Thinking of buying a sailing dinghy

henryf

henryf

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Before this gets moved off to the sailing side it was started off by JFM's wonderful addition to Match, his flybridge mounted laser dinghy.

I fancied doing the same but the lack of a flybridge crane probably scuppers it. I could use the bathing platform or even a cradle on top of the tender rib but as mentioned here: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...t-fit-Hard-Top&p=5186333&posted=1#post5186333 we have got a new lake in our back yard which would suit a sailing dinghy.

I assumed that I'd go out and buy a Laser but was instantly confused by all the different types available.

Requirements are: 95-100kg me plus 35-70kg other. As light as possible to enable dragging over reasonably rough ground. No concrete ramp but potentially could call upon mechanical help, tractor, digger, bits of string etc.

Purely a recreational toy and something to teach my daughter to sail in. Not going to join any clubs or start racing again.


Have been given some suggestions on the other thread. Would welcome any other input.

Suggestions so far:

GP14
laser 2000
Wayfairer - probably a bit big
RS 400

Henry :)
 
Hi Henry, great idea:)
I used to do a lot of dinghy sailing when I was a 'tad younger and lighter, and have been thinking around the same lines lately to try and 'involve' the kids, plus also get a bit of exercise.
Check out the Topper range of dinghies......some bright designs, lots of options (weights and single or multiple crew, sails, colours etc) and they are all in 'low maintenance' plastic!
 
henryf said:
Before this gets moved off to the sailing side it was started off by JFM's wonderful addition to Match, his flybridge mounted laser dinghy.

I fancied doing the same but the lack of a flybridge crane probably scuppers it. I could use the bathing platform or even a cradle on top of the tender rib but as mentioned here: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...t-fit-Hard-Top&p=5186333&posted=1#post5186333 we have got a new lake in our back yard which would suit a sailing dinghy.

I assumed that I'd go out and buy a Laser but was instantly confused by all the different types available.

Requirements are: 95-100kg me plus 35-70kg other. As light as possible to enable dragging over reasonably rough ground. No concrete ramp but potentially could call upon mechanical help, tractor, digger, bits of string etc.

Purely a recreational toy and something to teach my daughter to sail in. Not going to join any clubs or start racing again.


Have been given some suggestions on the other thread. Would welcome any other input.

Suggestions so far:

GP14
laser 2000
Wayfairer - probably a bit big
RS 400

Henry :)
Click to expand...

I've just ordered one of these for Ann's birthday, inc boomless sail. Looks like fun and just what we'll need in the Med next year.
http://www.cornwall-canoes.co.uk/hobie-kayaks-i14t.htm

Notice they also do a smart tri that folds and looks like great fun....
 
Henry, I think there was some good advice on the other thread about choosing something that others sail so that you get lots of tips. The challenge (which I also suffer from at 6'6" and 95kg) is that most boats much prefer the crew to be heavier, not the helm. For FWIW I have an Albacore dinghy for pretty much the same purpose, me + crew in the 25kg to 75kg range. The Albacore is about the same size and weight as an RS400 (so more spacious and lighter than a GP14, Laser 2000), but much more versatile with inside benches and storage space under the foredeck. It has no spinnaker to complicate things. The Wayfarer is really in another league weight wise, but is by far the most stable and a recognised cruising dinghy. THe RS400 is relatively high performance and you will struggle with your lighter crew unless very light winds (nice boat though). The GP14 is also versatile, but heavy and dull for it's size.

As with big boats there is no perfect boat, so best to try as many as you can and take it from there.

BTW it is the RYA dinghy show at Ally Pally this weekend where you can see virtually every dinghy available in a relatively small set of halls.
 
henryf said:
Before this gets moved off to the sailing side it was started off by JFM's wonderful addition to Match, his flybridge mounted laser dinghy.

I fancied doing the same but the lack of a flybridge crane probably scuppers it. I could use the bathing platform or even a cradle on top of the tender rib but as mentioned here: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...t-fit-Hard-Top&p=5186333&posted=1#post5186333 we have got a new lake in our back yard which would suit a sailing dinghy.

I assumed that I'd go out and buy a Laser but was instantly confused by all the different types available.

Requirements are: 95-100kg me plus 35-70kg other. As light as possible to enable dragging over reasonably rough ground. No concrete ramp but potentially could call upon mechanical help, tractor, digger, bits of string etc.

Purely a recreational toy and something to teach my daughter to sail in. Not going to join any clubs or start racing again.


