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Discussion
Every summer I think about it but never do anything about it.
Practically, I am 2 hours from the coast and the local club is a puddle with more 'You Musts' than a poorly run leisre club.. Things that put me of are the fact I have no storage at home, and no tow bar (and would like to avoid one). Also the whole 'club' thing turns me off as they want you to race, play safety boat for the races, turn up to the various non-sailing things and only sail when they have the SB out etc. It turns a pleasure into a chore and committment I can do without.
So, two questions, sort of related. If I don't have space or tow bar for a road trailer, I was thinking about a car toppable one I can store in the garage along side the car. If so, what will I get away with? Obvious one is the Topper but would I get away with a Solo, Laser or even a Fireball on a roof rack? I think the Fireball hull weight is about 80kg and 5m in length and 1.4m wide.
I have never sailed at sea but wondered about finding some coastal storage might be easier than try and store it at home and then driving all the way with it on top.
Besides 'ruiles are there for your own safety' and 'get a social life and join the local club' any practical soluations to get back in harness (literally)?
Fireball on a roof rack???? 
Don't forget the mast is one piece!
The ultimate car topper is a Mirror, but whatever you get you will need to remember the lauching trolley and spars as well as the boat need to go on the roof.
If you go down the towbar route (a detachable one perhaps?) you give yourself many more options and can get a combo trailer which includes the launching trolley. Also this brings you into Fireball territory. Lastly on the boat front, anything wooden is going to need TLC in the closed season whereas plastic will live in your garden quite happily, just clear off the snails come spring!!
I know what you mean re sailing clubs, mine was brilliant but there were loads of us all teenagers that sort of took it over in the early 80's. If you want to sail and are sensible, just turn up and sail. You obviously aren't going to go if the weather is against you as you want to go for pleasure. I don't see why you can't join the sailing club, use the changing rooms and showers and park your boat there. I'm fairly sure there is no rule that says you have to be a team player and race every weekend/join in fundraisers,etc. After all, you pay your subs.
Finally, are you sure you want to get freezing cold and soaking wet for the fun of it? I am sitting here 20 years later wondering if the aches and pains and rhumatic joints aren't as a result of several seasons of 'fun'. Mind you I was never fitter!
Don't forget the mast is one piece!The ultimate car topper is a Mirror, but whatever you get you will need to remember the lauching trolley and spars as well as the boat need to go on the roof.
If you go down the towbar route (a detachable one perhaps?) you give yourself many more options and can get a combo trailer which includes the launching trolley. Also this brings you into Fireball territory. Lastly on the boat front, anything wooden is going to need TLC in the closed season whereas plastic will live in your garden quite happily, just clear off the snails come spring!!
I know what you mean re sailing clubs, mine was brilliant but there were loads of us all teenagers that sort of took it over in the early 80's. If you want to sail and are sensible, just turn up and sail. You obviously aren't going to go if the weather is against you as you want to go for pleasure. I don't see why you can't join the sailing club, use the changing rooms and showers and park your boat there. I'm fairly sure there is no rule that says you have to be a team player and race every weekend/join in fundraisers,etc. After all, you pay your subs.
Finally, are you sure you want to get freezing cold and soaking wet for the fun of it? I am sitting here 20 years later wondering if the aches and pains and rhumatic joints aren't as a result of several seasons of 'fun'. Mind you I was never fitter!
Tyre Smoke said:
Fireball on a roof rack???? Don't forget the mast is one piece!
The ultimate car topper is a Mirror, but whatever you get you will need to remember the lauching trolley and spars as well as the boat need to go on the roof.
If you go down the towbar route (a detachable one perhaps?) you give yourself many more options and can get a combo trailer which includes the launching trolley. Also this brings you into Fireball territory. Lastly on the boat front, anything wooden is going to need TLC in the closed season whereas plastic will live in your garden quite happily, just clear off the snails come spring!!
I know what you mean re sailing clubs, mine was brilliant but there were loads of us all teenagers that sort of took it over in the early 80's. If you want to sail and are sensible, just turn up and sail. You obviously aren't going to go if the weather is against you as you want to go for pleasure. I don't see why you can't join the sailing club, use the changing rooms and showers and park your boat there. I'm fairly sure there is no rule that says you have to be a team player and race every weekend/join in fundraisers,etc. After all, you pay your subs.
Finally, are you sure you want to get freezing cold and soaking wet for the fun of it? I am sitting here 20 years later wondering if the aches and pains and rhumatic joints aren't as a result of several seasons of 'fun'. Mind you I was never fitter!
I have just googled the detachable towbars, look a possibility. Of course the ideal solution is someone with a boat in situ who wants to share! Don't forget the mast is one piece!The ultimate car topper is a Mirror, but whatever you get you will need to remember the lauching trolley and spars as well as the boat need to go on the roof.
