Anyone sail a Mirror Dinghy?

[megaphone]

I have access to some space in a small boat yard which has a launch ramp out to sea. I want to get a small boat to have a play with at weekends, rather than a powered boat I'd prefer to sail. Now I have not done any dinghy sailing for 30 years! So I will be getting some training and will get out with some experienced guys initially.

I think a Mirror Dinghy will work well and they appear to be available at a reasonable price, but what should I be looking out for? Any pointers? Anything to avoid?

[Ayahuasca]

Things to avoid? Mirror dinghies.

I bought an old one and restored it a few years ago but they are a VERY old and cumbersome design and fiddly to rig, and they are tiny. I wouldn't like to sail one at sea.


I would get something like a Wayfarer.

[dirty boy]

If you're a man, you're too big for a Mirror!

They're very cramped.

Wayfarer is okay, cheap, but very heavy. Enterprise might be a cheap option, but don't discount something like a Laser...cheap, easy to rig, tough and durable, and will take a second person hanging around the mast for a laugh.

[Condi]

Laser if you want a single person, something like an RS200 if you want more than 1 up?

[AnotherClarkey]

If you are not too large and will be sailing singlehanded a Mirror would be fine. They are not quick but handle nicely and are surprisingly good seaboats.

[Benjaminpalma]

Condi said:

Laser

+1

[sawman]

Mirrors are quite small, I looked at them a couple of years ago, but found a miracle dinghy instead. it has a bit more space, and can also be single handed. Its also quite light and easy to handle ashore and seems quite seaworthy.

if you are looking at any wooden boats you need to make sure that the wood is in decent condition. dark patches on varnished wood mean trouble. its a bit more difficult but prod the floor of the boat with a car key to see its its soft. TBH patching ply in to fix rot issues is not too difficult, but can sap your time. also look out for previous bodged repairs - some folks seem to think that if they chuck enough fibreglass/epoxy at something it will solve all your problems

Also if you are looking at cheap boats check the fittings seem to work properly, you can spend a lot of cash quite quickly on new ball bearing pulleys and blocks.

These are all the things I found out after buying my miracle unseen from ebay very cheaply - it has been interesting learning new skills but I have spent a lot of time in my garage!

[Scuffers]

dirty boy said:

If you're a man, you're too big for a Mirror!

They're very cramped.

Wayfarer is okay, cheap, but very heavy. Enterprise might be a cheap option, but don't discount something like a Laser...cheap, easy to rig, tough and durable, and will take a second person hanging around the mast for a laugh.

I'd go with that, have had both a Mirror and Enterprise, and I know which one I wanted to keep...

[wildoliver]

Sorry to jump in on someone elses thread, but we might be in a similar situation.

I also want to start sailing and am looking for a small dinghy to sail 2 up, must be cheap and also as light/small as practical.

What are the best bet to start watching on ebay?

[dirty boy]

wildoliver said:

Sorry to jump in on someone elses thread, but we might be in a similar situation.

I also want to start sailing and am looking for a small dinghy to sail 2 up, must be cheap and also as light/small as practical.

What are the best bet to start watching on ebay?

For what purpose? Just pootling around a lake/river? Racing?

[sawman]

wildoliver said:

Sorry to jump in on someone elses thread, but we might be in a similar situation.

I also want to start sailing and am looking for a small dinghy to sail 2 up, must be cheap and also as light/small as practical.

What are the best bet to start watching on ebay?

look at www.apolloduck.co.uk for sailing dinghies - where you will find a good selection to choose from, having identified some possible boats then search ebay, you might be lucky. Also have a look at the class association websites they often have for sale pages. Finally you could pop down to your local sailing club, most will have a for sale notice board

[megaphone]

Thanks for the replies. I was interested in a Mirror only because I sailed them in the past, I was very young at the time I'll take a look at the other suggestions. I'd like something I can sail on my own however most of the time I'll be two up. It needs to be light enough for me to launch on my own.

[Ayahuasca]

Lasers are very good but can get a bit frisky in a blow - you would spend a lot of time in the water!

[wildoliver]

dirty boy said:

For what purpose? Just pootling around a lake/river? Racing?

Absolutely pootling, nothing more.

[Ayahuasca]

Forget a Laser then.

How about something classic like this:

[dirty boy]

wildoliver said:

dirty boy said:

For what purpose? Just pootling around a lake/river? Racing?

Absolutely pootling, nothing more.

Ayahuasca said:

Lasers are very good but can get a bit frisky in a blow - you would spend a lot of time in the water!

But they're cheap and very durable, not to mention fun.

Your old clinker suggestion is a decent shout though, most enjoyable on a summers day.

[Ayahuasca]

dirty boy said:

wildoliver said:

dirty boy said:

For what purpose? Just pootling around a lake/river? Racing?

Absolutely pootling, nothing more.

Ayahuasca said:

Lasers are very good but can get a bit frisky in a blow - you would spend a lot of time in the water!

But they're cheap and very durable, not to mention fun.

Your old clinker suggestion is a decent shout though, most enjoyable on a summers day.

Lasers are cheap and durable, and great fun (I raced one for years), but not a 'pootling' boat. On a pootler I would want something a bit more stable, with storage space for a picnic basket, a jib to mess about with, halyards to raise and lower the sails, an anchor and mooring lines to play with, somewhere to stuff extra clothing, etc, and I wouldn't expect it to upside down half the time with me hanging onto the dagger board either!

[Ayahuasca]

And space for oars too, in case the wind dies.

[megaphone]

Thinking more about it, I may well want to drop and anchor and do a bit of fishing, so something a bit more stable than a Laser, and oars/paddles are a must.

[Scotty2]

GP14
Best of both worlds and room for passenger(s).