Have been given some suggestions on the other thread. Would welcome any other input.

Suggestions so far:

GP14
laser 2000
Wayfairer - probably a bit big
RS 400

Henry :)
Click to expand...

A tinker.
 
Elessar said:
A tinker.
Click to expand...

Wasn't Sir Ben championing a Tinker class for the next Olympics :)

The Wayfarer is something I'm familiar with. Great if you wanted a family cruiser as you say although I used to cleat the jib and take them out single handed. A bit too cruiser for our little pond.

The Enterprise we used to sail was the heaviest bloody thing in the universe. It was always the last boat to be hauled out of the water because no one wanted to do it. In the end every body was press ganged in.

I enjoyed the National 12 and raced a Firefly.

The Topper doesn't really appeal. I always saw it as a poor relation to the Laser. When you sailed close to the wind the Topper was really soft and just turned in to the wind. The Laser was much sharper.

The RS 400 looks like an interesting bit of kit. Being honest I wouldn't be using the Spinnaker at this stage but I like the thought of being able grow into it. The pond lies in a NW - SW orientation and is about 700m long 100m wide so given prevailing Westerlies not much scope for down wind runs. There is a second pond being dug out which will be more organic in shape and probably 2-300m wide but that's a little way off being finished. Digging these things takes quite a long time :)

I hadn't thought of it as a way to get fit because when I last sailed I was so young that fitness, like waking up alive in the morning, was a given.

Would an RS 400 be more stable than a laser ?

Henry :)
 
I think my criteria for what I think you want would be as follows:

1 Plastic. No blimmin' varnishing.

2 Something for the crew to do. I don't think it will take your daughter long before watching isn't enough, so being in charge of the foresail might be a good way to keep her interest. (But see 3)

3 Enough space for the crew to operate in. If all goes well dad will be quickly relegated to a "hey you" role so again there should be something for the crew to do and somewhere to do it.

4 Sails well. Something that won't point will be too boring. At the other end of the spectrum something that needs to be actively balanced to stay sunny side up is not going to make a trainer.

5 Not too heavy. Guess who's going to be hauling it around on his own...

All these factors would make me look at one of the two-handed RS dinghies. Not sure which one as there are now so many variants and I haven't sailed any of them: but they do look good.
 
Ben, I think you missed 'cup holders':)
But has the little the Topper re-materialised into Topaz?...... They still seem to be made of polythene, and that was aledgedly the largest ever moulding made at the time?
 
henryf said:
Wasn't Sir Ben championing a Tinker class for the next Olympics :)

The Wayfarer is something I'm familiar with. Great if you wanted a family cruiser as you say although I used to cleat the jib and take them out single handed. A bit too cruiser for our little pond.

The Enterprise we used to sail was the heaviest bloody thing in the universe. It was always the last boat to be hauled out of the water because no one wanted to do it. In the end every body was press ganged in.

I enjoyed the National 12 and raced a Firefly.

The Topper doesn't really appeal. I always saw it as a poor relation to the Laser. When you sailed close to the wind the Topper was really soft and just turned in to the wind. The Laser was much sharper.

The RS 400 looks like an interesting bit of kit. Being honest I wouldn't be using the Spinnaker at this stage but I like the thought of being able grow into it. The pond lies in a NW - SW orientation and is about 700m long 100m wide so given prevailing Westerlies not much scope for down wind runs. There is a second pond being dug out which will be more organic in shape and probably 2-300m wide but that's a little way off being finished. Digging these things takes quite a long time :)

I hadn't thought of it as a way to get fit because when I last sailed I was so young that fitness, like waking up alive in the morning, was a given.

Would an RS 400 be more stable than a laser ?

Henry :)
Click to expand...

I'll ask my mate Phil Morrison, he designed it. He also started scuba diving at age 65 and we share a dive boat, a total irrelevance, but he's a good bloke. His ambition was to design an Olympic class dinghy, one of his designs was shortlisted but not chosen. Unlikely to happen now.
 
henryf said:
Wasn't Sir Ben championing a Tinker class for the next Olympics :)

The Wayfarer is something I'm familiar with. Great if you wanted a family cruiser as you say although I used to cleat the jib and take them out single handed. A bit too cruiser for our little pond.

The Enterprise we used to sail was the heaviest bloody thing in the universe. It was always the last boat to be hauled out of the water because no one wanted to do it. In the end every body was press ganged in.

I enjoyed the National 12 and raced a Firefly.

