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

The perfect boat for you would be a Flying Scot, a heavy and stable 19' day sailer/racer only problem is they are only found in the USA. I wish I could have brought mine back with me. Designed by Sandy Douglas, a Scottish gent I believe who also designed the Thistle (hairy) and the Highlander .
 
Alan,

Are you expecting to buy it here and take it out with you? How limited is your budget?

I'd agree that a Wayfarer would be ideal, if a bit heavy to launch, and there are plenty around in varying states of disrepair to suit any budget. If you want something a bit lighter (but smaller) then I've got an underused GRP Graduate that you could have a sail in, to see if it's the sort of thing you want - about the same size as the GP14 and enterprise, but a bit more sedate than the Enterprise. Going smaller, and therefore easier to launch etc are the ubiquitous Mirrors.

Ali
 
For the sea or an estuary the Wayfarer is the most robust and seaworthy. That why they have sold 11,000 and are used by sailing schools.

They are 16' long and will take 4-5 people and the new Mk 4 is EU rated for 6. Being 16' long they are one of the heavier dinghys though.

We bought one to learn to sail as it has all the controls that a big boat has and a spinnaker. Unfortunately we love sailing it and even though we have had a succession of big boats we have always kept a Wayfarer and have just invested in the mk 4 for racing. Pleasure for your bucks they cannot be beat.
 
Robwhelton,

in answer, I've done a lot of dinghy racing and cruising, and I'm afraid I have to say the GP14 experience is among the worst. Incredibly heavy -360lbs rings a bell - but slow, need a lot of crew weight to keep upright as the thing just sits there and takes it instead of converting it into forward motion. Still manages to be unstable enough I wouldn't recommend for a beginner family.

The Wayfarer & Wanderer are MUCH better, still heavy - the Wayfarer could be said to be rated 5 up as it needs that many helpers up a slipway !

I asked, but haven't seen an answer, as to how the OP plans to keep the boat, right by the waters' edge, pulled out on a trolley, or even on a whip mooring ?

Depending how, a small cruiser such as I listed originally, say a Manta 19, might be a better option than some dinghies.

I still reckon if it was me, especially now children & family are in the equation, I'd be beating a path to the nearest good grp Salcombe / Devon yawl...( NOT the mega-expensive racing I think all wood Salcombe Yawls ).
 
I have contributed to and thence followed this thread and it seems to demonstrate a problem which has been developing with the forum, despite the risks of rubbing some of you the wrong way I have decided to comment on it.
I read the original post and it was only three or four lines but clear enough, the OP wanted something he could sail or motor and easily bring ashore and take the mast down. I suggested a medium size 'cruising' dinghy with a 2 piece mast specifically designed to be moved launched and rigged easily, I suggested the boat, because I had experience of using it in the way thre OP had indicated. Not nearly as big or heavy as many of the dinghies and even keelboats being suggested but meeting the criteria stated by the OP himself in his first post at a moderate cost with a guaranteed 100% return. I know there are others that meet the spec. but many of those being pushed above do not.
Now he is even being criticised for not giving the storage information defined from the start because it does not match some of the boats you may want to wish on him.
Some of you seem to be simply ignoring his requirements to promote your own agenda, hardly being helpful?
I have got that rant off my chest, if you did not like it, tough.
 
Quandary said:
I have contributed to and thence followed this thread and it seems to demonstrate a problem which has been developing with the forum, despite the risks of rubbing some of you the wrong way I have decided to comment on it.
I read the original post and it was only three or four lines but clear enough, the OP wanted something he could sail or motor and easily bring ashore and take the mast down. I suggested a medium size 'cruising' dinghy with a 2 piece mast specifically designed to be moved launched and rigged easily, I suggested the boat, because I had experience of using it in the way thre OP had indicated. Not nearly as big or heavy as many of the dinghies and even keelboats being suggested but meeting the criteria stated by the OP himself in his first post at a moderate cost with a guaranteed 100% return. I know there are others that meet the spec. but many of those being pushed above do not.
Now he is even being criticised for not giving the storage information defined from the start because it does not match some of the boats you may want to wish on him.
Some of you seem to be simply ignoring his requirements to promote your own agenda, hardly being helpful?
I have got that rant off my chest, if you did not like it, tough.
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+1
 
Quandary said:
I have contributed to and thence followed this thread and it seems to demonstrate a problem which has been developing with the forum, despite the risks of rubbing some of you the wrong way I have decided to comment on it.
I read the original post and it was only three or four lines but clear enough, the OP wanted something he could sail or motor and easily bring ashore and take the mast down. I suggested a medium size 'cruising' dinghy with a 2 piece mast specifically designed to be moved launched and rigged easily.
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Don't be so sensitive. The OP can sort out what he wants from all the replies and others can gain a lot of knowlege on the boat that could be their next step up from a small dinghy which I agree with you is not what the OP currently wants.

Its the variety of knowlege and replys that makes this forum interesting.
 
Sailfree said:
Don't be so sensitive. The OP can sort out what he wants from all the replies and others can gain a lot of knowlege on the boat that could be their next step up from a small dinghy which I agree with you is not what the OP currently wants.

Its the variety of knowlege and replys that makes this forum interesting.
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Believe me, I am not sensitive, would I be here if I was? but blaming the OP for not asking the right question or not changing his requirements to suit, is not helping him, which is what we should be doing rather than trying to promote ourselves.

