What dinghy and how much?

[Disastrous]

I wish the search function worked on here sometimes as I know I've read several threads on this before but...


I would quite like a dinghy. I'm working through my day skipper at the moment (done the theory) and my plan is to holiday charter once I have the ticket. The thing is, I'd like to also keep a dinghy up at Loch Lomond to keep my eye in hroughte year. Also love the idea of being able to pop up and go for a chilled sail in the evening, or take part in the odd weekend race.

But I'm not sure what I should be looking for and how much I ought to be budgeting. I've sailed Lasers and Picos and whist fun, they're awfully cramped and I'd ideall like something with a jib/spinnaker for practice, and also something big enough to involved my gf as crew.

Any ideas? There's a Pico on the notice board in the clubhouse for £800 and a Mirror for £300 which is so cheap I'm almost tempted to just go for it!

Any thoughts?

[jains15]

Pico is far too small for your needs, so forget that IMHO.

The mirror, nothing wrong but again are on the small and underpowered side and I think you'll get bored. If you want a budget dinghy you may have to go for an established class, and the kinda default choice for safe (you're on the sea) pottering with decent size but OK for a bit of racing and with a spinnaker would be a Wayfarer or GP14. There are more modern options too such as the laser 2000 and an RS boat whose name escapes me.

best advice would be go for an established class as these are an easier ownership proposition and go for plastic unless you specifically want the upkeep of a wood boat.

A £300 mirror will take a lot of upkeep I think.

[happygoron]

What's your size and budget? Pico and mirror are both youth training boats really, cramped and slow. Good to learn in but little else in my opinion, though mirror used to have a pretty competative race series I don't think numbers are that high any more.

Choice of boat depends hevilly on budget and if you want a boat you can singlehand but also go 2up or you want a proper double hander.

[Fittster]

What does your local club race?

[hyperblue]

jains15 said:

There are more modern options too such as the laser 2000 and an RS boat whose name escapes me.

RS200 (or possibly 400) would fit the bill nicely IMO. Wayfarer and GP14 are ok, but are pretty heavy if you and the Mrs are dragging it up a slipway.

[Disastrous]

Budget is undecided as yet. Basically, I want to spend as little as possible (maybe under a grand if that's realistic) but can set my sights higher if I need to. I'm not sure what my budget should be, if that makes sense?

The local club has a very varied mixture but run handicap races so shouldn't matter too much. There's a few more fleets at the higher end but the entry level classes seem to be a bit of a mix.

Like the look of the RS200 but they seem quite dear?

The wayfarer looks a solid shout though-looks like the kind if boat you could potter about a sunny Sunday on, with a few beers and a rod. Thinking about it, this is probably more a priority than speed if the OH is involved.

How tippy are they? Would you be wanting full wetsuits in one, or can you treat it as a day boat?

Edited by Disastrous on Monday 30th July 00:25

[jains15]

Fitsterhas a good point, it's always easier to sail what everyone around you is sailing.

Wayfarers are very un-tippy, they are definitely more towards day boat and can be setup for this nicely with engine mount etc. they are quite powerful though and in a blow do shift as they have a big rig. They are heavy though which needs to be a consideration.

[bumblebee]

Enterbarge Enterprise?
+: Lighter than a Wayfarer, and can be just about be sailed singlehanded in light weather.
-: no kite.

RS 200 : think of it as a modern day National12, with a kite, or a Cherub before they went crazy with trapezes and hydrofoils.
Suited for lighter weight crews.
RS 400 : a modern day Merlin Rocket , quite tippy and relatively more complex compared to the aforementioned. (more string and rig tuning possibilities) Higher performance and probably wouldn't really be as good a dinghy for starting out with.

RS's are expensive but built very well IMO.

[TimCrighton]

Or a Merlin Rocket would work. Its a box class so boat tech has moved on quite a bit since the class was introduced meaning there are lots of older boats that are perhaps not cutting edge but are still great sailing dinghy's and perfect for an occasional racer that can be had at sensible money. Lots around and racing is quite active, Rocket Week in Salcombe for example. Easily trailered etc.

[Scotty2]

GP14 works for our family. I can launch and recover alone - just, but no prob with 2 and can have 4 aboard without too much of a squeeze.

[Disastrous]

Thanks all, have spent the last couple of days reading up on all suggestions and today spoke to a bloke who sails at the club near me. He said there's an active Wayfarer fleet there and seriously suggested one of them as striking a good balance between pottering and club racing. Ok, he said they were a bit like a Volvo compared to some of the faster dinghies but the point is, close racing is close racing, whatever you're in, right?

Anyway, I suspect one of those will do it for me, and the appeal of being able to launch it at sea for a day's cruising is hugely appealing too.

