Skipper 14 Dinghy - Any Good?

[Lakesailor]

I've been offered one. It has a split in the hull where it sits on the trailer (Weight of water in hull) but it's repairable. It's been painted, hull and topsides and comes with all rigging and sails, on a trailer (which needs new bearings).
Is it worth repairing? Would it have a resale value?
I don't really need it myself, but wouldn't mind assest-stripping and keeping the trailer.

Opinions

 

[Pye_End]

From a sailing point of view, they go well. They are stable but reasonably quick (compared with say Mirror or a Pacer).

They are hard to row (easier if you still have the rudder in place and somebody to steer), but take power well. Good all-round family dinghy.

Early ones needed some 'help' in getting to the 'inside' to get the water out of the double skin. Think that the later ones may have been better than this.

Repair is probably fairly eary. Worth sticking a bit more on the bottom if she is being dragged up and down a beach.

Resale value - no idea!

 

[jordanbasset]

Hi, I had one for 2 years, sold it six years ago for £400 with a trailer, in fair condition, if that helps with resale value.
It was a good plastic boat, reminded me of a bath tub but sailed ok and seemed almost bomb proof. Good for two, ok for two plus two children. Lots of fun, was gaff rigged and that was part of the fun of it.

 

[alant]

Looks like a bath tub as already said, but very easy to get up onto plane & get some great sailing.

 

[PeteCooper]

I used to sail one a lot on the Broads and the only problem I had was that once going at a reasonable pace a spray of water would come up the centreboard case. Surprisingly good to sail though - why I say surprisingly I am not sure as Peter Milne also designed the Fireball and Javelin and some decent small yachts.

 

[Lakesailor]

One on ebay with road trailer and launch trolley only got a bid of £250.
Thinking it may be a lot of effort for a break-even result.

 

[jwilson]

Much faster than they look: long ago I had a bermudan rigged one, it planed really well - faster offwind than many other dinghies but let down to windward by rubbish sails. Lightly and cheaply built: a thin chopper-gun layup - to be honest I'm surprised you still see them about.

 

[MrCramp]

They don't appear to sell for much on eBay, many going for £200-£300 only with tralers and ready to sail.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Comparing to a Pacer and a Mirror...hmmm. It's a 14 ft boat built down to a cost, with a crap rig. Compared with other 14 footers (GP, Ent, Wanderer) it'll feel liek yer towing a bucket, Peter Milne design or not...

 

[Lakesailor]

Certainly not very well built. This one is cracked due to being sat on the trailer in the wrong spot and filling with water.
I ground back the crack and looked inside (between the skins) to see large lumps of expanded polystyrene - loose. Just stuffed in when it was made.. The gel-coat is thicker than the lay-up so there isn't a terrific amount to bond the repair to.
Anyway, I plan to repair it (already got the first layers of mat on) and sell it with mast and sails and a launch trolley, but I'm keeping the trailer.
It'll make a decent fun boat for a family as long as they stay on the lakes or rivers.

(It's not osmosis. Someone had painted the hull and damp has got under the paint.)

 

[stevensduk]

Hi you said
Early ones needed some 'help' in getting to the 'inside' to get the water out of the double skin.

can you help me with a good way of doing this? I have just been given one of these and despite opening the plug in the locker and draining, there is still water sloshing about. It seems the buoyancy is right up against the hole preventing it draining. Is it a question of drilling a hole elsewhere? If so where?

Thanks
Dominic

 

[Pye_End]

We used to daysail my father's dinghy from a stone beach. He drilled a small hole which then drained out into the 'boot', so that when we then inverted it at the top of the beach it emptied out from the boot. Don't remember any inbuilt buoyancy that caused any problems.

I see Lakey's Skippey/ex-Skipper has access through a waterproof hole in the seat. This seems like a good idea, although it would presumably mean mopping rather than letting gravity do its work, but at least you could do it whilst in the water if you needed to.

One thing we never did was try to stop the water getting in in the first place! Maybe worth re-sealing fittings. No idea which though, and your post suggests that it is a common problem! Even on dry days it got in which would indicate either the rudder fittings or maybe any cracks around the dagger board casing?