My apologies to the OP for hijacking his thread with my rant but I do think that the number of careless posts has increased recently, maybe it is just the long winter as suggested elsewhere and we will get back to the old days of concise targeted responses, the days are getting longer and soon we can all escape.
 
Look out for a Kestral. Approx 16ft OAL. GRP Hull. Steel lifting keel. High freeboard. Plenty room for family or friends. Will plane with one or two up!
More stable than most of the other suggestions.
 
Thanks to one and all - some great suggestions. The dinghy will be kept on or close by a small beach as below which is to be increased in size. Are the masts for those mentioned generally one piece, or foldable etc for storage ?. The hull will almost certainly be kept outdoors but I would like to keep the mast and sails indoors if possible.

Bulgaria_Sep__Oct_2010_027.jpg


There is also a small quay adjoining the beach :

IMG_0992-1.jpg


Essentially it is open sea with a small town approx 4 miles north and larger towns 6 miles to the south.
 
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These are generalizations,
Two piece masts are generally found on some( a minority of) cruising dinghies which are trailed about frequently and launched rather than kept in one place or afloat, Dinghies intended primarily for racing will have a one piece mast for performance (tuning) reasons. However if you intend bringing the boat up on to the foreshore when not in use you can remove the sails and take them away but leave the mast standing, that is what I would do in a place like yours, so the mast may not be a deciding factor. If you are launching and recovering regularly you should use a launching trolley rather than a road trailer which is more awkward to get on to and has bearings in the wheels etc. Heavy dinghies which are perceived to be more suited to moorings often come with just a road trailer but a launching trolley can be made or purchased, for a foreshore launch it will need decent sized pneumatic tyred wheels or it will soon be a struggle. A launching trolley makes the dinghy harder to steal when not in use, as it can not readily be hitched to a car, if you use a road trailer to move it you can lock it up or take a wheel off to secure it, if it is not close to the boat all the better. If the one you decide on has a proper 'combi' (a great arrangement when properly designed) trailer, split the trailer and trolley and separate them when you are not using it. Avoid the temptation to ignore weight if you intend to launch and recover each time, if it is a chore to do on your own it will seriously reduce your use of the boat, every club has lots of boats sitting around that would be sailed, if only they were easier and faster to rig and launch. If the jetty you show is yours or you have use of it and provides real shelter, you could investigate keeping a bigger boat afloat using a mooring onshore of it it with a circulating line which allows you to bring the boat to the jetty when you need it.
Hope this helps.
 
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how many do you want to get in it

I have owned sailed and raced, a kestrel, an enterprise, 2 ospreys, and a Wayfarer

Wayfarer is the best family sailing boat and the only one above i would dream putting an outboard on. Loved it and sold it to my mate so i could borrow it back occasionally.

Only one of these that is lightish on its trolly is the enterprise

Have also sailed someone else's Hawk 20 the day boat version, its the best solution to take 6 people sailing and has a proper outboard well but you need a lot more money and a car to launch it. Could you lay a mooring or go off the pier. You could put it back on the trailer when your not there.

There is conflict between having a boat that can take 2 adults and 4 kids and one that is easy to launch on a soft beach.

If its sunny and not to carry 6 at once how about a laser fun which is light, simple and has a 2 piece mast.
 
I've been looking at dinghies that could take the family myself (we're 5). Weight is definitely one of the biggest criteria, because I know I'm likely to be pulling the thing out myself, whilst SWMBO is keeping the kids under control. I also would like to be able to singlehand. One of the choices I have that has not been mentioned is an Albacore - good sized (15ft), light (nearly half the weight of a Wayfarer), high freeboard for the sea and internal benches for people to sit on. Won't be as stable as a Wayfarer, but much more stable than an Enterprise.
 
Depends how experienced you are with dinghies, know what you mean about the Albacore, like 'em myself, but not sure it's really stable enough with kids...

Think, as you know, you're in trouble weight wise with a big enough boat !

As with the OP, there's a strong part within me saying 'a Mirror and take it in turns ' !
 
CPD

Formerly known as Centaur Pipe Dream I believe. I assume you have experience of sailing a Centaur. You will have little difficulty sailing any dinghy provided you remember the following;

They react far quicker, but are far more manouverable. It will not carry its way very far like the Centaur would.

Balancing is not that hard, but you need to respond to conditions - a bit like riding a bike.

Do not stand up & hold the mast for stability, you will simply capsize the boat! I have watch this happen & it is hysterically funny to see, but the person who fell in never understood what he was doing wrong. It just doesn't happen when you have a ton or two of ballast.

A couple of Mirror dinghies might be a good solution. It will encourage the kids to learn & they can compete with each other to get better. It allows you & the kids to do different things later when they are capable of going on their own.
 
mirrors & Oppys

you need ....

a 2.9 m inflatable tender with say a 6HP outboard - 2 stroke to keep it light if possible.

a mixture of mirrors and optimists depending on how old your kids are

then its time to play follow my leader

you can get them all in and out fairly easily and tow them all home in a line using your mini rescue boat. The you could probably deflate the tender, put the oppies on end and stack two mirrors and get the lot in a biggish garage.

Sailing, picnics, swallows and amazons, you may just get to the point when they go sailing without you.

Re Albacore - nice racing dinghy though round bilge makes it a bit tippy. Most are wooden, you will spend lots of time varnishing as its probably too big to get under cover.

depends on what storage you have I guess
 
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