Sailing Tender Suggestions

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SteveIOW

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I sometimes tow a hard sailing dinghy when visiting harbours suitable for its use e.g. Newtown, Keyhaven, Chichester..... The dinghy I currently use (class unknown and no insignia on sail) has a number of shortcomings: It doesn't tow well, freeboard is inadequate, is narrow/unstable and not much space for luggage when using it as a tender to go out to my mooring. I want to get something better. What I am looking for is 9 ft long max, grp, dagger board, simple/quick to rig, not too fine in bow and reasonably light so I can pull it up beach and tow well behind sailing cruiser without shipping water or yawing about. Sailing performance not that important. Don't expect I'll be buying new and more than happy to fit out a grp moulding. A kit boat would be ok but that would be ply not grp. I would welcome any suggestions that meet my spec. Please don't suggest a Walker Bay - am not impressed.
Thank you.
 
9ft is quite short, I think it will be very limiting.
If you are serious about boats that short, then weight carrying ability may be limited.
Few of the recognised classes are under 9ft.
A lot of those that are, are rotomoulded plastic kids' boats.
It's quite a big ask to get what you want, but I guess the 9ft is partly about weight?
Even a Mirror is not particularly light.
 
Thank you Graham. The Bobbin is more the sort of dinghy I envisaged. Finding one for sale may be difficult though. Are there other similar designs out there?
 
SteveIOW said:
I sometimes tow a hard sailing dinghy when visiting harbours suitable for its use e.g. Newtown, Keyhaven, Chichester..... The dinghy I currently use (class unknown and no insignia on sail) has a number of shortcomings: It doesn't tow well, freeboard is inadequate, is narrow/unstable and not much space for luggage when using it as a tender to go out to my mooring. I want to get something better. What I am looking for is 9 ft long max, grp, dagger board, simple/quick to rig, not too fine in bow and reasonably light so I can pull it up beach and tow well behind sailing cruiser without shipping water or yawing about. Sailing performance not that important. Don't expect I'll be buying new and more than happy to fit out a grp moulding. A kit boat would be ok but that would be ply not grp. I would welcome any suggestions that meet my spec. Please don't suggest a Walker Bay - am not impressed.
Thank you.
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I know you prefer grp but plywood is lighter so easier to launch and recover. Here is a good winter project https://wolstenholmedesign.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/cockle_image.pdf design called Cockle. Anything designed by Andrew Wolstenholme sails very well. I have the next size up, the Coot. The website DINGHY PLANS suggests Jordon Boats may produce a kit of cut parts.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Scala said:
Mirror?
Cadet?
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We towed a Cadet around with our children (not themselves towed) back in about 1977. It is a fantastic training boat but an absolute pain as a companion. You can't tow it with the mast up and the mast is so long you have to ship it on board, plus the centre plate, paddles and all the other bits.
 
johnalison said:
We towed a Cadet around with our children (not themselves towed) back in about 1977. It is a fantastic training boat but an absolute pain as a companion. You can't tow it with the mast up and the mast is so long you have to ship it on board, plus the centre plate, paddles and all the other bits.
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Ok fair enough, never tried towing one TBH.
 
IF you're going to tow it, you probably want something with a gunter rig, which can be stowed in the dinghy.
You could probably tow a Mirror with the mast up but gaff stowed.
Bermudan mast up is too much weight aloft for towing.
 
I don't think an off the shelf sailing dinghy is the answer. Something designed to be a tender is going to work better.

If you aren't averse to building, there are loads of options out there. Check out 'Sail With The Flo' who use a Spindrift nesting dinghy. We're going to copy them, but with the 11ft version. Hoping to get it built this winter.
 
I know the op said no to Walker Bay 8’s but I’m wondering why? If it’s felt that it’s too small would a Walker Bay 10 fit the bill? Seems to me these boats are purpose made for the OP’s needs. I’ve never sailed one, but reviews online suggest they sail ok with the upgraded sailing rig.
 
fredrussell said:
I know the op said no to Walker Bay 8’s but I’m wondering why? If it’s felt that it’s too small would a Walker Bay 10 fit the bill? Seems to me these boats are purpose made for the OP’s needs. I’ve never sailed one, but reviews online suggest they sail ok with the upgraded sailing rig.
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You see plenty of Walker Bay dinghies in the Caribbean but they generally use the inflatable collar as they ship so much water. There is a reason why so many small sailing dinghies have covered decks. If you want a dry open sailing dinghy that can be used as a tender, in my opinion you need to get to about 11ft minimum.
We have a 12’5” hard dinghy as our tender. It rows well, sails extremely well and motors extremely well with engines up to 15hp. On short trips of 20 miles or less we generally tow it as it tows so well. On longer trips it goes on deck as it is a nesting dinghy. When stowed on deck it is only 7’ long.
 
geem said:
You see plenty of Walker Bay dinghies in the Caribbean but they generally use the inflatable collar as they ship so much water.
Click to expand...

I assume with the inflatable collar they’re pretty ‘stiff’ on the water. No bad thing in a sailing boat.
 
I have a 9' Minipram which we've towed behind several boats including a Leisure 17. I considered rigging for sailing but never got round to it. It's got a dagger board slot but needs rudder and mast.
(At the moment it's cluttering up my lawn so I'd let it go for a modest price.)
 
In my youth I knew the owner of a warrior35 who used to tow a mirror dinghy from Wicor across to the island when he moored up in Bembridge where we would then sail it around. I don’t think towing a mirror is long distance solution but it is possible as you say. Personally I would go for a blow up sailing version and not be lumbered by towing a mirror or such like. Just get a version which will fit you deck or davits ideally.
 
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