Anyone know about Topper Dinghys
Discussion
I am thinking about buying a topper dinghy.
I am planning on quitting work soon and heading off for 10-12 weeks at a time with a caravan.
Years ago when I did this, I took a windsurfer, and had a lot of fun with it. But I would rather have a small sailing dinghy.
So looking at the topper, seems ideal, will go on roof of car no issues. I suspect will slide under caravan when on site, so out of the way.
A few questions though, I weigh 13 stone, is that too big to sail one of these?
Is it possible to sail one with two adults in at all? Just thinking light winds, swiss lakes, pottering about in the sun with wife?
Does anyone know of any sailing clubs in or near Yorkshire, where it would be possible to try one out?
Any other car toppable dinghys, I should be looking at? (I do not want a mirror)
I am planning on quitting work soon and heading off for 10-12 weeks at a time with a caravan.
Years ago when I did this, I took a windsurfer, and had a lot of fun with it. But I would rather have a small sailing dinghy.
So looking at the topper, seems ideal, will go on roof of car no issues. I suspect will slide under caravan when on site, so out of the way.
A few questions though, I weigh 13 stone, is that too big to sail one of these?
Is it possible to sail one with two adults in at all? Just thinking light winds, swiss lakes, pottering about in the sun with wife?
Does anyone know of any sailing clubs in or near Yorkshire, where it would be possible to try one out?
Any other car toppable dinghys, I should be looking at? (I do not want a mirror)
Really that's probably too heavy and wouldn't take two adults.. You can do it but would be more submarine than dingy : )
You could potentially get away with a laser, and be able to put it on the roof if you have an estate something.
However there's been a ton of new designs come out over past few years that others might have a good recommendation for
You could potentially get away with a laser, and be able to put it on the roof if you have an estate something.
However there's been a ton of new designs come out over past few years that others might have a good recommendation for
I'm a big fan of toppers, good fun to sail and virtually indestructible. However I think that 13 stone would be a bit big for them, you'd struggle to have much fun in light winds. How tall are you? Two kids are fine in a topper, two adults not so fine!
Lasers are car top-able and would be more fun to sail at your size.
Lasers are car top-able and would be more fun to sail at your size.
"I was 13 stone 5 and 6'3". I had a Topper and I fitted in it without problem. Tight for two but not impossible. I used a Lazer for a while and that seemed massive in comparison.
I ended up with a Miracle but you can't put that on top of a car."
That sounds hopeful. I know its all a big compromise, Looking at a laser, they are a fair bit bigger and heavier, so may not be as easy to get on top of car, or, more to the point, slide under caravan when on site. I have looked at Tinker inflatables as well, but with everything else we will take I do not think I would have the room in the car, and I am not sure I like the look of them much!
I am near Haworth.
I ended up with a Miracle but you can't put that on top of a car."
That sounds hopeful. I know its all a big compromise, Looking at a laser, they are a fair bit bigger and heavier, so may not be as easy to get on top of car, or, more to the point, slide under caravan when on site. I have looked at Tinker inflatables as well, but with everything else we will take I do not think I would have the room in the car, and I am not sure I like the look of them much!
I am near Haworth.
Stevemr said:
"I was 13 stone 5 and 6'3". I had a Topper and I fitted in it without problem. Tight for two but not impossible. I used a Lazer for a while and that seemed massive in comparison.
I ended up with a Miracle but you can't put that on top of a car."
That sounds hopeful. I know its all a big compromise, Looking at a laser, they are a fair bit bigger and heavier, so may not be as easy to get on top of car, or, more to the point, slide under caravan when on site. I have looked at Tinker inflatables as well, but with everything else we will take I do not think I would have the room in the car, and I am not sure I like the look of them much!
I am near Haworth.
Might I suggest you wander off to a local sailing club? I went to mine, at Seaford, and they couldn't have been more helpful. I bought the Miracle after a chap there took me out in his and let me helm. I ended up with a Miracle but you can't put that on top of a car."
That sounds hopeful. I know its all a big compromise, Looking at a laser, they are a fair bit bigger and heavier, so may not be as easy to get on top of car, or, more to the point, slide under caravan when on site. I have looked at Tinker inflatables as well, but with everything else we will take I do not think I would have the room in the car, and I am not sure I like the look of them much!
I am near Haworth.
Ah, I was going to suggest Dovestone/Ripponden sailing clubs, but that's a fair distance from you.
As previously mentioned, consider a Mirror...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Atv-uZm5mbY
As previously mentioned, consider a Mirror...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Atv-uZm5mbY
No dont want a mirror, learnt to sail in one, nice dinghys, but do nothing for me. Also, prefer something which will slide out of the way under the caravan, which i would imagine a topper will do. Said at end of first post I dont want a mirror.
Just looking at a topper for sale on ebay nad there is a pic of the plate which says 2 persons max 160KG, so looks like it will do the job!
need to try and see if there is a club with any to try near me, I think.
