Which dinghy for single or 2 man

[jontifosi]

I'm interested in getting a small dinghy which is quite easy to handle single handedly or with my young son crewing (learning) on occasion.
Don't really want to spend much just want something that can give good speed and quite forgiving. I've seen ads for boats such as Topper Buzz but wondering if this is a bit of a handful? but speed and excitment are key to maintain my sons interest.

ps if someone has one up for grabs i'm in Portsmouth

 

[tom_sail]

I'm interested in getting a small dinghy which is quite easy to handle single handedly or with my young son crewing (learning) on occasion.
Don't really want to spend much just want something that can give good speed and quite forgiving. I've seen ads for boats such as Topper Buzz but wondering if this is a bit of a handful? but speed and excitment are key to maintain my sons interest.

ps if someone has one up for grabs i'm in Portsmouth

Topper buzz can bit of a handful. A good none trapeze boat (which I recommend) is a laser 2000 very fast with genny but will look after you and much stable then the buzz. I wouldn't want to single hander either of them mind you. A topaz is the best thing for single handing and crewing as you can sail them with just a main or go for 3 sails if crew are available.

 

[seumask]

How experienced are you at dinghy sailing. How heavy are you, how old is your son. There are a lot of options, speed largely relates inversely to stability and wind speed. Lastly how much swiming do you want to do! Buzz is near to the fast and Unstable end, however trapezing is great fun for kids if you can keep the boat stable enough for them!
Apologies if these are harsh questions.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Off the wall answer.

Smallish cat. Fast, stable, fun.

 

[tom_sail]

Off the wall answer.

Smallish cat. Fast, stable, fun.

Couldn't agree more I have sailed a dart 16 singlehanded quite easily and I weigh only 65-70 kg. Righting the thing was a struggle and needed a rib to lift the mast a few times. Mast buoyancy was a must!

 

[NealB]

A lot will depend on how much you want to spend, of course.

I've sent you a pm.

 

[jontifosi]

I don't really want to spend much - see if we take to it and then spend a bit more if we do.
Ok thanks for comments looks like the Buzz is going to be too much work.
We don't plan on doing much swimming, just want a bit of fun, i'm about 85kg? 14 stone and my son is 10 and about 5 stone - he won't want to be frightened.
I can sail dinghies but no expert, so guess i just need something basic.

 

[tom_sail]

http://www.toppersailphuket.com/pages/topaz.html

This Sounds perfect then! There's about 4 variations all using the same hull but different sail packages so if you get a basic model you then buy a jib and gennaker as your sailing skills improve.

 

[jontifosi]

Topaz Uno does seem to be good on the advert.

Just need to find one

 

[Hazeltine]

Laser vago
An absolute blast singlehanded and still pretty fast double handed, also it being plastic it is also bombproof.
Perfect.

 

[ianat182]

Not one of the current plastic jobs, but try a National 12ft dinghy, no spinnaker and you learn a lot, moreover they are cheapish. You'll capsize a few times no doubt.
If you want a spinnaker then an older Mk9, or 'Smokers Satisfaction', 14ft Merlin Rocket will give you a thrilling ride. Prices around £350 - 500 for either and several for sale on the Merlin Rocket Association forum and National 12 forums.
Any model of The Nat 12 ,or a Lark even, can be had cheaply.

ianat182

 

[jontifosi]

Cheers IAn
I think £3-400 is about right for a first dinghy

 

[MrCramp]

I have had a Skipper 14 for years and it is very versatile. There is also a skipper 12 which is similar. I don't like falling in the drink these days and the boats are very stable.

 

[mcframe]

Off the wall answer.

Smallish cat. Fast, stable, fun.

Like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1KQsWDGOI8 ?

 

[scruff]

Instead of buying a dinghy off the peg as it were, go down to your local sailing club, talk to their members and borrow as many different types of their boats as you can.

I wouldn't recommend sailing without rescue cover initially (if at all) as you will go for a swim or two and the cold water takes it out of you.

Experience as many different types of dinghies as possible and go for the one you like the best and or the most popular at your club of choice.

There is so much choice out there you will be spoilt for choice!

 

[Seajet]

Instead of buying a dinghy off the peg as it were, go down to your local sailing club, talk to their members and borrow as many different types of their boats as you can.

I wouldn't recommend sailing without rescue cover initially (if at all) as you will go for a swim or two and the cold water takes it out of you.

Experience as many different types of dinghies as possible and go for the one you like the best and or the most popular at your club of choice.

There is so much choice out there you will be spoilt for choice!

Good advice.

For a cheap knockabout dinghy capable of singlehanding yet fun for a small crew member, I'd suggest a Miracle dinghy; they go very cheap and offer a lot of fun.

 

[Iain C]

What you need is a nice, lightweight, 12' boat with a bit of history. Like my old Cherub here...add a 21sqm spinnaker off an RS800 for a bit of oomph downhill, a trapeze, and just ignore that fact that becasue there's no jammers you will need to hold both the kite and the main in one hand and the tiller in the other. Makes hooking onto the wire, and hoists/drops entertaining! (Actually, don't, it's a bit of a handful...certainly goes very fast when you lose 90kg of lard out the front of the boat though!)

Of the boats suggested above, I would say by far the best would be the N12 or the Miracle. The MR would be nice too if you knew what you were doing, however on your own it might be a bit of a handful...it's also very wide which means there's not much room for error turning corners...

 

[Skylark]

Just like a puppy, a dinghy is for life, not just for Christmas. I suggest that you give thought to where and how you keep whatever you decide to buy.

Wooden dinghies look great but come with a huge maintenance commitment, unless you can keep them in a dry garage.

My last dinghy was a wooden Solo. I moved to larger boats and as good as forgot all about the dinghy. I'd left it in the park of my sailing club, wearing it's overcover. 12 months later I thought that it was time to do something with it and I was surprised with the amount of water damage. Much longer and a gallon of petrol would have been the only solution. As it was, I was really lucky and sold it quickly before it deteriorated further.

Conversely, a quick blast with a jet wash will have a mouldy GRP dinghy looking as good as new within the hour.

Sails, foils etc can all be kept in a shed at home.

Whatever you decide upon, good luck to you both. Have fun.

 

[jwilson]

Topper buzz can bit of a handful. A good none trapeze boat (which I recommend) is a laser 2000 very fast with genny but will look after you and much stable then the buzz. I wouldn't want to single hander either of them mind you. A topaz is the best thing for single handing and crewing as you can sail them with just a main or go for 3 sails if crew are available.

I have always found the Laser 2 to be annoyingly prone to turtling on every capsize, so I wouldn't recommend it that much.

When teaching sailing I used three of them as school boats and have sailed them myself for fun as well, often singlehanded. Two had the standard rig and one was a Laser II Fun with sprit and small assymetric - that was the one I preferred to singlehand as you could go quite fast offwind with the assym up.

 

[onesea]

I have always found the Laser 2 to be annoyingly prone to turtling on every capsize, so I wouldn't recommend it that much.

When teaching sailing I used three of them as school boats and have sailed them myself for fun as well, often singlehanded. Two had the standard rig and one was a Laser II Fun with sprit and small assymetric - that was the one I preferred to singlehand as you could go quite fast offwind with the assym up.

I must admit I read this thread and thought Lazer 2 I do not like them but you could pick one up cheap.

Also Larks, and 420's have been around for a long time so may well be around afford-ably.Also worth looking at what your local club races they are often the right boats for the area for all sorts off odd reason...
Might add some fun to your sailing?