So how much do I want to spend? A quick shuftie suggests I can get something sea-worthy for around a thousand quid. Is that going to be dreadful or reasonable? I don't want to spend too much as I expect to break things, at least initially, and would rather not break my heart every time I do!

Thanks again for all the responses-much food for thought!

Edited by Disastrous on Tuesday 31st July 01:30

[Disastrous]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

All things considered- and adding that mix od Sea sailing too, with a back up Outboard for creek crawling and the ability to even take camping gear and you have a good all rounder also big and safe.

So, you'll need a tow car now
and to see my Thread on Bareboat Charter holidays ?

The 9-5 Aero aces it for a tow-car, but what about the charter holidays? I need to get my day skip completed but just feel this year slipping away

[schmalex]

bumblebee said:

or a Cherub before they went crazy with trapezes and hydrofoils.

My mate and I had a Cherub many years ago.

It was pretty traditional, with loads of rocker & a 10' spinnaker pole. It scared us stless as it was either about to capsize or going to like an absolute rocket, leaving you to wonder how on earth you were going to get in from the wire to drop the kite.

Truly incredible boats!!!

[Fittster]

Disastrous said:

Thanks all, have spent the last couple of days reading up on all suggestions and today spoke to a bloke who sails at the club near me. He said there's an active Wayfarer fleet there and seriously suggested one of them as striking a good balance between pottering and club racing.

Anyway, I suspect one of those will do it for me, and the appeal of being able to launch it at sea for a day's cruising is hugely appealing too.

Before buying one try hauling it about a bit. They aren't the lightest thing about.

[Disastrous]

Fittster said:

Disastrous said:

Thanks all, have spent the last couple of days reading up on all suggestions and today spoke to a bloke who sails at the club near me. He said there's an active Wayfarer fleet there and seriously suggested one of them as striking a good balance between pottering and club racing.

Anyway, I suspect one of those will do it for me, and the appeal of being able to launch it at sea for a day's cruising is hugely appealing too.

Before buying one try hauling it about a bit. They aren't the lightest thing about.

Aye, I've heard! Luckily, the like I know says he'll arrange for me to get a wee sail in one that he knows of so hopefully this will give me an idea of what they're like to handle. Definitely a good idea, i think!

I don't anticipate much single-handed sailing but it would be nice to be able to if I had to...

Is a grand a reasonable sum for a seaworthy example?

[wetny]

I would always recommend getting something with good local fleet. That means Flying Fifteen for me. Cheap, fast, less likely to capsize. I always launch it with the car, most boats are a pita to drag up the dinghy park anyway.

[Disastrous]

Agreed, definitely a good idea and by the sounds of it, the Wayfarer is well supported near me.

The question is, how much should I be looking to pay for a decent one?

[dirkgently]

Disastrous said:

Fittster said:

Disastrous said:

Thanks all, have spent the last couple of days reading up on all suggestions and today spoke to a bloke who sails at the club near me. He said there's an active Wayfarer fleet there and seriously suggested one of them as striking a good balance between pottering and club racing.

Anyway, I suspect one of those will do it for me, and the appeal of being able to launch it at sea for a day's cruising is hugely appealing too.

Before buying one try hauling it about a bit. They aren't the lightest thing about.

Aye, I've heard! Luckily, the like I know says he'll arrange for me to get a wee sail in one that he knows of so hopefully this will give me an idea of what they're like to handle. Definitely a good idea, i think!

I don't anticipate much single-handed sailing but it would be nice to be able to if I had to...

Is a grand a reasonable sum for a seaworthy example?

Wayfarer is a good boat and the racing is usually close, most Wayfarer fleets seem to be very friendly as is the open-circuit. A Good all-round day boat, but after saying that the only dingy I have been truly frightened in.

[jains15]

wetny said:

I would always recommend getting something with good local fleet. That means Flying Fifteen for me. Cheap, fast, less likely to capsize. I always launch it with the car, most boats are a pita to drag up the dinghy park anyway.

Hi where do you sail? May be moving back to the E Mids soon and would love to get into FF ownership!

[schmalex]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

Disastrous said:

The 9-5 Aero aces it for a tow-car, but what about the charter holidays? I need to get my day skip completed but just feel this year slipping away

I would say the need for a Day skipper is debatable - unless in Greece AND with a fussy company, as they sometimes state an ICC is required. Mmmm and Croatia want VHF licenses apparently.
HOWEVER, they mainly want reassurance you know what to do, aren't a clot and a are capable. Many will let you do it with Competent Crew or just a resume demonstrating history afloat.

Especially end of season

Yep. I've chartered many times with no formal RYA qualifications off the back of my sailing resume alone.