Small dinghy/yacht with an engine - any suggestions ???

CPD

CPD

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For an apartment overseas I would really like to get my hands on a small sailing dinghy/yacht with an engine where the whole thing can be easily pulled out the water and the mast removed. It has to be able to be secured with a chain/lock also. I have never even sailed a dinghy before - can anyone point me towards something that could work ?? Many thanks.
 
If its a dinghy with an outboard you want, can I recommend the Laser 13; stable, well made, durable and strong but light enough to rig launch and recover single handed. Space for three adults or 2+2, big forward locker accessed through a Lewmar hatch is big enough to stow a tent or the outboard. Two piece mast with roller furling jib and takes about 15 mins to rig and launch. Going price for a nice one with road trailer and launching trolley but without outboard is about £2k which you will get back when you sell it. A great boat to start sailing in, I used mine to introduce adults (Mums of kids doing a sailing course) to sailing but it was great for a picnic too, I seriously regret selling it.
The Laser 16 is almost identical but that bit larger and heavier so most of these are kept on moorings.
Have a look at www.lasercruising.org.uk/
 
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Hi Alan

We had an Enterpise on the river Avon at Tewkesbury when I was a kid with 2.5hp engine for when my dad couldn't be bothered to beat back up the narrow river.

You might also consider Wayfarer?

cheers, Patrick
 
What about a Drascombe lugger, I have always fancied one for just what you are proposing, only problem is I dont have a place abroad! google one see what you think.
David.
 
If I may say, an Enterprise is relatively 'hairy' for a complete novice, and it's a pain to capsize with an outboard on !

There are lots of small boats, dinghy or cruiser, a huge amount depends on what YOU mean by small, and how and where you're going to pull it from / leave it by the water side ?

In my opinion of course, a few 'off the top of the head' in rising order of merit;

Skipper 17 - small cabin, large cockpit grp cruiser, lift keel/s, lightish for size

Sailfish 18 - small grp cruiser, lift keel, VERY light, that includes build !

Manta 19 - pretty, nippy, small grp cruiser, lift keel

Yeoman - about 20' attractive daycruiser with slight cuddy, grp, lift keel, responsive but safe

And I reckon The Perfect Boat for your situation, I've had mostly small grp cruisers ( a lot bigger than these though ) and dinghies for 39 years, and this is the one I'd go for if in your position;

Salcombe Yawl - modern grp tradional look-alike, pricey but I'd think perfect for you, heaps of fun and probably a boat for life !
 
I second the Wayfarer, I learnt to sail in one, it is stable and forgiving and can easily be hauled out. Lets face it Frank Dye managed to get to Iceland in one!!! I agree with Seajet, the Enterprise can be a bit hairy for a beginner.
 
For something completely different... how about a kit build (it may be that a UK builder may take it on)... the SCAMP ticks lots of boxes, especially if you want something 'coastal' and under 12ft. Water ballast makes stability/trailering a doddle.

clicky
 
Some of the boats above might have difficulty meeting your spec. for ease of launching/recovery unless you have a lot of help?
 
I love Wayfarers (I have two of them!) but they are a struggle to launch and recover. Takes about an hour from parking the car up to being away under sail, although if you were really trying you could get set up faster than that. Having it already rigged in a dinghy park will slash that time considerably. In any case, it's a two man job.

A Wanderer might fit the bill well- at 14ft it is a slightly downsized Wayfarer, I got beaten by one racing last year so they aren't too slow- and of course mich lighter to launch and recover.
 
To add to the (growing) list.... a Wayfarer would IMHO be an excellent choice.... agree an Enterprise is bit too much of a dinghy, and too easy to capsize for this purpose.... get a Wayfarer, add a few waterproof compartments, and away you go.... yes it won't be ready to go on the water in 5 mins, but its not a day's work either.... and if you can leave it somewhere with the mast up could be done really quite quickly...

I love them personally.... mind you, blowing my own trumpet, I did win the national schools sailing championships in one (a few years ago!)... but haven't sailed one in.... 'ahem'.. a few... years
 
walkerbay

Hi
have you looked at the walkerbay,I have one with the sail kit and rubber tube kit,it also has an air bladder that you can inflate under the seats,it rows very easy and i use a mercury 2.5 hp engine for long trips or i use a mercury thruster 12v electric motor with a sealed battrie under the rear seat if just out for the day,hope this helps ocean pilgrim
 
Laser stratos would be my favourite, but I would not recommend for a novice as they are big and therefore harder to rig and launch.
Do not get an Enterprise way to tippy for first boat on the sea and not designed for an outboard.
GP14 is the beast, (General purpose dinghy 14 foot long). There are thousands of them and you could pick up a good GRP one for well less than £1000.
They can be rowed, fitted with an outboard and sailed, and if you really get into the sailing the have a spinnaker as well. It also has a centreboard so can be lifted for easy launch and recovery. Go fro a GRP one rather than a wooden one as there is far less maintenance.

http://www.gp14.co.uk/classifieds/forsale.php
 
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