footage here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFT6pS73QXM
Not my kind of sailing; there'd really be nowhere to keep my cigars & evening shoes, dry...
...whereas, a luxurious Wayfarer...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFT6pS73QXM
Not my kind of sailing; there'd really be nowhere to keep my cigars & evening shoes, dry...
...whereas, a luxurious Wayfarer...Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Dancrane
My comments about capsizing apply to single hulled dinghies as well. We had a fleet of ospreys & they regularly tipped. I might add that i could get a shearwater up but it needs experience at capsizing in various boats to know what to expect & how to react. You need to accept that if caught in an awkward situation you may well end up in the oggin. I suggested a flotation collar. In your case you ought to consider it if you get a dinghy.
Re the club experience-- well to each his own -- not everyone can fit in the social scene
In view of your opinions re sailing has anyone mentioned a GP 14 in this thread
Early plans actually show a bracket for an outboard. You might find that handy in your proposed excursions
My comments about capsizing apply to single hulled dinghies as well. We had a fleet of ospreys & they regularly tipped. I might add that i could get a shearwater up but it needs experience at capsizing in various boats to know what to expect & how to react. You need to accept that if caught in an awkward situation you may well end up in the oggin. I suggested a flotation collar. In your case you ought to consider it if you get a dinghy.
Re the club experience-- well to each his own -- not everyone can fit in the social scene
In view of your opinions re sailing has anyone mentioned a GP 14 in this thread
Early plans actually show a bracket for an outboard. You might find that handy in your proposed excursions
Penton Hooker
Well-Known Member
Just a thought, the Flying Dutchman was originally designed as a camping dinghy. Food for thought!
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
A diet of FDs would suit me fine...I mentioned it a couple of dozen posts back! I don't deny mine might be the first one ever seen with oars, as a response to the uncontrollable power of the rig in anything over 8 knots of breeze...
...but like the Osprey, the FD is a very rare bird. Although an oldie was for sale in Scotland lately, £450 without trailer, £750 with.
At almost 20' LOA, quite a pain to store...but all worth it I'd think, to see that big rig slicing upwind in hardly any breeze.
TSB240
Well-Known Member
Dan I can well understand your need for cruising but without losing the thrill of a planing performance dinghy.
You seem to be convinced that the dinghy route is the way to go.
Time for another alternative route to get your thrills.
Dinghy performance......
Cruiser comfort.....
Leave it on a mooring...
Tow it with a normal car.....
http://forumsunfast20.free.fr/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=175
By the time you have made your mind up you will probably qualify to join this fleet....
http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/ph...w=252&start=0&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:82
You seem to be convinced that the dinghy route is the way to go.
Time for another alternative route to get your thrills.
Dinghy performance......
Cruiser comfort.....
Leave it on a mooring...
Tow it with a normal car.....
http://forumsunfast20.free.fr/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=175
By the time you have made your mind up you will probably qualify to join this fleet....
http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/ph...w=252&start=0&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:82
Greenheart
Well-Known Member
Thanks TSB240, I do like the small lifting keel cabin boat idea; but as well as the weather, it's mostly financial incapacity which is delaying my decision, so that slick little Frenchie isn't likely to be on my list anyway. PS, your second link didn't open. 