 

[Lakesailor]

Ah yes, sorry, I meant to post a pic of the arrangement on the one I had (sold the other day). The plugs seemed to be at different levels. Water was most likely getting in via the mast hole (perhaps there is a drain hole at the bottom?) as the cover was a bit raggy there. This led to a lot of sloshing water up at the bow. If you lifted the bow about 5 ft it would eventually drain past the cockpit sole moulding to the drain holes and into the stern locker. Then a cut down milk carton allowed you to bail the water out. I got about 2 gallons.

I don't think the foam inbetween the mouldings is an issue as I took pictures through the hole and this is all that was there.

The mast and sails arrived after I'd advertised the boat and were much better than I had any reason to suspect they would be. The later bermudan rig and very nice condition.
The guy who bought the boat got a bit of a bargain I reckon. I would have kept it myself except I already have two to look after.

 

[MrCramp]

I've had one of these for a couple of years and a mate has one also. If you push something the diameter of a pencil through the hole it will move the insulation away and let the water drain.

On mine the drain hole in the front (in the bit forward of the mast) lets water into the hull. It should be connected by a bit of pipe so the water drains out the lower hole into the cockpit (throught the hole at the bottom of the front seat on the right as you look from the back).

I am just about to put an inspection hatch in there somewhere so I can get inside and sort the problem out. I will put one or two more inspection hatches in as the fittings work loose and I want to put a couple of hardwood blocks inside to screw the fittings into.

We sail them every year in an annual event on the East Coast, in sheltered waters. Where are you based?

 

[saileasy]

I have one of these in much better condition. Yes, it is like a bath tub but gave me years of fun in all kinds of waters. So I would say YES - it is good. I planned on making an access up front and pouring in some plyurethane foam.
I was hoping it was worth more, though. I am too far from water these days so need to find a new owner.

 

[farmideas]

[ QUOTE ]
Certainly not very well built. ......
It'll make a decent fun boat for a family as long as they stay on the lakes or rivers.

Agree about build quality, but am finding mine great fun on the sea (N Pembs) so wonder why stick to lakes and rivers? Problems include the two piece mast telescoping which made beating into the wind impossible (thanks for the tow Pete). The top part is supported by two pop rivets, one which broke off. Now has a bolt going through the mast. All pop rivets changed for this year. Also worried about the sharp mast base perhaps knocking itself through the bottom - am putting a chunk of plastic drum down the hole to strengthen. Jib sail is more a storm than light breeze - maybe something bigger would be fun.

Skipper is very difficult to capsize - during the mast episode it tipped so far over I fell out! Could be dangerous if it dumped and then sailed on, so suggest a light line. Foot straps would be useful, am thinking belts from scrap car.

I like the speed to rig, though the una mast is quite long and heavy enough and best handled by two people. Mast is bent back and though straightened bent again quite soon.

(It's not osmosis. Someone had painted the hull and damp has got under the paint.)

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[alanabnala]

I've got one of these and have to say I'm looking forwards to getting it out again. Have had hours of fun with it last year, both on lakes and in the sea. No reason that I can think of why these can't be used in the sea, hence I do...... I have tried REALLY hard to capsize her and she won't......! I have also had the problem of having her so far over you struggle to stay in, but that's just because I was messing about. Mine sails really well and reasonably quickly too. I would recommend one of these, they're cheap & lots of fun.....

 

[MrCramp]

Is your Skipper a gunter rig?

 

[alanabnala]

It is indeed. Simple to rig, simple to sail, LOTS of fun /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MrCramp]

My mate and I both have gunter rig Skipper 14. We race (in a we'll-go-as-fast-as-we-can-fashion) every year as part of the "New (modern) classic" section of the East Coast Old Gaffers Association in the round the Island Race at Walton on the Naze.

Good fun in a nice environment.
Last years race report
http://www.eastcoastclassics.co.uk/ogasa08.htm

This years event date and joining details.
http://www.eastcoastclassics.co.uk/events.htm

More details will appear nearer the date.