If you go down the towbar route (a detachable one perhaps?) you give yourself many more options and can get a combo trailer which includes the launching trolley. Also this brings you into Fireball territory. Lastly on the boat front, anything wooden is going to need TLC in the closed season whereas plastic will live in your garden quite happily, just clear off the snails come spring!!
I know what you mean re sailing clubs, mine was brilliant but there were loads of us all teenagers that sort of took it over in the early 80's. If you want to sail and are sensible, just turn up and sail. You obviously aren't going to go if the weather is against you as you want to go for pleasure. I don't see why you can't join the sailing club, use the changing rooms and showers and park your boat there. I'm fairly sure there is no rule that says you have to be a team player and race every weekend/join in fundraisers,etc. After all, you pay your subs.
Finally, are you sure you want to get freezing cold and soaking wet for the fun of it? I am sitting here 20 years later wondering if the aches and pains and rhumatic joints aren't as a result of several seasons of 'fun'. Mind you I was never fitter!
Snoggledog said:
How much do you want to spend and how technical do you want to get? Also how good are you and where are you?
I am not exactly Helen Macarthur if you get my drift? I was going to do some refresher training as it has been about 15 years since I was wet. I would probably spent £1K. I don't want race prep fancy stuff, just a bit of hanging out fun (although a trapeze would be new teritory for me). I used to really enjoy the Solo I had because it was light, easy to rig and an easy single hander. Edited by Snoggledog on Tuesday 26th May 22:25
I am South Yorks, so the nearest coast is East Yorks around Whitby/Scarborugh (but still a couple of hours away). I do have a friend with a cabin at one of the lake holiday complexes in Lincs which might be a good start. I had thought about a windsurfer as an interim step which solves the storage/transport thing to some degree.
Brown and Boris said:
Snoggledog said:
How much do you want to spend and how technical do you want to get? Also how good are you and where are you?
I am not exactly Helen Macarthur if you get my drift? I was going to do some refresher training as it has been about 15 years since I was wet. I would probably spent £1K. I don't want race prep fancy stuff, just a bit of hanging out fun (although a trapeze would be new teritory for me). I used to really enjoy the Solo I had because it was light, easy to rig and an easy single hander. Edited by Snoggledog on Tuesday 26th May 22:25
I am South Yorks, so the nearest coast is East Yorks around Whitby/Scarborugh (but still a couple of hours away). I do have a friend with a cabin at one of the lake holiday complexes in Lincs which might be a good start. I had thought about a windsurfer as an interim step which solves the storage/transport thing to some degree.
I miss sailing so much - it was such an easy way of getting really fit and having fun but its just one of those things I never went back to. I found my wetsuit last night and all the other bits of kit and the smell of them brought memories flooding back.
There isn't much chance that the wetsuit will fit me this season
but perhaps next season!I miss pico knees and being covered in bruises but knowing it meant it had been a good weekend.
Good luck
Why not slap a notice up at the clubs on the coast saying you are willing to crew?
It was always something that was popular at my club. A decent enthusiastic crew is worth 20 boat lengths!! Trouble is you'd have to race and commit yourself - but you get none of the expense, save your own wet gear. Perhaps a good way to start?
Failing that, I'll go a big note if you go a big note and we'll buy something between us - trouble is, you're up norf and I'm in Devon close to the sea.
and because it doesn't get used enough and is slightly relevent
It was always something that was popular at my club. A decent enthusiastic crew is worth 20 boat lengths!! Trouble is you'd have to race and commit yourself - but you get none of the expense, save your own wet gear. Perhaps a good way to start?
Failing that, I'll go a big note if you go a big note and we'll buy something between us - trouble is, you're up norf and I'm in Devon close to the sea.
and because it doesn't get used enough and is slightly relevent
I would say that if you are 2 hours from the coast, realistically are you really going to go to the effort of sailing it there that much if you are towing or car topping? Definitely find storage near where you intend to sail.
But don't underestimate how quickly things can go wrong on the sea without safety cover...I have personally towed a dinghy out of Portland race with a Bavaria 32 who had no oars, radio, mobile, flares or outboard who were just out for a jolly on a nice sunny day when the wind dissapeared. You'll always have saftey cover...albeit the RNLI who luanch at x thousands a pop when it all goes wrong if there's no friendly yotty nearby!
You are far better to join a club, you might be asked to do a race duty (assuming you race yourself) but you'll get to see the boats and try them out...far better than asking on PH! You'll get an idea of what boats are popular at which clubs trust me even if you have no aspirations to be Ellen (not Helen!!) you'll still learn a lot from talking to other sailors who sail the same boats, and can give you lots of tips about tides/weather at a coastal spot.
