Which dinghy?

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Boat44

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Some advise and guidance sought please.

As the yacht is some 2.5 hours away we have been thinking about getting a dingy on the nearby "lake", particualry so I can teach my 4 year old to sail.

So, needs to be cheap max £600ish, be able to take two adults plus a little one, low maintenace (the yacht takes enough!)

Things in the dinghy world has moved on somewhat since I learnt to sail, although I susepct with my budget I will be looking at something fairly old. I also learnt to sail in Canada so a lot of the dinghys over here are a bit foreign to me!

Any suggestions? (Yes I have though about moving closer to the yacht and would love to, but the though of paying Grodon all that stamp duty is enough to make me !)

Much appreciated cheers
 
A mirror will do the job very well for the next few years and after that for several more when he/she kicks you out to sail on their own or with their friends. They may be old but still tick all the boxes.

Yoda
 
Agree with the Enterprise - get a grp one if possible. I think the Mirror is a bit small for 2 + 1, but it's bigger brother the Miracle would do - sails very nicely. The Wayfarer has a smaller sibling, the Wanderer, which is also good - very similar to the Enterprise. All three have a good class following, so hold their value well.
 
Mirror too small, Wayfarer too heavy (possibly out of budget)
Have a look at a Skipper (very versatile as it can be sailed/rowed or stick an outboard on it) and is available in 12 or 14ft lengths. They come up on Ebay quite often and sell for about £300 on avearge. Not a racy boat, but stable, bouyant and a good way into dinghies.
 
See what is sailed on the local lake 'cos in a year or two son will probably want to race.

Otherwise Mirror/Miracle or Wayfarer/Wanderer; found our Enterprise a bit tender - esp as a teaching vessel.
 
If you want a 4yr old to learn, it needs to be a fairly small boat, otherwise he/she won't be able to pull the main in!
Maybe taking two adults in comfort isn't compatible with this?
For a teaching boat I would look at a topper or similar 'zero' maintenance boat, you might get an old one for £500 and have a lot of fun. At 13stone, it's about the smallest boat I'd get into/onto.
An optimist/oppie will get the youngster independently sailing soonest, but not too clever for adults.
A lot of sailing schools use pico's but these will be over your budget.
I would go for a self draining boat so that capsizing is a setback rather than a trauma.
Old plywood boats like mirrors can be quite high maintenance, and lose all value when the paint falls off.
I would recommend joining a club that has a good junior section, they will have some organised training and a safety boat on station, and in future years you / your child may get interested in racing. Some clubs have toppers etc for the kids, it's worth contacting all the possible clubs. You will need to budget for wetsuits, buoyancy aids, insurance, club membership etc as if you only sail in 'shorts' weather you won't get value for money from your boat!, and getting cold takes the fun out of sailing.
Also it's great to do a little light-hearted dinghy sailing/racing in the winter when your yacht is out of commission.
 
Put him in a Oppie and use your inflatable to chase around after him. He will learn a lot more that way and be more confident that having DAD in the boat wiht him.

Check out a local sailing club and ask them.................
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Thank you all for the usefull suggestions.

Will start looking enterprise/mirror/miracle/wanderer etc.

Unfortunately local clubs all "ban" oppies on their lakes. So will proabbly get one to keep with the yacht in due course. Or maybe just revert to that so "Dad" can justify a bigger outboard for the inflatable. "must be able to keep up with the little one"!!!!

In my internet travels found the following webiste www.go-sail.co.uk. Not come across it before but seemed very usefull with good links to class associations etc.

Again thanks info, certainly helped narrow the search.
 
Walker bay

We bought a SH Walker Bay 10 RID off e-bay earlier this year.

Have had endless fun in it with my 5 and 7 year old boys. It sails surprisingly well. Helming and sheets are manageable for them. My 5 yr old has particularly taken to sailing in it now.

Advantages are that it is light, car topable, will carry a big load, almost indestructable (all plastic). Wheel built into keel so can be easily launched off the slipway loaded. Quick and easy to rig - 2 piece unstayed mast. Rig will stow inside the dinghy.

We have the inflatable collar so it is just like a rigid inflatable, and will not capsize.

Downside is that if sailing with the collar you need to sail it upright to reduce drag.

All in all it is a great little boat - we use ours primarily as a tender for the big boat.

Only disadvantage that I can think of is that Walker Bay's with all the gear are very expensive new. So have a look at the s/h market.

Good luck with your search, whatever you decide on.
 
Re: Walker bay

Have a look at the Herons on the go-sail site. Basically it's a bigger mirror (just at 11.3ft) with a pointy bow. You can still a small outboard on them too.

They are about this size. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
The association website appear to have a few for sale.
 
A Bosun if you can find one...tough, forgiving. Can be sailed even when upto the gunwales with water. Enterprises are great but too flighty for a beginner and roll like hell downwind, in my experience.
 
Bosun?
I've sailed these. Fine training boat I'll agree, but they are very heavy to get out of the water, not really a kid's boat, more intended to be matelot-proof. Or at least matelot-resistant!
I've never heard of oppies being banned before, perhaps the RYA should be sent around to talk to them?
I get tempted by wooden boats but would advise any beginner to buy a grp/plastic boat that can be resold painlessly if you want to change after a year or two. Having said that there are sometimes bargains on ebay for very little money, often including trolley and trailer that could be resold for nearly as much after you've had a season's boating...
Good luck!
 
Re: Walker bay

No problem, heads are my specialty..

I'm afraid to drop it in the water now, in case I spoil the finish /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I have been very impressed with the youngster training programme in the sailing club on our local lake.
Strongly recommend you go this way once you have had a chance to evaluate the local clubs.
I suspect most children would learn faster without Dad in the boat (but with proper instruction and safety cover of course).
 
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