Just looking at a topper for sale on ebay nad there is a pic of the plate which says 2 persons max 160KG, so looks like it will do the job!
need to try and see if there is a club with any to try near me, I think.
6'2" 13 stone here.
I learned to sail in a Topper.
You will fit in, sort of, and being molded plastic they are indestructible and simple to rig.
But at our size they are small, under-powered, sluggish, slow, and not much fun.
Another vote for a Laser - it is a Caterham Se7en to the Topper's Morris Minor.
I learned to sail in a Topper.
You will fit in, sort of, and being molded plastic they are indestructible and simple to rig.
But at our size they are small, under-powered, sluggish, slow, and not much fun.
Another vote for a Laser - it is a Caterham Se7en to the Topper's Morris Minor.
happygoron said:
I'm a big fan of toppers, good fun to sail and virtually indestructible. However I think that 13 stone would be a bit big for them, you'd struggle to have much fun in light winds. How tall are you? Two kids are fine in a topper, two adults not so fine!
Lasers are car top-able and would be more fun to sail at your size.
topper is probably a little bit on the small size Lasers are car top-able and would be more fun to sail at your size.
they are lovely boats and if you were a bit lighter and didn't have the two adult requirement it'd be a good choice if not the ultimate in performance
Laser struggles with 2 people space wise becasue of the (lack of )size of the cockpit ... not an issue in sunbathing sailing weather but a bit of issue in any kind of wind
not sailed a Feva as suggested by another poster ( been out of the loop for a few years)
I can't comment on the boat, but check the rules regarding sailing on Swiss lakes. They really REALLY like rules here, and those pertaining to boats are many and varied involving registration, taxes, and being able to go more then 400m from shore (which you aren't allowed to do in a canoe for example).
This looks like it would be a good bet, but there do not seem to be any for sale in Uk
https://www.facebook.com/LaserPerformanceSailboats...
This is interesting as well
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihM6XQemtBY
Lastly, this could be an option, the one that turns two inflatable canoes into a catermaran
http://www.sailboatstogo.com/content/KAYAK_RIG
Point taken about swiss rules, what about other countries, say France? Austria?
https://www.facebook.com/LaserPerformanceSailboats...
This is interesting as well
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihM6XQemtBY
Lastly, this could be an option, the one that turns two inflatable canoes into a catermaran
http://www.sailboatstogo.com/content/KAYAK_RIG
Point taken about swiss rules, what about other countries, say France? Austria?
Dear God, please, just no. Don't buy anything that "bolts together" or "converts into a stable sea kayak"...
There are plenty of decent dinghies on the market to do what you need. Topper being one of if not the smallest other than an Optimist.
There are dinghies larger than a Topper but smaller than the usual Laser but still light enough to car top such as
The Comet:
The streaker:
The lightning:
The solo is a popular singlehander but I think probably too heavy to reliably car top:
On the continent I think the Splash is popular:
The Laser would be a good shout, and parts would be plentiful if you were abroad as well. The comet, streaker and lightning are primarily UK based designs so you might have to mash up some bits from other boats if you were to break it while abroad.
Were you interested in the Topper because of it being plastic and less breakable? The Topper is I think injection moulded and the two halves brought together but the technology now is rotomoulding. There are some singlehanders available such as the pico but also Topper themselves do (or did) the Topaz which can have various different rigs depending on who is sailing it:
RS, probably the largest producer of racing dinghies in this country recently launched the RS Aero which while more expensive than any of the others here would offer better performance and only weighs about 30kg.... http://www.rssailing.com/en/explore/rs-aero
I now need to go and wash my monitor out after looking at all the rotomoulds but they may suit you for what you need.
There are plenty of decent dinghies on the market to do what you need. Topper being one of if not the smallest other than an Optimist.
There are dinghies larger than a Topper but smaller than the usual Laser but still light enough to car top such as
The Comet:
The streaker:
The lightning:
The solo is a popular singlehander but I think probably too heavy to reliably car top:
On the continent I think the Splash is popular:
The Laser would be a good shout, and parts would be plentiful if you were abroad as well. The comet, streaker and lightning are primarily UK based designs so you might have to mash up some bits from other boats if you were to break it while abroad.
Were you interested in the Topper because of it being plastic and less breakable? The Topper is I think injection moulded and the two halves brought together but the technology now is rotomoulding. There are some singlehanders available such as the pico but also Topper themselves do (or did) the Topaz which can have various different rigs depending on who is sailing it:
RS, probably the largest producer of racing dinghies in this country recently launched the RS Aero which while more expensive than any of the others here would offer better performance and only weighs about 30kg.... http://www.rssailing.com/en/explore/rs-aero
I now need to go and wash my monitor out after looking at all the rotomoulds but they may suit you for what you need.
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