If you're not that experienced, really don't want to join a club and you just do your own thing on the coast without safety cover, get something big, stable, reefable, seaworthy, with room for oars/outboard and some stowage...a Wayfarer would be within budget. Forget the car-toppable thing but you'll be able to stick a disposbale BBQ in it, ram it up a beach, and have a snooze in it after a tinny. Not my kind of boat, but probably best for starters...and if you want to put a trapeze on it you can!
But don't underestimate how quickly things can go wrong on the sea without safety cover...I have personally towed a dinghy out of Portland race with a Bavaria 32 who had no oars, radio, mobile, flares or outboard who were just out for a jolly on a nice sunny day when the wind dissapeared. You'll always have saftey cover...albeit the RNLI who luanch at x thousands a pop when it all goes wrong if there's no friendly yotty nearby!
You are far better to join a club, you might be asked to do a race duty (assuming you race yourself) but you'll get to see the boats and try them out...far better than asking on PH! You'll get an idea of what boats are popular at which clubs trust me even if you have no aspirations to be Ellen (not Helen!!) you'll still learn a lot from talking to other sailors who sail the same boats, and can give you lots of tips about tides/weather at a coastal spot.
If you're not that experienced, really don't want to join a club and you just do your own thing on the coast without safety cover, get something big, stable, reefable, seaworthy, with room for oars/outboard and some stowage...a Wayfarer would be within budget. Forget the car-toppable thing but you'll be able to stick a disposbale BBQ in it, ram it up a beach, and have a snooze in it after a tinny. Not my kind of boat, but probably best for starters...and if you want to put a trapeze on it you can!
Brown and Boris said:
Every summer I think about it but never do anything about it.
Practically, I am 2 hours from the coast and the local club is a puddle with more 'You Musts' than a poorly run leisre club.. Things that put me of are the fact I have no storage at home, and no tow bar (and would like to avoid one). Also the whole 'club' thing turns me off as they want you to race, play safety boat for the races, turn up to the various non-sailing things and only sail when they have the SB out etc. It turns a pleasure into a chore and committment I can do without.
So, two questions, sort of related. If I don't have space or tow bar for a road trailer, I was thinking about a car toppable one I can store in the garage along side the car. If so, what will I get away with? Obvious one is the Topper but would I get away with a Solo, Laser or even a Fireball on a roof rack? I think the Fireball hull weight is about 80kg and 5m in length and 1.4m wide.
I have never sailed at sea but wondered about finding some coastal storage might be easier than try and store it at home and then driving all the way with it on top.
Besides 'ruiles are there for your own safety' and 'get a social life and join the local club' any practical soluations to get back in harness (literally)?
I'm exactly the same.....used to sail Lasers when I was a teenager and loved it! It was whilst we were living in Oman where my Dad worked and admittedly the sea is a lot warmer there but I've always missed it!Practically, I am 2 hours from the coast and the local club is a puddle with more 'You Musts' than a poorly run leisre club.. Things that put me of are the fact I have no storage at home, and no tow bar (and would like to avoid one). Also the whole 'club' thing turns me off as they want you to race, play safety boat for the races, turn up to the various non-sailing things and only sail when they have the SB out etc. It turns a pleasure into a chore and committment I can do without.
So, two questions, sort of related. If I don't have space or tow bar for a road trailer, I was thinking about a car toppable one I can store in the garage along side the car. If so, what will I get away with? Obvious one is the Topper but would I get away with a Solo, Laser or even a Fireball on a roof rack? I think the Fireball hull weight is about 80kg and 5m in length and 1.4m wide.
I have never sailed at sea but wondered about finding some coastal storage might be easier than try and store it at home and then driving all the way with it on top.
Besides 'ruiles are there for your own safety' and 'get a social life and join the local club' any practical soluations to get back in harness (literally)?
The thing that has put me off doing it again in this country is the weather and lack of facilities nearby. I'm also in Yorkshire so the East Coast would be the nearest but having spent 7 yrs at boarding school in Scarborough I know how cold it is there!
Also never had to wear a wetsuit but would have to in this country.My GF parents have a cabin in Abersoch in North Wales where I think they have Laser championships...amongst others.
Shared ownership and storage of a boat might be a good idea...unless you both want to sail it at the same time of course.
blueyonder said:
Brown and Boris said:
Every summer I think about it but never do anything about it.
Practically, I am 2 hours from the coast and the local club is a puddle with more 'You Musts' than a poorly run leisre club.. Things that put me of are the fact I have no storage at home, and no tow bar (and would like to avoid one). Also the whole 'club' thing turns me off as they want you to race, play safety boat for the races, turn up to the various non-sailing things and only sail when they have the SB out etc. It turns a pleasure into a chore and committment I can do without.
