Sailing dinghy recommendations please

Cloven

Cloven

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I am an experienced dinghy & windsurfer sailer with 30+ years experience of instructing, mainly in windsurfers, Wayfarers, Toppers, Picos and the like. I retired before the modern generation of fast dinghies were around so little experience there but from racing windsurfers in the past, I do know all about planing and handling strong winds.

Grandson is now getting into sailing and we have bought him a Topper. I want to be able to go out sailing with him, initially 2 up so I can be happy he knows the basics and then be saiing close to him while he is in his own boat.

I consider myself pretty fit & agile for my age (67), weight is about 90kg (ideally could be a bit less!)

So, requirements are for a boat that:

1. Can be sailed helm & crew but can then also be sailed singlehanded (I have sailed Wayfarers single handed in the past)

2. Must have good turn of speed to have a bit of fun out on the water which is why I have been attracted to the new generation of fast planing dinghies ( bit like windsurfing sititing down)

3. Must be capable of being launched/landed single handed easily on a beach

4. Must be either GRP or plastic - no wood anywhere!!

5. Doesn't break the bank, lets say £1500ish max but that must include a road trailer

Have gone round in circles with this, ranging from a Laser 1, Laser 2, Laser Vago, Topper Sport 15, Topper Topaz variant, RS boats etc etc . Also considered boats like the Wanderer but too heavy for point 3 above.

I would welcome any and all suggestions.
 
I don't think what you're looking for exists.

If you want a performace double-hander, it's not going to be something you can easily sail on your own.

If you want something you can sail single-handed or double-handed, you're going to be looking at slower displacement dinghies such as Wayfarers, etc.

An RS400 would fit the bill, but is too powerful fo sail one-up in anything more than a force 1-2, and is probably a bit over your budget.

You could look at the roto-moulded stuff, like the Topper Vision and Laser Bahia, but they're probably also over your budget aren't very exciting to sail.

You could consider and old FRP Merlin maybe (NSM2). You can get them for about £1k, but they have wooden decks.

I would suggest an old Cherub, but at 90Kg, you're way too heavy, and it's a trapeze boat.

Otherwise, I think a Laser 2 is about as good as it gets for you.

Good luck.
 
I'd agree with Bobc that you can't have a performance dinghy that is suitable for both single or double-handing. It's either going to be either overweight or over-powered. If you can ditch the single-handed requirement, what about a plastic Fireball (plastic, not "white")? They're just about indestructible but not competitive for any sort of racing, so cheap. The plastic ones might be the bottom of the Fireball heap, but still the most fun you can have with your trousers on.
 
A Miracle doesn't sail badly and can be helmed single and double handed and is within your price range or a GRP Enterprise with a cut down sail. The modern whizbangs nearly all have open transom - not the best idea when cruising about.
 
RS200 would seem to fit the bill giving good fun, introducing your grandson to asymmetric etc. Might be a bit sticky in the lighter winds but I suspect in those winds the Topper will be out with you singlehanding.

Have a look at some of the gallery pictures........these things really are fun in a blow!!
 
Just get him sailing the topper with others in toppers at a half-decent club.
Sort out your own requirements separately. Buy a Vareo, Solo or other singlehander of your choice.
If you must get out two-up initially, you could consider basic teaching in a Solo or Vareo, but you might do better to buy something dead cheap and sell it on when the need is gone.
Laser 1 with the smallest rig might be an option?
I've instructed in a basic sense sat on the front of a Laser, but I was a lot younger then!
 
How about a cheap Laser 1 with 2 rigs? Radial for when you're on your own and full rig when it's lighter and you want to go two up. You and your grandson will easily get on the plane in stronger winds. He can helm while you hike.
 
lw395 said:
Just get him sailing the topper with others in toppers at a half-decent club.
Sort out your own requirements separately. Buy a Vareo, Solo or other singlehander of your choice.
If you must get out two-up initially, you could consider basic teaching in a Solo or Vareo, but you might do better to buy something dead cheap and sell it on when the need is gone.
Laser 1 with the smallest rig might be an option?
I've instructed in a basic sense sat on the front of a Laser, but I was a lot younger then!
Click to expand...

+1, best advice.
In my opinion, the biggest benefit in kids sailing is the comradeship and life long friendships that they will form.
While it's nice for us to think that we can pass our wisdom to grandkids, in fact they will learn far more and faster by sailing with their mates. So with that in mind, see what the local kids are sailing and get one of those, a Topper is not a bad start. There's no point in having the best boat in the world, if nobody else nearby sails one.
A kid who is interested will become fairly competent in a few hours, or days at the most.
Whilst our grandkids appeared to enjoy sailing with me, in fact I suspect they were humouring me and not learning anything. As soon as they started sailing with friends they quickly became part of their boats.
 
RS Vareo may fit the bill. They have been around a while so an older one may be within your budget. I believe that they are aimed at two fairly lightweights. Sunsail in Antigua used to have them in their fleet. I'm not a particularly good dinghy sailor but I used to love broad reaching, single handed with all three sails flying. I was usually fine until the gybe....but then swimming in the warm Caribbean sea in December was no hardship either.
 
Are you anticipating your Grandson sailing on his own? How old is he?
It's very difficult to get a boat that sails well with 120 kg of crew and 30 kg or crew. Though we can both sail on sons RS Tera though we're way over the weight limit. Just don't open the cockpit drain!
But a Pico, with a choice of rig, is as near as you'll get I'd have thought.
You'll need more money, particularly if you want a trailer. On the other hand you'll get your money back on a Pico!
 
i would have a look at a laser 3000
They have been out of production from laser for a while but the class is still strong and now made by vanderborhtg as the V3000
and you would probably get a boat in your budget
Really nice boat
Light
Easy to sail single handed
But has asymetric etc when you want some fun
 
davidjackson said:
RS Vareo may fit the bill. They have been around a while so an older one may be within your budget. I believe that they are aimed at two fairly lightweights. Sunsail in Antigua used to have them in their fleet. I'm not a particularly good dinghy sailor but I used to love broad reaching, single handed with all three sails flying. I was usually fine until the gybe....but then swimming in the warm Caribbean sea in December was no hardship either.
Click to expand...

RS Vareo has two sails, main and kite, it is a singlehander. Like a Solo, it is possible for a passenger/coach to sit forward of the mainsheet.
 
nickd said:
i would have a look at a laser 3000
They have been out of production from laser for a while but the class is still strong and now made by vanderborhtg as the V3000
and you would probably get a boat in your budget
Really nice boat
Light
Easy to sail single handed
But has asymetric etc when you want some fun
Click to expand...
The 3000 is a trapeze boat and is not easy to sail singlehanded in anything above 'light'.
 
I've owned several of the boats already mentioned.
Dart 15 could be a good option, just a bit of a lump to handle on shore.
RS400 I'd suggest is a no-no. Fabulous boat but it needs crew weight and strength. Frightened the wits out of my wife but I loved it. Just wished I had been 30 years younger at the time...
I sailed a Laser 2000 for a few years (after the RS400!). Could fit your requirements. A bit under-canvassed in light airs, but will fly in a breeze with the asymmetric set. Loads are not too high either.
 
Slightly off-the-wall suggestion, but what about a cat? Something like a Hobie of Dart?
 
Well that just about covers everything ever built then ;-)

For what it is worth my votes would be either
- forget it - encourage him with the Topper as sailing with old folks will be too boring; or
- Laser 2000 if can find one within budget - but any single hand or double hand will be a compromise
 
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