Skipper 14 Dinghy help please

N

nyx2k

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 Nov 2005
Messages
805
Location
CHICHESTER
Visit site
im looking at getting a skipper 14 from ebay mostly to motor with a 2.5hp outboard but i would like to learn to sale next season.

would these make an ok dinghy for messing about on the harbour and to sail next year as something to learn the basics before a get something bigger.

it will be used mostly by 1 adults and 2 children so is there enought room to motor and sail in these.

thanks nick
 
I had one for a short while. They have a double skin with foam inbetween. I would suggest you look at it in the flesh as the grp is pretty thin and if damaged will require some repair work (easy enough).
Other than that they are roomy and adaptable. Others on here who have had them reckon they are an ideal mucking about boat. Bit heavy for manhandling I thought.
Make sure you see it with the rig up and check it's all complete as the rig is a one-off for the boat so sourcing another may be tricky. The later boats had bermudan rigs, the earlier ones had gunter rigs. The masts are unstayed although they do have a forestay for the headsail.
The Mk 11 had a couple of little skegs on the hull below the transom, which may get damaged on beaches.
 
Yes. Many years ago I knew someone who used to sail one ( modified a bit IIRC) and regularly went Chichester to IOW with 3 adults

Check the moulding around the mast socket esp the bottom of the socket.

Not sure if its the 12 or the 14 or both but cracks there can led to water getting between the mouldings I believe.
 
once againlake sailor and vic you are the fount of all knowledge.
if it goes very cheap i will be delighted.

i see to be collecting dinghys this week but all were an excellent bargain so wont lose money on them.
it will be motored this year until i can get some cash for the lessons.
 
Last edited:
You can get this many people in!

Image0191.jpg
 
Great boat

Buy it, plug the holes, sail it, enjoy it, abuse it, learn from it, sell it on


with a decent trailer they make a great camping trailer and can be used to move massive amounts of camping gear, bikes etc around when towed behind the car - and when you get there and have unloaded it then you can go sailing

ideal

have a good summer with it


Dylan
 
Last edited:
a local very kind forumite invited my wife and i out sailing a week ago and it was such a great relaxing day i thought if i could learn the basics to be safe enough on my own i could buy something like 18-22ft for a reasonable price and use it as a place to weekend in and go across to bembridge etc
 
As long as you have a set of oars & an anchor (plus perhaps a small o/b) with you & you have done a bit of reading & watching, you should be OK in a sheltered bit of water. Try to pick onshore light winds, if you get it wrong you won't get off the beach! Ofshore winds can easily blow you into trouble before you can do anything to help yourself. A lake is best as you can always walk back if all else fails!

Try to think about what is going to happen & if something different happens, find out why. You will soon learn. If it leans too far, let go of everything & it will flick back upright - just be ready for it or you will go over to windward instead!

As already mentioned, having someone with you who can sail does help, but isn't essential if you take sensible precautions.
 
i noticed the other day athat even at high tide the water around itchenor and over to bosham is very shallow except for ther main navigation channel so i could try that peice of empty water.
 
I have had GP14, Mirror and Enterprise dinghies over the years and have had my Skipper 14 for 4 years, which I will keep for ever as it is so adaptable. They are a great boat to sail and also to use under motor. I have used my Seagull (2hp) and 2.5hp Mercury and they both push the boat along very well and you can put them in the locker at the back when not being used.

They are a stable boat which is what you want if you are learning to sail. Good Luck with it, I am sure you will enjoy it.
 
Get yourself a chart of the harbour. Be aware that the tides can run quite strongly in places esp on the spring ebb.
Itchenor particularly comes to mind.
Even in the main channel towards East head beating against the tide is a real slog.

Around high tide you have plenty of water outside the marked channels but not at low water.

Try to avoid the areas stuffed full of moorings until you have had a bit of practice.


Above all else avoid this area.
............................................. ............... It is not suitable for you! :D

Whereabouts do you expect to be launching.

Itchenor hard puts you straight into the thick of the moorings. Although below them there is plenty of space even at low water.

There's not a bad area outside the main channel and moorings at Bosham while the tide is high.

Dell Quay is very tidal but once below the moorings you have a fair bit of space when the tide is high. Beware of fishing lines from the quay itself.

Emsworth I dont know well enough to comment on but there's a good hard to launch from.
 
i was thinking of ichenor hard and go direct across the main channel to the empty space the other side.

i know weekends are very busy but i went today and very little moving traffic

the skipper seems ideal.it looks wide bodied and stable.
 
nyx2k said:
i was thinking of ichenor hard and go direct across the main channel to the empty space the other side.
Click to expand...

Don't know the place but "empty space" leads me to think it will be a sandbank/mudbank as soon as the tide goes out and if you get caught on it you could be sitting pretty untill the tide comes back. Make sure you take a picnic and some warm clothes.
 
The "empty space" opposite Itchenor is very shallow. Less than a metre over most of it even on the top of a spring tide. One spot bang in the middle is marked as drying 4.8 metres That'll be little more than just awash even on a big spring tide!

Itchenor.jpg


Get a chart and also take a look at any "empty spaces" at low water.
 
Dylans lessons on how to teach yourself to sail

I, there are lots of people who will try to persusade you that sailing is difficult and dangerous

take no notice sailing is easy and safe

2 launch the boat - put the sails on the boat but do not raise them

3 motor into the wind

4 turn off the engine - raise the gib - the small one at the front and sail downwind - enjoy the peace and quiet - its lovely

when you have got far enough and started to run out of space drop the gib - start the engine and motor back into the wind

repeat until comfortable enough to raise the mainsail

5 repeat

6 then watch another boat and start to follow it doing exactly as they are doing

7 sail across the wind - at right angles to it - if the sail flaps pull it in a bit

8 turn around and sail across the wind in the opposite direction

9 only then start to think about going up wind - no rush, it will come to you eventually

10 take lots of food and suntan cream - maybe a small amount of beer

11 have fun

12 spend all the money you saved by not taking courses on boats

Dylan
 
thanks so much for a taster lesson.
is sailing a dinghy anything like sailing a 20ft boat or is it better to learn on a bigger boat to start with.

regards nick
 
14 to 18 foot is ideal

I reckon anything that is big enough to take an outboard is great - that way you learn to move the boat under power and then graduate onto the zen skills of sailing

of course mobo owners would say otherwise

the advantage of a smaller boat is that you can paddle it

I spend a lot of time paddling my 18 footer when there is no wind - just stand on the stern and paddle it with a long oar

D
 
Small boats are better to learn on.

a) They are more sensitive, so you learn about trimming the boat and what adjustments effect what.
b) They are worth less so mistakes are less important
c) They are easier to drag off sandbanks and mud.

When you move onto a keel boat everything happens a bit more slowly so you'll be reacting more quickly than the boat.

With regard to Dylan's suggestions .....

6. Be careful. They may be about to go aground

8. Turn around by turning into the wind. Going the other way is for Lesson 2 (ouch)
 
im really enthused now i know that a bit of trial and error will get me sailing my own dinghy.
im able to go midweek so i can miss the weekend mayhem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top