The Topper doesn't really appeal. I always saw it as a poor relation to the Laser. When you sailed close to the wind the Topper was really soft and just turned in to the wind. The Laser was much sharper.

The RS 400 looks like an interesting bit of kit. Being honest I wouldn't be using the Spinnaker at this stage but I like the thought of being able grow into it. The pond lies in a NW - SW orientation and is about 700m long 100m wide so given prevailing Westerlies not much scope for down wind runs. There is a second pond being dug out which will be more organic in shape and probably 2-300m wide but that's a little way off being finished. Digging these things takes quite a long time :)

I hadn't thought of it as a way to get fit because when I last sailed I was so young that fitness, like waking up alive in the morning, was a given.

Would an RS 400 be more stable than a laser ?

Henry :)
Click to expand...

RS400 is very stable for a racing dinghy of its speed, but with only a 100m width to play with you really won't make the most of it by a long way (my local pond is 125 acres and the RS400 is about the fastest boat you would want there). Enterprises should not be that heavy, as they are lighter than an RS400 and certainly more suited to the water you mention. National 12 are nice boats, but not for people of our weight (unless singlehanded). Albacore is basically a larger more stable Firefly, so should give you sense of what that is like. Merlin Rockets are well suited to small waters, but tend to have lots of string to play with and are quite tippy.
 
Not sure I would get too carried away here. I recall dinghy sailing with my old man when I was a kid.. few years back now..Sea was fun, but reservoir sailing was about the most boring thing I have ever done in my life, and almost put me off boats for ever. Now while that might be big pond, it sounds pretty small area to sail.
How about a Mirror.. they are still about. can sail,row,small outboard and burn it when your daughetr is bored (say Easter;) )
 
gjgm said:
Not sure I would get too carried away here. I recall dinghy sailing with my old man when I was a kid.. few years back now..Sea was fun, but reservoir sailing was about the most boring thing I have ever done in my life, and almost put me off boats for ever. Now while that might be big pond, it sounds pretty small area to sail.
How about a Mirror.. they are still about. can sail,row,small outboard and burn it when your daughetr is bored (say Easter;) )
Click to expand...

Or her dad gets bored before then :)

I take your point, I actually used to enjoy sailing on Rutland water which although a reservoir was massive compared to this puddle. Whether we would venture further afield once the spark catches remains to be seen.

Henry :)
 
henryf said:
Wasn't Sir Ben championing a Tinker class for the next Olympics :)

The pond lies in a NW - SW orientation and is about 700m long 100m wide so given prevailing Westerlies not much scope for down wind runs.
Henry :)
Click to expand...

Do you mean NW - SE?

Which would make for lots of reaching with south westerlies. How about a little cat?

Might also make a good place to learn kitesurfing or windsurfing.
 
DPH said:
Do you mean NW - SE?

Which would make for lots of reaching with south westerlies. How about a little cat?

Might also make a good place to learn kitesurfing or windsurfing.
Click to expand...

Sorry, yes NW - SE.

Kite surfing / wind surfing, now that's a great idea and something I hadn't thought of.

Henry :)
 
henryf said:
Wasn't Sir Ben championing a Tinker class for the next Olympics :)
Click to expand...

Don't scoff I was serious! I think you will get frustrated with a performance dinghy on lake that size and won't use it. With the tinker you roll it up, throw it in the car, have a sail on the Thames, take it on your boat and have a sail round the anchorage, and so on. It's a great and versatile thing. Sailing to windward is an acquired skill, but it will do it. Takes an outboard easily too.

I think it will get far more use than any of the flash things being considered. Oh and by the way whilst the early enterprises were very heavy later ones are much nicer things.
 
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Elessar said:
Don't scoff I was serious! I think you will get frustrated with a performance dinghy on lake that size and won't use it. With the tinker you roll it up, throw it in the car, have a sail on the Thames, take it on your boat and have a sail round the anchorage, and so on. It's a great and versatile thing. Sailing to windward is an acquired skill, but it will do it. Takes an outboard easily too.

I think it will get far more use than any of the flash things being considered. Oh and by the way whilst the early enterprises were very heavy later ones are much nicer things.
Click to expand...

Fully agree, get something that you can roll up and use on the boat...the lake will get very small, very quickly.
 
I take on board the point about Enterprise dinghies. I have done a bit of research on all the boats suggested and many have changed construction in the past 30 years.

I have also seen that Topper produce very different beasts to the thing I sailed when all the Lasers were being used. the Topaz looks a popular boat not unlike an Enterprise in size ?

Henry :)
 
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