I am fairly new to sailing and mostly crew for local races. I am looking to buy a small dinghy to learn on (not to race). I am an adult and weigh 46 kg. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you!!!
New to sailing - good dighy to start??
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I did some of my learning, you are never done learning, on a Vagabond 14, sometimes known as a Holder 14, a Hobie 1-14, the boat was produced in some form from the mid 1970's till the mid 1990's.
There still plenty of them out there and they are great simple boats to learn on but have enough in common with larger boats that the skills transfer easily. There is a user group on Yahoo. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HobieHolder/?prop=eupdate The link will take you to the up date page and you can learn more about them.
Beyond the information relative to this little boat, is a lot of good general sailing info. Even though I sold my Vagabond 3 years ago I continue to subscribe and learn from them.
Good luck.
There still plenty of them out there and they are great simple boats to learn on but have enough in common with larger boats that the skills transfer easily. There is a user group on Yahoo. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HobieHolder/?prop=eupdate The link will take you to the up date page and you can learn more about them.
Beyond the information relative to this little boat, is a lot of good general sailing info. Even though I sold my Vagabond 3 years ago I continue to subscribe and learn from them.
Good luck.
Good dinghy to start
The Blue Jay is a 14 foot dinghy which is an excellent trainer. It is a flat bottomed boat which gives is good initial stability. However, in the event you do capsize, they have ample foam flotation to prevent them from sinking. They are rigged with main, jib and spinnaker so as your skills improve, you will have many of the controls which are used on larger boats. They are easy to launch from a trailer and the mast can be stepped by one person. It's a pretty dry boat considering it's only 14 feet. Good resale value when it comes time to move up.
The Blue Jay is a 14 foot dinghy which is an excellent trainer. It is a flat bottomed boat which gives is good initial stability. However, in the event you do capsize, they have ample foam flotation to prevent them from sinking. They are rigged with main, jib and spinnaker so as your skills improve, you will have many of the controls which are used on larger boats. They are easy to launch from a trailer and the mast can be stepped by one person. It's a pretty dry boat considering it's only 14 feet. Good resale value when it comes time to move up.
Lido 14 is a good starter. How much is 46 kg in Yankee terms. If you can find an old Pelican they're great too. If you want to go a little bigger, Daysailer or Rhodes 19. Smaller try a Sabot. Endless possiblities, just a matter of choice. Check your local Yacht/Sailing Club. They will usually give some good advice and might even have something for sale. Fair Winds and Full Sails....
Sunfish, Laser, etc. single sail and are light enough to be handled by someone your size. Holder 14, Lido 14, etc.. are much heavier and you must use a trailer to launch... or have a crew. Upside is they will accommodate 2-4 people... I really like lasers.. because once you've got passed the basics the laser offers more actionl
Lasers are big fun. Easy to rig and launch, easy to sail in cottage conditions, but ready for stronger winds and bigger water when you are. The same boat can take you all the way to the Olympics.
Larger dinghies (Wayfarer, CL-14, CL-16, etc) are easier to sail with crew, but can also be single-handed. They're a bit dryer, more comfortable for a long sail, and can even introduce you to cruising, sleeping under a boom tent at night.
Larger dinghies (Wayfarer, CL-14, CL-16, etc) are easier to sail with crew, but can also be single-handed. They're a bit dryer, more comfortable for a long sail, and can even introduce you to cruising, sleeping under a boom tent at night.
SMK,
How about a little larger? Our first boat, current bout, heck, only boat is a Lancer 25. Sleeps 5. This is the only boat I've ever sailed. We bought it three years ago. I'm a "little" more than 46 kg. And so is my wife. We launch and handle her easily. For you, on a 16 mile long lake, how about a 20 footer that sleeps 4? Haul with a small truck. Launch single handed with a little ingenuity. Nothi' like a morning in the sunshine, anchored in a quiet cove, coffee in hand, breakfast in the griddle.
How about a little larger? Our first boat, current bout, heck, only boat is a Lancer 25. Sleeps 5. This is the only boat I've ever sailed. We bought it three years ago. I'm a "little" more than 46 kg. And so is my wife. We launch and handle her easily. For you, on a 16 mile long lake, how about a 20 footer that sleeps 4? Haul with a small truck. Launch single handed with a little ingenuity. Nothi' like a morning in the sunshine, anchored in a quiet cove, coffee in hand, breakfast in the griddle.
Man you ain't lying.....watching the lake come alive....maybe a slight fog or mist as it burns off, the bass fisherman coming out.....my favorite part of overnighting....after a night of gentle rocking and water lapping at the hull....
dinghy to learn with
Walker Bay has a ten foot dinghy that is very forgiving of beginner mistakes. We let 12-14 year old Boy Scouts sail them solo and they seldom capsize or get into situations that they can't solve by themselves if they stop and think. I also like the Lido 14; it seems to float like a feather in a good breeze but can be capsized if you are careless enough to be caught unawares by a gust
Walker Bay has a ten foot dinghy that is very forgiving of beginner mistakes. We let 12-14 year old Boy Scouts sail them solo and they seldom capsize or get into situations that they can't solve by themselves if they stop and think. I also like the Lido 14; it seems to float like a feather in a good breeze but can be capsized if you are careless enough to be caught unawares by a gust
better questions, are: storage capacity, towing capacity, number of adults you want to carry, how long do you want to go out (few hours, day sail, or over night). and of course, BUDGET?
personally, I like the lasers. great boats, good resale, and when you move up you can keep it. also can fit on the roof of most cars. (need 2 adults to lift it off).
sunfish are more popular, but longer, and not quite as fast. but better for 2 than the laser.
a 420 would be the boat for club racing.. which might be the way to go, since you may be able to buy a older boat cheap, and keep it at the club (w/ the others).
personally, I like the lasers. great boats, good resale, and when you move up you can keep it. also can fit on the roof of most cars. (need 2 adults to lift it off).
sunfish are more popular, but longer, and not quite as fast. but better for 2 than the laser.
a 420 would be the boat for club racing.. which might be the way to go, since you may be able to buy a older boat cheap, and keep it at the club (w/ the others).
I'd decide if you want to single-hand the boat, or have a friend along after you have had a class and understand the boat some. For more than yourself, I would not get a complex racing boat, rather, I'd go for something simple like a Catalina 14.2, 16, a Precision, Holder or something similar.
If single handing, then a Laser has the advantage that you can match the sail to your weight (4.7 or radial rig in addition to the standard one).
I think that you should be able to right your boat yourself after a capsize, at my weight I cannot estimate this for you on the larger boats. Based on my kids, you can right a Laser or sunfish.
OC
With most of the above boats you could get wet. With the Sunfish, you will get wet. That means its a summer boat primarily. I would go with some of the other ideas. There are so many great small sailboats that would make good trainers. Find something easy to set up so you'll use it a lot.
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