So, two questions, sort of related. If I don't have space or tow bar for a road trailer, I was thinking about a car toppable one I can store in the garage along side the car. If so, what will I get away with? Obvious one is the Topper but would I get away with a Solo, Laser or even a Fireball on a roof rack? I think the Fireball hull weight is about 80kg and 5m in length and 1.4m wide.
I have never sailed at sea but wondered about finding some coastal storage might be easier than try and store it at home and then driving all the way with it on top.
Besides 'ruiles are there for your own safety' and 'get a social life and join the local club' any practical soluations to get back in harness (literally)?
I'm exactly the same.....used to sail Lasers when I was a teenager and loved it! It was whilst we were living in Oman where my Dad worked and admittedly the sea is a lot warmer there but I've always missed it!Practically, I am 2 hours from the coast and the local club is a puddle with more 'You Musts' than a poorly run leisre club.. Things that put me of are the fact I have no storage at home, and no tow bar (and would like to avoid one). Also the whole 'club' thing turns me off as they want you to race, play safety boat for the races, turn up to the various non-sailing things and only sail when they have the SB out etc. It turns a pleasure into a chore and committment I can do without.
So, two questions, sort of related. If I don't have space or tow bar for a road trailer, I was thinking about a car toppable one I can store in the garage along side the car. If so, what will I get away with? Obvious one is the Topper but would I get away with a Solo, Laser or even a Fireball on a roof rack? I think the Fireball hull weight is about 80kg and 5m in length and 1.4m wide.
I have never sailed at sea but wondered about finding some coastal storage might be easier than try and store it at home and then driving all the way with it on top.
Besides 'ruiles are there for your own safety' and 'get a social life and join the local club' any practical soluations to get back in harness (literally)?
The thing that has put me off doing it again in this country is the weather and lack of facilities nearby. I'm also in Yorkshire so the East Coast would be the nearest but having spent 7 yrs at boarding school in Scarborough I know how cold it is there!
Also never had to wear a wetsuit but would have to in this country.My GF parents have a cabin in Abersoch in North Wales where I think they have Laser championships...amongst others.
Shared ownership and storage of a boat might be a good idea...unless you both want to sail it at the same time of course.
blueyonder said:
My GF parents have a cabin in Abersoch in North Wales where I think they have Laser championships...amongst others.
They have dinghy week in the summer, as well as Keel boat week... My GF's rentals have a place there too!Every time I go there I think "I'd love to get a little dinghy to sail" and then I get back to the North East and have second thoughts, it just doesn't seem the same in the Tees Estuary!
OP - There is always Scaling Dam up on the NY moors if that's of any help?
TomE said:
blueyonder said:
My GF parents have a cabin in Abersoch in North Wales where I think they have Laser championships...amongst others.
They have dinghy week in the summer, as well as Keel boat week... My GF's rentals have a place there too!Every time I go there I think "I'd love to get a little dinghy to sail" and then I get back to the North East and have second thoughts, it just doesn't seem the same in the Tees Estuary!
OP - There is always Scaling Dam up on the NY moors if that's of any help?
Blew old boots all week long but was mega fun! Tis a lovely place to sail... just a bugger to get to!
Snoggledog said:
Brown and Boris said:
Forgot to mention that both are just about light enough to go on the roof of the car. sawman said:
I wouldnt fancy putting one on top of a car, in fact I cant say putting anything on a car is very appealing! , had a bad experience once involving a 200 mile drive in a fiat uno with a collapsed roofrack and a laser
You mean you actually got a Laser onto the roof of a Fiat Uno? 
What about Rother Valley Country Park? You're in South Yorkshire!
They used to have a private boat compound right by the lake and the car park look on googlemaps etc it's still there.
Just turn up and sail, especially if you buy a launch season ticket.
OK you can get some muppets out on the water, but the rangers run the safety boat every day. Only odd days you can't sail if some special event.
When in South Yorks I used to take my Laser there for a blast after work until lake closed at sunset or whenever. Ok it's not as much fun as sea sailing but even so. Alternatively South Shore at Bridlington?
They used to have a private boat compound right by the lake and the car park look on googlemaps etc it's still there.
Just turn up and sail, especially if you buy a launch season ticket.
OK you can get some muppets out on the water, but the rangers run the safety boat every day. Only odd days you can't sail if some special event.
When in South Yorks I used to take my Laser there for a blast after work until lake closed at sunset or whenever. Ok it's not as much fun as sea sailing but even so. Alternatively South Shore at Bridlington?
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